I find that Honda tends to rely too heavily on the industry press (Motor Cyclist, Cycle World, Road Rider, etc.) to do it's marketing for them.
Honda gives them a press bike, and that's that.
The problem with the industry press is they tend to be jaded and bias towards the main food groups; Sport Bikes, Cruisers and Adventure Bikes.
Even Honda's web site is just a cookie cutter off the shelf formula, not a true marketing tool.
So a great bike like the CB1100 comes along and Honda has no action plan to promote it, go figure...
Just today I was at Newcomb's Ranch (an iconic So Cal hang out) and half a dozen people asked me about my CB1100, they had no idea Honda even build a retro bike. Sad.
TINK
I don't believe Honda had any real interest in selling a load of them in the US. Though there are dealerships with new ones in inventory, the total amount weren't like they planned to flood the market with them. My assumption is that they figured out just how much a market there was of baby boomers to purchase them and gave us a few extras. The global market is better suited than the fickle North America market, the CB doesn't have the tire size, HP, or drive train the 20 to 30 crowd wants, and the baby boomers have lusted after cruisers like Harley and Victory for the most part. Honda knew what it was doing, us old ferts bought up what was out there, a few old dudes missed out and some younger guys bought a classic.
There are 343 for sale on Cycle Trader right now....lots to pick from still
Conversely, there are 426 Yamaha SR400 for sale, out of supposedly 500 imported since May 2014!!
(07-27-2015, 01:49 AM)DaSwami_imp Wrote: [ -> ]There are 343 for sale on Cycle Trader right now....lots to pick from still
Conversely, there are 426 Yamaha SR400 for sale, out of supposedly 500 imported since May 2014!!
Often those bikes are sold and nobody has removed them.
MG, I have an affinity for brown bombers too. Don't have the money for a Bullitt yet, but in time...haha
(07-28-2015, 02:03 AM)specialist8_imp Wrote: [ -> ]MG, I have an affinity for brown bombers too. Don't have the money for a Bullitt yet, but in time...haha
Be sure to read my review of the Bell Bullitt here:
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....ll+bullitt
That's me in all my trendy glory! Haha. I sure wish I could do something about the imprint it leaves on my noggin. I'd wear it more often if I could.
I had a gentleman stop me at the gas station this morning asking about my CB. Turns out he had a 750 as a young man and was surprised to see a younger guy like me on an old bike. I explained to him that it was a new one and he was shocked that they started making it again. Just shows that Honda didnt really push that hard to market the bike. Heck, I didnt know about it till I stopped by the dealer one day looking for parts!