Engine architecture
V4 → Twin
The Pan European ST1100 (1990) and ST1300 (2002) were both longitudinal V4 — Honda signature touring engine. The NT1100 (2022) switched to a parallel twin shared with the Africa Twin. Major change of philosophy — V4 smoothness traded for Africa Twin parts-sharing economics.
Power similar
0bhp
100bhp ST1100 → 125bhp ST1300 → 100bhp NT1100. Modern Honda tourer makes the SAME peak power as the 1996 model. The NT1100 is positioned as Africa Twin-derived practical tourer, not power-focused — torque is the metric that matters here.
Production gap
2017-2022
After Honda killed the ST1300 in the US after MY2012, there was a 13-year gap with no Honda Pan European-style tourer in US showrooms. The VFR1200F was killed for the US after MY2016 too; the only Honda tourers were the Gold Wing and the Africa Twin. The NT1100 DCT finally arrived US for MY2025, reviving the category but with a parallel twin instead of V4.
What killed the V4
Cost + emissions
Honda V4 motors are expensive to build. The ST1300 V4 was killed because it was too expensive to update for Euro 5 emissions, and demand was falling. Honda made the same call with the VFR1200F. Modern Honda V4 only survives in the V4 racing world (RC213V-S, MotoGP) — for road bikes, parallel twins like the Africa Twin's took over.
Why DCT
Tourer-friendly auto
The NT1100 launched with Honda DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) — automatic gearbox, no clutch lever. Same DCT system as the Africa Twin and Gold Wing. Tourers benefit from automatic gearbox for long-distance comfort; DCT is now offered on most Honda tourers.
Real cost change
−$11k real
ST1100 was $10,890 in 1996 (about $22,627 in today's money). NT1100 DCT is $11,899 for 2026 — about 46% cheaper in real terms with full electronics, IMU, TFT, DCT. Honda priced the NT1100 to undercut the Yamaha Tracer 9 and BMW F 900 XR.
Cheapest way in
$3k
A clean ST1100 Pan European from the 1990s. The original Honda longitudinal V4 tourer. Bulletproof, comfortable, hard panniers standard. Probably the cheapest 1000cc+ V4 you can buy in the US in 2026.
