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RSTX
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I currently own a 2025 Honda NT 1100 DCT (dual clutch transmission) and a 2025 Honda NX 500. My intention for this thread is to contrast and compare them, and give my thoughts as a 54 year old man with some lower back pain. First, a little background about me:
I grew up on a dirt road near Junction, TX. I had a 1970's era Honda 50cc dirt/mini bike that I cut my teeth on. I moved up to a Kawasaki KD80 and got most of my wrecks (and certainly future back pain) out on it. I purchased my first street bike in the early 90's. It was a well used Honda Shadow 500. From there I moved into my "Top Gun" era with a 1986 VFR 700 Interceptor (in red/white&blue!). This is the one motorcycle (along with the little 50cc mini bike) that I really miss all these years later. It was dead nuts reliable and, while it probably didn't attract girls, it didn't scare them away either! After college I got out of motorcycles for many years, only to briefly return about 10 years ago with a 2016 Yamaha FZ 07 (700cc naked street). I kept it for about a year, then traded it in on a Honda PCX 150 scooter since my son was interested in commuting to TAMU campus on it. After he laid it down 3 times I sold it and have not been on a bike in 8 or 9 years.
In January of this year I got the motorcycle itch something fierce, and scratched it with a new NT 1100 DCT (currently has about 1700 miles). WOW!!! Bikes have come a long way in just a decade! This bike is amazing. Automatic, cruise control, traction control, ABS all around, heated grips, and a reasonable seat height add up to a confidence inspiring ride. My parents are in their early 80's and live near Salado. I have always found the drive from College Station to Salado in a car to be boring as ****. Now, I'm taking the back roads and soaking up the ride. Fantastic! The NT is easy to ride and I love the DCT 99% of the time. It can be a little herky-jerky in parking lots and low speed maneuvers. For the 110 mile trip between our houses it is fantastic. I love throwing it into a corner and powering out. So. Much. Fun!
Alas, I was born on a dirt bike, and I miss hitting the dirt roads. So, like all good motorcycle owners, I got the itch again, and scratched it with a 90/10 street/dirt bike. I found a local guy selling his NX 500 and jumped on it. What a fun little bike to ride around town and on dirt roads! It is light, easy to maneuver, responsive and sips gas. I have enjoyed getting reacquainted with shifting gears and stirring up dust. I enjoy it's tractability and ease of, well, everything. It is the Toyota Corolla of motorcycles. Not threatening, easy to ride, and won't hold you accountable for being an idiot. I have put a couple hundred miles on it over the last week and have a pretty good feeling for it.
So, if you've stuck around this long, you have earned an internet gold star! Here is the actual review:
I love the NT for highway miles. It is effortless to ride and the cruise control gives my wrist and hand a rest. Corners are not scary and it somehow (magic?) always seems to be in the right gear. The DCT is great for my use. I arrive at my parent's relaxed and not beat up. I did add a National Cycle windscreen and a Puig clamp-on deflector. The taller and wider screen is good, but putting on the deflector has been a revelation. 95% of the buffeting/droning is gone. I can ride along with the screen in it's #2 setting instead of the 3rd of 4th. I added a Shad 57 tail bag/case and that's it. I look forward to riding it every time I get a chance. It is not "flick-able" and it is a little top-heavy. Moving it around requires some muscle and focus. Once underway on the street it is not an issue. I use the cruise control even riding around town to keep my speed in check. Mileage is around 45 mpg. The suspension is a little firm for me. Bumps are felt. I didn't know just how firm it is until I got on the NX. More on that in a minute. Overall I give it an A. Just a great street bike.
