The true beauty of this motorcycle. (another LONG read)

[emptysea]

I'm not really sure what I will focus on most when I ride it, or what might jump out at me. It's a finely tuned Honda, after all, which means it will likely function almost seamlessly, with nothing quirky to distract from the ride. Just smooth, predictable competency.

That whole "lack of character" nonsense, dontchaknow.

I guess I will look for a few things. One, how buzzy is it on the freeway at seventy-five mph? Two, how is the windblast at those speeds? Will I require a small flyscreen to be comfortable at seventy-five mph, or is there enough forward lean to obviate any need for one? Three, is it really as slow as some people say? I know it's going to seem anemic in comparison to the punch of the XSR900, but will it at least be similar to the T120, or will it be so gutless that it frustrates me, as in, "Seriously? I'll have to downshift twice just to zap a conga line of mobile homes on Hwy 395?" (Along those same lines, I'm curious to see what egleaves thinks of the XSR's acceleration, having now learned of his two previous bikes. All I can think there is, "WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T JUST WHACK THE THROTTLE WIDE OPEN!") Lastly, I want to see how much that rev limiter cutting in at 6K rpm in the top two (or is it the top three?) gears really annoys me. I've never owned a bike that did that, and it sure seems like it would be awfully annoying to be in fourth gear and accelerating, only to have it suddenly shut down on me at 6K.

Otherwise, I'm not going to push the bike hard enough to learn much about its handling. I know it's soft and heavy, and doesn't like sudden directional changes. That's fine. I'm looking at it for comfort, not for sporty handling.

Youd better be on a lonnng straightaway if you plan on hitting 6k in the top couple gears lol. Lessee 80 mph is about 4 grand in 6 th, that would make it 85 at 4250, 90 at 4500 95 at 4750, 100 at 5 grand, 105 at 5250, 110 at 5500.. Nope you will tip the top spped limiter before you hit any rev limiter.

Seems like a lot of graphs and other nonsense being posted about these two comments.

I'm not sure if Ferret's numbers are correct, but that really wasn't the point of his post. I think what he is suggesting is that, assuming you were doing, say, 80 in 4th gear, then shifted to 5th, it would take a pretty long stretch of road, even at full throttle, to get to 6000 rpm. Even longer if you were in 6th. Maybe he's wrong, but isn't the easiest way to find out if you're going to bump the rev limiter by going out on your bike and trying it? I happen to think that he is right and that you would hit the speed limiter before you hit the rev limiter in 6th. I only have a 5 speed, but I am willing to test it out on my bike....just give me a few months until I have clear, dry roads.
Also, all of this rev limiter talk is kind of harshing my mellow I get from reading the comments on beauty and markedness and the like.

[pdedse]

I'm re-posting this in support of Capo's 'shroom reference shown nearby.

This kind of conversation, more so the philosophical parts about motorcycle archetypes than the practical parts about shift indicators, is what I hope to have at the Kentucky rally. However, has anyone else noticed that the vast majority of the philosophical contributions to this thread, including the original post, have come from folks on or nearer to our west coast and that most of the practical contributions are from folks east of the Mississippi? Is it possible that getting high before posting is the "unmarked" behavior on one side of the country?

I forgot about that post! Good thing I was between sips of coffee or the keyboard might have got wet. I think it has more to do with the time zone difference. : )

Old joke adapted for riders:

What's the difference between a drunk mc rider and a stoned one? The drunk rider blows right through the stop sign without even slowing.

The stoned rider comes to a complete stop and waits for it to turn green.

[the Ferret]

VLJ looking at your graph it looks to me like between 8K and 9K you have nearly a 25% horsepower boost .. just over 75 hp to 100 hp in 1000 rpms or are my reading the graph wrong?

[VLJ_imp]

EmptySea, there is no doubt the speed limiter kicks in before the CB reaches 6K in top gear. That 112 mph cap means the bike isn't allowed to exceed 5K in sixth gear. We can see that in the video. Nonetheless, I know the bike does have a rev limiter that kicks in at 6K in the top two gears, which is a moot point in sixth gear, as the speed limiter has already kicked in by then. I'm not sure whether that would also be the case for fifth gear.

I just don't know whether the 6K rev limiter also applies to fourth gear. I thought I'd read that the top three gears are limited to 6K, but I might be mistaken. I do know that I'd want to be able to take fourth gear to redline.

I get what Ulvetanna and others are saying about there being no need to remove the limiters on this bike, since neither the bike nor rider would be particularly happy at 120+mph. Nonetheless, I'd still rather make those decisions myself, especially where fourth and fifth gears are concerned. I would hate it if I was in fourth and accelerating, having a good ol' time, and suddenly the thing just ran into an invisible wall at 6K. That would not be fun.

