CB1100 First Impressions

[flynrider]

Thanks for the replies.

I've installed higher compression pistons in some bikes in the past and the blue juice has made a big difference for that application. I agree it has no place in modern engines. Psychological I guess. However, 100LL has no ethanol and a long shelf life. Nonetheless, unleaded 87 it is then!

Dylithium Crystals=Warp Speed!

-Kirk Out

Update:This just happened at a local station. Lucky me!

Good choice. The 'LL" in 100LL means it has a lower lead content than the old 100/130 green aviation gas. 100LL actually has several times more tetraethyl lead than old leaded car gas.

It doesn't just destroy the cat, but also will kill the O2 sensors almost immediately.

Lastly, the relatively low compression engine on the CB11 gets no benefit from the higher octane. If my experience with my old O-300 powered Cessna is any guide, the lower temperatures and pressures of the low compression engine will lead to unburned lead deposits accumulating on the exhaust valves.

About 25 years ago, when low octane (red) avgas disappeared I was having valve work done almost every year running 100LL in the O-300. Conversely, I had a '69 ragtop Mercury with a high compression 429 that would ping on premium 92 octane (it was designed for 99 octane premium, which was no longer available). By running the Cessna on 87 octane car gas and the Mercury on 100LL aviation gas, all of my problems were solved. The right fuel for the right engine.

On my '79 CB, 6000rpm @ 75mph on the highway was the sweet spot. Real smooth. Around town the routine always favored higher rpm. It kept the charging system operating well and the engine just ran smoother that way. Many CB DOHC guru's on various forums often spoke about tickling the redline once daily to 'blow out the crud'. So, I always avoided 'lugging it' if at all possible.

In comparison on the CB1100, at 75mph it's at 3500rpm. 6th gear, yea, nice. But overall it seems that keeping rpms low on this bike is the norm. It just feels wrong to me. I found this page in the owners manual puzzling...


(notice the typo?) So they're telling me that I should be at 28mph when downshifting from 6th to 5th? Huh? Or, I should shift into 6th gear at 37mph. Uummm, OK?

How do you folks ride this bike?

-Kirk Out

I hear 'ya. My (5 speed) '13 model runs 4250 at 75 mph in 5th and that seems low to me. I guess it just depends on what you're used to. I'm used to inline 4s that ran 5K or better at highway speed. As such, I often find myself going down the highway in 4th gear. I don't shift into 5th until 75mph or above. I suppose if I had a 6 speed, I'd never use the top gear unless I was planning some long distance cruising at 95 mph.

I think the recommendations in the book were written as a comedy exercise. We had a thread about it years ago and I don't think even the most conservative rider would shift at the recommended points.