Brought my bike back to the dealer today to have them install the one and only modification I'll do to my new '17 EX...







Those are the Honda factory heated grips, and they are so much hotter than the factory Yamaha grips on my XSR900, or the Oxford heated grips I tried before switching to the Yamaha grips. These are also much hotter than the BMW grips I had on my Roadster. Maybe the factory grips on my Street Triple R were as warm as this set, but they would be the only other ones, and those things looked hideous, plus they had a separate, giant control module.

This set looks as clean and 'factory' as can be, like the set on the Triumph T120. It has three heat settings, and it shuts off automatically when you kill the ignition. The highest setting is just crazy-hot. Even through my winter gloves they were warm enough that I backed them down to the second setting. On a truly cold night in the mountains, these things are going to be a godsend.

Apparently they're quite a bear to install, so I'm glad I had the dealer do it. Where I live I can't see riding any naked bike without heated grips, and these things complete the CB's functionality. They even look pretty cool. They certainly don't detract from the bike's looks.

While they were at it, I also had them do my 600-mile service, and lower the brake pedal a bit. I thought the brake pedal was too high on Eric's bike, and mine was the same. It's much better now. I no longer need to stay on the ball of my foot to avoid pressing the pedal and possibly activating the brake light.

So, that's it, my bike is done.

Two interesting notes about this bike...

While I was walking around the dealership, I moseyed on out to the service department to check out the other bikes back there. One of the mechanics was taking a smoke break. I pointed to the new Kawi Z900 that he was leaning against and asked him, "What do you think of those?"

He said, "Cool bike. Certainly does the job, especially if you're a nineteen-year-old kid who's going to thrash it for a year before totaling it. The thing is, I just can't stand Kawasaki Heavy Industries steel. The <expletive deleted> is just so soft. It doesn't last for <same expletive deleted>.

"Now, we have this Honda back there, getting serviced. It's one of those old-school retro bikes, an eleven hundred. The thing is air-cooled, and you can pi**-wind that thing to redline all day, and it won't care. You can live at redline on a Honda motor, and it just won't care. Try the same thing on this Kawi, on any Kawi with their soft steel, and it'll grenade soon enough. No thanks. I'll stick with Hondas."

He then asked me what I ride, and when I told him that the retro Honda they're working on back there is mine, he just threw his cancer stick down, stabbed it out with his foot, and said, "Killer bike. That thing will never break."

Gotta love it.

The other bit of news might prove a bit disconcerting to some here...

Hanging out in their waiting area, I flipped through a 2018 Honda full-line brochure. This thing listed their entire line-up for 2018, and any guesses as to which bike was conspicuous by its absence?

Yep, no 2018 CB1100. No EX, no RS.

I asked the sales manager about it. He just shrugged and said, "Looks like they're not doing them anymore. Our Honda rep was just here, and he said Honda isn't bringing in any 2018 CB1100s. We're getting this new CB1000 racy thing, but there aren't going to be any more of the retros, at least not this year."

Wow. If that proves to be the case...wow.

On a brighter note, they had two of the new Gold Wings on display, a blue and a red. If the gaggle of geezers that kept coming in specifically to sit on that bike is any indication, Honda is going to have a major sales hit on their hands with the new Wing. Two of those guys told the salesman they were ready to "talk turkey" right then and there.

I also sat on the Z900 and Z900RS again, back and forth, back and forth, for about a half hour. (I had a long wait there today!) I eventually decided that even as fat as the Z900RS's tank is, I suppose I'd probably take it over the Z900, but only with the optional lower seat. I did like how light the bike felt, compared to my CB, but that was literally the only thing I preferred about the Kawi. No matter where I looked on the Z900RS, every last detail seemed a bit cheap; or, maybe it would be more accurate to say that every last detail on the CB seemed classier, and just downright better.

Lighter and faster and smoother are certainly good things, and the Kawi likely has the CB covered in those three areas, but there isn't a chance in Hades that I would trade my bike for that Z900RS.

Took time to wash my CB today after being caught in the rain. I like a garage with Japanese four's in it, new and old.

At my weekly stop at the local Honda/Yamaha dealer today, I got to see and sit on the new Yamaha XSR 700. Looks just like the XSR 900. There was what looked like a silver/ aluminum tanked one, and a red/ maroon with white striped one. Seemed to me about a 32" seat height. Had to tip toe to reach the geound on both sides. The dealer lamented that it wasn't an adv type bike. He has only sold one of the XSR900's and it was a special order in the yellow black speed block pattern.

He also got in his demo model of the new V twin Venture (?) touring bike. He offered to let me take it out, and although tempted, I declined for today, but will take it out later. It's a huge thing. I was able to get both feet on the ground alright, but hefting it off the side stand was a bit of a chore for this munchkin.

About another week before the new Goldwing comes in, which is something I am looking forward to checking out and riding.

I read in a post on this forum that the valve clearance check interval had been increased from 8000 to 12000 miles. Nice!

Question: Did Honda make changes to the valves, cams, lifters, etc, to allow for the increase, or are these components the same as used on the older CB1100s?

In other words, did Honda revise their service specs for the older CBs as well?

Bob

The CB1100's versatility makes it the only bike many of us need, but is it the only bike we want?

Let's assume that you could own three, and ONLY three, motorcycles.

Including your CB1100, List the 3 bikes you would have in your garage.

Mine?
2013 Honda CB1100abs
2018 (or most recent) Zero SR
201- BMW R 1200RT

There was a thread, info or link to aftermarket scanner set for CB... having hard time to find this info from our forum, can I get help please

Thanks all for help.



pb

My dealer just received 4 2018’s in both DCT and standard shift,
He’ll receive 2 more bikes to use as ride demos by end of the week.

My 2017 CB 1100EX ( 7 months old) now closing in on 7,000 miles. Not bad, since it shares ride time with 3 other bikes.

I ride the bike as often as I can. My sport touring bikes are good at what they do, and my CB is for everything else. Just too much fun on the local roads I call home.

Its classic looks are commented almost everywhere I park it. A man once followed me for a mile to see if would stop somewhere ( I did, McDonalds) to talk to me about the CB 1100. The 2 chrome mufflers, and fenders glisten in the sun. The spoke wheels are also popular.

Some call it heavy? The need to ride a sport touring bike for awhile LOL, that'll show them heavy.

It has been a long time since I've felt this way about a motorcycle.

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/ne...yptr=yahoo

GOOD NEWS,
We already have "coming soon" in Canada, 2018 CB1100RS-ABS, CB1000R-ABS..
So far there is no price for these two..Both in black as per ad...



pb[/b]