Reactions to the CB1100 elsewhere...

[ingobohn_imp]

Since Honda announced they were bringing the CB1100 to the states, I've been spending plenty of time perusing the Internet reading up as much about the bike as I could. (And to a lesser degree for a number years before then.)

I have no idea how well this bike will, or won't, sell for Honda. But I do find it interesting to see the type and amount of conversation the bike is generating. I like standards in general and not just the CB1100. Before buying my Honda, I gave serious consideration to the Bonneville T100 and the Moto Guzzi V7 along with used W650's which show up around here every once in a while. Each bike has its own appeal to me, however none of those options blew me away the way the Honda did (no surprise, I know).

Interestingly, a number of Bonneville owners on Triumph-specific forums strike me as a bit insecure when it comes to the CB1100. That surprises me somewhat to be honest. If I think about it I suppose that Honda swiped a potential sale from Triumph in my case, but I'm not sure how common this might be amongst other CB1100 owners. If I had to guess, I'd venture that the CB1100 will draw in customers that just weren't swayed enough by the Triumphs and the Moto Guzzis, etc.. Maybe I'm wrong about that. In my case, even though it's not a retro styled bike, I was more drawn to the Street Triple than the Bonneville and had already arranged financing for a purchase when the release of the CB1100 was announced.

At any rate, I see such reactions as a real positive in that garnering such attention is a far better sign than receiving no reaction at all. Like I've said before, not only would I like to see Honda do well with this bike, but I'd like to see the sales of standards in general continue to rise across the board.

All the best,
Guth

I am replying to a quite old post, I know ... but you are right: same for me. I test rode Bonnie T100 and Guzzi V7 (and some others), but none of these finally caught me completely.

[rboe]

I would have bought the V7 if the CB had not come out. But the V7 is a bit small for me (think long arms and legs) and 50 horses is OK, but ten more would have been better to help on the mountain passes. 80hp is more than enough for me.

[Guth_imp]

We're really digging up an old thread here.

I still find it entertaining so see how other retro bike owners respond to the CB1100. In the Triumph world in particular, many imply that the CB1100 is lacking the cool factor of a Triumph. Of course, the Triumphs of today are Triumphs in name only — the brand is owned by a business known primarily for homebuiding. Most Triumphs are now being built in Thailand. Not quite the romantic vision of Triumph that many hold on to. Of course that doesn't have anything to do with how good a bike the Triumphs might be, and I do like them. But at least the CB1100 draws directly upon the heritage of the original CBs, the lineage of which has remained unbroken over time. That to me is pretty cool.

[the Ferret]

I've made the same point about the Triumphs ( even though I had one) and most recently about the new Indians. They are Indian in name only sharing zero DNA with the originals.

[Guth_imp]

I've made the same point about the Triumphs ( even though I had one) and most recently about the new Indians. They are Indian in name only sharing zero DNA with the originals.

Indeed.

I don't mean to imply that I'm not happy that these motorcycles are around because I am.

In reality however, those brand names are like lifelines for these companies. Had Bloor Holdings started a new brand called "Conquer Motorcycles" instead of buying the Triumph name, it would have been a far harder sell. Likewise, imagine Polaris starting up "Native Motorcycles" instead of buying up the Indian brand. I can't see that generating much interest. Still, I'm guessing that Bloor and Polaris have to pour a huge amount of money into the marketing of their motorcycle companies to try and achieve a mental connection to the great marques from the past amongst the consumers of today for these bikes that are Triumphs and Indians in name only.

[ingobohn_imp]

I would have bought the V7 if the CB had not come out. But the V7 is a bit small for me (think long arms and legs) and 50 horses is OK, but ten more would have been better to help on the mountain passes. 80hp is more than enough for me.

Yes, right, the V7 engine is quite nice and would have been enough for me. Good sound and nice torque.
But the gear box was terrible (okay, if you are used to a Honda gear box then it is hard for other brands to compete with), the V7 has no ABS and ... errr ... it is "Made in Italy" (with all its pros and cons). My colleague has a Guzzi Stelvio and had/has lots of trouble with it.
The Bonnie disappointed me with its boring engine and the too-much-retro look, but a pro was the built quality.
While I was a bit clueless what to do, Honda issued some weeks later the CB 1100.

[Capo]

I own both a Bonnie (actually two) and a CB. I find them to be quite complementary and equally respectful modern representatives of their forebears, and I really don't care about who owns the company or whether it was reborn or where the bike is built. Origin snobbery is quite counterproductive. I'd say that all of the current modern classic motorcycles are fine and built to specifications that favor good all around performance aimed at smart enthusiasts. All of the original models they refer to were the best performance bikes of their era. No longer.

I think the CB is a better all- around bike, but I can't say i love it more than the Bonnie. Emotion counts. I wanted to love the Griso, but mine was a flaming (literally) turd, and without ample and expensive aftermarket tuning, was unrideable under 3k RPM. Reliability and practicality also count.

Whatever floats your boat, but the CB is a great bike, as are it's competitors in the retro segment.

[the Ferret]

Guth..one thing I did discover, which is a shred of DNA to the old Triumph is, when Bloor bought the Triumph name (for $200,000 £ ..he was actually looking to buy the land the old plant was sitting on, to build houses..his primary business, but he skipped buying the plant and bought the name and tooling instead) and decided to build motorcycles, he hired 3 of the old designers from the original Triumph Company and took them to Japan to see how to build better motorcycles. So to me there is a small link of DNA there to the old Triumph.

Original Indian designers died decades ago.

[rboe]

A buddy in Slovenia had a Moto Guzzi Nevada, had some issues with the bike but his biggest problem was the local dealer. Replaced the Nevada with a HD XR1200 and loves it. Local buddy has a 2009 Griso and sunk a ton of money into it to get it to run the way he wants. I have the 2012 and it runs like a champ. I have three "complaints", too much power, mileage is not that good and the seat sucks. Working on two of them but I fear the mileage thing is just a nature of the beast.

Guzzi seems to have more of what is fun about Italian bikes and less of the bad. I hope the trend continues. The CB embodies all the good about the old Honda and less of the bad (ownership of a CB350F is teaching me four carbs is not a good thing). Now if Honda will just get off its' bum and decide how to fix my bike I'll be golden.

I did find the Bonny to be a very nice machine but the motor had the personality of milk toast. Meh.

[the Ferret]

Origin snobbery is counter productive...Capo

Capo unless you are an enthusiast/ historian. I have been collecting reference books and studying them since the 60s. Lineage is just as important to me in motorcycles as lineage is in people. I know weird huh? Lol