Honda's new Africa Twin

THIS is the machine thought to be Honda's long-awaited new Africa Twin, a successor to the much-loved XRV750.

Honda hasn't released a name for the new bike, or any other details, only revealing the machine as a 'True Adventure Prototype' at the Eicma Milan motorcycle show this morning.

Listed as a 2015 model, it's clear it's intended as an adventure bike with true off-road potential, more off-roader than soft-roader.

Honda didn't seem altogether keen on letting us see too much of the bike at this stage, since the only machine shown was caked in mud.

It's the second prototype unveiled by Honda at Eicma, the other being the RC213V-S.

Honda said in a press release:

'True Adventure Prototype

The second prototype on display is the True Adventure Prototype. Inspired by both Honda's fantastic heritage in adventure motorcycling and our recent Dakar programme, the True Adventure Prototype captures the product direction as Honda seeks to expand its presence in the Adventure segment. This prototype has been developed to deliver outstanding off-road capability, and could provide the basis of a true round-the-world motorcycle. It's flanked by the current Team HRC CRF450 Rally and, paying respect to Honda's competition legacy, the 1989 Paris-Dakar winning NXR Africa Twin ridden by Gilles Lalay.

No further technical details or information on either the road going RC213V-S Prototype or True Adventure prototype are available at this time.'