The Best New Sport-Tourer Under $12K Isn’t European And Doesn’t Need A Clutch Lever
Over the past few years, we have seen several budget-friendly sport touring motorcycles getting launched. In many ways, this is in response to the growing ADV trend. While adventure bikes promise incredible versatility, this kind of versatility often requires some level of compromise in terms of long-distance comfort. If you are going to stick to paved roads, a more dedicated touring bike will always be the more sensible, pragmatic choice.
A More Affordable Way To Enjoy Motorcycle Travel
The comfort-oriented ergonomics of an adventure bike, and the tall, commanding riding position have become desirable characteristics. Unfortunately, 21-inch/18-inch spoked wheels and knobby tires, on the other hand, are not always ideal for touring. Even the most dedicated adventure enthusiast will admit that they will only actually use the bike off-road around 10 to 20% of the time. For them, those wheels and tires are still necessary, but for other riders they are far from ideal. Spoked wheels are heavy, knobby tires wear out fast, and the handling is obviously compromised.
This is precisely where the current crop of affordable sport-tourers step in. You get the same comfortable ergonomics associated with adventure bikes, just with more street-oriented suspension setup, and of course, road tires. All the bikes competing in this space offer different levels of specification and sporting potential. Some offer a genuinely dynamic riding experience, but the bike in question leans more towards “affordable luxury.”
The Honda NT1100 DCT Offers Comfort And Convenience On A Budget
MSRP: $11,999
Not long ago, there was a growing sentiment within the industry that Honda motorcycles were getting a little overpriced. Over the past few years, the Japanese brand has sought to remedy this by releasing a series of value-oriented machines, and out of all these budget-friendly options, it is the NT1100 that might well offer the most bang for your buck. By utilizing an existing platform, Honda is able to offer this full-sized, feature-rich tourer at a price point that undercuts most middleweight alternatives.
The NT1100 Has A Reliable Crossplane Twin
Power: 101 Horsepower
The Unicam 1100 engine has been around for quite some time now, and has proven exceptionally reliable. Every Honda motorcycle comes with a certain level of expectation in this respect, and it is fair to say that none of the models equipped with this crossplane twin have let anyone down. In terms of overall power output, 101 horsepower may not seem like a lot for an engine of this displacement, but the more relevant figure is the 83 pound-feet of torque. It delivers a substantial bit of midrange punch, and certainly has more to offer than the spec sheet might suggest.
Honda Has Bet Big On Automatic Motorcycles
For the US market, Honda made the decision to only offer the DCT version of the model. This helps keep costs down, but it is still a little divisive. Some buyers will naturally be put off by the fact that there is no manual option, but if a DCT makes sense anywhere, it is on a touring bike. It doesn’t just take the effort out of long rides, but it also makes the bike that much easier to ride through town. Honda has really bet big on automatic motorcycles being the future, offering at least one in each motorcycle segment. The DCT, in particular, has been in production for several years now, is well calibrated, and very much the finished article.
The NT1100 Is An ADV In Disguise
One of the main reasons why we went on and on about adventure bikes, is because the NT1100 is basically an Africa Twin with a different set of plastics, and different wheels. This is both a good thing, and a bad thing. By sharing this platform, Honda is able to keep production costs down, and we get a sport-tourer at a discounted rate, but it is also pretty heavy (547 pounds) for a bike that is supposed to be sporty.
Its chassis was designed to handle the rigors of off-road riding, and is not exactly ideal for a tourer. Suffice to say you need to temper your expectations in terms of corner carving ability, and while Honda has done a fairly good job of papering over the deficiencies of the chassis with respectable Showa suspension, that is not what this bike was designed for. This is a bike that is expressly designed for comfortable long-distance touring.
It comes packed with an IMU-enhanced electronics suite which enables lean sensitive traction control and cornering ABS. It also gets a 6.5-inch TFT dash with smartphone connectivity, ride modes, cruise control, heated grips and an adjustable windshield. Pretty much everything you would ever want comes as standard for under $12k, but there is something that is rather conspicuous in its absence.
Not Quite The Complete Package
The only real elephant in the room is the missing luggage. The NT1100 is certainly not the only budget-friendly touring bike that doesn’t come with luggage as standard, but we do wish Honda at least offered another trim instead of “encouraging” buyers to check an expensive options box. Checking that box would also diminish the value proposition significantly, and while there are aftermarket solutions available, they are not exactly cheap either.
For some, not having luggage built into the price might be a deal-breaker, but it shouldn’t be. There is a reason why the bike sells so well in Europe, and that is because, no matter which way you look at it, the NT1100 still offers incredible value. While there are certainly more sporty alternatives in this space, those bikes don’t fare half as well with a passenger. There are also more affordable options, which have luggage, but those bikes are not half as comfortable.
It is just such a fantastic all-rounder that it is pretty easy to overlook any perceived, or real shortcomings. You also get the peace of mind that comes with owning any Honda product, and that is an underrated feature for a bike that will be used for travel.
Source: Honda Powersports
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