How does one ride an NT?

[Coyote Chris]

I have a learning disablility which doenst keep me from functioning in life much. I muddle through. I cant spell. But I have no idea how one operates an NT. I need someone who can lower themselves down to my level and explain it.
It occurs to me that the NT1100 is $5000 cheeper than the T 900s. Which in Washington also means $500 less sales tax. The Honda luggage is cheeper, also.
It also occurs to me that I have no understanding on how one drives an NT1100. Perhaps someone at the Honda pavillion at Oshkosh can explain it but I am going over to the NT1100 part of the forum (here) and ask
Lets say I want to ride in "automatic" mode.

In my Subaru, I start the engine, I shift into drive from park, and I press the gas peddle. The tranny has 7 shift points and it determines my agressiveness by my use of the gas peddle. At a stop light, the CVT idles till I hit the gas. If I want, I go to the manual part of the shifter, and I paddle shift up and down. Numbers for the simulated gears appear on the dash. The tranny computer keeps me out of trouble. I have never used the manual mode except to downshift for hills or coming to a slow corner. I just hit the paddle shiffter down and once I deccelerate, it automatically goes back to drive mode.

How does one ride an Nt in Automatic?
So I am in the driveway, I hit a start mechanism. The engine starts. Is there a neutral? I cant blip the throttle, right? I cant do a fast idle. Am I automatically in first gear and I twist the grip and ride away? There is no neutral, right? Then, when I slow to a stop, the tranny is in its own version of "neutral"??? Like a centrifical clutch with gears?

I dont understand.

 

[ST1100Y]

You could skip to 1:20 ...

 

[Mellow]

 

[Coyote Chris]

You could skip to 1:20 ...

Thank you for the effort, but it tells the pilot nothing.
I start the bike.
is it in a neutral? Is there a neutral?
the bike probably idles fast till warm. does it want to move forward?
does the computer sense the throttle position, therefore not moving forward, like a car????

 

[Coyote Chris]

Ahhhh....despite the guy not being able to speak English, the video was what I wanted, mostly. So you start the bike in Neutral, and presumably stop for the ride in neutral. Then, you push the button for automatic and drive away like a car, go to stop lights, etc.
I wonder if you wanted to downshift as you are slowing down, you can go right to the paddle shifters and the bike then reverts to automatic?
If you switch to a sportier shift mode, does the bike remember that?
Perhaps there is a video with a go pro showing someone operating the controls in real life. ?
Personally, I like the smaller size/feel of the T 900s and they are faster than stink with no vibs at cruise, I like their cases better also and lighter weight. But is that all worth $6,000?
Chuck, Help!
Thanks Mellow.

 

[Mellow]

Ahhhh....despite the guy not being able to speak English, the video was what I wanted, mostly. So you start the bike in Neutral, and presumably stop for the ride in neutral. Then, you push the button for automatic and drive away like a car, go to stop lights, etc.
I wonder if you wanted to downshift as you are slowing down, you can go right to the paddle shifters and the bike then reverts to automatic?
If you switch to a sportier shift mode, does the bike remember that?
Perhaps there is a video with a go pro showing someone operating the controls in real life. ?
Personally, I like the smaller size/feel of the T 900s and they are faster than stink with no vibs at cruise, I like their cases better also and lighter weight. But is that all worth $6,000?
Chuck, Help!
Thanks Mellow.

 

[Coyote Chris]

OK! Well, if you dont listen to his stream of conciousness talking, you do learn things.
1. YES! You CAN downshift with your left thumb during automatic mode.
2. YES! The bike choses different shift points depending on how far you rip the throttle open
3. S1 is the mode for me.
4. Unless I missed it, he doesnt talk about vibration, aftermarket accessories like roll bars.
5. The screen display is kind of hard to read at least in the video.
Anyone else with this bike, please chime in.
There are lots of blue and grey bikes out there, but none near me. I wonder if there are any factory incentives for 2025?
I assume there are after market assessories.
6, He is correct. this would be a much better bike with the Honda e clutch.

