EVERYDAY EXPLORER

Honda NT1100

WORDS: Ross Mowbray PHOTOGRAPHY: Honda Europe

Over the years Honda’s earned a reputation for its no-nonsense tourers with a focus on function over form. Its Deauville and Pan European might never have set the world alight, but they sold decent numbers to serious bikers who valued comfort, quality and reliability over any ego-driven desire to have the biggest or fastest machine on the market. But with the increasing popularity of adventure-focused all-rounders, the Japanese factory’s output of sensible fully-faired big miles motorcycles has fallen by the wayside – while the disappearance of the V4-powered Crosstourer 1200, as a result of increasingly stringent emissions regulations, has left an obvious gap in Honda’s extensive range. And that’s exactly why it’s just created a new, dedicated touring motorcycle: the NT1100.

Honda’s gone about this in quite a crafty way. It’s not started from the ground up. Instead, it’s nicked the tried and tested engine and frame combination from the hugely successful CRF1100L Africa Twin and added a whole host of touring-focused goodies for good measure. Standard equipment includes a 5-way height and angle adjustable screen; some wind deflectors; cruise control; heated grips; panniers; a 6.5-inch