Hondas are known to be motorcycles that deliver value. This is true across not just its current range, but across the decades. At the same time, they have focused on being technologically advanced and reliable. Hard balance to walk, we know, but Honda somehow manages to churn out products year after year that exhibit all these characteristics.
Today’s Hondas are premium as well. There is a naked bike with rear suspension, usually seen on hardcore track bikes, and the flagship tourer has all the creature comforts you could possibly imagine on a motorcycle. Somewhere in the middle is a Honda that delivers that all-elusive premium feel without premium problems.
The NT1100 DCT Is The Honda Motorcycle That Delivers Premium Feel Without Premium Problems
The NT1100 is a relatively new entrant to Honda’s touring lineup in the US. It is a full-size sport tourer/crossover, and it is Honda’s only model of this kind (until the CB1000GT drops). It has a large engine and enough space and capacity to carry a pillion and two people’s luggage for a ride. At the same time, the platform is proven, both in terms of chassis as well as driveline. Which is why it is the Honda motorcycle that delivers a premium feel without premium problems.
Honda NT1100 DCT Price: $11,999
The NT1100’s price is one of its highlights. At under $12,000, it competes with middleweight tourers, despite this being a full-size motorcycle. It also has a premium feel to it, thanks to the feature set. Honda has given it safety features that help it scale back on the price while still keeping it safe for the rider and pillion.
Honda NT1100 DCT Engine
The NT1100 has a 1,084 cc engine that it shares with the Africa Twin and Rebel 1100. This is a 270-degree parallel twin with a Unicam SOHC head that makes it shorter than a DOHC head, but it still runs four valves per cylinder. It puts out 100 horsepower at 7,500 RPM, and 82 pound-feet at 5,500 RPM. That difference in revs between the power and torque peaks shows how flexible the engine really is. It doesn’t chase a high power figure but instead focuses on a big spread of torque.
Honda NT1100 DCT Transmission And Final Drive
The NT1100 is available exclusively with the six-speed dual clutch gearbox. Yes, this is also identical to the ones on the Rebel 1100 and Africa Twin, although its feature set is more like the former. You get shift points that change with your pace if you leave it to its own devices, and you can take manual control if you like with paddles on the handlebars. There is no ‘G switch’ like there is on the Africa Twin. The chain drive is chosen as the final drive, like the other two.
10 Best Touring Motorcycles For Relaxed Weekend Rides
Tour in total comfort with these 10 top-rated sport and full-dress touring motorcycles, built for big miles, smooth rides, and stress-free weekends.
Honda NT1100 DCT Chassis
The NT1100 has a double downtube frame. This is an offbeat choice for an on-road bike, but the NT makes it work. The front suspension is 43 mm separate function inverted forks from Showa, with nearly six inches of travel. At the rear, a Showa single shock offers the same travel. There is a preload adjustment available at both ends, with the rear offering tool-free adjustment. There are twin 310 mm brake discs at the front with radial four-piston Nissin calipers. At the rear, there is a 256 mm disc with a single piston caliper. 17-inch alloy wheels and tarmac-biased tires are in line with the concept of the NT.
Honda NT1100 DCT Dimensions
The NT1100 is 88 inches long, with a 60.4-inch wheelbase. That makes it big enough for a rider and pillion. The seat is fairly high, at 32.3 inches, but it isn’t much higher than a regular street bike’s seat despite the long-travel suspension. The 547-pound curb weight is okay for a tourer, although it gets lighter as the 5.4-gallon fuel tank empties out.
Honda NT1100 DCT Features
Honda has given the NT1100 a judicious choice of features. It doesn’t go overboard, but it certainly makes it feel like it is a premium motorcycle. Despite the price, it has now been updated with a six-axis IMU for the 2025 model year, so it gets Honda’s full safety suite, including traction control (HSTC), wheelie control, rear wheel lift mitigation, and cornering ABS. Heated grips are standard as well.
The 6.5-inch TFT display is a touchscreen, and it has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. That means Bluetooth and navigational capability. The separate LCD screen below it shows the speed, distance to empty, the gear selected, and warning lights. The accessories list has a lot of luggage options, and the option of a single key to operate all the luggage as well as the motorcycle.
10 Touring Bikes That Work Surprisingly Well In City Traffic
Here are 10 touring bikes that have ‘Tour on Sunday, commute on Monday’ vibes.
Honda NT1100 DCT Competition
Since we’re talking about the Honda motorcycle that delivers a premium feel without premium problems, we’re going to have to stick to Hondas. The brand’s bikes are usually trouble-free, and you’ll find it difficult to find a troublesome Honda tourer, right from the NX500 right up to the Gold Wing Tour DCT. There is a Honda that is comparable to the NT in price, although it belongs to a different style of motorcycle.
The Rebel 1100T is based on the Rebel cruiser, and adds a fork-mounted ‘Batwing’ fairing and saddlebags. It is also available with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and it shares its driveline with the NT1100. It does have less power, at 87 horsepower, and it also has a smaller, non-touch TFT display that doesn’t have Apple CarPlay. However, it remains trouble-free, and for the price, it is quite premium enough.
Honda NT1100 DCT Vs Honda Rebel 1100T DCT
|
Model |
Honda NT1100 DCT |
Honda Rebel 1100T DCT |
|
Price |
$11,999 |
$11,599 |
|
Engine |
270° I2 |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
1,084 cc |
1,084 cc |
|
Power |
100 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
87.1 HP @ 7,250 RPM |
|
Torque |
82 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM |
72.2 LB-FT @ 4,750 RPM |
|
Curb Weight (wet) |
547 pounds |
498 pounds |
Source: Honda Powersports