How dealers lose the sale

[VLJ_imp]

I agree with LongRanger. The gear indicator should include a large 'N' for neutral, as it does on most other bikes with gear indicators. Leaving that large center space blank when in neutral just looks wrong.

[Cormanus]

I agree with LongRanger and VLJ. It's also plain illogical, if I could channel Mr Spock. Why have two sources of information about the gear position?

[Beerman_imp]

When I started this thread, it was with a few observations about poor sales techniques in Honda dealerships.

Since then, this it has wandered all over the place, currently debating the gear indicator. There is no other motorcycle (or any other!) forum I have been on where a post has been described as 'an 'essay in love' (Cormanus, post #64).

I think this is part of the reason I want a CB1100: the forum is wonderful.

Beerman

[Capo]

When I started this thread, it was with a few observations about poor sales techniques in Honda dealerships.

Since then, this it has wandered all over the place, currently debating the gear indicator. There is no other motorcycle (or any other!) forum I have been on where a post has been described as 'an 'essay in love' (Cormanus, post #64).

I think this is part of the reason I want a CB1100: the forum is wonderful.

Beerman

I concur. Now let’s turn it into an oil thread.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SportsterDoc]

Regarding gear position:

1. Never thought I'd need one; this is my second 6 speed, but first gear indicator and I am finding that I like it. Also appreciating the trip computer and another bike first, a hydraulic clutch.

2. Not entirely illogical, as the gear position switch connects one of six wires to ground and the neutral switch connects the N indicator to ground.

a. No flash of N when shifting 1 to 2.

b. When the gear section goes blank, without looking left to the Neutral light, it is very obvious that gears are in neutral.

c. Should the gear switch fail, the Neutral indicator is separate. Not so bad.

2649 miles since Nov 7. Hiked from Cold Creek Road to get photos of a couple wild horses. Some will approach, some trot off, these just ignored me.

Should be ~2,800 miles by tomorrow afternoon.

[emullick_imp]

I can't comment on buzziness at higher rpm's, but I imagine others here can. I rarely take the bike over 4000 rpm (what's that, like 80 mph?) and I've never taken it over 5000 rpm. Certainly, between 2500 and 4000 rpm, the CB has plenty of juice. Good, smooth, bottomless torque -- just right for sensible street riding. I've got more suitable toys for sustained high speed (90-120 mph) riding. These days, however, I'm finding less and less enjoyment from those antics.

I have a '13 five speed and at 85 plus mph engine rpm and "buzziness are not problems, the issue is sitting up the lack of a windscreen. Agree completely, this is not the bike for "those antics", I have a sportbike in the garage if I want a thrill, but the CB is usually the one I ride.

[WRXer_imp]

I have two minor quibbles with my DLX. The first is evident in your night shot. When in neutral, the gear indicator should show an "N." Having to glance over to the speedo to see the little green N seems a bit inconsistent.

The second has been rectified on your bike, but not yet on mine. You installed a '13 turn signal cluster (with the horn button below the turn signal switch). Mine still has the original '14 cluster with the horn button above the turn signal switch. I prefer yours.

I also think it's funny that they use a car engine block as the symbol for the PGM-FI malfunction indicator lamp. Either that, or it's supposed to be a fish.

True dat. Hate the new standard Honda controls.

[VLJ_imp]

I was wrong about the gear indicator display, and the whole 'N' for neutral thing. It turns out that my XSR900 doesn't show a big 'N' for neutral either. Like the CB1100, a green 'N' light comes on, and the gear position display shows '-' instead of a letter or number.

I'm 99.999% certain my old BMW R1200R's display showed a big 'N' for neutral, but I don't recall whether my '14 Street Triple R showed an 'N' or just a green light. In any case, I was wrong for singling out the CB1100 for criticism regarding this issue. Apparently it's not uncommon for the display to show nothing but the green 'N' light to indicate neutral.

Not that any of this is the least bit important, either way.

[LongRanger_imp]

My '98 BMW shows a "0" for neutral, which works for me. My '13 BMW shows an "N", and it's huge.

[VLJ_imp]

Yeah, I'm fairly certain my 2012 R1200R's display showed a giant 'N.' I remember being struck by its uniqueness at the time.