Testing Honda’s NT1100 in Yellowstone: A Real-World Ride Through the Wild
A Sensible Bike in an Insane Place
There are motorcycles that chase lap times and others that prioritize comfort. And then there’s the Honda NT1100, a bike that looks like it was built by sensible engineers who finally snapped and said, “Fine. You want fun? Have some.”
On paper, the NT1100 is a practical touring bike. In practice? We sent it through Yellowstone National Park and over the 10,947-foot Beartooth Pass to find out if Honda’s button-shifting tourer can handle the real world, and the wilderness.
What Is the Honda NT1100?
It’s not an ST. It’s not a VFR. Honda called it an NT, a name that nods back to the NT650 Hawk. A bike beloved for its blend of a dirt-bike motor and GP chassis. And that DNA shows up again here.
The NT1100 is built on the Africa Twin chassis, only it ditches the dirt wheels for 17-inch cast wheels and drops the seat height by 3 inches. Powered by the 1084cc parallel twin and matched to Honda’s DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission), this machine is automatic, or manual, if you choose to override it.
The Ride: Yellowstone to Beartooth
This wasn’t a showroom floor test. We loaded the NT1100 with camera gear, strapped in for the long haul, and headed into Yellowstone. We dealt with traffic, high elevation, sweeping curves, sketchy weather, and enough altitude to make your blood thin.
And it handled almost all of it brilliantly.
- In slow-moving park traffic, the DCT was a blessing. No clutch juggling, no gear hunting, just smooth progress and relaxed hands.
- At altitude and over high-speed sweepers, the bike felt planted and confident.
- It absolutely comes alive in fast corners, diving into bends with confidence thanks to the sporty geometry and that long Africa Twin swingarm.
Handling and Suspension
Ride it at 6 or 7/10ths and it’s hard to fault. But push harder and cracks appear:
- The suspension is underdamped and undersprung, with only preload adjustments.
- You’ll want to ride smooth to avoid upsetting it, especially over broken pavement or at pace.
- The brakes are decent, but feel like they’d benefit from a pad upgrade—Sintered pads would be my first mod.
Touring Tech & Ergonomics
The NT1100 is loaded with thoughtful features:
- Heated grips, cruise control, a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wired only, my wireless adapter), and massive saddlebags.
- A 5-position adjustable windshield that’s awkward to change mid-ride and never felt quite perfect. I left it on the lowest setting most of the time.
- A seat that’s surprisingly comfortable, even for long-haul days.
- Lots of buttons, over 20, on the bars. Once you learn them, it’s fine. But until then, it’s a cockpit that feels closer to launching a satellite than a motorcycle.
How It Compares
The NT1100 shares a lot with the Tracer 9 GT, Versys 1000, and even reminds me of the early Multistrada 1200s. And that’s high praise.
It’s not the lightest or fastest, but it blends real-world usability with just enough attitude to keep it fun. Like those early Multis, it’s a bike that doesn’t make sense on paper, but just works when you ride it.
Pros
- Incredibly stable and planted at speed
- DCT is a game-changer in traffic and on tour
- Comfortable seat and excellent wind protection
- Real-world practical: saddlebags, CarPlay, cruise
- Great value for the price (~$12,000)
Cons
- Underdamped suspension limits hard riding
- Too many handlebar buttons
- Windshield is tricky to adjust and never quite “perfect”
- Wired CarPlay only
- Footpegs and bars may feel slightly forward for shorter riders
Final Verdict
The Honda NT1100 isn’t your typical track-day toy or canyon-carving hooligan. It’s a grown-up’s motorcycle—a bike for riders who’ve been there, done that, and want to get there again with comfort, control, and a bit of unexpected flair.
It’s faster, smoother, and lazier than you’d expect—and I kind of love it for that.
If you’re looking for a Honda NT1100 real-world review, this might just be the most honest one you’ll find. Because if a sensible sport-tourer can survive Yellowstone and Beartooth Pass, it can probably handle whatever you throw at it.
[…] it pointless unless you’re a hypermiler. Sport mode, on the other hand, worked really well on the NT1100, especially when riding at 6 or 7/10ths pace. You’re nearly always in the right gear, and you can […]