This bike just gets better!

[Willmarth_imp]

Wisedrum I never revved her that high with the stock exhaust. With the Arrow Pro headers she really sings and just sounds better and better at higher RPM. I always shift well before redline though (at least 1,000 RPM shy). Mostly I just like to chill on the 1100 riding secondary roads and rarely exceed 4,000 RPM but there are those moments when the road opens up and conditions are right to just let her rip.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Honda did suggest the CB1100 is a "gentlemen's" bike, but could put out when the moment required it.

Forum feedback seems to indicate Honda did that part very well. They appeared to engineer the bike to be best when in the most useful riding ranges.

[Willmarth_imp]

GoldOxide agreed a gentleman's bike indeed. I take meticulous care of mine changing the oil and filter every 1,500 miles with an emphasis on riding smoothly all the time. I ride mostly back roads through hilly farmland with lots of elevation changes at 40-60 MPH. And she is just perfect. But when the occasion arises I can't help but air her out a bit and she loves it. Mine actually has a bit of a vibration zone (inline 4 high frequency tingling through the bars and tank) in the mid 3,000 RPM range and smooths out again above 4,000 RPM. But I spend most of my time below 3,000 RPM where she's just as smooth as glass. The bike's an absolute gem.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Totally agree. 2500 to 3000 is pretty darn reliable. 4000 and up is also, but for different purpose.

[Wisedrum]

On the other side the CB has its highest power at 7.500U/min and can even rev 1.000U/min higher before touching the redline. Some testers in magazines wrote, the bike revs nicely between 2.000 and 9.000U/min.

Knowing all these I use just a part of the power without its maximum or the nearness of it. For me there is no temptation to do so. Too much power, speed or acceleration for my riding style. But the CB will surely have no problem if someone rides her "wild". She will still stay under her potential with her mild motor programming. And not having changed the exhaust pipe she also opens up soundwise when being reved. I like calm bikes, which don't disturb anyone's peace including mine. And I like bikes which right from the start runs well in lower revs. The CB is such a bike. No wonder with so many cubic inches.

Wisedrum

[ysrebob_imp]

I'm always surprised how much better the CB runs/shifts with a fresh chain lube/adjustment. Good incentive to keep the chain maintained! Just bought my CB (leftover '17) a few months back and crossed 4k miles a couple days ago -- looking forward to seeing if the motor smooths out even more over the next few thousand.

I also bought one of the new Honda Super Cub 125s this summer, and that bike's motor really loosened up noticeably after it rolled past 1K miles or so. Top speed picked up by ~5%. [to a blistering 55mph on level ground ]

[GoldOxide_imp]

I'm always surprised how much better the CB runs/shifts with a fresh chain lube/adjustment. Good incentive to keep the chain maintained! Just bought my CB (leftover '17) a few months back and crossed 4k miles a couple days ago -- looking forward to seeing if the motor smooths out even more over the next few thousand.

I also bought one of the new Honda Super Cub 125s this summer, and that bike's motor really loosened up noticeably after it rolled past 1K miles or so. Top speed picked up by ~5%. [to a blistering 55mph on level ground ]

CB1100 + Super Cub = Quite the riding spectrum. One or maybe a few Forum members here have a similar riding combination. Congrats!