Will the CB1100 be the last of it's kind in America?

[Guth_imp]

The bike seems to only appeal to those who already owned or liked the CB750 from back in the day. I don't think it's the be all end all bike, but it is a very very well done retro bike.

I personally don't think standards or UJM's will go away, I just think their appeal is in a slump right now. This may be a great time for someone to get some collector's items. I plan to buy at least another 2013 but will wait until the price drops a little more.

Gentlemen,

Perhaps I'm the oddball here. But in 1969 the CB750 did not appeal to me and I never desired a UJM until the CB1100 came out. I grew up riding dirt bikes and at age 22 I bought a brand new HD Sportster. Husqvarna and Harley Davidson were my brands of choice (still are).

When they were new there were only a few Japanese street bikes that I was really interested in (but didn't buy) and those were the 2 stroke Kawisaki 500 and 750 triples, the Yamaha RD-350 and 400, and the Honda Hawk. The one CB that did catch my attention a bit back then was the CB400.

When I started this thread I wasn't saying "Is the CB11 going to be the last standard style motorcycle", I was speculating if the CB11 would be the last "big bore, air cooled, transverse 4 cylinder" standard style bike sold in the U.S.? I think it just may be.

If the CB11 was water cooled or had 17 inch wheels that would kill it's appeal to me. Like putting 18" aluminum wheels with 40 series tires on a 1969 Mustang. It's just wrong. And look at the rapidly rising values of air cooled Porsche 911's. There is a charm to them that is lost with their water cooled predecessors.

Water cooling and modern electronics improve the functionality of motorcycles like batterys and quartz movements improve watches. But a Rolex or Breitling built using 100 year old technology with gears and springs is tremendously appealing because it's not modern. In the same way, fine double barrel shotguns are more appealing than modern auto-loaders. That's why the CB11 is so appealing to me.

As far as other standards go, I've tried a few. Years ago I bought a beautiful Ducati 900 Monster that I thought I'd really like. It was an air cooled standard but I didn't really enjoy it. I bought a Bonneville and put Triumph's aftermarket exhaust on it. Light and good handeling, it still sounded terrible. At full throttle accelerating down a freeway on ramp my Triumph was a dog.

When I bought my CB11 I wasn't sure I'd like it. I'd never ridden a UJM in my life. But I love that big CB. With the Staintune it sings the most soulful song on freeway on ramps and it's so much more satisfying to ride and look at than the Monster or Bonniville IMO. Like all of my air cooled Harley Davidsons, the CB1100 looks right, sounds right, feels right, and works right.

In any event, just like the day came when the last new air cooled 911 was sold in America, I think the CB11 may just be the last big transverse 4, air cooled motorcycle sold in the U.S.

Chip

Not to go offtopic, but is there a good example of what the CB11 with a staintube installed on it sounds like, say on a youtube video? I'd like to hear it . . .

Not to go offtopic, but is there a good example of what the CB11 with a staintube installed on it sounds like, say on a youtube video? I'd like to hear it . . .
[url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=765]Here you go.
Just listened to my own video once again. That is truly a beautiful exhaust note to my ears. Interesting question posed by Chip. The CB1100 might indeed prove to be the last of its kind on these shores.

Regardless, I'm enjoying mine tremendously.