Updated for next year is the 2025 Honda NT1100 and the Honda NT1100 ES sports tourers. As the nomenclature implies, the NT1100 ES comes with Showa electronic suspension designed to improve handling and long range comfort.
Using the same engine as the recently released Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin, the NT1100 comes with a 1,084 cc, SOHC, eight-valve, parallel-twin engine. Power output is identical to the Africa Twin, with 102 hp at 7,500 rpm with a peak torque of 112 Nm at 5,500 rpm.
The airbox intake ducts go from 25 mm diameter to 33 mm, to draw in more air, while the two internal trumpets that feed air from the airbox are 65mm longer. With twin spark combustion chambers, the inlet assembly, and the bore and cylinder pitches are aligned to deliver a smooth air intake profile.
Like the Africa Twin, the NT1100 gets Honda’s revised Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) gearbox. This gives three gearbox modes with ‘MT’ for manual shifting of gears using the handlebar switches, ‘D’ for city and highway riding with full automatic operation and ‘S’ that allows the engine to rev higher up the range and downshift sooner for increased engine braking.
The NT1100 gets a new six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), centrally located amidship in the chassis. With throttle-by-wire, the NT1100 gives the rider five riding modes to choose from, three preset – Urban, Rain and Tour – along with two user customisable modes, along with three levels of power deliver and engine braking.
The NT1100 also gets new bodywork – partially constructed from bio-degradable Durabio plastic – has been redesigned with a more aggressive look. Turn signals are omitted, now combined with the LED DRLs to give the NT1100 a more ‘functional’ face.
The screen has been completely redesigned and riders can now raise or lower it one handed while seated on the bike. With five-stage adjustment for height and angle, the screen moves a total of 167mm between high and low positions.
Rider comfort is improved with a wider, thicker seat with denser seat foam, while seat height remains the same at 820 mm. The pillion seat is also wider for increased comfort, plus extending rearwards by 20%.
Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment (Showa-EERA) is now available as an option, allowing the rider to select urban ride comfort, high speed touring stability or precise response in the rain at the touch of a button. Optimised for use on the NT1100, the system takes input from the bike’s ECU, IMU and fork stroke sensor to provide optimum damping force relative to the stroke speed.
The standard equipment panniers are bigger in volume, 37 litres on the right and 36 litres on the left, each pannier capable of holding a full-face helmet. Weight for the NT1100 is listed at 238 kg while the NT1100 with DCT weighs 248 kg, and choosing the electronic suspension option adds another kg.
