11-28-2013, 02:23 PM
(11-28-2013, 02:07 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: Most of us that bought this motorcycle are " fanboys" of it. It is a wonderful motorcycle. Before it was ever released in the U.S., there were videos released by American Honda interviewing the leader of the design team for the CB 1100. He stated without evocation that they could have designed the CB 1100 with high horsepower in mind, which would have been no problem, but chose not to, rather they designed the bike to a riding experience. Neither displacement nor horsepower were set as a goal. Nearly every magazine test rode pre-production units of the bike and reported the riding characteristics, and mentioned that although unimpressive in sheer horsepower, each reported the bike a joy to ride, a great riding experience. One or two named it bike of the year. Anyone who bought one of these SHOULD have known what they were buying.
I picked mine up on March 29 th and before I bought it, I knew it had 88 crank hp, I knew it had 63 ft lbs of torque. I knew it had a 5 speed transmission. I knew it had a 530 chain. I knew it had skinny 18" wheels.I knew the numbers were very comparable to my 1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 and I accepted that. Looked forward to it actually, my KZ 1000 was one of my favorite motorcycles.
If you are unhappy with the performance of your CB, then I'd think either you didn't do your homework before purchasing, or you did and ignored it and then expected the bike to be something that it's not.
You can buy a 14 if you wish, and spend a couple grand to get another 25 hp at the high end of the rpm scale, and you know what? A decent modern 600 supersport will still blow your doors off. Certainly the new $8k 900 cc Yamaha triple will. If it's performance you are after, you're betting on the wrong race horse with the CB 1100.
I knew what I was buying. I've been doin' this for a minute. The simple point is I'm still disappointed, in spite of the bike's basic appeal and competence in other ways.
I don't have the same criticisms of other smaller displacement bikes built to such a purpose. It's about the intentionally untapped reasonable potential left on the table. It's a philosophy as much as an experiential thing. Honda's commentary is more of an excuse than a reason. Yamaha's new triple is more honest, and a better value.
But I bought this because it's a logical extension of some of the early CBs I love so much. I'll get over it.
You guys are a bit sensitive. I didn't call your baby ugly or stupid. I just said I was disappointed with the performance aspect of a motorcycle.
