Japanese motorcycles have been known to be really usable. However, sometimes there are examples that allow for both fun and usability. This might not seem like a big deal for a small commuter motorcycle, but when it comes to touring motorcycles, it becomes really difficult to be usable on a daily basis. That’s because you need a tourer to be stable at highway speeds when a semi thunders past.
And then, you need it to be powerful enough to lug two humans and their luggage up a steep slope without running out of puff. All of that might make it a handful to ride in city traffic. What if we told you there is one Japanese tourer that can do all this really well? Before you call us cuckoo, here’s the Japanese tourer that leads its class in real-world usability.
The Honda NT1100 DCT Is The Japanese Tourer That Leads Its Class In Real-World Usability
The NT1100 is a crossover/sport tourer-type tourer. It has inspiration from models such as the Africa Twin, which means it is both full-size and tough. And finally, it has inherited the Africa Twin’s driveline… including its automatic gearbox. This combination of upright seating position, 17-inch wheels, long-travel suspension, and a torquey engine, coupled with an automatic gearbox, all make it eminently usable in the real world.
Honda NT1100 DCT Price: $11,999
One of the best things about the NT1100 is its price. Honda has done a brilliant job making use of its parts bin to keep costs down. The result is a price that is a dollar under $12,000. For reference, all the premium middleweight sport tourers and adventure tourers cost more than this – and the NT1100 doesn’t need to dip into the accessories list to be a complete bike for touring, it has a selection of equipment that is standard, and that makes life easier for the owner/rider.
Honda NT1100 DCT Engine
The NT1100 borrows the engine from the Africa Twin. This engine also powers other models like the Rebel 1100. You get 100 horsepower at 7,500 RPM and 82 pound-feet at 5,500 RPM. This is a 270-degree parallel twin with Honda’s patented Unicam SOHC head that makes the engine shorter and therefore, the seat slightly lower as well. It runs a fairly normal 10.5:1 compression ratio, which might make the low power figure seem surprising, but the torque is spread thin across the rev range. There is a by-wire throttle with ride modes, traction control, and cruise control.
Honda NT1100 DCT Transmission And Final Drive
The ‘DCT’ in the name means that the NT1100 has Honda’s now-familiar six-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. This is once again borrowed from the Africa Twin, but here it follows the path of the Rebel. You can slot it in D and let it shift by itself – the shift points change as per the riding. Or you can take manual control and shift with paddles on the left handlebar. Like the other two models powered by this driveline, a chain final drive is chosen to transmit the drive to the wheel.
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Honda NT1100 DCT Chassis
This is a semi-double cradle frame, which has been borrowed from the Africa Twin. The frame is usually more suited to off-road work, but Honda makes it work really well for tarmac as well. It is such a versatile frame that Honda also developed a café racer on it. In the NT, it has been paired with 43 mm inverted SFF-BP Showa forks with adjustable preload and 5.9 inches of travel.
At the rear, Honda’s Pro-link linkage system locates the single shock. It too has an adjustable preload and an identical travel to the front. As befits a sports tourer, it has 17-inch alloy wheel rims. The front brakes are twin 310 mm discs with radial four-piston fixed calipers, while at the rear, a single 256 mm disc with a single-piston caliper is enough. ABS is standard.
Honda NT1100 DCT Dimensions
The NT1100 is a full-size bike, with an overall length of over 88 inches. The wheelbase stands at 60.4 inches, and the ground clearance is 6.9 inches. That comes at the cost of the seat height, which measures 32.3 inches. A 5.4-gallon fuel tank is present, and with full fuel, the curb weight is 547 pounds.
Honda NT1100 DCT Features
The NT1100’s feature set won’t blow you away, but it is a thoughtful set of things that help make owning and riding it so much easier. There’s a 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen display, equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there is Bluetooth connectivity and sat-nav as well. There is also a separate small LCD below it that shows critical information, so you can keep the TFT screen showing you only directions without losing out on knowing how fast you’re going. There is a manually adjustable windscreen as well.
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Honda NT1100 DCT Competition
There are some very desirable motorcycles in this segment and price range. The BMW F 900 XR and Triumph Tiger 900 GT come to mind, but they are European. From Japan, there is only one real competitor to the NT1100, and that is the Yamaha Tracer 9. This costs just $500 more than the Honda, but it is a middleweight.
It has a twin-spar aluminum chassis, a six-axis IMU, a higher horsepower figure, and a full electronics suite to justify the premium. It definitely is nimble and light enough to also be usable every day, although the aggressive footpeg positioning can get uncomfortable on a day-long ride. However, the Honda’s automatic gearbox and extra space for the pillion catapults it to first place when it comes to real-world usability.
Honda NT1100 DCT Vs Yamaha Tracer 9
|
Model |
Honda NT1100 DCT |
Yamaha Tracer 9 |
|
Price |
$11,999 |
$12,599 |
|
Engine |
270° I2 |
Crossplane I3 |
|
Displacement |
1,084 cc |
890 cc |
|
Power |
100 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
119 HP @ 10,000 RPM |
|
Torque |
82 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM |
68.6 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM |
|
Curb Weight |
547 LBs (wet) |
483 LBs (wet) |
Source: Honda Powersports