Honda’s Most Approachable, Affordable Touring Bike Gets a Nearly Blacked-Out Uplift and MoreGear PatrolSteve MazzucchiUpdatedTue, September 15, 2026 at 7:19 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleThe bestselling NT1100 adds not one but two new finishes overseas, leaving us crossing our fingers stateside.If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn moreLast fall, I waxed enthusiastic about Honda's NT1100, a big hit in Europe that blessedly made its way to the USA.A big reason for the excitement is the fact that this bike provides a much more approachable, affordable alternative to the legendary Gold Wing, which, for all its advantages, is one big and pricey beast.The 2027 NT1100 adds two new finishes, Mat Beta Silver Metallic and Mat Ballistic Black Metallic (shown here), for the European market. - Credit: HondaWhile that bike's base model tops $25,000 and 800 pounds, the NT1100 rolled in under $12,000 and 550 pounds.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat makes it a much more accessible and frankly nimbler option for riders dipping their toes into longer-distance exploits.The lack of mechanical changes is not a surprise, considering the major overhaul the bike got just a couple of years ago. (Shown here: Mat Beta Silver Metallic.) - Credit: HondaThe case gets even stronger with the 2027 edition, just revealed for the European marketplace, as the bike adds two new colorways, a gleaming Mat Beta Silver Metallic and a darkly dazzling Mat Ballistic Black Metallic, to last year's returning Pearl Hawkseye Blue.No mechanical or technical changes appear, which is not a huge surprise considering the bike got a major redesign in 2025.Offered for the US in 2025, but not 2026, the Pearl Hawskeye Blue returns to Europe for 2027. - Credit: HondaThat drool-worthy overhaul included daytime running lights, a refined adjustable windscreen, seven percent more low- and mid-range torque from the 1,084cc parallel twin-cylinder engine and Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment (Showa-EERA) suspension via a 6-axis IMU.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdding to the appeal are a full-color 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, cruise control, upgraded heated grips, USB charging, self-canceling indicators, Emergency Stop Signals (ESS) and a center stand.The 2025 redesign squeezed seven percent more low- and mid-range torque from the NT1100's 1,084cc parallel twin. - Credit: HondaFor Europe, buyers get a choice of either a conventional six-speed manual transmission or Honda's proven Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).Honda notes that it has sold more than 300,000 DCT-equipped motorcycles across Europe since the system first appeared in 2010.The NT1100 features a 6.5-inch full-color TFT touchscreen with smartphone connectivity built in. - Credit: HondaThat figure signals a shift in the market toward rider-friendly automatics, one that is likely even more pronounced in the States, where manual cars are increasingly difficult to find … and where Honda only offers a DCT edition of this bike.AdvertisementAdvertisementHonda has yet to announce pricing for the bike, but considering the updates are strictly paint-oriented, I anticipate it won't rise much, if at all, over last year's, which has a UK base price of £12,799 and a US base price of $11,999.The highest-spec NT1100 runs Showa Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment (Showa-EERA) suspension managed through a 6-axis IMU. - Credit: HondaThe larger question is whether the US will see these colors. The 2026 US edition came in one shade, a Gray Metallic that resembles the new Mat Ballistic Black Metallic. The 2025 US edition came in the aforementioned Pearl Hawkseye Blue.Suffice it to say, I'll be keeping a close eye on this one, as the US editions of Honda bikes typically pop up within weeks of European news.2027 Honda NT1100 Learn More AdvertisementAdvertisementAbout the Author:Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men's Health, Men's Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone's bike seat is at the proper height.