‘Sports tourers’ were a bit of a thing a few years ago. People seemed to love them, and there were plenty to choose from....
‘Sports tourers’ were a bit of a thing a few years ago. People seemed to love them, and there were plenty to choose from. Nowadays though, a lot of the folk that were into their ‘sports tourers’ yesteryear, are bombing around on adventure bikes. Everywhere you look, there are adventure bikes. Big ones, small ones and everything in between. I don’t know whether the market’s led the industry there, or it’s the other way round, but I’m fairly sure there’ll still be people out there that would like a good old fashioned sports tourer. And Honda obviously know it too, because that’s exactly what the all-new NT1100 is all about.
If you’re looking at the pictures and getting shades of Africa Twin, you’d be right to. The steel semi-double cradle frame is the same as that of the Africa Twin, as is the 1084cc SOHC parallel twin engine. You could argue it really is very Africa Twinny.
Twinny
And with it being so very Africa Twinny, as you’d expect, there’s the option to have it with DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission).
But it’s not a Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin, it’s a Honda NT1100. And you can see just by looking at the images that the NT1100 has a very different focus. It’s not an adventure bike. Honda are calling the NT1100 ‘a straightforward touring machine, but one with a rich specification and a sporty edge’.
So let’s dive into that rich specification, shall we? Electronics-wise, they‘ve been reasonably generous. You get cruise control, five riding modes (Urban, Rain, Tour, User1, User2) and three levels of both traction and wheelie control. It comes with heated grips, LED lights, and a charging socket as standard, as well as some decent sized paniers. The 6.5 inch dash is touch screen and has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity, so all your media and nav stuff is taken care of.
Leg over
With 100bhp and 104 Nm of torque, the Honda NT1100 might not be the sportiest sports tourer you’ve ever thrown your leg over, but what’s the rush? I already know the Africa Twin’s a great bike to go touring on, and this ought to be even better, so if you like touring, and you can’t see yourself getting lost in the woods and having to go off-road the new Honda NT1100 might be just the ticket.
And the best bit? The price! The standard NT1100 (without DCT, that’s an extra £1000) is £11,999. Alright, I know that’s still a lot of dough, but it’s over a grand cheaper than the cheapest Africa Twin (£13,049). It’s not going to float everyone’s boat, and if you prefer the aggressive looks of the Africa Twin (I think I do, to be honest), the NT1100 might not be your cup of tea. But if you want a comfortable, practical tourer, with a 20 litre fuel tank (good for 400km/250mi) a bit of snazzy tech and a nice low (820mm) seat, why don’t you see if you can book a test ride. They’ll be in dealerships in the new year.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.