The CB1100 Community Forum

Hello everyone,

My 2016 CB1100 sa has a strange problem. To me that is. When I start it, everything is perfect. De ABS light comes on, when I ride a little it goes out. The bike rides as smooth as can be and makes me happy. But after 20 km's or so, the ABS light starts blinking and my speedometer goes to zero.
Then I stop, wait a while and then everything is back to normal, but after 5 km's or so, it all starts again. Sometimes it goes away while riding.

The second last time, I came home and parked it in the garage. The day after, the bike wouldn't start. Flat battery. I replaced it with a new one and thought it was over, because the old battery was bulged. Searched what that could be and those things seem to  happen. Battery was 4 years old and never charged during winter times becaus I ride it now and then. (read : I am lazy)

So I tested it again and the bike did it again. Stopped 3 times and the third time it wouldn't start. Acted as if the battery was flat again. Got myself home, don't ask how. Then got back to the bike with the battery of my NC 750 and got home. On that ride the bike did the ABS and speedometer fault once, but that stopped almost immediatly and I got home.

I measured the battery that got out of the bike (the new one that replaced the bulged one) and it measured 13 + volts.

Now I am confused. Why would't the bike not start if the battery is good? 

I am going to find out what this is, because I will. But I thought it is an interesting issue to put on this forum. 

The causes I think about are twofold : Maybe air in the ABS modulator part which confuses the solenoid valve of the ABS module if that is possible. Or else just a minus cable or a connection that is bad. But only when the bike is warmed up? Strange.

The reason I think this is that it all first began with only the ABS light flashing after a fluid change. Maybe some airbubble trapped. Afterwards the problem with the speedometer was added.

This bike does things to me. My wife doen't understand it. I said " the bike has to go, I don't like these kind of problems." She said it was understandable. When I came home i said : "this bike rides so good, I will never part from it" Now she thinks I am crazy and she is consulthing all kinds of doctors...

So guys and maybe girls, what do you think? About the bike I mean, not my wife.

Thanks.

My first thought is a short somewhere in the wiring. When the bike gets hot a connection finds it easier to flex and short two pins? What are the chances you might say? There is a current recall out on Triumph Bonneville's for something that is happening to the electrics in very hot weather/loading. I'm not saying the CB has anything like this but I would be looking at every electrical connection for damage.

(04-14-2026, 02:39 PM)dave Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-12-2026, 03:51 AM)Walter Wrote: [ -> ]It all depends on how much time and effort you want to put into diagnosing and repairing your bike yourself. All new motorcycles and cars have become exceedingly more difficult for the average Joe to repair himself. Do you have an official Honda service manual? I believe there is information in there that describes how to inspect and analyze fault codes. There are many people on this forum who are way more knowledgeable than me when it comes to analyzing electrical glitches like you are describing, and I'm sure some of them will come to your rescue. Or, if you're in a hurry, take it to your local Honda dealer and have them plug it into their computer and do an electronic diagnostic test for you (this probably won't be cheap). Once they're able to diagnose the problem it doesn't mean you have to have them perform the repairs, you can always take it home and do the repairs yourself.

Good luck, and please let us know when you resolve this.

I do have the service manual. I do have the healtech tool. No fault codes, but it doesn't consider ABS codes if I am not mistaken. I wil let you guys know what I did and what it was, as soon as I find it. I do this rather myself so I learn something.  Just manual reading and doing what it says and trying to understand it. Thanks for the wishing good luck .

What is the regulated voltage from the stator at various RPMs?

If the voltage, easily tested at the battery, is within the normal range of 13.8 to 14.8 volts at any tested RPMs, then diode failure in the regulator/rectifier can be ruled out. Rather than a short circuit, it is more likely that there is a poor connection that sometimes becomes an open circuit. You may want to check every related connector by disconnecting and reconnecting.

---

In your first post, you mentioned a garage fire and some wiring damage. Has the wiring to the speedo been checked?

(04-12-2026, 12:22 PM)Tev62 Wrote: [ -> ]...There is  a current recall out on Triumph Bonneville's for something that is happening to the electrics in very hot weather/loading. I'm not saying the CB has anything like this but I would be looking at every electrical connection for damage.

Good idea to check connectors for damage.  

I do not think the 2nd and 3rd recall on my 2022 Street Twin is ambient temperature related. The charging system wiring potential damage is the stated issue in the recall.

The 3 wire connector is to be replaced by crimp connecting each wire separately.

I probably found it. Last year, the regulator rectifier died. I changed it. Installed an ultimate rectifier. These things are good. Mosfet technology. But me, the ultimate lazy bastard that I am, just plugged it in on the original connectors of the alternator. And I figured out that this is not a smart thing to do. Because the guys from Ultimate rectiefiers provide you with new connectors. It works, but the connection with the originals is not solid enough so it seems. Now I have to measure it out, to see if the rectifier did not die and change the connectors of the bike with those that I left in the plastic bag. When there is a problem with voltage, the ABS module goes into a kind of protection mode and the abs light starts blinking. And it all started when I took the bike into higher revs. That is why the battery got bulged and the second battery died too. It got too much voltage. The fire in the garage caused te saddle to burn and some side covers, but nothing electrical ont the bike. That was 3 years ago, so that was not the cause. One learns from mistakes. Lesson learned : don't be a lazy bastard. I will do this probably next sunday and let you guys know whether my investigations gave the correct answer to the problem, but I am reasonably sure I am on the right path to the solution.

The connectors were indeed too loose. Changed them and replaced the rectifier. Problem solved. Nice place to install a rectifier, Honda, really nice.

Nice work, Walter. Glad to see determination can overcome engineering when necessary!! David