The New Honda 24YM NT1100 - Europe’s Most Popular Touring Motorcycle

In a motorcycling landscape full of adventure-styled bikes many riders desire performance, handling, long range comfort, and technology but not necessarily the image or physical dimensions of ‘adventure’. In other words, what they want is a straightforward touring machine, but one with a rich specification list and a sporty edge to its performance – the sort of bike that deals with the weekday commute efficiently and usefully and is also ready for an extended tour, fully loaded.

The NT1100 is precisely that bike. Introduced in 2022 it’s designed to draw those with a long memory of similar Honda machines of the past, but also attract a much younger rider. Employing the frame and characterful twin-cylinder engine of the CRF1100L Africa Twin as a base, engaging performance is assured. But the NT1100 is also packed with features and technology that build and broaden any motorcycle’s appeal.

With this combination of performance and rich specification, it’s no surprise that the NT1100 was Europe’s most popular Touring bike in 2023 so far, with nearly 12,000 models sold since its introduction.

Adding to its wide-ranging appeal, Matt Blue Jeans Metallic and Candy Chromosphere Red join the perennially popular Matt Iridium Gray Metallic in the NT1100 line-up, with all three colours featuring a new Matt Ballistic Black Metallic coloured rear carrier.

3.1 Styling & Equipment

• Sleek styling offers excellent aerodynamic performance

• 5-stage screen height and angle adjustment plus upper/lower wind deflectors

• Panniers standard equipment, as are heated grips and cruise control

• 5-inch TFT touch screen includes Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto® and Bluetooth connectivity

• USB socket, centre stand and ACC socket as standard

 
The NT1100 has been designed, from the outset, as a sporting, agile bike but one that’s also enjoyable to ride all day with efficient, protective aerodynamics and easy-going ergonomics centred around rider comfort.

Styling is subtly sophisticated with straightforward surfaces that emphasise key character lines. Dynamic elegance front to back are the defining features of the design language of the NT1100. And of course, this motorcycle’s sleek form is also about function – aimed to elevate the quality of the riding experience.

Fitted as standard, upper and lower deflectors provide wind and weather protection around arms and lower body. The screen offers 5-stage adjustment for height and angle through a total 164mm between the high/low position. Set low, it sends air around the shoulders; set high it moves air over the rider’s helmet. Heated grips are standard equipment, as is cruise control.
 

3.2 Chassis

CRF1100L steel semi-double cradle frame and bolt-on aluminium subframe
Sharp steering geometry and high spec suspension front and rear
Showa 43mm inverted front forks and rear shock with hydraulic preload adjustment
Dual 310mm front discs and 4-piston radial-mount calipers
 

The NT1100’s underpinnings are well-proven and tough – the Africa Twin CRF1100L’s steel semi-double cradle frame and bolt-on aluminium subframe. To suit the all-round, sporting purpose of the NT1100, the off-road ready suspension of its sibling has been replaced by road-focused equipment matched to sharper steering geometry.

The 43mm Showa cartridge-type inverted front forks feature 150mm travel and are preload adjustable. Like the forks, the single-tube pressurised Showa rear shock offers 150mm axle travel; it uses a 14mm diameter rod. To make carrying a pillion and/or luggage easier spring preload adjusts hydraulically, and remotely.

The wheels are aluminium, fine die-cast with a sand core allowing a hollow hub centre for the front. An intersecting spoke design (with the spokes attaching to the rim diagonally) offers several benefits: it smooths road vibration in a straight line and offers high rigidity for cornering. Tyres are sized 120/70-17 front and 180/55-17 rear.

Wheelbase is set at 1535mm, with rake and trail of 26.5°/108mm and 175mm ground clearance. Kerb weight for the NT1100 with manual transmission is 238kg, 248kg with DCT.

Dual 310mm front discs are squeezed by lightweight, 4-piston radial-mount calipers. The rear 256mm disc uses a 1-piston caliper. All braking is ABS-controlled.

3.3 Engine

1,084cc SOHC 8-valve parallel twin-cylinder engine
Power and torque output of 75kW/104Nm
Intake and exhaust tuned to deliver smooth, powerful acceleration and pleasing low-rpm ‘throb’

The 1,084cc SOHC 8-valve parallel twin-cylinder engine is the well-proven unit from the CRF1100L Africa Twin, with peak power of 75kW @ 7,250rpm and 104Nm @ 6,250rpm peak torque. Compression ratio is identical at 10.1:1. Another shared feature is the 270° phased crankshaft and uneven firing interval.

Throttle By Wire (TBW) provides engine management and PGM-FI feeds the throttle bodies. Where the engine tune differs to the Africa Twin – and immediately noticeable to the rider – are the optimisation of both air intake duct length and muffler internals to produce a pleasing, low-rpm ‘throb’ and smooth, powerful acceleration married to relaxed highway cruising – perfect for the wide-ranging duties the NT1100 is built for.
 

3.4 Engine Electronics

3 default riding modes to choose from, plus two customisable USER modes
3-level Honda Selectable Torque Control
3-level Wheelie Control

TBW manages engine performance and character, plus Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) and Wheelie Control. There are 3 pre-set modes for the rider to choose covering a wide variety of riding conditions and 3 levels of management for Power and Engine Braking, with level 1 delivering the maximum of either parameter. For HSTC and Wheelie Control level 3 provides the highest intervention.

Mode selection is managed from the left-hand switchgear; an indicator in the instrument display activates when HSTC is working.

• URBAN is standard and offers an all-round middle setting of engine power and engine braking.

• RAIN reduces engine power and engine braking for extra reassurance on wet or slippery surfaces.

• TOUR gives full engine power and standard engine braking, for strong acceleration while carrying a pillion and luggage.

• USER 1 and 2 modes offer the ability to customise between the settings for the preferred combination. Once set, the USER setting is automatically stored so there’s no need to re-set each time the ignition is turned on.

 Accessories

There are a range of accessories tailor made ready for the NT1100, including quickshifter with autoblipper function, and aluminium cosmetic panels for the luggage. To make it easy for an owner to get their NT1100 the way they want it, 3 packs are also available (all items can also be purchased separately):

The Urban Pack has been developed to enhance the NT1100 commuter abilities and features:

• 50L top box with inner bag,

• comfort back rest,

• 5L tank bag.

The Touring Pack increases the luggage capacity of the NT1100, further strengthening the touring comfort and features:

• Rider/pillion comfort seats,

• comfort pillion footpegs

• fog lights.

The Voyage Pack is the ultimate accessory pack for the NT1100 and combines both the Urban and Touring Packs and features

• 50L top box with inner bag,

• comfort back rest,

• 5L tank bag,

• rider/pillion comfort seats,

• comfort pillion footpegs

• fog lights.

Other accessories available for the NT1100 include:

• 38L top box

• Parking lever and cover

• 3L Tank Bag

• Quick Shifter for MT version

• Aluminium pannier and top box panel

• Decorative stripes set