2017 CB1100EX Color matched side covers

[Gone in 60]

I know that a few pages back, I voted for silver, saying that it was one of the things that attracted me to the bike when it came out in '13. However, when Elipten put his custom '13 painted side covers for sale here on the forum, I snapped them up. I really love them and will be keeping my original silvers wrapped and stored with the rest of the OEM parts.

That being said, I have some thoughts on why Honda may have gone with silver side panels instead of matching red on the '13, '17 and '19 (U.S. Market, at least). The tank has lots of curved surfaces, while the side covers are a flat surface. With the way light hits the two parts, the pearl or candy base causes reflections that sort of bend the colors. In shade, like this picture, the color looks like it matches perfectly. But, in some light, at some angles, the flat side panels look darker than the rounded tank. In fact, based on the pictures that Elipten posted with his classified ad, I asked him to confirm that the color was indeed '13 Glory Red.

It doesn't bother me, because I know that the colors really do match, and that any variance is a play of light. On a black '14 standard, it wouldn't matter. But, the matching red side covers on the '14 Deluxe are curved, not flat, making the colors change at the same hues on the tank and covers.

Maybe going with a completely different silver color on the flat side panels was a decision to prevent buyers from complaining about colors not matching between the tank and sides.