Honda CMX1100T 2024 — Specifications

On the bagger market, it's often an old-fashioned duel: Harley versus Indian, the American behemoths with their gargantuan V engines and prices that make your wallet tremble. Honda arrives with a radically different approach, almost a provocation. The CMX1100T doesn't seek to imitate; it offers an intelligent alternative. With a parallel-twin engine of 1084 cm3, 87 horsepower, and 98 Nm of torque available from 4750 rpm, it doesn't play in the brute force category. Its weight of 248 kg fully fueled is a slap in the face to traditional baggers, which are often much heavier. Honda has grafted the essentials of touring equipment onto its large custom, creating a vehicle that appeals to those who want style without bulk.

This Japanese bagger is clearly a product for urban cruising or weekend rides, not for long-distance transcontinental travel. Its rigid saddlebags, 19 liters on the left and 16 liters on the right, are more like large glove boxes than travel trunks. You won't fit a full-face helmet in them, and the exhaust nibbles at the usable space. But for a day trip, it's enough, and the aesthetics remain impeccable, far from a clumsy top case. The Batwing fairing head gives it the authentic look of the category, with modest but effective protection against wind pressure. The seat height of 700 mm is a major asset, making this machine accessible to almost everyone, even beginners intimidated by the American giants.

The heart of this motorcycle is its engine, a block derived from the Africa Twin but reworked for the custom. Honda sacrificed a bit of power to obtain low-end torque and availability, ideal for city launches and relaxed acceleration. Compared to a Harley-Davidson Street Glide or an Indian Challenger, the Honda offers less raw power, but it is also much more agile and lighter. The price, €13,149, is a decisive argument: it places the CMX1100T in a distinct financial category, attracting an audience that admires the bagger style but refuses American over-sizing and over-cost.

Technology is present, strongly, almost excessively. A modern digital display, cruise control, LED lighting, and four riding modes (Standard, Rain, Sport, User) that modulate power, traction control, and engine braking. The DCT transmission, a robotic gearbox, is standard and operates with remarkable smoothness, especially in Auto mode for relaxing journeys. But is all this electronics necessary on a machine whose philosophy is cool simplicity? The chassis, with a steel tubular frame and 43 mm forks, is designed for stability and comfort, not for sporty performance. Rake angles are limited, and braking, with a single 330 mm disc at the front and a small 256 mm at the rear, is just adequate for the intended use.

Ultimately, the Honda CMX1100T is a bagger for those who want to go off the beaten path. It won't replace a Harley for the V-twin purist, but it offers a coherent package: authentic bagger style, excellent maneuverability thanks to its moderate weight, sometimes excessive modern technology, and a reasonable price. It's the ideal motorcycle for the urban rider who wants to enjoy themselves on the weekend, with an imposing look but without the constraints of a true touring machine. Honda doesn't revolutionize the segment; it circumvents it intelligently, creating a niche where it reigns without a direct competitor.