With the rise and rise of the adventure bike, one rather strange phenomenon has become apparent. Several riders end up buying one of these bike ADVs and never actually take the thing off-road. While there is nothing expressly wrong with this, it does seem a little pointless in the sense that any bike designed to go off-road will be somewhat compromised on it.
If that will indeed be the primary use case for your motorcycle, getting a more dedicated touring bike makes so much more sense. If you like the ADV design aesthetic or the commanding riding position of an ADV, there are actually a few adventure-style tourers to choose from. But one stands out as an ideal choice for weekend getaways.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Honda. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
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The Honda NT1100 Is Built For Weekend Getaways
MSRP: $11,999
One of the reasons this bike is so affordable is that Honda certainly didn’t need to break the bank in terms of research and development. The NT1100 is essentially an Africa Twin with different fairings and 17-inch wheels. In this competitive space, it is about as close as you can get to an adventure bike without actually buying one. There are, however, some sporty alternatives.
At first glance, the Yamaha Tracer 9 might seem a fair bit more expensive, but in reality, it is priced much closer than you might think. The Tracer gets luggage as standard fitment, and a far more dynamic twin-spar aluminum chassis that makes it a genuinely fun sport tourer. What it doesn’t have is an automatic transmission, yet. Yamaha has already launched the Y-AMT transmission in other markets, and it will only be a matter of time before it arrives in the US.
Triumph also recently came out with the more powerful Tiger Sport 800. It is priced competitively and is the only bike competing in this value-based space with a new engine. The BMW F 900 XR is also a pretty good alternative, and offers pretty much all the same features you will find on the other bikes, except for cruise control. Unfortunately, BMW chose to leave this rather important feature behind a paywall.
The Trusty Unicam Twin-Cylinder Engine
Power: 101 Horsepower
This larger displacement Unicam parallel-twin was first seen on the Africa Twin and Rebel models. It was updated back in 2020, with the displacement increasing to 1084cc. Although there was an incremental power gain, this was most likely simply done to help comply with emissions restrictions. The NT1100 arrived shortly after in 2022 and has been selling so well throughout Europe; Honda could no longer ignore the US market. While the 101 horsepower is not much compared to the competition, it offers solid midrange performance and a more than solid 83 pound-feet of torque, which comes in handy when you are traveling two up.
The DCT Revolution
Like pretty much every other Honda powertrain in production, it has proven to be reliable since day one. But that isn’t what sets this tourer apart from the crowd. The DCT splits opinion like nothing else in the industry. All we can say is that it is here to stay, and it offers riders a more convenient option, and is especially useful in a tourer like the NT1100. Unfortunately, unlike the European model, the US version only gets DCT, so if you don’t want an automatic, you don’t want the NT1100.
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The NT1100 Offers Impressive Value
Purists may lament the fact that this only gets the DCT transmission, but we feel that it is a shrewd move from Honda. By only shipping the bike with one transmission option, the overall costs are greatly reduced, and that is part of the reason why the bike is so affordable. It is also worth mentioning that the same purists who hate automatic motorcycles are likely the same purists who hated ABS and traction control, and now own bikes with both safety nets.
Naturally, those safety nets come standard here, too, as well as a 6.5-inch TFT dash with smartphone connectivity, ride modes, cruise control, heated grips, and a tall adjustable windshield. For the money, this is a very high-spec motorcycle, if you are willing to ride an automatic, or at the very least, willing to learn to live with it.
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A Budget-Friendly Feel
If you do happen to take delivery of the base model with no Honda-approved options, the first thing you will notice is the fact that it doesn’t come with any luggage. While this is a common practice at this price point, luggage is one of those features most riders shopping for a touring bike have come to expect. Especially when almost all the marketing suggests the bike comes with color-matched saddlebags (pictured above).
It is a stark reminder that you are buying a budget-friendly motorcycle, and that is not the only giveaway. Its ADV-sourced chassis might be robust, but if you push it too hard on a canyon road, it will be found out. This is especially frustrating for a bike that is supposed to be a sport tourer, but if that is what you are after, then there are certainly better options.
Obviously, any bike built on a budget will have its limitations, but for the NT1100, the pros certainly outweigh the cons. If you are looking for a reliable bike that will take the stress out of riding, and maybe life in general, over the weekend, this is a great option. It is easy to see why the model has been so popula,r as it simply promises comfort, ease of use, and great value.
Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications
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Chassis |
Steel semi-double cradle frame |
|
Front Suspension |
43mm inverted Showa SFF-BP fork (5.9-in travel) |
|
Rear Suspension |
Pro-Link Showa single shock (5.9-in travel) |
|
Weight |
547lbs |