Possible CB1100X coming ...

[tod.branko_imp]

Convenience.

Raise your hands... who here would buy a chain drive car?

If you don't ride a lot, it really doesn't matter how your bike is powered and MOST motorcyclists ride about 2500-3000 miles a year. In their case, a chain and sprockets or belt will last longer than they own the bike probably. At least 10 years.

But lets say you ride a lot. 20-25,000 miles a year like some of us do. A chain and sprockets will last a season MAYBE 2. I average about 24,700 miles a year. The original chain and sprocket set on my CB lasted 36,000 miles at which time it was $400 parts and labor to replace. I've now ridden 25,000 miles on the second set. So if it lives as long as the first set I have about 11,000 miles to go before it needs another $400 repair. or $800 in 75,000 miles.

Lets compare that to the shaft drive on my ST 1300 and my FJR. I put 110,000 miles on the ST and 38,000 miles on the FJR (before trading it in) and my cost to repair for 148,000 miles was $ ZERO.

There is some maintenance with both systems. With the chain it's adjustment and lubrication. With the shaft it was changing the rear end oil. If you ask me which one I prefer doing being a non mechanical type guy, it's changing the rear end fluid on the shaft. It's like changing the oil on the CB only skip the filter part of the process. Pull a drain plug, drain the fluid, replace the drain plug, pour in 7 oz of 80/90 wt oil once a year, twice if you're anal.

All that said, the CB 1100 should be chain drive, if nothing else for looks and tradition. I have no gripe with that.

But a sport touring bike like the NT 1100 designed with fairing and bags to go cross country and back really should have a shaft.

The AT in my opinion should also have a shaft because it's designed to compete with the shaft driven GS BMW and the shaft driven Yamaha Super Tenere' meant for cross country riding

Going with chains on bikes like these is really cheap on Honda's part, who used to make shaft drives available on bikes as small as 500cc.

I wish my NC750X had a shaft (and cruise since it already has fly by wire throttle)

I agree with your points as you laid them out so clearly, still I don't think this NT1100 would be an ideal candidate, AT - maybe, Rebel - most definitely. Personally I don't mind getting down and giving my chain a cleanup and a lube, but I know that for many it's a necessary evil. As for the shafts, I've ridden quite a few bikes, but as far as ownership goes my only experience was with the MG California 1400, and the shaft was the only issue I have had with that motorcycle, busted seal, oil leak, waiting 10 full weeks for a spare part, and I have to mention that they've made it in a way that's impossible to drain and refill without taking the rear wheel off, and the rear wheel can be taken off only once the exhaust pipes are off. Bloody mess. I loved riding that motorcycle, but I was very agitated by that whole experience

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed