04-21-2026, 05:58 PM
I didn't really care for the CB1100 when it first came out. At the time it wasn't retro enough for me. I guess it's the old geezer in me. I prefer older bikes. I think they have more character. My first bike was a used 68 Honda CB350 I bought from a friend in 1971 for $225. I put 11,000 miles on it the first summer. I got tired of oil leaks and valve adjustments, so I traded it for a 72 Suzuki GT550 two stroke. I wanted something bigger, so I bought a used 73 CB750. I probably would have kept it except the local Honda dealer offered me crazy money on a trade for a new 1980 CB900 custom. Along with a bunch of other "old" bikes, I still have the CB900.
Eventually I took a shine to the CB1100. I wish it had been sooner because I would have bought a new one. I started looking around and there were a few low mileage 2013s and 14s nearby but I settled on the 2017 CB1100EX. I liked the spoke wheels and two mufflers. I found this one 350 miles away in North Carolina. It was a trade in at Honda dealership. The original owner was a longtime customer and had all the maintenance done there so 20,000 miles shouldn't be a problem. We struck a deal at a reasonable price, and they changed the oil and replaced the rear tire. I drove there from PA and brought it home in February. This winter was awful in Pennsylvania, so the old girl hibernated in a warm garage while I got her all cleaned up and adjusted. Last week I got my new plate and insurance and took her out on a shakedown ride and to get the state inspection done.
I now truly regret waiting so long to get one. It's smooth like an electric motor. It rides nicer than my big Harley. It has all the power I could ever want. I guess I just got too used to riding vintage stuff and didn't realize how far motorcycle technology has come. Don't get me wrong. I still like my old bikes, but this one is really nice too.
Eventually I took a shine to the CB1100. I wish it had been sooner because I would have bought a new one. I started looking around and there were a few low mileage 2013s and 14s nearby but I settled on the 2017 CB1100EX. I liked the spoke wheels and two mufflers. I found this one 350 miles away in North Carolina. It was a trade in at Honda dealership. The original owner was a longtime customer and had all the maintenance done there so 20,000 miles shouldn't be a problem. We struck a deal at a reasonable price, and they changed the oil and replaced the rear tire. I drove there from PA and brought it home in February. This winter was awful in Pennsylvania, so the old girl hibernated in a warm garage while I got her all cleaned up and adjusted. Last week I got my new plate and insurance and took her out on a shakedown ride and to get the state inspection done.
I now truly regret waiting so long to get one. It's smooth like an electric motor. It rides nicer than my big Harley. It has all the power I could ever want. I guess I just got too used to riding vintage stuff and didn't realize how far motorcycle technology has come. Don't get me wrong. I still like my old bikes, but this one is really nice too.