In my quest to find a butt-friendly Honda motorcycle, I took out the NT1100 in its DCT form.
If you know me then you know already that DCT and I have never crossed paths so this test ride was not only trying the biggest bike in cc, 1100 of them, but also to have my first ever try of DCT.
Was it an 1100 cc twist-and-go scooter?
I took the same route I took on the Transalp last time with one small change in that I went to the park where I took the Transalp photos as my first stop after filling up with petrol, to show you the steep hill that I did not on the Transalp video as the camera battery died.
I quickly realized that DCT in “S” for the sport I think, is a better option as the “D” setting holds the engine right back, smoothing out the ride which is good in slow traffic, chugging the engine quiet a lot as it holds in 6th gear even at low speeds like 30mph.
Is it a twist-and-go Scooter?
Well, it has the obvious elements in that you can pop it in “D” and twist the throttle and erm… go.
But you have the option of Sport mode and fully Manual using the two paddles on the left hand to “manually” change gear. So it is not completely an 1100 cc Scooter.
The Exhaust note is really good, a deep thumping affair, which my friend Gary who asked to pop by and see it agreed.
Much like the NC750X I am considering upgrading from, the riding position is more on the handlebars than the Transalp, which is a bit higher and easier on the wrists, which made me feel that the NT1100 would be the natural progression from the NC750X with the Transalp being a different option.
In the video below I cover what I think are all the bases I, and probably most of you, would encounter on our daily usage and I am happy to say that the seat is the most comfortable of all three.
Did the seat sway me to upgrade?
So did I like the DCT?
After about 30 minutes or so I rode the NT1100 via DCT, not missing the gear lever and clutch.
On the final run home down the back roads like I did on the Transalp I had forgotten I was on a DCT.
The “S” mode was my favorite giving me a riding style I like, with excellent engine braking
Do I like it? Well, I don’t distrust it anymore and could grow to like it if I swapped the NC750X for it.
Motorway riding was solid and more than enough in the engine to cope, but that is the same for the NC750X and Transalp. All three are great motorway motorcycles.
So did I swap it for the NC750X?
I am still pondering all three, keeping the NC750X or the Transalp or now the NT1100 and in a few days I will make my choice and put a new post here with a new video explaining my choice.
I want to thank HGB Motorcycles for all their patience, guidance and advise in allowing me to compare the Transalp and NT1100 to my NC750X.
It has been an eye-opener and if I could I would have both the Transalp and Nt1100 but unfortunately I can only have one.
I wish you well and safe journeys
DC x