[johnf514_imp]

EmptySea, there is no doubt the speed limiter kicks in before the CB reaches 6K in top gear. That 112 mph cap means the bike isn't allowed to exceed 5K in sixth gear. We can see that in the video. Nonetheless, I know the bike does have a rev limiter that kicks in at 6K in the top two gears, which is a moot point in sixth gear, as the speed limiter has already kicked in by then. I'm not sure whether that would also be the case for fifth gear.

I just don't know whether the 6K rev limiter also applies to fourth gear. I thought I'd read that the top three gears are limited to 6K, but I might be mistaken. I do know that I'd want to be able to take fourth gear to redline.

I get what Ulvetanna and others are saying about there being no need to remove the limiters on this bike, since neither the bike nor rider would be particularly happy at 120+mph. Nonetheless, I'd still rather make those decisions myself, especially where fourth and fifth gears are concerned. I would hate it if I was in fourth and accelerating, having a good ol' time, and suddenly the thing just ran into an invisible wall at 6K. That would not be fun.

Hold on a minute. 4th-5th limited to 6K RPMs? I can absolutely confirm that is NOT true. I have run my CB up past that point multiple times.

On the subject of accelerating in 5th-6th gear on the highway, I have no issues passing traffic when in 5th and rolling on the throttle. 6th gear is a cruising gear, widely spaced and should really be used +70MPH. See below:

CB1100 gear ratios:
1 speed: 3.083
2-speed: 1.941
3-speed: 1.478
4-speed: 1.240
5-speed: 1.074
6-speed: 0.964
Reduction ratio (primary/secondary): 1.652/2.222

XSR900 gear ratios:
Primary ratio 1.681
1. gear 2.667 ( 66 mph)
2. gear 2.0 ( 88 mph)
3. gear 1.619 (108 mph)
4. gear 1.381 (127 mph)
5. gear 1.19 (147 mph)
6. gear 1.037 (169 mph)

[VLJ_imp]

VLJ looking at your graph it looks to me like between 8K and 9K you have nearly a 25% horsepower boost .. just over 75 hp to 100 hp in 1000 rpms or are my reading the graph wrong?

Yep.

Your bike shows the same percentage increase, albeit at a lower rpm. Scroll down the article, to the dyno runs...

http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/ret...otout-2017

johnf514, are you able to take fourth and fifth to redline on your bike? If so, then I'd be fine with everything...well, except for mickey saying his ST1300 absolutely blows away his CB1100. That doesn't sound so good.

[johnf514_imp]

VLJ looking at your graph it looks to me like between 8K and 9K you have nearly a 25% horsepower boost .. just over 75 hp to 100 hp in 1000 rpms or are my reading the graph wrong?

Yep.

Your bike shows the same percentage increase, albeit at a lower rpm. Scroll down the article, to the dyno runs...

http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/ret...otout-2017

johnf514, are you able to take fourth and fifth to redline on your bike? If so, then I'd be fine with everything...well, except for mickey saying his ST1300 absolutely blows away his CB1100. That doesn't sound so good.

I think 4th gear gets very close to the speed limiter, so not sure if full redline. 5th gear is above 112MPH, so no.

ST1300 makes 117HP at 8000RPM & 86 ft/lb at 6500RPM. It's also liquid cooled. Not really comparable if you ask me.

[Guth_imp]

An edited, much more succinct, east of the Mississippi version of my previous post...

Jeez Capo, if my posts were fueled by mushroom induced inspiration or something of the like, I'm afraid that they would likely be measured in Gigabytes rather that how many square inches of screen consumption they account for.

I've had my CB1100 up to the redline in the first few gears more than once. If I'm being honest, I'll admit to enjoying it — but not really that much and certainly not enough for it to be commonplace whenever I'm out on the bike. Maybe other guys find more enjoyment in this practice than I do. I do so more with the intention of providing the engine with a little rev-therapy and to satisfy my occasional curiosity. But this just isn't how I like to ride the bike. When I'm out on the CB1100, I simply don't find enough satisfaction in running the engine up to the redline. I'm okay with that, I'm not one of those guys that wants to drive/ride every vehicle fast, all the time. Some vehicles inspire this more than others, but I've always found different things to enjoy about every vehicle I've owned. I'm a bit of a chameleon in that way.

