Many motorcyclists – together with me – bought their begin on a Honda Insurgent, they usually needn’t soar ship as soon as they’re prepared for one thing with extra kick. Honda’s lineup of Rebels consists of the 300, 500, and 1100, offering a ladder for riders to climb once they get the itch for one thing greater. The lineup expanded final yr with the addition of the Insurgent 1100T DCT, a bagger-style cruiser.

Associated: A Lady and Her Honda Insurgent

The “T” in “1100T” stands for “touring,” and added options embrace a batwing fairing and saddlebags with a mixed 35 liters of storage – not sufficient room to hold all of your belongings however sufficient for garments and private objects for a couple of days. The fairing features a brief windscreen, and taller or shorter windscreens can be found as choices. In normal trim, the Insurgent 1100 is about up for a solo rider, however a passenger seat and footpegs can be found. The 2023 check bike used for this overview is Bordeaux Pink Metallic; for 2024, coloration choices embrace Metallic Black and Matte Armored Inexperienced Metallic.  

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Associated: 2024 Honda Gold Wing, Insurgent, and NC750X Returning Fashions 

GEAR UP 

The Insurgent 1100 got here on the scene in 2021. It’s powered by the liquid-cooled 1,083cc Unicam parallel-Twin from the Africa Twin however modified for a cruiser software. At 87 hp and 72 lb-ft of torque, the Insurgent 1100 makes much less energy than the Africa Twin, however peak torque arrives earlier within the rev vary (4,750 rpm vs. 6,250 rpm). The engine has a 270-degree crankshaft for a rumbling V-Twin-like character, and the Insurgent makes use of completely different camshaft profiles and ignition timing for its two cylinders – one makes extra energy under 4,000 rpm, and the opposite makes extra energy above 4,000 rpm. It comes with 4 experience modes (Rain, Sport, Tour, and Person, which is customizable), every with completely different settings for throttle response, traction management, engine braking, and (on DCT variations) the transmission’s shift factors. 

As with a number of fashions in Honda’s lineup, the Insurgent 1100 is accessible with both a 6-speed handbook gearbox or a 6-speed computerized Twin Clutch Transmission. The DCT is a well-liked choice, accounting for about half of gross sales for fashions on which it’s accessible, together with the Africa Twin, Gold Wing, and NC750X. With DCT, there isn’t any clutch lever or foot shifter. Simply launch the parking brake, click on the bike into Drive, and experience. Riders who need extra management can swap to Handbook mode and use the paddle shifters on the left aspect of the handlebar to click on via gears. For 2024, the Insurgent 1100T is accessible in both a handbook or DCT choice. 

This check was my first expertise with Honda’s DCT, and I shared the identical considerations as others – that an computerized bike would really feel unusual and take away from the using expertise. It does take a while to get used to, however after greater than 1,000 miles aboard the Insurgent 1100T DCT, I see the benefit and got here to benefit from the transmission. 

The great thing about the DCT is that it permits the rider to spend extra time specializing in the experience and fewer time worrying about shifting gears. There’s no must shift up and down whereas rolling via city, which implies you possibly can pay nearer consideration to visitors, and your left hand gained’t get bored with pulling within the clutch lever. Once you head out for a extra scenic experience, you may have extra time to admire the view. And once you get into the twisties and need extra management, you possibly can click on the bike into Handbook mode and shift with the paddle shifters. 

In every of the Insurgent’s 4 experience modes, the spherical LCD show exhibits settings for energy, traction management, and engine braking, and these parameters might be adjusted within the user-configurable mode. Whereas in Computerized mode, the shift factors parameter additionally exhibits. I loved the visible illustration of how every mode modified the using expertise on the show, and it made it simpler to set my most well-liked parameters. Extra options embrace cruise management and a USB-C charging port situated underneath the seat. 

When using a motorbike with a handbook transmission, I depart the bike in gear when parked. That’s not doable on the Insurgent 1100T DCT, because it all the time switches to impartial when turned off. To maintain it from rolling away, there’s a parking brake lever on the left aspect of the handlebar. Setting the parking brake is straightforward sufficient, however I discovered releasing it to be a bit troublesome, which entails pulling again on the lever whereas pushing a button on the aspect, requiring two arms. Which means there aren’t any arms on the handlebar when the brake is launched, so I wanted to maintain my proper foot on the rear brake pedal to forestall the bike from rolling when stopped on an incline. This requires a little bit of studying, nevertheless it wasn’t an issue as soon as I grew to become used to it. 

