2025 Honda NT1100 DCT

  When some riders see the letters DCT, they roll their eyes and ask, "Oh, isn’t that the automatic bike?”

My response: No – it is a Dual Clutch bike. It can do all the shifting for you. It does not have a clutch lever. But, its paddles are much cooler than those on your pickleball court. Ride it before you comment further.

I have ridden Honda’s DCT machines. A good deal, racking up almost 10,000 miles on these machines in the decade and a bit. NC 700, Africa Twin, VFR 800, and Gold Wing. I came very close to buying an Africa Twin DCT for my own ride a few years back. When you get it, on its very quick learning curve, you see how the DCT works so well, in so many situations. Not all, but most.

Like all things, there are pluses and minuses. But let's talk about this machine in particular. The NT1100 was introduced in 2021, specifically for the European market, where it quickly became one of the most popular motorcycles on the continent.

This year, the machine got a major upgrade in Europe, and Honda has now brought the NT1100 to the USA.

Here on this side of the pond, it is only available in the DCT version and in Pearl Hawkeye Blue. 

Honda has a very specific market in mind for this bike – basically, the very demographics that make up the bulk of our readership. The 40s till whenever riders, who are looking for a capable touring machine that will offer day long comfort, and still be able to bring a devilish smirk to the rider’s face while blasting through the mountains and along the backroads.

Every motorcycle has competition at which the manufacturer will be aiming when bringing the new entry to the market. With the NT1100 I would think it would be the GSX-S1000GX+ ($19,000) and the Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ($19,500). If these were famous action film actors, the Suzuki, with that beast of an engine, would be Jason Statham – bad ass and very rough around the edges. The Kawasaki is a very smooth bike; so Bond, any James Bond (‘cept Roger Moore). The Honda would surely be a Denzel Washington character. Solid, quiet, and polite – but going to get the job done every time. 

Never underestimate Denzel, and at a base price of just $11,899, you will have enough money left over for popcorn.

The NT1100 is basically a re-worked Africa Twin. Don't think of this as a bad thing, as I said, the Africa Twin came very close to having a permanent home at Backroads Central. The 1,084cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine and the NT's frame are borrowed from the Africa Twin, but the geometry and suspension are more road-worthy than trail-bound.

The engine is controlled by three different power modes - Rain, Urban, Tour, plus two other User Settings that can be customized for power, engine braking, and traction control. 

Look-wise, this machine could not be more different from its brother ADV machine. The fairing and tail design are very sleek and use DURABIO, a bio-based engineering plastic that provides toughness and other features required for motorcycle bodywork parts. Interestingly, DURABIO can be given a glossy, sophisticated look just by adding colorants. The added value given by the ability to eliminate the conventional painting process was a major factor in the decision to adopt DURABIO for this application, marking its first use for paintless bodywork for motorcycles.

The blue on this bike is very striking, and they have two other colors available in Europe. The one they call Ash (more of a champagne) is beautiful and should be in the States as well. Just saying.

This machine had the optional saddlebags that will add another $1,200 to the base price. A matching top case can be had too, but they work well, can each hold a full-face helmet, and do not detract from the looks in any way. The entire package is very sharp.

The NT1100 uses the same TFT instrument screen as they have on the Africa Twin, and it can utilize Apple CarPlay, or Android – both of which are great for music, or phone calls – but don’t get me started on apps for GPX files, or that the TFT takes 15+ seconds to fire up. Every time you start the bike. Many TFT-equipped motorcycles do this, but most take perhaps 5 seconds to cycle through. I was in a hurry one day, and it was like having to watch 10 movie trailers before the main feature.

Most of the TFT screen can be controlled by the right and left switch units. The right on the NT1100 is very doable. The left has 16 separate buttons. Will you learn all these controls? Maybe. I had this bike for a few weeks and got semi-good around these switch units – but it is not, in any way, intuitive; and none of these buttons can work the suspension, which was only "hard to get past issue," with this otherwise super "Play Every Position but Pitcher” machine.

The European model now has electronically controlled suspension, and all the adjustments that go with this. Hmmm? I am not a suspension sorcerer, and I understand that, to offer this machine to the American rider at such a juicy price, concessions had to be made…

That being said, I did turn up the preload (the only adjustment) on the rear, a few clicks, and that leveled the bike out for my slightly beefy frame. This sorted most of the light feeling in turns, and for riders just looking to have a great weekend of riding, or for day-to-day commuting, the NT1100 as is, will more than fit the bill. There is always the aftermarket, and even if you felt you needed to turn your Gentleman's Sport-Tourer into a wanna-be track bike, you still will have some serious weight left in your wallet. That being said, the NT1100 DCT comes shod with Dunlop GPR-300 tires, which work fine, but a set of Dunlop Roadsmart IV tires would not have broken the bank, and would make the bike's feel and flavor go from decent to great - more confident never hurts.

For the average rider, under 6 feet, this bike's riding position is perfect. Taller riders might feel a bit cramped, and I had to stretch out every few hours. The stock seat is an all-day affair.

On the road, once the suspension was somewhat sorted, and I was set with a custom User mode with lots of power, engine braking, and 50% traction control, the NT1100 settled in nicely, and tighter sections of road became far more charming. Adding to the long-range capabilities of the Honda is the fact that it comes standard with an adjustable windscreen, cruise control, and heated grips, and carries enough fuel to go 175 miles between fill-ups.

When you add all this into the mix, and it's very alluring entry fee, I can see why Honda would sell so many of these machines in Europe – and they probably will do the same in the US as well. 

Just to put that savings into order, with that $7,500, you can buy a Honda Grom, a Martin D-28 acoustic guitar, and 100 + Hot Wheels.

That's substantial, and who isn’t happy now?

Be aware to the fact that this is not just an old guy’s weekend warrior, but a perfect bike for younger riders with tighter budgets that are looking for a great all-around machine that has plenty of power, good handling, and all-day comfort. Couples who just bought that first house? Well, the NT1100 would look very nice in that semi-attached garage next to the Subaru. Just hope the wifey doesn't have too much of a crush on Denzel.