Why This Honda Might Be The Perfect All-Around Touring Motorcycle Today

There was a time when touring motorcycles were designed solely for one purpose: touring. Every feature aided in making mile-munching comfortable for the occupants. But today, there are touring bikes that can do it all. You can tour, corner, sprint, and even go for those quick grocery runs on a fully fledged touring motorcycle. Among this lot, one fairly new Honda stands out as the most exciting do-it-all offering, hitting all the right spots.

This motorcycle is powered by an engine derived from a dune-bashing ADV, a variation of which is also used on a cruiser bike. The technology suite is impressive, considering its affordable price tag, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. However, the one feature that puts it in the spotlight is its transmission system, which unlocks a new dimension of riding comfort.

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The 2025 Honda NT1100 Is The Perfect All-Around Touring Motorcycle Today

Despite being a very new entrant in America, the Honda NT1100 is causing quite the commotion for its impressive do-it-all character. It is a futuristic-looking touring motorcycle equipped with advanced technology and a range of accessories to make mile-munching comfortable and enjoyable. It surpasses the norm of being “just” a touring bike, excelling as both a sporty corner carver and a cozy, slow-riding urban runabout. Several factors come into play, making this Honda a perfect one-garage motorcycle. One of these is the platform and engine sharing.

Powered By A Parallel-Twin Engine That Is Versatile And Tractable

Capacity: 1,084cc

With 100 horsepower, the NT1100 boasts an impressive price-to-power ratio. It is powered by the same parallel-twin mill found on the Africa Twin and the torquey Rebel 1100, albeit with a more relaxed and touring-focused mapping. The 1,084 cc twin is famed for its versatility, and it lives up to its tractable nature on the NT1100, as peak power and torque are produced relatively early at 7,500 RPM and 5,500 RPM, respectively.

This early surge of performance helps keep the engine understressed and vibrations at bay, significantly improving the touring experience. Meaty low- and mid-range torque is what gives this touring bike its peppy urban and relaxed touring performance curve. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a game-changing dual-clutch 6-speed gearbox and a final chain drive.

Speaking of which, the dual-clutch transmission has a coveted spot among Honda motorcycles. In fact, Honda produces the highest number of DCT-equipped bikes. The 6-speed DCT here combines the best of both worlds. The scooter-like twist-and-go motion helps this mile-muncher be a comfortable urban runabout. Plus, with your hands and feet free from clutch and foot shifter motion, this becomes a significant perk for the bike’s relaxed riding nature. For those who remain adamant about labeling this transmission as “boring,” Honda offers a manual mode, too. This utilizes ergonomically positioned paddle shifters on the right side of the handlebar.

Advantages Of DCT Transmission On A Motorcycle

• No stalling
• Reduced fatigue
• Improved fuel efficiency
• No hand clutch and foot shifter
• Elevated low-speed maneuverability, handy in steep hill situations

Engine Specs

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Underpinnings That Add Agility And Sportiness To The Package

A Chassis That Is As Versatile As The NT1100’s Engine

Elevating the NT1100 DCT’s versatile character further is its chassis. The mainframe is shared with the Africa Twin ADV and the Rebel 1100 cruiser. Even a drool-worthy (and forbidden) café racer from Honda packs a version of this chassis. Transforming this versatile mainframe into a touring-ready package on the NT1100 involves modifications such as a tweaked rake and trail, road-focused 17-inch rims and tires, and a shorter, stronger bolt-on subframe to accommodate the weight of the luggage solution. Suspension duties are handled by long-travel inverted front forks and a rear monoshock, both of which offer preload adjustability only. Braking duty is courtesy of dual discs up front and a single disc at the rear.

Hardware Specs

Packs A Lot Of Features For Under $12,000

A TFT + LCD As Standard

The cockpit of the Honda NT1100 features a crisp 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen, providing access to features such as standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It offers Bluetooth connectivity, allowing the rider to access messages and receive calls. It also features a calendar function that helps you plan events effectively. The instrument cluster layout is similar to the one seen on the Africa Twin. A slim LCD is located below the TFT, showcasing vital information such as speed and fuel level.

Safety And Assistive Features

At the heart of its comprehensive safety and assistive suite is a six-axis IMU that enables all sensors and equipment to communicate seamlessly. For example, the throttle-by-wire system controls engine power delivery. It works in conjunction with Honda’s Selectable Torque Control system and wheelie control to prevent the front from lifting, even during aggressive acceleration.

Another instance is the Cornering ABS and Rear Lift Control working together on the NT1100. There are three preset riding modes available (Urban, Rain, and Tour), as well as two user-configurable modes. The latter can be configured according to the rider’s demands by adjusting the levels of power delivery and engine braking.

Accessories

Honda offers a wide range of accessories for the NT1100 touring bike, most of which are designed to enhance its capabilities as a touring machine. The stock NT1100 is barebones, but considering the price tag of under $12,000, there are no complaints whatsoever. For an additional $2,350, you can equip the 2025 Honda NT1100 with all its available touring accessories. All accessories offered with the US-spec Honda NT1100 are listed below.

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Which Honda Touring Motorcycle Do You Think Offers The Best Bang For Your Buck?

The Honda Gold Wing is a legend in its own right, which, in turn, has cultivated a notion that Honda knows how to make touring motorcycles. There are multiple iterations of it available in the U.S. (seven of them at the time of writing this), but there’s also the NT 1100 that comes with a DCT. Priced at less than half the moolah of the Gold Wing, it seems quite practical unless you are heavily into cross-country touring. But, if you were shopping for a Honda Touring motorcycle, which one would you go for? Which of these do you think offers the best value for your money? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. 

A Comfortable Touring Bike For Couples

The NT1100 has a touring-focused rider triangle. The rider sits relaxed and upright, courtesy of a tall and wide handlebar and footpegs positioned just below the rider. It features a scooped seat with a narrower front section, allowing the rider to comfortably reach the ground when stationary. This also helps the rider sit “in” the motorcycle rather than “on” it. This, coupled with its adjustable touring windscreen, helps dodge windblast with ease. This Honda is also a comfortable touring bike for the pillion, courtesy of a spacious passenger seat. Add Honda’s optional touring solution (more details below), and the pillion also receives cozy back support.

For A Practical Touring Motorcycle, This Honda Is A Looker

With A Futuristic And Well-Proportioned Design And Dimensions

The Honda NT1100 boasts a distinctive design language that sets it apart from all touring bikes currently available. The body panels are well-proportioned, with dimensions that strike a perfect balance between this Honda’s sporty and practical outlook. Its blended half-fairing is made out of plastic to save weight; specifically, a biodegradable Durabio plastic for the betterment of the environment.

The only gripe we have with the design is the disproportionately angled muffler. However, this had to be done to clear space for mounting its accessory side cases. So, an example of function over form right here. The seat height is 32.3 inches, and the 6.9-inch ground clearance gives the rider a commanding stance. Honda also offers an optional 32.6-inch accessory seat for taller riders.

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A cool visual feature that many will seldom notice on this touring bike is a unique wind deflector positioned just below the 5-step adjustable visor. It extends across the width, till the handlebar ends like a wide “U”. Coming to colors, the NT is only available in a single shade of Pearl Hawkeye Blue in the United States. However, it’s more vibrant across the pond, with the EU-spec NT1100 being offered in two additional shades—Gunmetal Black Metallic and Matte Warm Ash Metallic.

Dimensions