There’s a lot of thought that goes into the making of a touring bike. These motorcycles brave a number of different situations on a number of different terrains. There’s traffic to deal with, uneven highways, surprise visits from the rain gods. And on top of that, they’re also expected to cater to a rider who wants to do hundreds of miles at a stretch.
The engineers from our favorite brands have already thought of this, and they all strive to give us what we want with sport tourers. But at this point, brand image also comes into play. So, you have some bikes that lean more into the sport side of things, while some tourers bring you all the luxuries without whipping your head back in an aggressive launch. But there is one bike from Honda that seemingly manages to balance all of this. Then add the fact that Honda is also known for its durable engineering.
The Sport-Touring Sweet Spot
There’s nothing that can beat a super sport when it comes to outright speed and agility. On the other hand, nothing can hold a candle to a full-dress tourer’s comfort with its plushy seats, tech-laden dashboard, and liters of luggage space. But to join these two seemingly unconnected spaces, you have the sport tourer. Sport tourers usually tend to look like supersports, and they often perform like them, too, but their ergonomics ride a little bit closer to the touring bikes.
Now, the sport touring world isn’t new. You have machines like the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT, the Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX, the BMW 1300 RS, and even the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+. While the Tracer and the Ninja bring in more performance, the BMW leans towards technology, and the Suzuki brings you value for your money. But, in the end, they’re all chasing the same thing: the ability to carve corners while in the middle of a 1000-mile journey. This is where Honda enters the conversation.
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Meet The Honda NT1100 DCT
Powered by a 1,084cc parallel-twin, the Honda NT1100 is a little bit of a wild child. Styling, especially on the front-end, is a little wild since it looks like a maxi-scooter, and it doesn’t deliver outrageous performance like a supersport. On paper, the 100-horsepower figure is nothing to brag about, but it is solid. Torque spread is healthy with a predictable pump rising lower in the rev range. From there, it goes up predictably, too, and there is no spike to dull your senses.
Honda NT1100 Engine Specifications
|
Engine type |
Liquid-cooled, parallel-twin, four-stroke |
|
Displacement |
1,084cc |
|
Power |
100 HP |
|
Torque |
82 LB-FT |
|
Transmission |
Six-speed DCT |
One of the important features of the NT1100 is the dual clutch transmission. Picked up from the Gold Wing, the DCT shifts through gears automatically. However, you can shift manually with the buttons on the handlebars if you prefer more control. We’ll talk about this a little more below, but it brings an amount of relief in tedious city traffic while still being enjoyable on the highways.
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Gets Stability That Builds Confidence
The NT1100 is built on a steel frame suspended by a 43 mm Showa front fork and a rear monoshock, both with 5.9 inches of travel. There is a preload adjustment on both suspensions, and it is tuned more for balance and commuting rather than razor-sharp sportiness. Unlike a sportbike with its stiff suspension, the NT1100’s springs have a little more give. Riders of the bike often say that the NT1100 remains planted at highway speeds even when fully loaded with panniers and gear.
Key Chassis Specifications
|
Chassis |
Semi double cradle frame, steel rear subframe, aluminum swingarm |
|
Front Suspension |
43 mm inverted Showa SFF-BP front forks, adjustable preload; 5.9 inches travel |
|
Rear Suspension |
Pro-link Showa monoshock with gas-charged damper, hydraulically adjustable preload; 5.9 inches travel |
|
Tires (Front | Rear) |
120/70 R17 | 180/55 R17 |
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Brakes (Front | Rear) |
Dual 310mm discs with radially mounted four-piston fixed calipers | 256 mm disc with single piston caliper |
|
Dimensions (L x W x H) |
88.1 x 34.0 x 53.5 inches |
|
Wheelbase |
60.4 inches |
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Seat Height |
32.3 inches |
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Curb Weight |
547 LBs |
This becomes even more important the further you ride. The bike’s weight is carried low, and even if it’s not a super-light supersport, the NT1100 balances itself well enough to be called agile in the corners. Slow-speed maneuvers with your gear are also easier thanks to this lower weight distribution, making parking lots and highway stops easier to manage.
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The Honda NT1100 Takes A Practical Approach To Comfort
Starting with the riding position, the NT has managed to balance the laid-back stance of a tourer with an aggressive lean from a sportbike, giving us a manageable middle ground to play around with. On mountain corners, the slight lean forward allows for an engaging ride, while the slight upright posture allows for a more relaxed riding position when on long, boring straights. Talking of boring, the bike also comes with cruise control, so you don’t have to keep your wrist stiff on the throttle.
The seat is supportive, sure, but it’s large enough for you to shift seamlessly between the tucked-down corner carver and the upright tourer. To manage wind protection, the NT’s windscreen is large by itself, but it can still be adjusted to five different levels depending on your height and momentary riding style. Standard equipment includes the likes of a 6.5-inch TFT display, smartphone connectivity, and heated grips. Panniers can be optionally selected, and the large 5.4-gallon fuel tank reduces fuel stops for longer durations in the saddle.
The DCT Difference
The DCT system deserves its own spotlight, especially from the comfort point of view. Now, if you prefer, on the highway, you can exert your own control over the gears by using the buttons on the left switchgear. But even in automatic mode, the system shifts seamlessly by adapting to your riding style. If you’re cruising normally, the gears will shift as you would shift them. But if you ride a little aggressively and whack the throttle open, the gears will stick around longer, allowing you to reach those higher revs for better performance.
In the city is where the DCT actually shines. Normal conditions have the gears shifting automatically and seamlessly into the right position all the time, every time. In stop-and-go traffic, however, clutch work becomes an issue when you’re constantly grinding between neutral, first, and second. The DCT completely eliminates this since there is no clutch to work, so all you do is roll on the throttle when it’s time to go and roll off when you need to stop.
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The Honda NT1100 Is Built For The Long Haul
Honda has always been known for its long-lasting motorcycles. All four of the big Japanese brands, really. And the NT1100 tends to keep this tradition alive. The engine platform has already been proven in the Honda Africa Twin, another Honda bike known for its capability and durability. Service intervals are reasonable, and the build quality is solid, too, so on the surface, at least, there is nothing to worry about.
Owners of the NT1100 usually rack up miles on their motorcycles before complaining, and those complaints are usually limited to surface-level problems like corrosion on the paint or TFT screen failures. Overall, Honda has the reputation and the engineering to manufacture truly long-lasting machines, regardless of whether that calculation is taken from the time point of view or the distance point of view.
The Quietly Brilliant Tourer
Priced at a base MSRP of $11,999, the Honda NT1100 is one of those all-you-can-do bikes: a daily driver in the city, a corner carver in the mountains, and a tourer on the weekend. The ergonomics are balanced, wind protection is solid, DCT is brilliant in the city, and cruise control makes long journeys simpler on the wrist. NT does not just master one area and instead tries to be the jack of all trades. It won’t chase lap times on a track, and it won’t give you a luxury sound system for the highway, but it will tread that middle ground really well.
Sources: Honda