Honda NT1100 vs Yamaha Tracer 9 GT Comparison Review

Honda NT1100 versus Yamaha Tracer 9 GT - which is the best sports tourer?
The sports touring world is seriously heating up right now, and all of the big players in the industry
are keen to get their rendition of a big tourer out there for all to enjoy - the big 4 from Japan in
particular, with these two machines joined by the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT and recently revealed
Kawasaki H2 SX.
But today we’re looking at just two, and I was lucky enough to be on the press launch for both - so I
have a bit of hands on experience to pit them against each other.
Whilst being almost worlds apart in what they offer, they do provide slightly different approaches to
the do-it-all touring market - I’ll compare the spec on the two, with key comparisons for the engine,
handling, touring capabilities, spec & electronics, fun factor, a few words on style, price, and finally pick my winner.

#Honda
#Yamaha
#Visordown
Honda NT1100 vs Yamaha Tracer 9 GT (0:00)
Honda vs Yamaha Engine (1:38)
NT1100 vs Tracer 9 Handling (3:58)
Touring (6:49)
Electronics (8:25)
Fun Factor (9:06)
Style (9:47)
Yamaha Tracer 9 vs Honda NT1100 Price (10:34)
Yamaha Tracer 9 vs Honda NT1100 Verdict (11:30)

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[joeburr]

NT for those over 50. Tracer 9GT for the rest. 😄

[Pepepinaserrano]

Both bikes are amazing. They're different approaches. Honda nt = much more comfort and wind protection, what makes it ideal for long distances in the motorway. Yamaha tracer= sportier engine (more fun) and better suspensions, so it is better for short distances and twisty roads. Difficult choice, but both awesome.

[pahum]

I am 55 and live in Australia. You want to Tour here. The Nullabor (east to west, Melbourne to Perth) 5500 km. From Vic to far north Queensland (where I live Melbourne to Cairns) 3, 200km. NT1100 all day. Comfort over distance with plenty of stability and power. Tracer is a great bike but it is not the tourer that the Honda is!

[eyeballs]

Living in a colder climate which can shorten the riding season, I find the more wind protection, the better. My FJR1300 with a Vstream windscreen does a great job. I would like a lighter bike but find it hard to compromise on wind protection and comfort. I'd go with the Honda in this case.

[arnoldtm]

I don't understand why you're mentioning the 200bhp 15grand plus H2SX instead of the Ninja 1000sx which is the real competition here.

[kennyg]

Styling is subjective. Personally, I cannot stand twin headlights and only one works. Visually, it just looks like one side has a bulb out.

[erce]

I have purchased NT1100 manual @43 years old still trying to keep under my control. Honda is more stylish(relatively), quality and reliable. Yamaha has always more agressive drive if compare to others which i am not looking for. My target is been faster from the most cars in trafic not from the other motorcycles which Honda gives.

[jonbusby]

My brother has a tracer GT, absolutely loves it period it is all around awesome motorcycle!

[zyonsdream]

A lot of reviewers dog the DTC but they never setup a full power sport mode and then do a zero to sixty time with it. If they did, they would realize that the DTC would put accelerate most bikes in the class. A properly setup sport shifting automatic will be faster than a manual shift.

[magaudion]

As mentioned below, the DCT on the Honda is adjustable !! If it’s ‘chugging in lower revs’ then you must be in D or S1 mode ! Just stick it in S2 or S3 and it won’t chug at all !!! The DCT is fabulous but only if you know how to change its modes.

[KiwiMoto]

so great to see the sport tourer category being invested in way to many ADV bikes out there

[ksheehan]

How about a shout out for the footage. You guys did these bikes right. They BOTH look awesome- fun, capable, poised. The cool factor went up for me, esp for the Honda. Nice job!

[jorgeneriksson]

I had the opportunity to test the NT1100 with dct a week ago. I didn´t have that great expectations honesly. But it was a positive surprise! Really easy to ride, comfortable and with a windscreen that actually do the job, it was hands down the most comfortable bike that I have tested. If I would look for a touring bike this would be my choice. With dct? Perhaps. The dct gearbox was smooth and flawless. But I am really a manual dude on both 2 and 4 wheels.

[kevinf-b]

Being of a certain age, (66) into comfortable long distance touring and lastly a long time Honda owner I'll go for the NT. I own a NC750xDCT (2021) which fits the bill for me at the moment. Weight was my primary influence. If the NT was around when I traded down from my 2016 Crosstourer Highlander DCT I would have been sorely tempted. The Crosstourer was just too top heavy and hard to push around. No mention was made of the quickshifter which is available on the NT and may have been a cheaper option to full on DCT.

[cosef]

Not remotely interested in either motorcycle. I’m just here for some good motorcycle content and you sir did not disappoint👏

[shreedevi]

So strange that most casual "reviewers" of the DCT never mention that the DCT has sport and manual modes. I NEVER ride my Africa Twin in D mode and the DCT can be ridden aggressively if you set it in one of the four sport modes or manual mode and go through the gears using the thumb shifters.

[allwheeldrive]

Finally, and thank you for the comparison test. Both really accomplished, a hard decision. Might've been slightly different with a manual NT with a quick-shifter. Next up, though, MUST be the T9GT vs. S1000GT. How lucky are we to have these incredible choices.

[mattinri]

I'd be concerned with long-term reliability. I have a Yamaha FJ-09 ( love it) but after 21k miles I started having issues. So for me, I think Honda has a better reputation for reliability and my next ride will be based on reliability. Although that triple is awesome.

[DaddyBiker_Reviews]

I'm sorry to say that while the dash is better (well, fancier) on the Honda, that's the only winning factor over the Yamaha for me. Having owned 5 Hondas, a Suzuki and now the Tracer 9 GT, from a rider's perspective, the Yamaha is almost perfection. It is comfortable, the screen causes me no issues and the handling/rideability is second to none (in my experience). Performance wise it is phenomenal, mode 1 turning it into a hooligan machine, and fuel wise I've had 230 miles out of a tank (Tesco Momentum) with miles to spare. Looks-wise it is exciting too.
By comparison the Honda is a bit... well... Honda... practical, reliable, but lacking charisma.
All that said, even in 3 years of ownership of other bikes I have never had as many issues as I have had with the Tracer in 5 months of ownership.

[gordonwallin]

I'm not sure we can get the NT1100 here, we can get the Yamaha. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.