The 1,084cc parallel-twin engine in the Honda Africa Twin 1100 is a sweetheart of a motor, and so it doesn’t surprise us to see Honda using it on bikes like the Honda Rebel 1100.
Punchy, linear, and smooth, the twin-cylinder power plant is good for a variety of applications, and it looks like Big Red is about to give it one more additional duty.
Teasing a “new touring era” of motorcycles on YouTube today, Honda is most definitely getting us ready for what will be called the NT1100X in the European market.
The bike is expected to be a sport-touring machine (with more emphasis on touring than sport), designed to tackle the Alps with its 101hp on tap.
Not too much is given away from the teaser video, though we can expect hard panniers and a top box to be optional items in the parts bin, with the bike suited for two-up riding as well.
We expect that the machine will roll on 17″ wheels, and be visually similar in size and weight to the Africa Twin. Expect there to be more bodywork though, for better wind protection, and improved ergonomics for long-range riding.
Will the bike be called the Transalp in the United States? Our colleagues at Motorcycle.com seem to think so, but we remain cautious on that assessment.
Honda’s trademarking of that name in the USA has certainly made for some discussion, but don’t think it will be used on a bike that is anything but an ADV machine.
Besides, rumors of a mid-sized, lightweight, ADV bike from Honda continue, and that’s where the Transalp name seems like a better fit.
As for this “new touring era” machine, we have just another week of waiting to find out what is in store for us, as the bike will debut in Europe on October 21st.
No word yet on a US debut or availability, but we would expect such a bike to land stateside as well, announced later in the winter.
Source: Honda (YouTube)
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