03-22-2018, 03:17 PM
Well, what we know for certain is that neither tank design led to massive sales, so by that standard they're both failures. We also know that nearly every motojournalist loves the absence of seams and the sparkling red paint on the '17 model, and everyone loves that sparkling red paint even if they don't notice the lack of seams, and still the bike doesn't sell.
Not really sure that Group Think is going to help here, since Honda is dead set on doing the CB Their Way™. Had they listened to what the market has been telling them ever since the bike debuted, they would have dumped eighty pounds from the thing while adding at least twenty-five rwhp. Had they done just those two things, no one would give a rat's patootie about the Z900RS. The CB1100 would be THE retro to have, bar none.
Instead, Honda has chosen to limit the bike to a very small niche appeal. The different tank shapes have had zero bearing on the CB1100's popularity, or lack thereof.
Not really sure that Group Think is going to help here, since Honda is dead set on doing the CB Their Way™. Had they listened to what the market has been telling them ever since the bike debuted, they would have dumped eighty pounds from the thing while adding at least twenty-five rwhp. Had they done just those two things, no one would give a rat's patootie about the Z900RS. The CB1100 would be THE retro to have, bar none.
Instead, Honda has chosen to limit the bike to a very small niche appeal. The different tank shapes have had zero bearing on the CB1100's popularity, or lack thereof.