Honda NT 1100 versus BMW R 1250 RT
Honda NT 1100
BMW R 1250 RT
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
- Suitable for travel
- comfortable
- great standard equipment
- good handling
- rich road holding
- 1,000 km piece no problem
- luxurious seating comfort for driver and front passenger
- bearish engine with rich torque
- Side case a bit narrow
- Lens adjustable only when stationary
- complicated controls
- Fully equipped not quite cheap
- difficult > limited manoeuvring capability
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.240 mm Height : 1.340 mm
Seat : 820 mm
Weight : 238 (max: 447 ) kg
Length : 2.222 mm Height : 5 mm
Seat : 805 mm
Weight : 279 (max: 505 ) kg
Engine
Displacement: 1.084 ccm
Hub: 82 mm
Hole: 92 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 1.254 ccm
Hub: 76 mm
Hole: 103 mm
Cooling: Luft-/Flüssigkeitsgekühlt
Drive: Kardan
Performance
Performance: 102 HP at 7.500 U/Min
Torque: 112 NM bei 5.500 U/Min Tank contents: 20 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 400 km
Performance: 136 HP at 7.750 U/Min
Torque: 143 NM bei 6.250 U/Min Tank contents: 25 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 526 km
Chassis
Double-loop pipe frame Front suspension:
Showa 43 mm telescopic fork (travel 150 mm) Rear suspension:
Monobloc aluminium swingarm with Pro-Link and SHOWA gas shock absorber, hydraulic adjustment device (travel 150 mm)
Rear suspension:
Two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 120/70R17 M/C (58W)
Rear tyres: 180/55R17 M/C (73W)
Two-part frame concept consisting of main frame and rear frame bolted to it, supporting engine (steel) Front suspension:
BMW Motorrad Telelever, central strut, standpipe diameter 37 mm (travel 120 mm) Rear suspension:
BMW Motorrad Paralever; WAD shock absorber (travel 136 mm)
Rear suspension:
Aluminum cast single-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR 17
Rear tyres: 180/55 ZR 17
Brakes
2 brake discs, radial four-piston brake calipers (∅ 310 mm) Rear brake
Single disc brake (∅ 256 mm)
Double disc brake (∅ 320 mm) Rear brake
Single disc brake (∅ 276 mm)
Conclusion - what sticks
Honda's NT1100 invites you to travel and certainly appeals to many drivers of high age (as well as us) with its unagitated, elegant design. Well imaginable, for example, as a successful upgrade for drivers of an NC750 or similar and of course all Deauville and Pan European fans. All those who want to ride comfortably longer tours and want to rely on a comfortable, solid bike are certainly well served here. Whether it will be possible to appeal to younger drivers, we think is rather questionable. In addition to the joy of color, the NT1100 may also lack one or the other corner or edge or let's put it this way: It is not exactly peepy.
If you take it exactly, the selection of competitors of the Honda NT1100 is limited. After all, it really is a thoroughbred tourer and not a hybrid like an adventure motorcycle trimmed for roadworthiness or a crossover bike with the genes of a super sports car. Nevertheless, you could perhaps compare it with a Yamaha Tracer 9, Kawasaki's Versys or even a BMW 1250 GS if you want to go on a long journey.
The Honda NT1100 is available from 13,899 €, with DCT from 14,899 €. The additional equipment packages available cost 675 € (URBAN package), 965 € (touring package) or 1636 € (travel package).
The test bike was kindly provided by Motofun in Kaltenkirchen . So if you want to take a relaxed test drive, you can do that there.
Conclusion - what gets stuck
If a real travel tourer, then RT! But only if you stay on the street. The RT is completely unsuitable for gravel or terrain. But if you want to get from Hamburg to Munich as comfortably (and quickly?) as comfortably as possible, you will not only have fun on the BMW R 1250 RT, but will also arrive completely relaxed. Since the RT also has a gimbal drive instead of a chain, you don't have to do chain maintenance all the time.The numerous technical features including the QuickShifter may not be necessary, but they all work brilliantly and are especially easy to use. The loudspeakers at the front may look a bit like old men's bikes, but we have to admit: we used them and enjoyed it. But maybe we just belong to the typical RT generation ...
The test machine was provided to us by Bergmann & Söhne in Pinneberg - thank you very much.