The NX 500 was a bit of an impulse purchase. I wanted to ride dirt roads, but didn't want to take the NT into that arena. I found a local guy who was extremely nice and we made a deal. I have ridden it about 200 miles in the last week or so, and I really, really like it. First, it is light. Easy to move around. Not top-heavy at all. A dream to ride around slowly and up to about 55 or so it is wonderful. The clutch is light and shifts are smooth and not jarring. The brakes are great. Not grabby and not loose. Power is...acceptable. It does get out of its own way and riding in traffic is not an issue. Getting up to 45 or 55 mph is easy and smooth. On the highway, it will cruise at 70 mph, but it doesn't have much left to give. I would not want to take it on a 2 hour ride where speeds average 60-70 mph. It just feels too light at high speeds. Not dangerous, but not planted. It is a commuter's dream and I have enjoyed it on a few dirt roads. I have not checked MPG. I added a small Puig deflector (frickin magic!!), a Puig front fender extender to keep debris off of the pipes/oil filter, and a Sykik tpms system (which works great! Easy to set up and use!). The previous owner put on a rear rack and left it for me. I really enjoy riding the NX, but I lament the absence of cruise control the most. I am somewhat divided on shifting gears. It can be fun, and it can be tiresome. I really, REALLY like the DCT. Overall, I give it an A-. A great 90/10, starter, commuter bike. If I didn't own the NT, I would not know what I am missing. But, I do miss things...
So, in summary, I want to reduce down to just one motorcycle. I can only ride one at a time, and I want Goldilocks! The NT is fantastic on the highway, but less so in a parking lot (I won't even try it on a dirt road. Not interested in wrestling it on a loose surface!). It takes care of 90% of my riding. The NX is great at lower, in-town/dirt road speeds. At 70-ish mph, ehhhhh...it is not designed for that. Which leaves me with more questions: do I sell both (and a kidney!) and purchase an Africa Twin AS DCT, or aim a little lower and get a Trans Alp and add aftermarket cruise control, but have to shift (although the 2026 model comes with the E-clutch!)? I don't know. On the plus side, I have time to make a decision. I rode both bikes this morning and enjoyed both of them for different reasons. I realize that this is a good problem to have and I am blessed beyond what I deserve.
Now for a few pics...
I grew up on a dirt road near Junction, TX. I had a 1970's era Honda 50cc dirt/mini bike that I cut my teeth on. I moved up to a Kawasaki KD80 and got most of my wrecks (and certainly future back pain) out on it. I purchased my first street bike in the early 90's. It was a well used Honda Shadow 500. From there I moved into my "Top Gun" era with a 1986 VFR 700 Interceptor (in red/white&blue!). This is the one motorcycle (along with the little 50cc mini bike) that I really miss all these years later. It was dead nuts reliable and, while it probably didn't attract girls, it didn't scare them away either! After college I got out of motorcycles for many years, only to briefly return about 10 years ago with a 2016 Yamaha FZ 07 (700cc naked street). I kept it for about a year, then traded it in on a Honda PCX 150 scooter since my son was interested in commuting to TAMU campus on it. After he laid it down 3 times I sold it and have not been on a bike in 8 or 9 years.
In January of this year I got the motorcycle itch something fierce, and scratched it with a new NT 1100 DCT (currently has about 1700 miles). WOW!!! Bikes have come a long way in just a decade! This bike is amazing. Automatic, cruise control, traction control, ABS all around, heated grips, and a reasonable seat height add up to a confidence inspiring ride. My parents are in their early 80's and live near Salado. I have always found the drive from College Station to Salado in a car to be boring as ****. Now, I'm taking the back roads and soaking up the ride. Fantastic! The NT is easy to ride and I love the DCT 99% of the time. It can be a little herky-jerky in parking lots and low speed maneuvers. For the 110 mile trip between our houses it is fantastic. I love throwing it into a corner and powering out. So. Much. Fun!
Alas, I was born on a dirt bike, and I miss hitting the dirt roads. So, like all good motorcycle owners, I got the itch again, and scratched it with a 90/10 street/dirt bike. I found a local guy selling his NX 500 and jumped on it. What a fun little bike to ride around town and on dirt roads! It is light, easy to maneuver, responsive and sips gas. I have enjoyed getting reacquainted with shifting gears and stirring up dust. I enjoy it's tractability and ease of, well, everything. It is the Toyota Corolla of motorcycles. Not threatening, easy to ride, and won't hold you accountable for being an idiot. I have put a couple hundred miles on it over the last week and have a pretty good feeling for it.
