09-22-2018, 04:23 AM
I had a problem with my 2017EX, vibration that appeared around 35 MPH. The shop where bought it did the same thing...adjust suspension, test drive, and said it was fine. It was not fine, vibration still present. The shop where I bought it did not have a Honda certified mechanic. I then went to another dealer that did have a Honda certified mechanic. My front ( spoked wheel ) was out of true, AND the front tire had a flat spot. Wheel was trued, and front tire replaced under warranty, problem solved.
I discovered several things during the warranty ordeal. 1.) The Dunlop tires on our CBs, new, have had problems with being out of round, and/or flat spots whether from sitting in the crate too long or from original manufacture. 2.) Apparently in order to get anything done under warranty, the problem must first be verified by a Honda certified mechanic to start the warranty process. 3.) I had isolated the problem early on, and told both shops it was a tire and or wheel problem. Both shops went to great lengths to do do everything else imaginable first, saving tire/wheel for last, which leads me to believe the tire situation/cost has been a big one for Honda. 4.) Honda technical support had told the shop that eventually fixed my bike, to have me ride the bike for a couple thousand miles, and bring the bike back if the problem did not go away. That sounded suspiciously to me like Honda was hoping that the flat spot on the tire would wear off/even out from riding. Naturally I said no, why should I put up with the problem for 2000 miles on a new bike?
Since your bike has a cast wheel, it is probably true, and the problem is your tire.
In my case, the vibration, or roughness was most obvious at 35-40 mph. At higher speed it was still there, but less obvious. Here is what I did to isolate the problem on mine. I got on a long smooth service road, with no other traffic, and took it up to 65 mph. At 65 mph, I pulled in the clutch and coasted, watching the speedo, same result, vibration most obvious at 35-40. Did this several times with the same result. Then I repeated the procedure several times, but after pulling the clutch in, and shifting to neutral, hit the kill switch, and coasted with the engine taken completely out of the equation. Every time, same result, vibration most obvious between 35-40.
Prior to my test, tires were inflated to spec, wheels had already been checked for balance ( by the first dealer ), steering head had been checked for play, and gear lash had been checked. The experience with mine, and other Forum members, leads me to believe your problem is the tire, with the possibility that if the trie/wheel assembly has not been checked for balance, that could come into play as well. Mind you, I am not bashing Honda, or the CB1100, as I am a huge fan of both, but this seems to be a common problem. Hope this helps you.
I discovered several things during the warranty ordeal. 1.) The Dunlop tires on our CBs, new, have had problems with being out of round, and/or flat spots whether from sitting in the crate too long or from original manufacture. 2.) Apparently in order to get anything done under warranty, the problem must first be verified by a Honda certified mechanic to start the warranty process. 3.) I had isolated the problem early on, and told both shops it was a tire and or wheel problem. Both shops went to great lengths to do do everything else imaginable first, saving tire/wheel for last, which leads me to believe the tire situation/cost has been a big one for Honda. 4.) Honda technical support had told the shop that eventually fixed my bike, to have me ride the bike for a couple thousand miles, and bring the bike back if the problem did not go away. That sounded suspiciously to me like Honda was hoping that the flat spot on the tire would wear off/even out from riding. Naturally I said no, why should I put up with the problem for 2000 miles on a new bike?
Since your bike has a cast wheel, it is probably true, and the problem is your tire.
In my case, the vibration, or roughness was most obvious at 35-40 mph. At higher speed it was still there, but less obvious. Here is what I did to isolate the problem on mine. I got on a long smooth service road, with no other traffic, and took it up to 65 mph. At 65 mph, I pulled in the clutch and coasted, watching the speedo, same result, vibration most obvious at 35-40. Did this several times with the same result. Then I repeated the procedure several times, but after pulling the clutch in, and shifting to neutral, hit the kill switch, and coasted with the engine taken completely out of the equation. Every time, same result, vibration most obvious between 35-40.
Prior to my test, tires were inflated to spec, wheels had already been checked for balance ( by the first dealer ), steering head had been checked for play, and gear lash had been checked. The experience with mine, and other Forum members, leads me to believe your problem is the tire, with the possibility that if the trie/wheel assembly has not been checked for balance, that could come into play as well. Mind you, I am not bashing Honda, or the CB1100, as I am a huge fan of both, but this seems to be a common problem. Hope this helps you.