02-28-2021, 08:09 PM
Now that the general motorcycle public has been made aware of the CB1100s existence and are becoming quite popular,if Honda started selling the bike here again do people think it would finally catch on?
02-28-2021, 08:09 PM
02-28-2021, 10:04 PM
Well it is too late for Europe or any market that follows the Euro Emissions regulations as they are not making the CB1100 Euro 5 compliant. You say they are becoming quite popular, what makes you say that?
In answer to your question though I don't think the CB1100 will catch on, it is a very niche bike and a lot of people just can't see past that horsepower figure from an 1100.
If Honda had kept up with the game, made it water-cooled but to look air-cooled (a la Triumph), added things like cruise, another 20HP-30HP and a bit more electronics then maybe they could appeal to a broader market. I wouldn't of minded if they had done something completely mad and done a old style full fairing version. The CB1100 has been a pretty stagnant beast its whole life apart from some styling changes. Everyone wants new new new now and the CB1100 isn't that.
Personally it suits me fine to have an uncommon machine (in my area anyway) and I'm very happy with my EX, it will be in my stable long after my Tiger has gone.
In answer to your question though I don't think the CB1100 will catch on, it is a very niche bike and a lot of people just can't see past that horsepower figure from an 1100.
If Honda had kept up with the game, made it water-cooled but to look air-cooled (a la Triumph), added things like cruise, another 20HP-30HP and a bit more electronics then maybe they could appeal to a broader market. I wouldn't of minded if they had done something completely mad and done a old style full fairing version. The CB1100 has been a pretty stagnant beast its whole life apart from some styling changes. Everyone wants new new new now and the CB1100 isn't that.
Personally it suits me fine to have an uncommon machine (in my area anyway) and I'm very happy with my EX, it will be in my stable long after my Tiger has gone.
02-28-2021, 11:15 PM
Nope
02-28-2021, 11:16 PM
nope.
02-28-2021, 11:20 PM
To be fair I think it’s the likes of you Tev62 and Iamhero/Mr Darcy/Which bike/The bike show amongst a select few others that have done very good YouTube stuff to show what these bikes are about, in the real world as an owner. I agree most journo’s either don’t get it or just don’t care enough to be bothered and let’s be honest Honda don’t seem to do much to push their products. Unless it’s an AT or Goldwing. Be interesting to see how the bike press takes to the new Rebel 1100 when lockdown eases. I didn’t know the CB existed and I still don’t think I’ve seen another one out in the wild, even now. The pool of new and unregistered CB’s is fast shrinking in England and whilst there are plenty of pre-owned about I agree it’s a closed case. Euro 5 has killed it. Nostalgia has to be a big pull with the CB and probably today’s new Gen riders will not connect to its looks anyway.
02-28-2021, 11:58 PM
I wish to be wrong, but I don't believe so.
03-01-2021, 12:00 AM
The motorcycling general public is no more aware of the CB1100's existence now than it was four years ago, when the bike was last sold here. They were vaguely aware of it then, just as they're vaguely aware of it now. It's more a matter of general disinterest than any lack of awareness.
Your post makes it sound like something happened recently to shed new light on the existence and/or quality of the CB1100. To what are you referring?
In any case, the answer would still be no. Euro 5 issues notwithstanding, the reason the CB1100 never sold well in the U.S. has nothing to do with the general motorcycling public's lack of awareness of the big CB's existence. Rather, it had everything to do with the public's perception of the bike being too slow, heavy, and expensive for what it offers. For that particular type of motorcycle, i.e., an 1140cc Inline Four from Honda, the general public and motorcycling press expect more than 86 rwhp and 66 lb-ft of torque. They expect rwhp well in excess of one hundred ponies, lower weight, and, considering its lack of "features" and relative performance, a much lower price tag.
Even though it's not a true retro, the final nail in the coffin for the CB1100 was the arrival of the Kawasaki Z900RS. The Bonneville T120 is given a pass for its meager performance because the Bonnevilles of old also never had any power or handling. These modern versions represent performance upgrades. In the case of the Honda, well, the old ones made more power than this new 1100, and the new Kawasaki serves as a benchmark for what the public feels the bigger Honda motor ought to be producing, if not surpassing.
Due to these factors, the Honda was relegated in the main to a very small, specific niche group of riders: the very elderly, who value nostalgia over all other qualities. They want air cooling, dual shocks, a bench seat, a round headlight, an upright seating position, and no plastic bodywork. They also want a Honda, because they used to own any number of vintage CB models.
That's a small, ever-diminishing group of people. It's basically Honda's version of the Harley demographic, only much fewer in number. It's a recipe for disaster, sales-wise. It's a niche group. That's all it could ever be, particularly with so many members of that group struggling with health issues, the weight of the CB1100, and the desire to downsize to more manageable rides.
Along similar lines, even the Kawasaki isn't selling all that well now, either. That was also a narrow-market bike, and its market is being hit fairly hard by Royal Enfield, as well as the increasing performance of the Triumph Modern Classics.
In the end, the CB is what it is, a pet project designed by a few devoted higher-ups in Honda Japan, for their own personal enjoyment. Honda made that bike for the home market. If it sold well in other markets, great, but global sales success was never necessary. It was never the goal for that project.
Your post makes it sound like something happened recently to shed new light on the existence and/or quality of the CB1100. To what are you referring?
In any case, the answer would still be no. Euro 5 issues notwithstanding, the reason the CB1100 never sold well in the U.S. has nothing to do with the general motorcycling public's lack of awareness of the big CB's existence. Rather, it had everything to do with the public's perception of the bike being too slow, heavy, and expensive for what it offers. For that particular type of motorcycle, i.e., an 1140cc Inline Four from Honda, the general public and motorcycling press expect more than 86 rwhp and 66 lb-ft of torque. They expect rwhp well in excess of one hundred ponies, lower weight, and, considering its lack of "features" and relative performance, a much lower price tag.
