Honda NT1100
Based on the ever-popular Africa Twin and supposedly capturing the spirit of past greats like the Deauville and Pan European, there’s a lot to live up to...
I gnore the drizzle grey paint and whiff of tweed. With sensible aesthetics giving the new NT1100 the appeal of a five-hour neighbourhood watch meeting in the village hall, we need to look at it differently. So imagine the capable, popular Africa Twin adventure bike converted into a supermoto, with 17-inch wheels, roadfocused suspension and more low-down punch. Only with luxurious accommodation and an adjustable screen, rather than cheese wire disguised as a seat. Now add slick panniers, all manner of easy-life widgets, and attach a price tag that undercuts… well, pretty much everything. Sounds a damn sight more appealing, doesn’t it?
First impressions are that the NT1100 feels remarkably like the bike it’s based on. The seat’s wider and plusher, the chassis sits a little lower and there’s a broader feel yet, initially, it’s a distinct taste of Africa Twin that cuts through. But with miles the NT reveals its own flavour… There’s an imposing sense of size but the 1100 isn’t physically bigger than the Tracer, and it’s more agile and easier to hustle than expected. Though low-revving, thumpy and short geared next to the Suzuki, the 1084cc twin is full of torque – turn the electronics off and it does violent off-the-throttle first gear wheelies. But it’s ride quality that makes the NT stand out. Gone is the leggy feel of the AT, replaced by a softly sprung, sumptuously damped set-up with the best ride quality here. Being biased towards giving comfortable progress rather than razor handling doesn’t mean sogginess, though. On a late evening dash home
on cold, dark B-roads with damp patches lurking in the shadows, the Honda is superb. Its suspension is supple, handling is accurate and light, the chassis is utterly composed. It doesn’t feel like it’s 238kg. The punchy motor is an easy-to-use treat (with a pleasing deep rumble), and its 52mpg average is the highest here. The NT has great headlights too, plus perhaps the warmest heated grips. And with a large screen, generous seat and natty deflectors for your hands and feet, the Honda is all-week comfy too. It’s thanks to its height – and this is something that shouldn’t put you off. ‘The Suzuki and Kawasaki are equally upright and their ’bar width and angle is similar to the Honda,’ notes Hugo. ‘What’s different is your legs. The NT – and to a lesser extent the Tracer – have taller seats but feel like they have lower ’pegs, and a correspondingly relaxed knee bend makes them easier on your limbs over distance. You’re trading seat height for knee bend.’
Honda being Honda means most of the small-yet-important stuff is right. The centrestand is easier to deploy than the Yamaha’s, its easy-fit panniers highlight how clunky and obstinate Kawasaki’s are, the heated grips are lovely, and overall presentation makes the Suzuki feel a bit lacking. Other bits are hit-and-miss: though the screen is excellent, the
‘Imagine the Africa Twin converted into a supermoto... but with panniers’
pull-and-shove adjustment feels crude and doesn’t allow on-the-hoof alteration. There’s the hint of an off-on throttle step in Touring mode (but not in Urban or Rain), and though it’s obviously due to having two cylinders you notice more footpeg tingles on motorway slogs than with the Tracer or Ninja SX. But for me the greatest annoyance – as with the AT – is caused by the needlessly complex lefthand switchgear and mildly befuddling display. And two separate buttons, one on each side of ’bars, to adjust the heated grips? Was this really the best solution? Hugo sums up the NT as, ‘very Honda, easy to just get on and ride, utterly capable, maybe a bit bland’. And he’s right. All the others are more exciting, be it on paper, to gawp at in your garage or to ride. And yet something about the Honda lets it creep under your skin. It’s so chuffin’ easy to get the best of, whether trudging across a city, swinging down a back lane or thrumming on a motorway, and is the best mile-muncher. And with cruise, heated grips, phone connectivity, centrestand, panniers, five-height screen, self-cancelling winkers, traction and modes and even a remote preload knob, the NT packs a hell of a lot in for £11,999 – the cheapest here. Always ride two-up, fond of spur-of-the-moment laps of Scotland, or simply want the greatest value? Buy the ‘onda and be very happy.
‘Transport two people and a weekend's clobber in calm comfort, or whoop while misbehaving on a B-road’