For years, the liter-class sport-touring segment has been ruled by familiar names. Kawasaki's Versys 1000 (now the Versys 1100) has long been the dependable choice for riders chasing comfort and performance. Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GX added a layer of aggression and tech, while Yamaha’s Tracer 9 GT+, with its mighty CP3 engine, punches well above its 890cc displacement, maybe even close enough to call it a liter bike in spirit.
Then there’s Honda. The brand has the NT1100, a capable touring bike in its own right, but one that leans heavily toward comfort rather than excitement. It’s smooth, practical, and efficient, sure, but it doesn’t deliver that four-cylinder howl or the top-end rush that gives these machines their magic. Honda knows this, and it seems the company is finally ready to fill that void with the upcoming CB1000 GT.
While Honda has yet to confirm the existence of this bike, German motorcycling publication Motorrad recently reported on leaked specifications of the upcoming tourer. And just like all the other bikes in its class, the CB1000 GT is the result of compromise.
