Why the Oil Cooler?

[12cb96vfr_imp]

i think it looks so cool up there lol, i'm weird

[Ridem32_imp]

12cb96vfr: I'm with you! I love the looks of the oil cooler and they help so much keeping our motors to live long life's . I also like the chrome cover from samurider

[furious_blue_imp]

Something I've wondered about. Compared to typical 70's engines, the cooling fins on the CB1100 seem rather shallow. For comparison's sake look at how deep the cylinder and head fins are on the original CB750. As some Bike magazine writer joked: 'more fins than Jaws 4'.

So I've wondered if they decreased the fin area and made up for that by including an oil cooler (which of course also guarantees that the oil can be cooled by fins that are not connected to hot engine parts).

But, yeah.. the oil cooler blocks the view of those gleaming headers. I'll take the trade-off and keep the cooler !

[The Spaceman_imp]

I've had at least a couple people mistake it for a radiator...sheese.

About the fins: the design video says Honda had to develop a new casting process to make the fins as long and thin as they are. I have nothing to compare to, but they look quite elegant to me.