Honda NT1100 Review
Honda NT1100 review by Wayne Vickers, Images by RBMotoLens
Honda has a shiny new tourer in its arsenal with the arrival of the new NT1100. Based on the successful Africa Twin platform, but with rims sized for ripping up the tarmac instead of the trails, it also has some height lopped from its stance for better road manners and is all wrapped in smart touring clothes. It should be quite the thing and I was pretty keen to throw a leg over the new NT.
![The Honda NT1100 weighs in at 248 kg in DCT trim, 10 heavier than the MT](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6403--1024x683.jpg)
Now part of my regular test routine for bike reviews involves a commute to the city office. At a bit over 110 kilometres, each way, so it’s a decent trek.
![Power is 75 kW at 7,500 rpm](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6351--1024x683.jpg)
While the first open road and highway section sails by, the last 20 km into Melbourne takes over a third of the elapsed journey time, crawling, multi-lane highway followed by the inevitable CBD traffic light shuffle.
While not exactly the most exciting riding in the world, it does highlight any deficiencies when it comes to fuelling via minor throttle inputs, as you need to match traffic speed and filter through whatever gaps you can find.
![Torque is 104 Nm at 6250 rpm](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6353--1024x683.jpg)
I mention that because for the NT1100, that city traffic is where we kicked off. I picked the bike up around lunchtime and made my way back to the office, then legged it home for the evening commute.
Unfortunately it wasn’t a great way to start our relationship. The NT is definitely not in its element in slow traffic. Truth be told – I said several unpleasant words inside my helmet. The problem is not the size of the bike, the handling, the engine or brakes.
![Seat height on the NT1100 is 820 mm](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6331--1024x683.jpg)
My frustration is primarily the throttle and fuelling. At constant or part throttle, particularly at low revs, it hunts badly. Lurching from slight acceleration to old school big-twin deceleration. Crawling along in traffic at 20-25 km/h – it’s not nice. It completely dominates the riding experience in stop-start city traffic. Unfortunately it’s only exacerbated further in the standard D (Drive) that you will likely start out in with its ridiculously low shift points.
![The TFT display was somewhat confusing, with a backup LCD](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6262--1024x683.jpg)
It has you in sixth gear before you get to 60 km/h, which barely sees that tacho get above 2000 rpm. At those revs it gets a bit chuggy, noisy and rattly down low.
Sports mode is where it’s at, with three variations of better shift points available. S1 being the least aggressive, S3 the most aggressive – all much better out on the open road than D.
![The DCT offers two settings, D Mode or S Mode, with the latter offering 'sports-based' shifting](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6248--1024x582.jpg)
The downside is that all of the modes still get a bit confused in traffic occasionally, and you’ll find yourself resorting to using the paddles now and then.
You do also get the option to adjust power maps, engine braking and TC settings, but for that you have to engage with what is one of the most unintuitive switch-gear and dash design set-ups out there.
![Left switchblock on the NT1100](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6249--1024x541.jpg)
Switch-gear example? The heated grip activation required pressing buttons on both left and right hand clusters, neither of which gave any indication that they were for heated grips, you just have to keep pressing buttons ‘til you stumble across it… And what do you reckon that star button is for? Guesses in the comments perhaps…
Dash wise – the little circular displays for the power, engine braking and TC on the dash. If the thick blue line is one-third the way around the circle is that full power or one-third? What about engine braking? Turns out it’s the opposite of what you expect. ‘Full’ power and engine braking is actually when the display shows one-third… and it drops as the display moves around to full… And unless you’re actively using the integrated Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, the lower LCD dash is a bit pointless given that it just repeats the same info from the main screen.
![The adjustable screen in action](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-Screen.gif)
I don’t use that stuff normally so it was completely wasted, maybe I’m the odd one out and everyone else does these days?
