Famous models
You can argue endlessly about which is better, a cardan chain or a belt. But only powerful motorcycles of significant cubic capacity are usually equipped with a cardan drive, since this unit itself is expensive to produce, and besides, it “eats off” part of the power from the engine when transmitting torque to the rear wheel. Therefore, it is installed specifically on expensive equipment, powerful and responsive, and of various classes, from cruisers to sports tourists. But some manufacturers began to gradually abandon it - for example, Yamaha has no longer produced choppers with a cardan drive for the last fifteen years, preferring belts, but at the same time retains the FJR 1300 cardan sport tourer in its lineup. This type of drive can be seen on Honda motorcycles on the VFR 1200 sports tourer and on the famous Gold Wing GL1800 tourer. Suzuki still puts it on its cruisers (Boluevard M190R, Boulevard C1800), but Kawasaki abandoned it a long time ago. In the USA, most belt-driven motorcycles are produced, for example, all Harley-Davidsons.
What to prefer?
It all depends on your personal tastes. Many motorcyclists believe that a chain on a solid bike looks frivolous, forgetting that all heavy-duty sportbikes are equipped with it. But a cardan made from “honest iron” is considered extremely reliable , and there is some truth in this, and it does not need to be serviced often. But modern belt drives also do not require frequent maintenance, while having a huge resource, up to 30-50 thousand kilometers or more! Therefore, when choosing a bike, you don’t need to focus on any particular type of drive.
All models with a cardan shaft have one thing in common - a huge service life and high reliability . But many owners believe that nothing will happen to the cardan, and reduce its maintenance to regularly changing the oil in the gearbox. This should not be done, since even the most reliable part requires attention. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the oil seals and boots that protect the shaft from dirt entering the bowels of the mechanism, it is necessary to check the condition of the splines on it (in the place where it connects to the gearbox and gearbox), and also clean and lubricate it from time to time. This is a rather labor-intensive operation that requires hanging the motorcycle and removing the rear wheel, so many bikers simply forget about it. And in the future, this can lead to a reduction in service life and possible breakdown, so when servicing your steel horse, you need to be guided by the manufacturer’s manual, and not your own opinion.
Above you will find a complete list of motorcycles on a cardan with reviews of them and reviews from owners.
New sports-touring motorcycle Honda NT1100 (2022): all details and photos
The CRF1100 Africa Twin platform has been reincarnated as a sport-touring motorcycle in the style of the mega sought-after CBF1000 road bike - the Honda NT1100: it has everything you need to start touring immediately, right out of the box. Officially introduced! Photos, technical specifications and features.
MOTOGONKI.RU, October 21, 2022 — Looking ahead, I would like to immediately share the good news: the Honda NT1100 should appear in the Russian model range in the spring of 2022, which significantly fuels interest in the motorcycle. Honda Motor RUS plans to announce the price closer to the start of sales, but not earlier than December.
Honda NT1100 (2022)
So, outwardly this is a typical sports tourist. But internally it is Honda Motor Co. decided to implement all its developments in the field of Adventure tourism and comfortable tourism, previously implemented in Africa Twin, Adventure Sports and Gold Wing GL1800 Tour.
Honda NT1100 (2022) - for motorcycle touring with a full load
The Honda NT1100 is built on the basis of the CRF1100 platform - on the frame, subframe, swingarm, engine and Africa Twin control electronics set, but with less running, road suspension, lightweight alloy wheels, different geometry, weight distribution, super comfortable fit and an extensive fairing. Also, the characteristics of the 2-cylinder in-line engine with a volume of 1084 cc have been changed. 102 hp/104 Nm: a different intake and exhaust system, reconfiguration of gear ratios in the manual transmission (there is, of course, a version with DCT) should make the ride on the NT1100 much smoother.
Honda NT1100 (2022) in Mat Iridium Gray Metallic color as standard with panniers
Honda presents the only complete set of the motorcycle - the basic and at once the most complete, including a set of two side cases with a capacity of 65 liters, Cruise control, heated pilot grips, a USB socket, a 12-volt cigarette lighter socket and a huge 6.5-inch control panel display with all integrated communication and multimedia systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
But three additional packages of accessories have already been officially announced, which can be installed both in the cabin and independently - on standard mounts:
Honda NT1100 (2022) in Mat Iridium Gray Metallic color as standard with panniers + touring package
In addition to the basic 33- and 32-liter side panniers, Honda is offering a center pannier and a tank bag, first announced in the press release.
