10-07-2017, 02:52 AM
I try to ride my 2017 CB1100 EX once a week, but the weather this year has been cold and wet. Summer did not show up until the last week in July, so there is only 8516 kilometers – 5292 miles on the odometer so far.
I bought the EX because of its retro looks: big inline-4 engine, chrome headers, dual mufflers, lots of chrome, and no plastic shrouds or plumbing. The bike attracts attention wherever I stop for gas or food. The guys who are familiar with earlier CBs have a hard time believing it is not a restoration.
I would have preferred the all aluminium engine like the Deluxe, as it is the center piece of this motorcycle. The fat fuel tank on the EX also looks like it melted in the sun. If it held 16.8 liters of gas like promised, I probably could have over looked it. Unfortunately it only holds 14.6 liters, so my run dry fuel range is only 300 kilometers – 185 miles.
I rode a CB500XA previously, and found the EX riding position slightly more cramped. The seats on both are uncomfortable after an hour. An inexpensive Coleman MadDog seat pad added a bit of seat height and a little more comfort.
My CB500XA tank bag with its 4 straps and large magnets looked like a fat octopus sitting on the EX tank which spoiled the looks of the bike. So I now use it as a tail bag strapped to the rear of the seat instead. It holds my helmet and gloves and keeps them out of sight when I am in a restaurant.
Speaking of ugly. I bought a large windscreen to block bug spatter and the wind during cold weather. After setting it on the EX I realized it really spoils the look of this retro machine. So until I find it too cold to ride, it will remain in its shipping box.
Both Hondas have hard and small diameter handle grips which cramped my throttle hand within an hour. I bought slip-on foam Grip Puppies for both to eliminate that problem. The Grip Puppies also eliminated the engine buzz of the 500, but not completely for the EX. I also found the foot pegs on the EX have a buzz. I believe it may have something to do with the new noisier mufflers. However neither the grips nor pegs are uncomfortable or distracting.
No need to buy an aftermarket exhaust system for the 2017 CB1100 EX. The shorter and redesigned mufflers sound like something out of the 70s. I wear ear plugs to lessen the wind noise while riding. But I can still the motor hum while cruising, and howl when I pass slower traffic. If it wasn’t for my ear plugs, I probably would find them too loud.
I do like the power of the CB1100 EX motor. Effortless riding at any speed and quick to pass on the highway with a downshift. However the tall motor does add to the top heavy feel of the bike at slow speeds.
The new front forks on the EX smooth out the ride on rough roads. The bike also handles well for a large and heavy motorcycle on twisty roads.
The front brakes are great. The rear brake not so much. It always dragged when I spun the rear wheel while lubing the chain. The disk and pads were replaced by Honda Canada because the disk discoloured with heat over time. The problem persists, and now the rear brake is just mush. I could slow down faster by dragging my feet. Fortunately I have always used the motor to slow down and the front brakes to stop, and seldom used the back brake.
A number of different chain lubes were tried. They all claimed not to fling, but I had to clean the spokes and alloy rim on my rear wheel after every day long ride. Cleaning spokes is tedious. Fortunately forum members suggested chain wax, so I bought a spray can of Tirox Chain Wax and Honda Cleaner and Polish. Problem solved. No more fling, and the polished rim and spokes collect less dirt and are easier to clean.
I bought the EX because of its retro looks: big inline-4 engine, chrome headers, dual mufflers, lots of chrome, and no plastic shrouds or plumbing. The bike attracts attention wherever I stop for gas or food. The guys who are familiar with earlier CBs have a hard time believing it is not a restoration.
I would have preferred the all aluminium engine like the Deluxe, as it is the center piece of this motorcycle. The fat fuel tank on the EX also looks like it melted in the sun. If it held 16.8 liters of gas like promised, I probably could have over looked it. Unfortunately it only holds 14.6 liters, so my run dry fuel range is only 300 kilometers – 185 miles.
I rode a CB500XA previously, and found the EX riding position slightly more cramped. The seats on both are uncomfortable after an hour. An inexpensive Coleman MadDog seat pad added a bit of seat height and a little more comfort.
My CB500XA tank bag with its 4 straps and large magnets looked like a fat octopus sitting on the EX tank which spoiled the looks of the bike. So I now use it as a tail bag strapped to the rear of the seat instead. It holds my helmet and gloves and keeps them out of sight when I am in a restaurant.
Speaking of ugly. I bought a large windscreen to block bug spatter and the wind during cold weather. After setting it on the EX I realized it really spoils the look of this retro machine. So until I find it too cold to ride, it will remain in its shipping box.
Both Hondas have hard and small diameter handle grips which cramped my throttle hand within an hour. I bought slip-on foam Grip Puppies for both to eliminate that problem. The Grip Puppies also eliminated the engine buzz of the 500, but not completely for the EX. I also found the foot pegs on the EX have a buzz. I believe it may have something to do with the new noisier mufflers. However neither the grips nor pegs are uncomfortable or distracting.
No need to buy an aftermarket exhaust system for the 2017 CB1100 EX. The shorter and redesigned mufflers sound like something out of the 70s. I wear ear plugs to lessen the wind noise while riding. But I can still the motor hum while cruising, and howl when I pass slower traffic. If it wasn’t for my ear plugs, I probably would find them too loud.
I do like the power of the CB1100 EX motor. Effortless riding at any speed and quick to pass on the highway with a downshift. However the tall motor does add to the top heavy feel of the bike at slow speeds.
The new front forks on the EX smooth out the ride on rough roads. The bike also handles well for a large and heavy motorcycle on twisty roads.
The front brakes are great. The rear brake not so much. It always dragged when I spun the rear wheel while lubing the chain. The disk and pads were replaced by Honda Canada because the disk discoloured with heat over time. The problem persists, and now the rear brake is just mush. I could slow down faster by dragging my feet. Fortunately I have always used the motor to slow down and the front brakes to stop, and seldom used the back brake.
A number of different chain lubes were tried. They all claimed not to fling, but I had to clean the spokes and alloy rim on my rear wheel after every day long ride. Cleaning spokes is tedious. Fortunately forum members suggested chain wax, so I bought a spray can of Tirox Chain Wax and Honda Cleaner and Polish. Problem solved. No more fling, and the polished rim and spokes collect less dirt and are easier to clean.