Sayonara to the CB1100, with an exit interview.

[pdedse]

...one line later:

The above seems incongruous but I think I understand where you're coming from: if one is happy with the bike, what matter "sales success"? But you've got some concrete ideas that you're sharing for how Honda could improve sales and these ideas happen to coincide with your wishes for the bike, or maybe vice versa.

My take: 1. cost...yes, initially too expensive for me. Back in 2013 I saw the msrp over 10k for the standard and I simply decided too much $$$ for me at that time. Told myself if it were 8k, I would buy it.

2. size: I'm tall, so my first impression was that the ergos were off for me. But I knew some of that could be tweaked.

3. Weight: I was determined to find, or thought I was, a bike in the 450lb range.

4. Color: I don't like red bikes

5. CC and HP: not too concerned as long as it pulled fine and was "big enough" to do some cross country travel.

6. Looks: this bike has it.

7. spoke wheels: wanted a bike w/out, all others I've owned previous being spoked

So...when the '14 std came out: wasn't red (really wanted the Canadian blue), weight was somewhat less than DLX, wheels-check, but price was still too high...then it started falling in price, and falling. Fell to just under 8k for me. But now--a year ago--the Street Twin was out there for 1k more and the MG V7 was selling in my area for 6k! Ducati Scrambler was right there too. Tough choices. I think I could have been happy with all of them, but I chose the CB because it seemed the best quality for price of the group. All of them were attractive bikes that would allow me to do what I wanted, but all had "I wish it did/didn't have ___".

Now a year, 8k miles, and one rt OR to Illinois trip later, I'm still happy with the bike. I wish it were lighter, taller, or me shorter, valves easier, sound a bit more gruntier maybe...but it's an awesome bike, no real regrets. I found that 70 lbs I didn't want made it a very nice bike for long distance travel as I braced for winds of the plains last summer. I would have found other things I liked more with the other bikes, I would have found things I liked less than the CB1100.

Have a Happy New Year!