Honda also has interchangeable comfort seats and seats with backrests for the passenger and driver.
Honda NT1100 (2022) - comfortable seat with backrest in URBAN Pack
URBAN PACK is a 50-liter central case, 4.5-liter tank bag and backrest.
TOURING PACK is a set of comfortable seats and fog lights.
VOYAGE PACK is URBAN + TOURING: a trunk, comfortable seats with a backrest, a tank bag and fog lights. Also, comfortable footrests for the passenger.
Honda NT1100 (2022): inner bags are offered as an accessory for panniers
Main characteristics and features
Yes, this is a traditional motorcycle for motorcycle touring and for every day, as we are used to seeing the classic Honda models - Deuvile and CBF1000, but with new capabilities.
Honda NT1100 (2022): engine and frame from 2022 Africa Twin CRF1100
The frame here is steel with the same power subframe as on the Africa Twin, but with modified steering column geometry and a shorter Showa inverted fork with 43 mm diameter stays. The rear shock absorber has hydraulic spring preload adjustment using a remote control knob.
Honda NT1100 (2022): powerful 4-piston Nissin and Metzeler Roadtec 01 tires
Brakes are dual 310mm discs with Nissin radial 4-piston calipers at the front and a 256mm disc with 1-piston caliper at the rear. The use of Nissin calipers in the configuration implies premium quality and high quality equipment. The motorcycle is also equipped with Metzeler Roadtec 01 tires, providing unrivaled grip even in the coldest and rainiest conditions.
I first became acquainted with these tires at large journalistic tests organized by Pirelli and Metzeler in the spring of 2016, just before the start of official sales. Read here: the most complete test drive of Metzeler Roadtec 01
— About nanotechnology and how I stopped being afraid of rain.
Honda NT1100 (2022): Africa Twin engine with modified characteristics for road touring
The engine in the Honda NT1100 is the same as the Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin and Adventure Sports, as well as the new Honda Rebel 1100 bobber we tested in July. But it features a new exhaust system that's heavier to create a less aggressive rumble to move comfortably throughout the rev range. Honda promises that this engine sounds absolutely amazing at low end. And I believe this, because in the case of the Rebel 1100 they really used some kind of terrible magic to make the pilot get goosebumps from these microvibrations, not visible or felt by other road users.
Honda NT1100 (2022): large muffler can for a more comfortable sound
Engine power is only 102 hp. with 104 Nm of torque, but in the case of the Africa Twin and Adventure Sports this does not prevent you from maintaining a pace of 190 km/h on the track at a distance of 190 km/h - that is, covering 190 km every hour. To do this, the motorcycle must be able to travel at a constant speed of 180 to 210 km/h.
Honda NT1100 (2022): 20.4 liter tank – 400 km range
The Honda NT1100 has a larger fuel tank of 20.4 liters, which is larger than most of its competitors, which typically have an 18-liter tank. Honda talks about an average guaranteed range of 20km per liter (or 5L/100km), which should provide a range of 400km per fill-up.
In reality, based on experience with the Africa Twin and Adventure Sports, at an average route speed of 150 km/h you will travel 350 km on 20 liters. With a calmer ride, and taking into account the presence of more developed aerodynamics on the NT1100, we can assume that it will be 400 km, and even more if you drive 110-120 km/h. The main thing is to remember that if you drive a motorcycle at 180+, the consumption with any “nanotechnology” will exceed 10 liters per 100 km, and these are just the laws of physics.
Honda NT1100 (2022) - rear wheel drive by chain
Drive to the rear wheel is by chain. Yes Yes. This was done for two reasons. Firstly, minimal power loss when transmitting torque to the rear wheel. Secondly, the chain is the traditional drive for the CRF1100 and CMX1100 line.
Behind the wheel
As is customary with Honda, everything is at hand and extremely compact:
Behind the wheel of the Honda NT1100 (2022): everything in the details
The cockpit of the touring motorcycle has a familiar design. On the left is a 12-volt cigarette lighter socket, on the right is a waterproof USB socket for connecting a smartphone. They have completely different functions: if the cigarette lighter is just 12 volts, then USB is primarily a direct connection to the motorcycle bus. This is necessary both for service and for integration with a smartphone.
