De-tuned Engine

[_imp]

I'm quite disappointed with the CB1100's performance. I have a series of many Honda Superbikes from the mid-70s to the present, and my 30-year-old 1983 CB1100F just spanks the new CB11 pooch.

That bike should have been the benchmark for the new CB11 for both style and performance. I need to find 20+ more hp for the newbie. But I'll trade up for a 2014 before doing so.

So are many professional reviewers.One even stating Honda
went out of their way to De-tune the engine.
Purposedly revamped the valve timing to give the bike
a little more grunt.Not more h.p. but more attitude.
However it probably had more to do with emissions.
Like practically all new models.
it's still to be seen how much this engine can safely be opened
up and realize it true worth.
There's no way that most superbikes with far less cc should
be able to outspank this CB. All weight aside.
This is the type engine that was made for drag racing.
Not any Italian 90 degree Twin.

[736cc_imp]

Re: comparing the 1983 1100F to the new CB1100:
Your post sounds to me that you are merely interested in quarter mile times and have not personally enjoyed the HIGH QUALITY of the this modern Honda machine.
The old CB1100 sure was faster in an all-out race in a straight line, but that's about it. The modern CB1100 w/ radial tires totally out-handles that old 1100 F bucket of bolts hands-down, has real brakes, much smoother throttle response (fuel injection is sooooo much better than primitive epa strangled carbs), and the fit and finish comparison is no comparison. The new CB1100 is an infinitely superior riding machine by far.
Maybe when you actually ride a 2013 you will understand. You just care about quarter mile times, we don't play that kid game here. We just enjoy owning a beautifully built Honda motorcycle that moves quite well, thank you.
[url=http://imageshack.com/i/0luj21j]

[_imp]

Re: comparing the 1983 1100F to the new CB1100:
Your post sounds to me that you are merely interested in quarter mile times and have not personally enjoyed the HIGH QUALITY of the this modern Honda machine.
The old CB1100 sure was faster in an all-out race in a straight line, but that's about it. The modern CB1100 w/ radial tires totally out-handles that old 1100 F bucket of bolts hands-down, has real brakes, much smoother throttle response (fuel injection is sooooo much better than primitive epa strangled carbs), and the fit and finish comparison is no comparison. The new CB1100 is an infinitely superior riding machine by far.
Maybe when you actually ride a 2013 you will understand. You just care about quarter mile times, we don't play that kid game here. We just enjoy owning a beautifully built Honda motorcycle that moves quite well, thank you.
[url=http://imageshack.com/i/0luj21j]

I have stated that this model has the best brakes of any bike
I ever owned.Also the finest gearbox and shifting,with the Rune
being slightly better.The Rune should be.
I like the way this bike is flexible,or can flick around really
easy.I still say this is not a Bike for the Interstate.Not many
motorcycle are..Certainly not some standard.The CB 1100 is
a Standard not even a Cruiser.
This bike is exceptional.But every bike has it's limitation.
To not understand that is Kid Sh!t.

[_imp]

My post wasn't provocational to any fanboys, and I'm 51 years old. I have a warehouse full of all types of bikes from the last 35 years to the present. And I'm not a teen with dragstrip obsessions, contrary to the mild ad hominem.

My disappointments are valid. An 1140cc modern motorcycle should exceed the performance of a 30-year-old carbureted 1062cc motorcycle of the same basic overall design.

I don't expect or desire it to be a modern Superbike. I have many of those, and a cross-section of all types of bikes. But this thing is a pooch. A smooth, nicely-finished, dead-realiable pooch; but a pooch nonetheless.

I'll be trading my '13 for a '14 and adding another very rideable 25hp with mods. In the meantime, every other naked/standard I own will destroy it in every area of performance.

Experienced motorcyclists should understand what I'm saying. It doesn't mean the CB11 is a pile of steaming feces. It means it underachieves for its displacement, etc.

[Randy B]

I wouldn't be surprised if my good friends 1980 KZ1000 is faster than this bike, but to be honest that really doesn't bother me. I get to ride that KZ any time I'm in Chicago and I love it. But.....The CB1100 is just refined and the FI on this bike just works. No fiddling with the choke, no messing with the idle speed screw...nothing.
And to say that this bike is a "pooch" to me is just absurd. Sure it's not the fastest bike around, but it is by no means a "pooch".
Could they have made it faster right out of the box? ABSOLUTELY! Was it a necessity of the design for who the intended target buyer was? NO! I believe that is also the reason they didn't remove the speed limiter when they exported the bike from Japan. This meant to be a retro styled standard with the fit and finish of a brand new machine and the caveat of having a wonderful FI system that functions perfectly.
As the bike ages there will be more aftermarket support for it, but I don't know that the amount of go fast stuff will ever be what can be found for something like a CBR or GSXR as those or purpose built go fast bikes and the CB1100 most definitely is not.

My $.02.