 

[Mellow]

He does good reviews that give positives and negatives.. yeah, a bit goofy but at least it's real english

 

[Chucksklrst]

When you turn the bike off it goes into natural automatically. When you want to go you push the drive button and turn the throttle. If you are in Drive or any S mode and want to go to natural you push the neutral button. You can not blip the throttle in Drive or any S mode. If you want to do manual and shift manually with the finger paddles you push the m-manual button. You and over ride the Auto by pushing the finger paddles. Example: If I think the bike is not shifting down soon enough I can down manually with the paddles. ETC. If you stop and turn the bike off it does not remember the S selection. If you stop at a light bike running it remembers the s selection. Remember if you turn the bike off it defaults back to neutral

 

[Chucksklrst]

Obviously you get the Parallel twin vibs at low rpm, but they disappear as you pick up rpms. No worse than the NT700.

 

[Coyote Chris]

He does good reviews that give positives and negatives.. yeah, a bit goofy but at least it's real english

Its odd that he didnt talk about using the manual mode or the vibration....or show the inside of the cases for instance. I wonder if the rear brake works unlike the VFR?
It was interesting to watch his left thumb all through the ride, both turn signal and down shift. Very helpful.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Obviously you get the Parallel twin vibs at low rpm, but they disappear as you pick up rpms. No worse than the NT700.

Frosty's BMW GT was interesting. I rode 2 different dealer bikes and there were two buzz ranges but neither was an especially low rpm. I could have used them as a tach.

 

[junglejim]

Chris, I think you can forget your concerns about the automatic transmissions in whichever flavor you want. I watched the video on the NT1100 and sat one. I didn't like the egos on the NT so I ruled it out.

The test ride on the BMW R1300 RT blew me away. I rode the version with the clutch and standard transmission. It was fine AFTER I got used the the late engagement of both the throttle and clutch. While making a sharp turn in the dealers parking lot I rolled on the throttle for a little more power to come out of the turn and I didn't get it as soon as I expected. I had to dab to avoid falling in.

The version that I actually bought is the ASA (some acronym for their automatic transmission). I love it. But it is habit forming. It has 2 modes. Auto and Manual. You can switch back and forth at any time, in motion or not. In manual you command the shifting with a foot lever. But if you forget to shift down at a stop don't worry, the bike will do it for you. Manual is more useful if you want to command the gear selection and shift points in tight and curvy riding. The auto mode is just No Brainer riding. Just twist and go. But you can also command a shift (up or down) at any time. This bike has no clutch lever on the left.

Any reservations about the system are gone. It just works. I do have one (self caused) downfall. When I make any turn I suddenly have started forgetting to cancel the turn signal. I think my muscle memory is programed to cancel the signal when my fingers release the clutch lever and since I'm not releasing any clutch lever my thumb doesn't know to cancel the signal. So my left thumb needs to wake up.

I'm about a week into this new and quite complex machine and finally getting used to it. I've finally got the screen programed the way I want it. It is starting to feel like MY bike.

 

[Mellow]

Chris, I think you can forget your concerns about the automatic transmissions in whichever flavor you want. I watched the video on the NT1100 and sat one. I didn't like the egos on the NT so I ruled it out.

The test ride on the BMW R1300 RT blew me away. I rode the version with the clutch and standard transmission. It was fine AFTER I got used the the late engagement of both the throttle and clutch. While making a sharp turn in the dealers parking lot I rolled on the throttle for a little more power to come out of the turn and I didn't get it as soon as I expected. I had to dab to avoid falling in.

The version that I actually bought is the ASA (some acronym for their automatic transmission). I love it. But it is habit forming. It has 2 modes. Auto and Manual. You can switch back and forth at any time, in motion or not. In manual you command the shifting with a foot lever. But if you forget to shift down at a stop don't worry, the bike will do it for you. Manual is more useful if you want to command the gear selection and shift points in tight and curvy riding. The auto mode is just No Brainer riding. Just twist and go. But you can also command a shift (up or down) at any time. This bike has no clutch lever on the left.

Any reservations about the system are gone. It just works. I do have one (self caused) downfall. When I make any turn I suddenly have started forgetting to cancel the turn signal. I think my muscle memory is programed to cancel the signal when my fingers release the clutch lever and since I'm not releasing any clutch lever my thumb doesn't know to cancel the signal. So my left thumb needs to wake up.

I'm about a week into this new and quite complex machine and finally getting used to it. I've finally got the screen programed the way I want it. It is starting to feel like MY bike.

