Top speed

[furious_blue_imp]

So tell me why are the US bikes speed limited when only capable of low top speeds. As far as I know the only speed limiting here is that production bikes must not exceed 300kph top speed.

we don't know if its just for the USA or if its a Japan thing that they dont remove. Either way there has to be either a lawyer or politician or both involved.

Actually, we do know. Vehicles (two wheel and four wheel) sold in the Japanese domestic market are all speed limited to a maximum of 180 kph (roughly 112 mph). Originally the CB1100 was a Japan-only bike (followed shortly by Australian availablity). Honda simply chose not to bother removing the speed limit software on the export models. They probably figured that their target market (mostly older folks) wouldn't care that much and they wouldn't lose sales because of it.

So tell me why are the US bikes speed limited when only capable of low top speeds. As far as I know the only speed limiting here is that production bikes must not exceed 300kph top speed.

we don't know if its just for the USA or if its a Japan thing that they dont remove. Either way there has to be either a lawyer or politician or both involved.

Gentlemen,

Automobile and motorcycle manufacturers use speed limiting software for a number of reasons. The new Ford GT500 Mustang hard top has speed limited to 205 mph as does the Ford GT. Tire speed rating is the reason for that #. But the GT500 convertable is limited to 155, and that # is because of very turbulant aerodynamics with the top down. The Bugatti Veyron convertable severely limits top speed with its top down for the same reason. The bolt upright seating position of the CB1100 combined with the lack of a fairing makes for pretty ugly aerodynamics. Makers dont assume that a rider will tuck low over the tank to clean up the aero profile, they know that some riders will pin the throttle and hang on while sitting straight up. So the limiter was set at 110. But it's only software and you can change it with a re-flash of the bikes ECM. I suspect that 95% of buyers including me couldn't care less about going 110+ mph on this bike. If I was looking for that I would have bought a V-Max or Hayabusa. Cheers.

Chip

Interesting. I would have thought the problem would be with the top up. At high speed, lower air pressure above the vehicle causes the top to expand like a balloon, which can lead to detachment.

I recall taking my '69 Mercury ragtop on a speed test back in ye olden days. It had a high compression 429CI V-8 and would really move. At about 130 mph the ragtop was so stretched out that the glue holding the glass rear window to the fabric gave way. The window blew out and shattered on the trunk lid. At the same time, the sudden noise and wind at 130 mph caused me to leave quite a pucker mark in the seat cushion

Mystery solved !

While I'm OK with keeping it under 112 mph, I think Honda made a mistake if they thought that Americans in general would be OK with sticking to a rule like that one :-)