The CB1100 Community Forum

You're right, Chris, I didn't read the design brief very carefully, and I completely skipped over "please keep price in mind". So may I have another shot at it?

Contrast is everything, but there are many ways to achieve it. A completely blacked out bike, with matte everything presents a dramatic contrast with everything else around it. But it's also hard for other drivers to see in many situations because it appears to be a moving shadow and people are used to looking for lighter or shinier vehicles.

A completely black bike can have contrasting shiny and matte surfaces and lighter and darker shades of black or very dark gray. On such a bike amber and red reflectors and signal lenses really stand out but these are givens and can't be eliminated (for the most part).

Your bike already has matte and glossy blacks and some chrome, polished stainless and clear anodized aluminum. To completely black it out would require dealing with quite a large number of non-black elements: bolt heads, mirrors, handlebars, headlight bracket and trim, forks, etc. so you're probably not going to do that.

The goal I think you should have is creating a pleasing (to you) pattern of light and polished parts against a black main body, and eliminate or change elements that stick out.

Inexpensive mods along these lines:
Switch out the amber signal lenses for clear and get amber bulbs [url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Shadow-VT-600-750-1100-VTX-1300-1800-CLEAR-LENSES-/331225622657?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d1e95e881&vxp=mtr]Ebay link - verify that these will fit
License plate bracket mod [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=567&pid=5118#pid5118]Chip Beck's mod
The amber reflectors on the forks have fallen off some peoples' bikes
Since your engine cases are black you have the opportunity to fill the engraved HONDA on each side with a light paint. I suggest a rattle can of silver engine paint. Spray some into the can's lid, use a small paint brush and daub the paint into the recesses. Let it dry a bit and then wipe off the slop with mineral spirits or other mild solvent. Test the solvent first to make sure it does remove the new paint but doesn't soften the black paint.
Put chrome edge trim on the bottom flange of the gas tank. [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3021&page=3]CB4ME has some on his bike but I don't know where he got it.
Add tank knee pads. The matte black rubber would contrast with the glossy tank and they really enhance the riding experience. [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2692]Pics of my bike and links to free template PDFs
I still think shiny side covers would look great on your bike. They would tie the fenders and all the other shiny bits together. Less expensive than buying new side covers would be to vinyl wrap the covers you have now. The badges are just stuck on with foam tape. It's completely reversible and if you're not up to doing it yourself, there's sure to be someone around there who's doing it for hire. If not chrome, there are several great metallic colors. [url=http://www.metrorestyling.com]Supplier of several brands of vinyl wrap

I've gone back and read your previous posts and I get that you don't like chrome, but the reality is that there are lots of shiny bits on your bike and a couple of strategic new shiny parts could really tie it all together.

Dart flyscreen. I love mine. It comes with a new headlight bracket, which you could paint black before installing it. Black Plastidip would be removable later if you decide to change your mind.

Exhaust - the expensive part: I have a Yoshi full exhaust. It is matte black, actually very dark gray next to the black motor, and looks stunning, I think. The stock exhaust was too quite for me, but I was worried the Yoshi would be obnoxiously loud; it isn't. You can't tell anything really from YouTube videos. The Yoshi has more rumble but if the revs are low it just burbles along. In normal riding conditions I barely hear it above the wind noise, but at higher revs it really speaks.

I didn't like the way the stock stainless pipes turned brown and the size of the muffler looked way out of proportion to me, but I get that many people like the stock exhaust. CB4ME has [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2917]titanium headers and a Staintune slip-on. That combo would be killer on your bike, but the black Yoshi would be great too.

Wow, I really ran on; sorry.

Greg, I appreciate the response. I do understand what you are saying about black bikes being a contrast in and of themselves, plus the contrast of different blacks. I'm simply not looking to completely black out this bike. I have looked this bike over many times and I am happy with what chrome is there (bars, bolts, etc). I just don't like that both the exhaust and fenders are chrome. I am only going to change one of them.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful because obviously you put a lot into your response but I have no desire to add chrome to this bike at all in any way.

Having said that, the knee pads and license plate mods are interesting to me and worth consideration. Thanks!

Now, for the exhaust. This is really the kicker I think: can you constantly hear the exhaust without having to listen for it? I can't hear the stock with my full face helmet, and that bothers me more than anything on the bike.

A little backstory that I possibly should have begun with: I came from an xr650l that probably had 20 mods done. Exhaust, carb work, changed fenders, tank, etc etc etc. I went nuts on that bike, but I was always 1 mod shy of being done and it bothered me.