While I don't get all that much satisfaction out of running the CB1100 up to the redline, I sure can't say the same about my S2000. That little car isn't exactly fast by todays standards but it is still an unbelievable hoot. It is practically the polar opposite of the CB1100. Unlike the CB, I really have to be sure to try and measure my driving when I'm behind the wheel of the S, else I chance racking up quite a few tickets because repeatedly running that engine up to the redline is unbelievably satisfying. I don't think that I will ever tire of it. Downshift to pass? Bonus! That means I get to upshift again. I actually don't mind this in the case of the CB1100 either. I like to shift — I just go about it differently on the CB.

So while the engines in S2000 and the CB1100 share a very similar redline figure, the way they each go about reaching their respective redlines (and the way they make me feel while doing so) is notably different. But I'm truly okay with that. For lack of a better way to put it, I truly enjoy the CB1100 in the way that I feel that it was meant to be enjoyed. I'm guessing that this is probably due to my somewhat chameleon-like personality when it comes to vehicles in general, whether we're talking about cars or motorcycles.

I'm not left wanting a faster, sportier, better handling bike when pulling the CB into the garage after being out for a ride. This bike does what I want it to do and it does it well. Perhaps just as importantly for me, after I've tucked it away, I still can't help but stop for a moment and just stare at it for a while. I find this to be particularly satisfying.

I don't get the sense that VLJ has the "chameleon" gene in his makeup. For his sake I'd love to be wrong because I really do think that the CB1100 is a special machine in it's own unique way.

The longer this particular conversation rolls on, I'm imagining a waiver form in egleaves' mind that is growing in size as well, lol.

(All in good fun VLJ. Hope you guys have great time on Sunday!)

[johnf514_imp]

An edited, much more succinct, east of the Mississippi version of my previous post...

Jeez Capo, if my posts were fueled by mushroom induced inspiration or something of the like, I'm afraid that they would likely be measured in Gigabytes rather that how many square inches of screen consumption they account for.

I've had my CB1100 up to the redline in the first few gears more than once. If I'm being honest, I'll admit to enjoying it — but not really that much and certainly not enough for it to be commonplace whenever I'm out on the bike. Maybe other guys find more enjoyment in this practice than I do. I do so more with the intention of providing the engine with a little rev-therapy and to satisfy my occasional curiosity. But this just isn't how I like to ride the bike. When I'm out on the CB1100, I simply don't find enough satisfaction in running the engine up to the redline. I'm okay with that, I'm not one of those guys that wants to drive/ride every vehicle fast, all the time. Some vehicles inspire this more than others, but I've always found different things to enjoy about every vehicle I've owned. I'm a bit of a chameleon in that way.

While I don't get all that much satisfaction out of running the CB1100 up to the redline, I sure can't say the same about my S2000. That little car isn't exactly fast by todays standards but it is still an unbelievable hoot. It is practically the polar opposite of the CB1100. Unlike the CB, I really have to be sure to try and measure my driving when I'm behind the wheel of the S, else I chance racking up quite a few tickets because repeatedly running that engine up to the redline is unbelievably satisfying. I don't think that I will ever tire of it. Downshift to pass? Bonus! That means I get to upshift again. I actually don't mind this in the case of the CB1100 either. I like to shift — I just go about it differently on the CB.

So while the engines in S2000 and the CB1100 share a very similar redline figure, the way they each go about reaching their respective redlines (and the way they make me feel while doing so) is notably different. But I'm truly okay with that. For lack of a better way to put it, I truly enjoy the CB1100 in the way that I feel that it was meant to be enjoyed. I'm guessing that this is probably due to my somewhat chameleon-like personality when it comes to vehicles in general, whether we're talking about cars or motorcycles.

I'm not left wanting a faster, sportier, better handling bike when pulling the CB into the garage after being out for a ride. This bike does what I want it to do and it does it well. Perhaps just as importantly for me, after I've tucked it away, I still can't help but stop for a moment and just stare at it for a while. I find this to be particularly satisfying.

I don't get the sense that VLJ has the "chameleon" gene in his makeup. For his sake I'd love to be wrong because I really do think that the CB1100 is a special machine in it's own unique way.

The longer this particular conversation rolls on, I'm imagining a waiver form in egleaves' mind that is growing in size as well, lol.

(All in good fun VLJ. Hope you guys have great time on Sunday!)

+1! I think we can trade stats and barbs and jabs on here all day, but I really want to know what you feel like after Sunday. That's all that matters!

[alprider]

Btw..the 6th i use always very easy too in the village for cruising 31mph.....it has sooo much wonderful torque with such smooth 4inline or just no stomping/shakeing

And i meant to read somewehre comments from honda ingineers of this CB......that they made it extra for the nicest running at round 55mph and i guess they meant it in 6th gear....hmm i meant this is something like 2500-3500rpm