Is the world ready for a 750cc, feet-forward adventure scooter? Honda apparently thinks so. And in the tradition of long video teases the company perfected with the launch of the Africa Twin, Honda is putting out a series of sneak peaks intended to build excitement for its latest adventure creation.

“Your Horizons are Going to Change Forever – Episode 2” begins with the machine being set free from a cargo container somewhere in the middle of the desert. (We punched in the GPS coordinates in the “surveillance video” opener and came up with Sardinia, an island off the coast of Italy.) Once out of the box, the scooter blasts up some twisty dirt roads, winds through picturesque ruins, and then takes to the asphalt for a trip into the city. The rider doesn’t pause for a cappuccino, though, because he’s got a rendezvous at the port. He quickly rides inside a Honda container, which is slammed shut and stacked among other containers waiting to be shipped… who knows where? We’ll find out more when the next video drops Sept. 15.

In classic teaser fashion, there are only brief close-up glimpses and extended long shots of this odd machine throughout the video. We learn that it has dual headlights, chain drive, dual front disc brakes, a skid plate, an upswept exhaust, upside down forks, wire-spoke wheels, and more than enough power to get out of its own way. Current reports state the scooter is called the X-ADV, and it is powered by a 745cc parallel twin taken from the NC750x and also found in the Integra Scooter (both non-US models). The X-ADV also comes with Honda’s DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission).

A shot of the right handlebar confirms the X-ADV’s use of Honda’s DCT Automatic Transmission.

The X-ADV is the market-ready version of a concept Honda dubbed the “City Adventure,” which debuted at the 2015 EICMA show in Italy. Photos of that bike show an angular, futuristic scooter with more ground clearance and presumably more suspension travel than the Integra scooter it shares an engine with. With its wire-spoke wheels, protected underbelly and dual sport tires, the X-ADV looks ready for dirt roads, and a low center of gravity will probably make it easy to put your feet down and paddle through difficult off-road sections.

Large Nissin brake calipers, an upside-down fork and wire-spoke wheels give a clear signal that the X-ADV is a performance-oriented machine.

While the video does not show the rider going through rough terrain or standing up on the foot platforms, it looks like it could be possible. Who knows, we could see more extreme off-road action in the next teaser video — stay tuned!

But the big question remains: Who’s going to buy the Honda X-ADV? Using the Integra as a reference, we can expect the price tag to be well over $10,000 USD. There are many other traditional adventure motorcycles to choose from on the market at that price range. And if a buyer wants an automatic transmission, why not buy the NC700x with DCT for $8,099 USD. One thing is for sure, soon scooter owners will be able to get off the beaten path just like the rest of us! So who’s ready to step up to the plate and buy the new Honda X-ADV?

Author: Bob Whitby

Bob has been riding motorcycles since age 19 and working as a journalist since he was 24, which was a long time ago, let’s put it that way. He quit for the better part of a decade to raise a family, then rediscovered adventure, dual sport and enduro riding in the early 2000s. He lives in Arkansas, America’s best-kept secret when it comes to riding destinations, and travels far and wide in search of dirt roads and trails.