So when I got on the market for a new bike I researched for a couple of months before I made my purchase. The CB1100 is perfect for me except for 2 things: too quiet exhaust and too much chrome. If the black yoshi exhaust fixes both then I am fine with doing only that. I bought the bike I wanted, it only needs a few tweaks. I want to enjoy riding this bike, not bogging my mind trying to figure out how to fix all these problems I decide exist.

chrisross,
i bought the motogear titanium full exhaust. it's a little pricey , but the headers are beautiful. would really look cool on your bike.the muffler ,a little louder than stock ( stock is 87db,motogear is 92db)cosmetically is almost identical to the stock. one big difference i wasn't expecting from the ti system is the weight. the bike is noticeably lighter and more maneuverable . just my 2 cents worth. mismatch

Of your choices, I think changing the fenders to black is more in keeping with the designer's intent for your bike.

Having said that...do both! Black is the new black, and the 14 Standard has "Black" in spades. If every bit of it were black except some bolt heads etc. it would be one badass bike!

Get the photoshop expert yo mock up to examples for you.


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I like the black fenders, Staintune option. Swap-out is a breeze.

I don't think you can go wrong with either option.

Where you can definitely get into BIG TROUBLE is by not posting lots and lots of pictures of the mods, which ever way you go!


(As far as the suggestion of chrome trim on the tank to add contrast, my trim is gone. Lasted a while, but hot days and engine heat finally got to the adhesive on the trim. Didn't want to expoxy back in place.)

(06-06-2014, 05:05 PM)chrisross_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Greg, I appreciate the response. I do understand what you are saying about black bikes being a contrast in and of themselves, plus the contrast of different blacks. I'm simply not looking to completely black out this bike. I have looked this bike over many times and I am happy with what chrome is there (bars, bolts, etc). I just don't like that both the exhaust and fenders are chrome. I am only going to change one of them.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful because obviously you put a lot into your response but I have no desire to add chrome to this bike at all in any way.

Having said that, the knee pads and license plate mods are interesting to me and worth consideration. Thanks!

Now, for the exhaust. This is really the kicker I think: can you constantly hear the exhaust without having to listen for it? I can't hear the stock with my full face helmet, and that bothers me more than anything on the bike.

A little backstory that I possibly should have begun with: I came from an xr650l that probably had 20 mods done. Exhaust, carb work, changed fenders, tank, etc etc etc. I went nuts on that bike, but I was always 1 mod shy of being done and it bothered me.

So when I got on the market for a new bike I researched for a couple of months before I made my purchase. The CB1100 is perfect for me except for 2 things: too quiet exhaust and too much chrome. If the black yoshi exhaust fixes both then I am fine with doing only that. I bought the bike I wanted, it only needs a few tweaks. I want to enjoy riding this bike, not bogging my mind trying to figure out how to fix all these problems I decide exist.

Yes! I wear a Shoei Quest and almost always foam ear plugs. I can hear the Yoshi all the time. It sounds so good I wish I could ride without a helmet to enjoy it more. If I'm going some distance at a constant speed, 5th gear is usually below 3k and the exhaust note is a purr at that rpm.

The ceramic coated Yoshi runs cooler and I feel less vibration through the bars and seat, so I'm shifting at higher rpms than I did before. I'm assuming the vibs are lower because of less back-pressure.

The system runs cooler for several reasons: catalytic converters start working at 600°F, the PAIR valve adds air to the exhaust to combust and then catalyze un-burned fuel within the exhaust system which generates heat. Also, the O2 sensor input to the ECM results in a very lean running condition at lower throttle angles and below 5500 rpm. Leaner is hotter. The Yoshi does have a bung for the stock narrow band O2 sensor but some people bypass the sensor with an inexpensive plug.

Reports are that gas mileage is unaffected by the above mods; 50 mpg is typical, but lower if the increased responsiveness and exciting exhaust sounds cause one to grab handfuls of throttle at every opportunity!

Well that's probably going to do it for me then. I also wear the Qwest and if you can hear it with plugs, I think that's the route for me.

Also, I screenshotted a YouTube video to get this picture...I'm liking it.

You won't regret it. The Yoshi fits great, looks great, sounds great.

Maybe sometime down the road you could get the [url=http://www.samurider.com/?p=17757]the shorty black fender from Takashi. It's about $225 plus shipping.

Its always tough to make a call about the looks for another individual's bike. Tastes vary so much that suggestions from others can sound anywhere from "Cool!" to "WTH???"
Further, I've often had what I thought was a perfect part or combo in my head for a bike, only to buy all the pieces, install them, and realize it ends up looking like crap!
I think Elipten's got some great advice in trying even some rudimentary PhotoShopping to get an idea what the combinations would more-or-less look like. And with that, you can make endless switches and changes of gear to see what looks best to you.
Whichever way you go, best of luck - you've certainly got a great looking "canvas" to start your work of art from!