The CB owner

[willsmith_imp]

I've owned a 2014 Honda CB1100 for a week now. I've had a chance to talk to friends and family about it, show it off, ride 100 miles, do some maintenance, and think about ownership.

The phrase that resonates most with me is that:
"This is the motorcycle for someone who has nothing to prove"

Sport bikes and cruisers seem to be as much about what impression they make on others as the riding experience, whereas the UJM has always been about the essence of motorcycling, the elemental, unpretentious machinery and experience. Loud pipes, racy graphics and fairings... make an external impression.

Someone confident in who they are, who doesn't need social affirmation and isn't intimidated by the admonitions.

I've been surprised also by the rush to judgement by so many about the dangers of motorcycling. In this era of polarizing opinions and judgement, so many people assume you'll be dead soon and that they would never be allowed to get a motorcycle by their spouse or take the time to ride it, in deference to their marital or child-rearing responsibilities.

I'm glad to have found like-minded people on this forum... ride on!

[misterprofessionality]

I've owned a 2014 Honda CB1100 for a week now. I've had a chance to talk to friends and family about it, show it off, ride 100 miles, do some maintenance, and think about ownership.

The phrase that resonates most with me is that:
"This is the motorcycle for someone who has nothing to prove"

Sport bikes and cruisers seem to be as much about what impression they make on others as the riding experience, whereas the UJM has always been about the essence of motorcycling, the elemental, unpretentious machinery and experience. Loud pipes, racy graphics and fairings... make an external impression.

Someone confident in who they are, who doesn't need social affirmation and isn't intimidated by the admonitions.

I've been surprised also by the rush to judgement by so many about the dangers of motorcycling. In this era of polarizing opinions and judgement, so many people assume you'll be dead soon and that they would never be allowed to get a motorcycle by their spouse or take the time to ride it, in deference to their marital or child-rearing responsibilities.

I'm glad to have found like-minded people on this forum... ride on!

We all get that rhetoric, but I always tell people the source of fear is in the future. The motorcyclist at speed exists only in the present moment. A man freed of the future has nothing to fear.

Milan Kundera had it right.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I owned a Honda NC750X, which might be perceived by some as a "lesser bike" compared to other models and the CB1100. Sure, there is reasonable discussion there.

I didn't care. The NC was a very reliable, economical and enjoyable machine and it got all the ugly duties the CB1100 used to get. In person I never detected a scoff. Even if I did, I wouldn't care or, if cornered, I wouldn't hesitate to have that discussion.

Today my choice ride is an Africa Twin and a 150 cc scooter, which brings on the giggles in a way the Africa cannot. When I pull up to an HD rider with the scooter, they lack the courage to look my way. When I pull up to an HD rider with the Africa Twin, they lack the courage to look my way. So where really is the problem? (the ego is a strong, primitive force in us)

[Gone in 60]

That's a very interesting assessment - the CB is for someone who has nothing to prove. I like that. A UJM, in its prime years, was a basic motorcycle to get a job done, not to present the rider as anything in particular. My last UJM before the CB1100 was a Nighthawk 750. When people asked me to describe it, I'd say "It's not sporty, it's not adventurous. It's the Honda Civic of motorcycles. It just takes me where I need to be without complaining."

That, in and of itself, makes the bike attractive, and approachable. People look at it without a preconceived notion, like they might if it were a chromed-up cruiser or a jet fighter sport bike. When Ender and I met up at the Donut Derelicts show a few weekends ago, lots of people were glancing at the Ducatis and Harleys scattered around, but stopped and lingered a bit looking at our bikes. I thought that was pretty cool.

[Tom_imp]

right on assessment imo. It cracks me up to hear people who are very pleased with their bikes due to all the head-turning attention they get. If that makes them happy, I am happy for them. Just not why I ride. I see lots of the insane $$$$ customs and think "how could you ride that thing?" Trailer it to the show off and cruise 5 blocks...then hit the bar. Not my style.

[j3gq_imp]

How about a slight modification. We cannot not communicate. Whatever we say or we don't, whatever we do or we don't, we are communicating (unless alone at the southern pole). So we communicate, when we ride the CB, to the bystander, other driver, friends or family. We communicate that this "thing" is pricey (when new), is stylish (in it's old fashioned way), makes you vulnerable (is not as safe) as an S.U.V. and that we don't care. It does and we do communicate and generate a lot of images at the time. And we, the owners and riders are most of the time aware of all these images. When we buy, when we ride, when we park ... Nothing to prove ? May be. But this statement falls short of all the thinks going on between the CB and the rest of the surrounding world

[the Ferret]

Well you can certainly look at the bikes in my garage to see Im not trying to impress anyone. I ride for me.

[peterbaron]

Well you can certainly look at the bikes in my garage to see Im not trying to impress anyone. I ride for me.

^^+1^^

[treedoc_imp]

Is this you willsmith?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sHTOdsj5o4

[GoldOxide_imp]

Is this you willsmith?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sHTOdsj5o4

lol - ah ha, ... ah man.