04-06-2016, 02:02 AM
(04-05-2016, 08:21 PM)alphonsus_imp Wrote:(04-05-2016, 07:55 PM)Paulb_imp Wrote: The handling of the CB1100 was the one thing I didn't like about the bike. I thought it might be the tyres but a friend suggested it was more likely the suspension at fault. I bit the bullet and had Maxton (UK) fit their own custom cartridges to the front forks and shocks to the back. They suggested 10mm longer shocks to raise the back and alter the steering angle. They then set the bike up on their rolling road and set up the suspension for my weight. The bike has been totally transformed and corners as well, if not better than any bike I've ever owned. The honda suspension is 'cheap and cheerful' and designed to be all thing to all men from light weight solo riders to two up heavies with luggage.
I asked Maxton about fitting a fork brace and they advised against it. They tune top level race bikes and they told me that to work properly each fork must be allowed to flex independently, they even suggested that I ditch the steel front mudguard and replace it with a plastic one.
I no longer feel the need to change from standard tyres and my sports bike riding friends are embarrassed enough to be calling Maxton. Maxton do export sales and can set the suspension correctly at their factory as they kept my bike for a couple of weeks and ran a whole series of tests to find the correct settings for different weight riders.
Very interesting post Paul! It inspired me to find your separate threads about the Maxton suspension and your extended test of it ([url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=7717]here and [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=7838]here) which have more info including costs. Thanks! It would still be interesting to hear your thoughts once you change your stock tyres since there seems to be a consensus that better tyres can be had for our bikes (PR3 or T30 mainly).
Very interesting post Paul! It inspired me to find your separate threads about the Maxton suspension and your extended test of it ([url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=7717]here and [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=7838]here) which have more info including costs. Thanks! It would still be interesting to hear your thoughts once you change your stock tyres since there seems to be a consensus that better tyres can be had for our bikes (PR3 or T30 mainly).
I was going to buy some Metzler Roadtec tyres but I've got a foreign trip coming up and I need a new rear so I'm sticking with the Dunlops until both tyres need replacing together. The new suspension has improved the Dunlops so much and I want to give them a good try in the Italian Dolomites in June where I'm sure I'll see all types of weather and surface conditions and I may end up staying with the original fitments. It would be nice to think that the CB1100 handling problems could be sorted with new tyres and I'm sure it could be improved but I seriously doubt I could have got to where I am now with the bike with just a tyre change. I can't stress enough just how good the handling is since Maxton did their magic. I have noticed a recent trend with new bikes and that is to product a 'standard' and an 'R' version and one of the main differences between them is the quality of the suspension. Triumph have done it with the Thruxton and KTM with the 690. The marketing implication seems to be, "if we put good suspension on customers might not realise the value and we will not be price competitive in the market but we want our product to shine in media tests". By offering the option of better suspension people have the choice and I notice that all magazines have so far only tested the 'R' versions of these bikes. From my recent experience with the CB1100 I would always cough up the extra and buy the upgrade.