Partially Deluxifying the '13

[flynrider]

For the life of me I can't figure out why Honda didn't go with color matched side covers

Two reasons I can think of are:

1. A single part number can be used on multiple colors of CBs. Manufacturers love it when they can do that.

2. The designers wanted the contrast a different color cover would bring.

I've not seen a matching side cover bike yet, so I can't say if I'd like it. I can say that I like the silver covers, and having them match the tank isn't even on my radar for upgrades.

Likewise I definitely prefer how the '13 covers fit inside the frame tubes and show them off, vs. how the '14 covers lay over the top of the frame tubes.

Two reasons I can think of are:

1. A single part number can be used on multiple colors of CBs. Manufacturers love it when they can do that.

2. The designers wanted the contrast a different color cover would bring.
Since the CB1100 is kind of a composite of design features from the CB glory days, I think the side covers were a nod to the original CBX (as well as the tank shape). The different colored, triangular shaped side covers were something you didn't see on other Honda's of the day.

I may be full of it, but when I first saw the tank/side cover combo on the CB1100, the CBX was the first bike I thought of.