I do get a bit OCD about dashes and switch-gear. In reality it’s not a show stopper and you’ll get to know where everything is (I did after a couple of thousand kays), but I do think some manufacturers tend to overlook the part of the bike that you look at when you’re actually using it…
![There's even a handbrake!](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-HandBrake.gif)
Back to modes. While there is an ‘Urban’ and indeed a ‘Rain’ mode that are a bit less snatchy, they also each run progressively lower power maps. Soooo… no thanks, what’s the point of having a lovely engine if you aren’t going to use it.
So I found myself settling for one of the customisable ‘User’ settings with full power and minimum engine braking and TC. That was the best way to minimise the snatchy fuelling without hobbling output.
![Cruise control is standard, as are slim panniers and heated grips](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6409--1024x775.jpg)
Those things aside however, once you get out of town with time to appreciate the bike’s strengths out on the open road, there’s actually a fair bit to like about the NT1100.
The engine is smooth and strong once past 2000 rpm, making solid power. Smooth is the key word here. Once past say, three and a bit thousand revs, it’s just lovely. Silky smooth power and it purrs along at just under four thousand at highway speeds.
![Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) and Wheelie Control are run](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6359--1024x683.jpg)
At just on 100 horsepower it’s no rocket ship, not when it’s pushing 250 odd kilograms along (10 kg less with the regular gearbox). This is a bike to enjoy at more of a sedate pace (which makes the part throttle fuelling issue even more bewildering).
The DCT shifts quickly and smoothly, though the first to second shift can be a little noisy. It also delivers a rewarding pop from the exhaust when down-shifting from higher revs.
![Other features include USB socket, centre stand and ACC socket as standard](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6316--1024x683.jpg)
Sport mode on the open road is quite enjoyable – auto down-shifting under braking in particular is nicely dialled in. Quite a nice exhaust note for a stocker too, it sings along quite happily at highway speeds.
I thought the weather protection was excellent too, I found myself in some fairly serious rain more than once and that big adjustable screen, winglets for both your hands and feet, along with that generous front fairing did a nice job of keeping as much moisture off me as possible. I did find it a little distracting seeing a reflection of the front indicators in the winglets though.
![The screen offers 5-stage adjustment for height and angle through a total 164mm between the high/low position](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6405--1024x683.jpg)
Speaking of the front screen, I need to call out that they’ve managed to design one that you can actually clean the back of quite easily, which seems a bit rare these days. So they get some design points back there.
Pillion accommodation and luggage also sees some more design wins, with lovely quality luggage platforms and panniers, quick to take off and put back on. There are generous grab handles for your significant other or whoever is sitting in the silly seat too.
![Panniers on the NT1100](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-Panniers.gif)
Plus it has a smattering of the usual features that we expect for these types of bikes – including cruise control, heated grips, those great panniers, a centre-stand that’s fairly easy to lift on and off, and two charge points for your do-dads.
The rider’s seating position is quite comfortable – as you’d imagine it should be. Though I felt that the seat itself was probably firmer than it needed to be. For a bike that’s arguably meant to do big kays, I was wanting to get off and stretch a bit after only an hour and a half.
![Radial mounted four-piston brake caliper are run on 310mm floating double disc](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6411--1024x852.jpg)
Which is a bit odd, as it’ll manage a comfortable 400 kilometres from a tank. I was averaging 4.9 L per 100 km on my combined commute cycle. So you could easily log up big kays in a day without any fuss.
![Showa 43mm SFF-BP type inverted telescopic fork with dial-style preload adjuster, 150mm stroke](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6308--1024x615.jpg)
Suspension is okay. Not amazing, not bad. A little underdone in terms of damping plushness, but it does have an effective remote pre-load adjuster for the rear, which does make a noticeable difference. I backed it off a little from standard, which removed a little harshness. So make sure you have a play with that if you nab a test ride.
Handling wise, it’s certainly set-up more at ‘stable’ than agile. Honda market it as a Sports-Tourer, but I didn’t find it so. Certainly not compared to others on the market that I’ve ridden recently or the long departed VFR1200F. I found it much more at home as a ‘Relaxed Tourer’.
![SHOWA gas-charged damper, hydraulic dial-style preload adjuster](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6420--1024x683.jpg)
While it’s perfectly pleasant and predictable at steady touring speeds, I found the front end getting vague mid-corner, with a tendency to run wide if I tried to hustle it along. I suspect a set of sportier rubber with a more pointed profile may have a positive impact on that front.