For traveling. But for the city too!
When designing the motorcycle, it was assumed that it would be actively used in everyday conditions, in the city. Therefore, it is extremely narrow. The widest element in the assembly is the panniers - 900 mm. The width along the handlebars is 865 mm. The NT1100, of course, is not an enduro, but with a ground clearance of 175 mm it can easily climb any curb.
Honda NT1100 (2022)
The seating position is as comfortable and relaxed as possible; the seat height is 820 mm, which makes the bike comfortable for riders of any height.
The NT1100's wheelbase is just 1535mm with a 26.5° rake and 108mm offset, which should make it very, very nimble in city traffic. Let me remind you that the Honda Rebel 1100 bobber unfolds with the power of thought within the framework of one “Sobyanin” strip in Moscow! The NT1100 should be able to do this even better.
Honda NT1100 (2022)
The total curb weight with manual transmission is 238 kg, with DCT - 248 kg.
Aerodynamics
Initially, the motorcycle involves many days and many kilometers of riding on the highway. To do this, the pilot and passenger must have a comfortable landing and a minimum of stress from wind and weather.
Honda NT1100 (2022): slim silhouette and 5-level windshield
The large fairing, whose design is somewhat reminiscent of the Honda X-Adv maxi-scooter, offers full weather protection. In addition to the main design, the fairing is equipped with customizable deflectors, which allow you not only to completely remove turbulence from incoming flows, but also, on the contrary, to let air flow, as is done in the Gold Wing! It will be interesting to test all this in tests...
Honda NT1100 (2022): front and rear views
The windshield has 5 height levels that can be adjusted without tools. The fairing is equipped with additional deflectors, with which you can direct wind flows in different directions.
Electronics are our everything!
In a modern motorcycle there is no place without electronics. The NT1100 comes with the same (full) package of driver-assist features as the Gold Wing Tour and Adventure Sports. That is, all the options are immediately included in the basic configuration, there is no need to buy anything in addition, open and pay extra for each new mule.
Honda NT1100 (2022)
The Honda NT1100 has 3-level Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), Wheelie control, Cruise control, and customizable riding modes. Of course, all-round LED optics, automatically turning off turn signals and Emergency Stop Signals, which start flashing emergency lights in the event of emergency braking. This feature works very well on European motorways, where traffic traditionally goes faster than 130 km/h.
Honda NT1100 (2022): paddle shift for DCT version on left console
The engine is equipped with both a 6-speed manual transmission and DCT. More than 53% of European consumers have already voted for the “automatic” and continue to vote for it when choosing Honda motorcycles. 200,000 motorcycles with DCT have been sold since 2010 in the European Union and Russia alone, and the statistics are stable - half of customers, especially new motorcyclists, choose DCT.
Honda NT1100 (2022): control panel separated from instrument panel
Particular attention is paid to the equipment of the pilot’s cockpit: the control panel here is separated from the standard instrument panel, so you can simultaneously use navigation via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and monitor the operation of the motorcycle, mileage, consumption, and so on. Of course, a large 6.5-inch panel can duplicate the instrument readings and even provide more advanced information, as on the Africa Twin. But this whole combination turns into a single communication and multimedia center if you connect your smartphone via USB directly to the motorcycle!
Honda NT1100 (2022): all multimedia and control panel controls are on the left remote control
The multimedia control panel is cleverly placed on the left control panel on the steering wheel, so there is no need to reach somewhere and switch attention. If you don’t want to combine your phone into a single system with a motorcycle, you just need to connect your smartphone to the multimedia unit via Bluetooth and use it as a music source.
Honda NT1100 (2022) - for motorcycle touring with a full load
In the case of the Honda system, the Bluetooth headset on the helmet, the remote control on the motorcycle and the control panel somehow become one, so that you can control the components even without connecting a phone via a lanyard. The lanyard is needed to integrate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Moreover, the manufacturer assures that this is required to maintain the smartphone’s power level (recharging), but in reality, in this case, there is a constant exchange of data between the head unit of the motorcycle and the phone - a large volume, which can slow down via Bluetooth. There is also a 12-volt cigarette lighter to power any other attachments. Everything is in the database.
Honda NT1100 (2022) - 65L side cases and center stand - standard!
PS And yes, the central stand is also included in the basic configuration!
More details in the TEST DRIVES section on MOTOGONKI.RU.
To be continued…
