Starting in 2005, it was relatively common to see motor officers patrolling U.S. roads aboard Honda ST1300 police bikes, but with that model’s discontinuation, a new option was needed. In order to continue supporting law-enforcement agencies, American Honda has developed a special Police version of the NT1100, the sport-touring model originally offered in Europe for the 2022 model year, and updated for 2025. The NT1100 Police employs the frame and twin-cylinder engine of the CRF1100L Africa Twin as a base, ensuring characterful, engaging performance. Notable for its lowest-in-class curb weight, exceptional maneuverability and attractive price, the NT1100 Police also boasts features and technology that broaden its appeal.
The NT1100 Police comes standard with a host of special features developed specifically for law-enforcement agencies, including pannier bags, a wiring harness that enables easy customization, an engine guard, a rear bumper, a document box and a seat cowl. Additional components are available through approved vendors, to help individual agencies meet their own particular requirements.
DESIGN / STYLING
The NT1100 was designed as a sporting, agile bike that’s also enjoyable to ride all day, with efficient, protective aerodynamics and comfortable ergonomics, all centered around practicality, as well as rider and passenger comfort.
A high-quality Skyrich HJ13L lithium-ion battery minimizes weight and contributes to mass centralization. The premium specification is rounded out by self-canceling turn signals and standard 12V and USB auxiliary sockets. A center stand is standard.
Fairing
This motorcycle’s form is also about function, with the aim of elevating the quality of the riding experience. The solid, three-dimensional upper fairing (partially constructed from biodegradable Durabio) has aggressive, tightly wrapped angles to both sides and “face,” matched by a svelte tail section.
The rider can raise or lower the windscreen with one hand while seated on the bike. It offers five-stage adjustment for height and angle, through a total of 6.6 inches between the high and low positions. Set low, it sends air around the shoulders; set high it moves air over the rider’s helmet.
To protect both bike and rider from mud and water, the fender has a splash-guard extension covering the rear of the tire. The rider integrates into the machine neatly, enveloped by the protective fairing. The exhaust muffler is positioned low, to maximize pannier volume.
Lighting
The twin headlights comprise LED projectors, which incorporate daytime running lights and subtle, integrated turn signals. Contrasting high/low beams express an intriguing “hidden eye.” All other lighting is LED as well. Standard upper and lower deflectors provide wind and weather protection around the rider’s arms and lower body.
Cockpit
A wide, thick seat, with optimized cushion density for comfort, offers a luxurious expanse for two. Seat height is 32.3 inches, and a large grabrail for the passenger extends from the rear rack.
Bright and easy to read, the 6.5-inch TFT touch screen offers three choices of screen display; GOLD shows all numeric and mode information. SILVER centers on the speedometer and odometer, BRONZE on the odometer. The background color can be set to black or white. Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto® and Bluetooth connectivity allows access to smartphone functions via the TFT display.
ENGINE / DRIVETRAIN
The NT1100 Police’s 1,084cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine is derived from that of the Africa Twin.
Aluminum cylinder sleeves keep weight low, while the 270° phased crankshaft and uneven firing interval create the engine’s signature “throb.”
The crankcases are split horizontally; the water pump is housed efficiently within the clutch casing, with a thermostat integrated into the cylinder head. The water and oil pumps are both driven by the engine’s balancer shafts.
At the bottom end is a semi-dry sump, with in-tank lower-crankcase oil storage. This allows a lower pan depth, to keep overall engine height low. As the pressure-fed pump is located within the tank, from whence it delivers its oil, there is no need for a pressure-feed passage. Secondary vibrations are neutralized by the mutually reciprocating motion of the pistons, while primary inertial and coupling vibrations are canceled by use of biaxial balance shafts. The aluminum clutch center and pressure plate use “assist” cams to ease upshifts and “slipper” cams for deceleration and downshifting.
A crank pulsar—with relator teeth spaced at 10° intervals—manages misfire detection. An additional O2 sensor, positioned at the rear of the convertor, gives more accurate emissions-measurement readouts.
Intake
Throttle by wire provides engine management, and PGM-FI feeds the throttle bodies. Throttle control is optimized for a linear power delivery.
The airbox has 33mm intake ducts, and 46mm throttle bodies feed the inlet ports. The bore and cylinder pitches are aligned to create a smooth air-intake profile. The injector angles deliver a direct spray into the twin-spark combustion chambers.
Valvetrain
Honda’s single-overhead-cam Unicam valvetrain, and the low-set position of the cast camshaft contribute to the compact nature of the cylinder head and entire engine package.
TECHNOLOGIES
Throttle by wire management and a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) are at the heart of the NT1100 Police’s electronic package. There are three preset riding modes from which the rider may choose, covering a wide variety of riding conditions and three levels of management for Power and Engine Braking, with level 1 delivering the maximum of either parameter. Mode selection is managed from the left-hand switch cluster.
- URBAN is standard and offers an all-round middle setting of engine Power and Engine braking.
- RAIN reduces engine power and engine braking for extra reassurance on wet or slippery surfaces.
- TOUR gives full engine power and standard engine braking, for strong acceleration while carrying a passenger and luggage.
- USER 1 and USER 2 modes offer the ability to customize between all the settings, for the preferred combination. Once set, the USER setting is automatically stored, so there’s no need to reset each time the ignition is turned on.
There are also three levels of Honda Selectable Torque Control, with integrated Wheelie Control—each level’s amount of intervention is optimized to work with real-time input (yaw/roll angle and rate) from the IMU. Level 3 provides the highest intervention. An indicator in the instrument display activates when HSTC is working; it can also be turned off completely.
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
The steel semi-double-cradle frame employs a relatively short wheelbase and sharp steering geometry. At the heart of the NT1100 Police’s excellent handling performance is a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), tucked away at the center of the machine, making in-real-time measurements of roll angle/rate, pitch angle/rate and yaw angle/rate. It works through the throttle-by-wire system to aid the management of rear-tire traction via Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), and of front-wheel lift through Wheelie Control.
Cornering ABS is another feature, as is Rear Lift Control. The IMU detects lean angle and deceleration (from front/rear wheel-speed sensors), and incorporates the slip rate of the front and rear wheels to manage braking pressure through the ABS; likewise if it detects sudden rear-wheel lift, it finely controls brake force to maintain stability.
Wheelbase is 60.4 inches, with rake and trail of 26.5°/108mm (4.3 inches) and 6.8 inches of ground clearance. Curb weight for the NT1100 Police is 566 pounds.
Suspension
The 43mm Showa cartridge-type inverted fork features 5.5 inches of travel and is preload adjustable. The single-tube pressurized Showa shock has a 14mm diameter shaft and offers 5.5 inches of wheel travel. To simplify carrying a passenger and/or luggage, spring preload adjusts hydraulically, and remotely.
Wheels
The wheels are aluminum, fine diecast with a sand core, allowing a hollow hub center for the front. An intersecting spoke design (with the spokes attaching to the rim diagonally) smooths road vibration while riding in a straight line, and it offers high rigidity for cornering. Tires are sized 120/70-17 front and 180/55-17 rear.
Brakes
Dual 310mm front brake rotors are squeezed by lightweight, four-piston radial-mount calipers. The 256mm rear rotor uses a mono-piston caliper.