![Different rubber may benefit the NT1100's handling](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6298--1024x683.jpg)
So, where does that leave us. Well, in its current state it seems like it’s not as good as it could be, almost as though it’s not quite finished. Which surprises me from the Big H as they’re normally solid. I’ve owned more Honda’s in my life than any other brand. Actually… I’ve owned more Hondas than all other brands combined now that I think about it.
There’s a good bike in there that needs letting out – arguably all the mechanical work is good, it’s just the electronic stuff that is tripping it up… That fuelling would be the first thing on my list to get sorted.
![Electronics seem to be the main area holding back the NT1100](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6301--1024x934.jpg)
It’s not bad on the open road, but people ride them through towns too. With that sorted via a Power Commander or similar, a slip-on thrown on to liberate a little more twin cylinder aural delight, some decent rubber on it – and it would likely be transformed.
![Cockpit view from the NT1100](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6381--1024x683.jpg)
I like the NT1100 because:
- Nice roomy tourer with plenty of weather protection.
- The new 1100 cc donk makes deceptively good smooth power and purrs along on the open road.
- I still like the DCT in sport and manual mode.
![2022 Honda NT1100 Review](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6283--1024x683.jpg)
I’d like the NT1100 more if…
- That snatchy fuelling at low revs and part throttle needs sorting.
- The whole switch-gear and dash set-up needs rethinking.
- DCT ‘Drive’ mode shift points need work, still.
![2022 Honda NT1100 Review](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6253--1024x683.jpg)
2022 Honda NT1100 Specifications
2022 Honda NT1100 Specs | |
Engine | Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 8-valve Parallel Twin with 270° crank and uni-cam |
Displacement | 1084 cc |
Bore x Stroke | 92 mm x 81.5 mm |
Compression Ratio | 10.1:1 |
Max. Power Output | 100.5 horsepower (75kW) at 7,500rpm |
Max. Torque | 104 Nm at 6,250rpm |
Fueling | PGM-FI electronic fuel injection |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 20.4L |
Clutch Type | Wet, multiplate clutch |
Transmission Type | MT: 6-speed Manual Transmission, DCT: 6-speed Dual Clutch Transmission |
Final Drive | Chain |
Type | Semi double cradle |
Suspension Front | Showa 43 mm SFF-BP type inverted telescopic fork with dial-style preload adjuster, 150 mm stroke. |
Suspension Rear | Monoblock aluminium swing arm with Pro-Link with SHOWA gas-charged damper, hydraulic dial-style preload adjuster, 150 mm axle travel. |
Tyre Front | 120/70R17 M/C |
Tyre Rear | 180/55R17 M/C |
ABS System Type | 2-channel ABS |
Type Front | Radial mounted four-piston brake calipers, 310 mm floating double discs |
Type Rear | Single piston caliper, 256 mm single disc |
Dimensions (L´W´H) | 2240 mm x 865 mm x 1360 mm (low screen position) |
Wheelbase | 1,535 mm |
Caster Angle | 26.5° |
Trail | 108 mm |
Seat Height | 820 mm |
Ground Clearance | 175 mm |
Kerb Weight | 238 kg – MT, 248 kg – DCT |
Instruments | 6.5inch TFT Touch Panel Multi information display & secondary LCD meter |
Connectivity | Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
Additional Features | 5 Riding Modes |
![2022 Honda NT1100 Review](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6289--1024x683.jpg)
![2022 Honda NT1100 Review](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6287--1024x683.jpg)
![2022 Honda NT1100 Review](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6286--1024x683.jpg)
![2022 Honda NT1100 Review](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6292--1024x683.jpg)
![2022 Honda NT1100 Review](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6400--968x1024.jpg)
![2022 Honda NT1100 Review](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6413--1024x683.jpg)
![2022 Honda NT1100 Review](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Honda-NT1100-RbMotoLens-DSC_6339--1024x683.jpg)