Pinning the throttle of Honda’s all-new long-travel adventure bike while strapped to Cycle World’s Dynojet Model 250i load-control dynamometer may not rival crossing the sands of the Sahara, but it’s an inspiring experience nonetheless. The 998cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke, 8-valve parallel-twin builds plentiful torque from low in the rev range with its 270-degree crank pounding out a tractable beat. We tested the manual shift version (Honda offers an automatic six-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) model, as well) and found its linear delivery and slick shifting six-speed gearbox intuitive to manage on paved and dirt surfaces alike. Furthermore, its Honda Selective Torque Control (HSTC) features three settings (or can be switched off) to suit a wide range of conditions.