Jim, it should have self canceling turn signals... actually called comfort turn signals in the menu system... you can even program it ... a quick push left or right is for changing lanes and long press left or right will keep it on at a light.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Went to a Honda dealer today...Suzuki, Honda, and Ducati. I asked them if they could order me a 2025 or 2026. They said they didnt have them ordered through Sept but they could take a deposit and put me on a "Wish List".
They said they also did dealer trades.
Honda has no rebates running at this time for 2025s.
This particular Power Sports dealer charges $800 for shipping and $600 for "dealer prep" And the Maximum document fee allowed under WA state law. $200. Plus the usual 9.2 sales tax. And then vehicle plates and title. $160

I was the only customer in the store when I walked in. There are roughly 40 blue ones out there and over a 100 grey ones.

I did fall in love with the CBR 650R e-clutch. Man, the clutch force was so light! if the bars were 3 inches higher...if it had a center stand, bags, taller windscreen, luggage rack, heated grips and cruise control....oh well. I will go hug my Interceptor.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Jim, it should have self canceling turn signals... actually called comfort turn signals in the menu system... you can even program it ... a quick push left or right is for changing lanes and long press left or right will keep it on at a light.

I think some Triumps have them too. You have to program them from the mother of all settings screen. My VFR has them. My 1983 standard Gold Wing had them.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Chris, I think you can forget your concerns about the automatic transmissions in whichever flavor you want. I watched the video on the NT1100 and sat one. I didn't like the egos on the NT so I ruled it out.

The test ride on the BMW R1300 RT blew me away. I rode the version with the clutch and standard transmission. It was fine AFTER I got used the the late engagement of both the throttle and clutch. While making a sharp turn in the dealers parking lot I rolled on the throttle for a little more power to come out of the turn and I didn't get it as soon as I expected. I had to dab to avoid falling in.

The version that I actually bought is the ASA (some acronym for their automatic transmission). I love it. But it is habit forming. It has 2 modes. Auto and Manual. You can switch back and forth at any time, in motion or not. In manual you command the shifting with a foot lever. But if you forget to shift down at a stop don't worry, the bike will do it for you. Manual is more useful if you want to command the gear selection and shift points in tight and curvy riding. The auto mode is just No Brainer riding. Just twist and go. But you can also command a shift (up or down) at any time. This bike has no clutch lever on the left.

Any reservations about the system are gone. It just works. I do have one (self caused) downfall. When I make any turn I suddenly have started forgetting to cancel the turn signal. I think my muscle memory is programed to cancel the signal when my fingers release the clutch lever and since I'm not releasing any clutch lever my thumb doesn't know to cancel the signal. So my left thumb needs to wake up.

I'm about a week into this new and quite complex machine and finally getting used to it. I've finally got the screen programed the way I want it. It is starting to feel like MY bike.

That is interesting that you can command shifts from the foot lever. I sat on an NT about a year ago and other than the hard seat, I thought it was fine for me. I will get to sit on one this Oshkosh trip, I bet. I think you are right about getting used to it. From Mellow's vid, it doesnt look that different from my 7 speed Subaru Crosstrek. . Like the reviewer, I would be inclined to downshift more than the bike computer. I am not crazy about 22 different switches on the handle bar but oh well, you only live once. The $5,000 lower price from the Triumps is cool even though they look cooler . Honda's website says shipping is $600, not the $800 I was quoted today from the stealer.
Sometimes, I get so tired of pushing the turn signals that if there is no one around, I just do arm signals.
If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one to hear it, does it make any sound?
90 degrees today and 25 mph gusts.

 

[Coyote Chris]

When you turn the bike off it goes into natural automatically. When you want to go you push the drive button and turn the throttle. If you are in Drive or any S mode and want to go to natural you push the neutral button. You can not blip the throttle in Drive or any S mode. If you want to do manual and shift manually with the finger paddles you push the m-manual button. You and over ride the Auto by pushing the finger paddles. Example: If I think the bike is not shifting down soon enough I can down manually with the paddles. ETC. If you stop and turn the bike off it does not remember the S selection. If you stop at a light bike running it remembers the s selection. Remember if you turn the bike off it defaults back to neutral

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Thanks! I wish it would remember S1....My Subaru refuses to remember than I turned off that silly "auto stop" switch which kills my engine at stop lights. Yoda says that law has been overturned. I think it is now important that I sit on one and also ride one if possible. I hope the 2027s arent puke yellow

 

[Chucksklrst]

Well come on out here and you can ride mine.

 

[Coyote Chris]

He does good reviews that give positives and negatives.. yeah, a bit goofy but at least it's real english

Actually, Revzilla Zack is growing on me. He is like Siskel and Ebert. You may not agree with them, but once you know them, you know if you are going to like the movie or not.