Suspension duties are dealt with by Showa elements, with a 43mm nonadjustable fork with 4.8 inches of journey and a pair of rear shocks with adjustable preload, piggyback reservoirs, and three.7 inches of journey. Stopping energy comes from a single radial-mount 4-piston entrance caliper with a 330mm disc and a 1-piston rear caliper with a 256mm disc. ABS is normal, and although few riders may have it, the Selectable Torque Management system (Honda’s time period for traction management) consists of three ranges of wheelie management. 

With excessive, mid-mount footpegs, the Insurgent 1100 has a formidable lean angle of 35 levels. The wheelbase is 59.8 inches, moist weight is 520 lb, and gas capability is 3.6 gallons. Honda may’ve added extra touring functionality to this bike with a bigger gas tank. Throughout this check, the low-fuel mild got here on every time the tripmeter reached about 110 miles, and I averaged 46.4 mpg (about 167 miles of vary). 

Seat peak has all the time been approachable on Rebels, and that holds true on the 1100, which has a really low seat peak of 27.5 inches. As a brief rider (5-foot-1), I recognize having the ability to flat-foot on a motorbike. Nonetheless, the Insurgent 1100T’s footpeg place requires the rider to take a seat considerably scrunched up on the bike. The seating place places stress on the rider’s backbone, which grew to become uncomfortable after a couple of hours within the saddle. Though I didn’t count on Gold Wing ranges of consolation, a bagger-style cruiser like this is able to profit from a extra snug using place. Nonetheless, after a fast break at a scenic overlook or fuel station, I used to be able to hop again into the saddle. 

Though I discovered the using place uncomfortable for lengthy hours, the Insurgent 1100T DCT is an absolute blast to experience on twisty roads. Its low weight and responsive dealing with make the bike simple to dip into corners, and the engine pulls strongly when accelerating out of turns. On significantly technical roads, I loved switching the bike into Handbook mode and clicking via gears with the paddle shifters, which affords a extra simplified expertise with no need to drag within the clutch or roll off the throttle, making gear adjustments faster and simpler. 

The Insurgent 1100T’s fairing and saddlebags are the one variations between this mannequin and the usual model, however these extras create a package deal that’s extra sensible for in a single day journeys. The fairing gives good wind safety and blocks wind from the chest and arms. The saddlebags add sufficient storage that I may pack every little thing I wanted for a pair nights. My solely criticism concerning the baggage is that the latching mechanism is slightly finicky and takes some effort to shut. The highest-loading baggage are lockable, or they are often left unlocked for fast entry. 

The trim on the Insurgent 1100T may not be sufficient to show it right into a full-fledged long-haul touring bike, nevertheless it’s a helpful addition for the kind of journeys I love to do, that are two or three days with minimal baggage. The luggage permit me to pack my garments and requirements with no need to put on a backpack, and the fairing gives sufficient safety to maintain me snug for longer intervals of time.  

On high of the Insurgent’s practicality, its sporty engine, good cornering clearance, and low weight signifies that as soon as I get close to my vacation spot, I can benefit from the roads in a approach {that a} heavier bagger wouldn’t permit. So far as compromises go, this one strikes the steadiness to go well with my wants simply nice. And with the Twin Clutch Transmission, I can focus much less on shifting gears and extra on the experience. 

2023 Honda Insurgent 1100T DCT Specs

• Base Value: $11,299 ($11,349 in 2024) 
• Guarantee: 1 yr., unltd. miles 
• Web site: Powersports.Honda.com 
• Engine Kind: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel-Twin, SOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl. 
• Displacement: 1,083cc 
• Bore x Stroke: 92.0 x 81.5mm 
• Horsepower: 87 hp at 7,000 rpm (manufacturing facility declare) 
• Torque: 72 lb-ft @ 4,750 rpm (manufacturing facility declare) 
• Transmission: 6-speed, computerized Twin Clutch Transmission 
• Closing Drive: Chain 
• Wheelbase: 59.8 inches 
• Rake/Path: 28 levels/4.3 in. 
• Seat Top: 27.5 in. 
• Moist Weight: 520 lb 
• Gas Capability: 3.6 gal. 
• Gas Consumption: 46.4 mpg 
• Estimated Vary: 167 miles