The most versatile touring motorcycle

‘Versatility’ is often a buzzword used by motorcycle manufacturers to describe their latest model, but too often it’s just lip service to something that customers want but can’t meet on a limited budget. However, versatility is a quality that touring motorcycles need. That’s because to tour comfortably, you need a motorcycle that can handle everything from a full day on the highway to rush hour traffic, as rides will involve cities at some point.

Bonus points for the tourer if it proves to be fun when the road starts to curve, and if it can carry a passenger and luggage without much complaint. Oh, and if it could do all this without costing an arm and a leg, that would be great. It may seem like we’re asking the impossible, but the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer believes something like this shouldn’t cost the moon. That’s why it gets our vote as the most versatile touring motorcycle.

To give you the most current and accurate information, the data used to compile this article comes from authoritative sources such as Honda Powersports.

The Honda NT1100 DCT is the most versatile touring motorcycle

Price: $11,899

There are some very good touring motorcycles available these days. There’s so much to choose from – the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ can be a great replacement for a sports bike when you’re touring. The likes of the BMW R 1300 GS have no equal when it comes to exploring the unknown. And if you’re on a budget, the Moto Morini Calibro 700 Bagger will give you a great budget experience.

The NT1100 hits the sweet spot

What the NT1100 DCT does is live in a good place where you get great comfort, enough safety for peace of mind, great value and reliability that is off the charts. And these are accompanied by features such as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the dual-clutch automatic transmission with manual control, which allows you to find your way without worry, wherever there is a road.

It may be a full-size sports tourer/crossver, but the NT1100 DCT actually costs less than the Tracer 9 thanks to some intelligent choices from Honda. You’re left with a less complicated motorcycle that follows the old adage: ‘the less there is, the less that can go wrong’. At the same time, it has everything you need and you won’t miss anything that isn’t there. This combination of great prices and features that don’t leave you feeling like Honda has cut corners is what makes the Honda NT1100 DCT the most versatile touring motorcycle.

Why we chose the Honda NT1100 DCT

• Full-size tourer for mid-priced money

• Automatic gearbox makes it usable during rush hour

• Good feature set

• Decent safety features

Honda NT1100 DCT engine

Automatic gearbox is the highlight

The NT1100 shares its drivetrain with the Africa Twin adventure bike. Unlike the Rebel 1100, it has the same tone as the Africa Twin. This is not a lazy engine; Honda simply didn’t see the need to provide a lot of horsepower for a motorcycle that doesn’t need a high top speed, so it focused on torque delivery instead. It hasn’t stopped the electronics; the by-wire throttle allows three HSTC levels, three wheelie modes and a total of five riding modes, including two user-configurable.

The automatic transmission’s default mode is ‘D’, which prioritises smoothness and efficiency. The ‘S’ mode has three levels to choose from, with each mode becoming more aggressive than the last. The NT1100 lacks the ‘G switch’ of the Africa Twin, but that is understandable given the application of the NT. There are other full-size tourers available with automatic gearboxes, but they cost twice as much as the NT1100. And for the price of the NT1100 you can get a tourer with a two-way quickshifter. However, this Honda has no real competition in its current form due to the combination of dual-clutch automatic gearbox and price.

Honda NT1100 DCT engine specifications

Honda NT1100 DCT chassis

Standard fare, but it works

The low price of the NT1100 can undoubtedly be attributed to the fact that it adopts many components from other Honda models, especially the Africa Twin. The chassis is the same semi-double cradle frame, but as expected the suspension is different. At the front are Showa SFF-BP inverted forks and at the rear there is a Showa linkage-type monoshock. The preload is adjustable at both ends, but hydraulically at the rear. The brake sizes are identical to those of the Africa Twins, but unlike the adventure bike, these are not wave discs. 17-inch alloy wheels serve with tubeless tires at both ends, and ABS is standard. For all its visual size, the NT1100 isn’t much heavier than the Africa Twin, which is commendable.

Honda NT1100 DCT chassis specifications and dimensions

Honda NT1100 DCT features

Practical list

Honda hasn’t thrown everything and the kitchen sink at the NT1100, and it’s a better product for it. Front and center is the large 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen shared with the Africa Twin. It has both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The NT1100 also retains the small LCD screen that is separate from the TFT display, which houses the warning lights, and which displays, among other things, the speed and gear indicator.

The NT1100 has undergone a restyling and from the front looks much more like one of the big scooters than anything else. The windshield can be manually adjusted to five different positions and can be changed in both height and angle. Other standard equipment includes color-matched hard luggage, heated grips, cruise control, self-switching indicators, a USB charging socket and a center stand.

Honda NT1100 DCT competition

Good, versatile options

The NT1100 DCT has a number of very strong brands that it can compete with. The Tracer 9 GT+ and BMW F 900 XR are extremely sporty touring cars. A left-wing but still worthy choice is the Triumph Tiger 900 GT. These are all equipped with a manual gearbox and offer a two-way quickshifter as standard, or at least as an option. They also offer much more performance than the NT1100, as they are mid-sized motorcycles. Where the NT1100 stands out is when you need to take a pillion with you, and the automatic gearbox makes it ‘automatically’ the best in traffic, especially with the panniers removed.

Honda NT1100 DCT vs Rivals