[kenfyoozed_imp]

I hope you do open it up, scoring more ponies. Since this is new model as of '13 I'm sure the tricks of the trade are still out there to be done.


Sent from my iPhone using [url=http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1]Tapatalk

[the Ferret]

Most of us that bought this motorcycle are " fanboys" of it. It is a wonderful motorcycle. Before it was ever released in the U.S., there were videos released by American Honda interviewing the leader of the design team for the CB 1100. He stated without evocation that they could have designed the CB 1100 with high horsepower in mind, which would have been no problem, but chose not to, rather they designed the bike to a riding experience. Neither displacement nor horsepower were set as a goal. Nearly every magazine test rode pre-production units of the bike and reported the riding characteristics, and mentioned that although unimpressive in sheer horsepower, each reported the bike a joy to ride, a great riding experience. One or two named it bike of the year. Anyone who bought one of these SHOULD have known what they were buying.

I picked mine up on March 29 th and before I bought it, I knew it had 88 crank hp, I knew it had 63 ft lbs of torque. I knew it had a 5 speed transmission. I knew it had a 530 chain. I knew it had skinny 18" wheels.I knew the numbers were very comparable to my 1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 and I accepted that. Looked forward to it actually, my KZ 1000 was one of my favorite motorcycles.

If you are unhappy with the performance of your CB, then I'd think either you didn't do your homework before purchasing, or you did and ignored it and then expected the bike to be something that it's not.

You can buy a 14 if you wish, and spend a couple grand to get another 25 hp at the high end of the rpm scale, and you know what? A decent modern 600 supersport will still blow your doors off. Certainly the new $8k 900 cc Yamaha triple will. If it's performance you are after, you're betting on the wrong race horse with the CB 1100.

[_imp]

I hope you do open it up, scoring more ponies. Since this is new model as of '13 I'm sure the tricks of the trade are still out there to be done.


Sent from my iPhone using [url=http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1]Tapatalk

That was really my overall point. It needs more juice. It's more on par with the old CB900F.

I think the right answer would be an F model with front fairing and tail ala '83 CB1100F. Add 30hp and it's a modern update with no excuses. But that's not gonna happen. This is Honda.

I'll solve it. All you guys can pooch around on yours as-is. LOL.

[736cc_imp]

I've been riding 40 years on around 2 dozen different bikes, and have gone 150 mph on several motorcycles. Speed isn't the defining point of a motorcycle except in racing. The new CB1100 won't win many speed contests but its power delivery in real world riding is just right. I'd rather own a sweet new CB1100 nowadays that I can exercise daily to its modest limits instead of a Hayabusa or ZX10 that would wheelie or do 175 mph when I really spank it. This bike is just right to most everybody that owns one, and same owners don't have the need to go over 100 mph. This is a high quality motorcycle with great usable power; its just not for somebody wanting a superbike rocket.

[_imp]

Most of us that bought this motorcycle are " fanboys" of it. It is a wonderful motorcycle. Before it was ever released in the U.S., there were videos released by American Honda interviewing the leader of the design team for the CB 1100. He stated without evocation that they could have designed the CB 1100 with high horsepower in mind, which would have been no problem, but chose not to, rather they designed the bike to a riding experience. Neither displacement nor horsepower were set as a goal. Nearly every magazine test rode pre-production units of the bike and reported the riding characteristics, and mentioned that although unimpressive in sheer horsepower, each reported the bike a joy to ride, a great riding experience. One or two named it bike of the year. Anyone who bought one of these SHOULD have known what they were buying.

I picked mine up on March 29 th and before I bought it, I knew it had 88 crank hp, I knew it had 63 ft lbs of torque. I knew it had a 5 speed transmission. I knew it had a 530 chain. I knew it had skinny 18" wheels.I knew the numbers were very comparable to my 1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 and I accepted that. Looked forward to it actually, my KZ 1000 was one of my favorite motorcycles.

If you are unhappy with the performance of your CB, then I'd think either you didn't do your homework before purchasing, or you did and ignored it and then expected the bike to be something that it's not.

You can buy a 14 if you wish, and spend a couple grand to get another 25 hp at the high end of the rpm scale, and you know what? A decent modern 600 supersport will still blow your doors off. Certainly the new $8k 900 cc Yamaha triple will. If it's performance you are after, you're betting on the wrong race horse with the CB 1100.

I knew what I was buying. I've been doin' this for a minute. The simple point is I'm still disappointed, in spite of the bike's basic appeal and competence in other ways.

I don't have the same criticisms of other smaller displacement bikes built to such a purpose. It's about the intentionally untapped reasonable potential left on the table. It's a philosophy as much as an experiential thing. Honda's commentary is more of an excuse than a reason. Yamaha's new triple is more honest, and a better value.

But I bought this because it's a logical extension of some of the early CBs I love so much. I'll get over it.

You guys are a bit sensitive. I didn't call your baby ugly or stupid. I just said I was disappointed with the performance aspect of a motorcycle.