Michelin Pilot Road 3s...I joined the club

[emptysea]

I think the many PR3 testimonials on this forum are likely quite valid and justified (I have no experience with these tires on my CB), but you should absolutely adhere to Honda's recommendation if you have any concerns. The second-guessing is not worth the anxiety. There is nothing wrong with that decision, and there is nothing wrong with the OE-recommended tires.

You are exactly right. The second-guessing is not worth the anxiety. That was my point all along, just not as succinctly stated. It would seem that the right decision for you would be to go with the OE-recommended tires.
"Optimal" means the best. Because a tire is not the best fit on the rim, does not disqualify it from being the best tire for the bike and rider. As it happens, there is no optimal tire choice because the tire that is best for me most certainly is not the best for Ulvetana. The correct way to state the current situation is that we are lucky to now have a wider range of tires from which to choose. This increases the chances of a CB1100 rider of finding his optimal tire.