So, if you've stuck around this long, you have earned an internet gold star! Here is the actual review:
I love the NT for highway miles. It is effortless to ride and the cruise control gives my wrist and hand a rest. Corners are not scary and it somehow (magic?) always seems to be in the right gear. The DCT is great for my use. I arrive at my parent's relaxed and not beat up. I did add a National Cycle windscreen and a Puig clamp-on deflector. The taller and wider screen is good, but putting on the deflector has been a revelation. 95% of the buffeting/droning is gone. I can ride along with the screen in it's #2 setting instead of the 3rd of 4th. I added a Shad 57 tail bag/case and that's it. I look forward to riding it every time I get a chance. It is not "flick-able" and it is a little top-heavy. Moving it around requires some muscle and focus. Once underway on the street it is not an issue. I use the cruise control even riding around town to keep my speed in check. Mileage is around 45 mpg. The suspension is a little firm for me. Bumps are felt. I didn't know just how firm it is until I got on the NX. More on that in a minute. Overall I give it an A. Just a great street bike.
The NX 500 was a bit of an impulse purchase. I wanted to ride dirt roads, but didn't want to take the NT into that arena. I found a local guy who was extremely nice and we made a deal. I have ridden it about 200 miles in the last week or so, and I really, really like it. First, it is light. Easy to move around. Not top-heavy at all. A dream to ride around slowly and up to about 55 or so it is wonderful. The clutch is light and shifts are smooth and not jarring. The brakes are great. Not grabby and not loose. Power is...acceptable. It does get out of its own way and riding in traffic is not an issue. Getting up to 45 or 55 mph is easy and smooth. On the highway, it will cruise at 70 mph, but it doesn't have much left to give. I would not want to take it on a 2 hour ride where speeds average 60-70 mph. It just feels too light at high speeds. Not dangerous, but not planted. It is a commuter's dream and I have enjoyed it on a few dirt roads. I have not checked MPG. I added a small Puig deflector (frickin magic!!), a Puig front fender extender to keep debris off of the pipes/oil filter, and a Sykik tpms system (which works great! Easy to set up and use!). The previous owner put on a rear rack and left it for me. I really enjoy riding the NX, but I lament the absence of cruise control the most. I am somewhat divided on shifting gears. It can be fun, and it can be tiresome. I really, REALLY like the DCT. Overall, I give it an A-. A great 90/10, starter, commuter bike. If I didn't own the NT, I would not know what I am missing. But, I do miss things...
So, in summary, I want to reduce down to just one motorcycle. I can only ride one at a time, and I want Goldilocks! The NT is fantastic on the highway, but less so in a parking lot (I won't even try it on a dirt road. Not interested in wrestling it on a loose surface!). It takes care of 90% of my riding. The NX is great at lower, in-town/dirt road speeds. At 70-ish mph, ehhhhh...it is not designed for that. Which leaves me with more questions: do I sell both (and a kidney!) and purchase an Africa Twin AS DCT, or aim a little lower and get a Trans Alp and add aftermarket cruise control, but have to shift (although the 2026 model comes with the E-clutch!)? I don't know. On the plus side, I have time to make a decision. I rode both bikes this morning and enjoyed both of them for different reasons. I realize that this is a good problem to have and I am blessed beyond what I deserve.
Now for a few pics...
It is so balanced and I think nimble. I have had faster bikes but I took this to a ton. They say 115 is top speed. Only about 60hp and redline is I think 7500 rpm. Boulder Ed has a DCT Africa Twin. It is a tall bike. Too tall for me. Plus the NC750X is half the price of an AT. Some dealer will have a DCT to test ride. You should get the bike you want and there are many great ones out there.
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