Even though it's not a true retro, the final nail in the coffin for the CB1100 was the arrival of the Kawasaki Z900RS. The Bonneville T120 is given a pass for its meager performance because the Bonnevilles of old also never had any power or handling. These modern versions represent performance upgrades. In the case of the Honda, well, the old ones made more power than this new 1100, and the new Kawasaki serves as a benchmark for what the public feels the bigger Honda motor ought to be producing, if not surpassing.
Due to these factors, the Honda was relegated in the main to a very small, specific niche group of riders: the very elderly, who value nostalgia over all other qualities. They want air cooling, dual shocks, a bench seat, a round headlight, an upright seating position, and no plastic bodywork. They also want a Honda, because they used to own any number of vintage CB models.
That's a small, ever-diminishing group of people. It's basically Honda's version of the Harley demographic, only much fewer in number. It's a recipe for disaster, sales-wise. It's a niche group. That's all it could ever be, particularly with so many members of that group struggling with health issues, the weight of the CB1100, and the desire to downsize to more manageable rides.
Along similar lines, even the Kawasaki isn't selling all that well now, either. That was also a narrow-market bike, and its market is being hit fairly hard by Royal Enfield, as well as the increasing performance of the Triumph Modern Classics.
In the end, the CB is what it is, a pet project designed by a few devoted higher-ups in Honda Japan, for their own personal enjoyment. Honda made that bike for the home market. If it sold well in other markets, great, but global sales success was never necessary. It was never the goal for that project.
03-01-2021, 12:14 AM
VLJ summarized it nicely and is probably the most accurate sit rep on the CB1100s current status on the market.
03-01-2021, 01:00 AM
(03-01-2021, 12:00 AM)VLJ_imp Wrote: [ -> ]The motorcycling general public is no more aware of the CB1100's existence now than it was four years ago, when the bike was last sold here. They were vaguely aware of it then, just as they're vaguely aware of it now. It's more a matter of general disinterest than any lack of awareness.
Your post makes it sound like something happened recently to shed new light on the existence and/or quality of the CB1100. To what are you referring?
In any case, the answer would still be no. Euro 5 issues notwithstanding, the reason the CB1100 never sold well in the U.S. has nothing to do with the general motorcycling public's lack of awareness of the big CB's existence. Rather, it had everything to do with the public's perception of the bike being too slow, heavy, and expensive for what it offers. For that particular type of motorcycle, i.e., an 1140cc Inline Four from Honda, the general public and motorcycling press expect more than 86 rwhp and 66 lb-ft of torque. They expect rwhp well in excess of one hundred ponies, lower weight, and, considering its lack of "features" and relative performance, a much lower price tag.
Even though it's not a true retro, the final nail in the coffin for the CB1100 was the arrival of the Kawasaki Z900RS. The Bonneville T120 is given a pass for its meager performance because the Bonnevilles of old also never had any power or handling. These modern versions represent performance upgrades. In the case of the Honda, well, the old ones made more power than this new 1100, and the new Kawasaki serves as a benchmark for what the public feels the bigger Honda motor ought to be producing, if not surpassing.
Due to these factors, the Honda was relegated in the main to a very small, specific niche group of riders: the very elderly, who value nostalgia over all other qualities. They want air cooling, dual shocks, a bench seat, a round headlight, an upright seating position, and no plastic bodywork. They also want a Honda, because they used to own any number of vintage CB models.
That's a small, ever-diminishing group of people. It's basically Honda's version of the Harley demographic, only much fewer in number. It's a recipe for disaster, sales-wise. It's a niche group. That's all it could ever be, particularly with so many members of that group struggling with health issues, the weight of the CB1100, and the desire to downsize to more manageable rides.
Along similar lines, even the Kawasaki isn't selling all that well now, either. That was also a narrow-market bike, and its market is being hit fairly hard by Royal Enfield, as well as the increasing performance of the Triumph Modern Classics.
In the end, the CB is what it is, a pet project designed by a few devoted higher-ups in Honda Japan, for their own personal enjoyment. Honda made that bike for the home market. If it sold well in other markets, great, but global sales success was never necessary. It was never the goal for that project.
Singing my life with his words, killing me softly...
03-01-2021, 01:07 AM
Actually, there are a lot of factors that probably lead to the CB1100 not being as popular here in the US as it perhaps should have been. I don't pretend to know all of those factors much less how to weigh each of their relative contribution to the lack of sales. Certainly, the perception that the bike is too slow or too heavy was a factor, but there were others. My recollection is, however, that the MC media liked this bike a lot when it came out. I don't recall reading anything particularly bad about it in 2012/2013 when I was looking for a bike. I do recall that those same articles talked about how Honda produced this bike mostly as an homage to previous CBs and that it was never in their plans that this retro bike would be a great seller and they were correct.
As to the OP's question: First, I assume that you mean by "becoming quite popular" you are referring to the used market. They are great bikes and I think that used ones can be had for relatively small investment which should tend to make them more desirable. But, No, I don't see Honda remaking this bike. I do think that they might like to make another retro-styled bike; maybe a GL1100 or other version of an early Goldwing, but then again, maybe that's wishful thinking on my part.
As to the OP's question: First, I assume that you mean by "becoming quite popular" you are referring to the used market. They are great bikes and I think that used ones can be had for relatively small investment which should tend to make them more desirable. But, No, I don't see Honda remaking this bike. I do think that they might like to make another retro-styled bike; maybe a GL1100 or other version of an early Goldwing, but then again, maybe that's wishful thinking on my part.