CB1100 Getting No Love on Facebook

[peterbaron]

I don't ride a CB1100, but if I did, I wouldn't care what FB people said about it: it's a beauty.

I've looked at it - there are threads on this forum that detail my angst about buying a bike weighing in at 250kg.

That weight did indeed put me off the CB1100. Instead, I bought a Triumph Speedmaster 1200. Weighing just … 250kg.

I love the Triumph, but I still think your CB1100 is just right.

Beerman

and good luck with the Triumph you love

[waterfordhunter_imp]

I currently ride an Iron 883 and hear all the time how it’s a girl’s bike or “when are you trading up to a real Harley?” I ride it because I love the ride and character of my bike. I don’t care that it weighs 560 lbs or that it doesn’t make 80 hp, it does what I want it to do and always brings a smile to my face. That being said, a CB1100EX is in my near future and will reside right next to my Iron.


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[SportsterDoc]

Every time I put a picture of my 2017 ex up on my facebook page it gets slaughtered. I find amusing that this happens especially my KTM Superpuke buddy who insists that his KTM looks better. I always say if it made 50bhp it wouldn’t look so good.lol
I sell aftermarket race ecu’s and data logging stuff. I once logged a Hayabusa on a two hour ride around the Countryside in the UK...it never used more than 80bhp including 120-140mph blasts...

This is what makes me chuckle whenever I hear armchair motorcyclists whine about any bike that doesn't produce better than 120 hp. In the back of my mind I know that 95% of those commenters wouldn't know what to do with 120 hp on the street.

Back when I used to run bikes on the drag strip, hp was important. On the street, not so much.

Whereas the CB1100 a very good balance of power and fuel economy, with great aestetics.

Plus, other than some IACV issues, the CB1100 is so reliable, there are few problems to solve, which is my draw to forums.

Difficult to understand why so many forums have post after post, thread after thread of riders/drivers defending their personal choice of motorcycle, car, truck, whatever.

I currently ride an Iron 883 and hear all the time how it’s a girl’s bike or “when are you trading up to a real Harley?” I ride it because I love the ride and character of my bike. I don’t care that it weighs 560 lbs or that it doesn’t make 80 hp, it does what I want it to do and always brings a smile to my face. That being said, a CB1100EX is in my near future and will reside right next to my Iron.


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My XLH883 was a lot of fun in SoCal canyons.
Never heard the term "girls bike" to my face, but a lot of forum time was wasted discussing it on Sportster.org and on the XLForum, but not for a long time.

[GoldOxide_imp]

There’s no accounting for taste. I stopped at the Mt Glorious Café when I was out for a ride this week. A group of older blokes of both genders was there having coffee. There was a Guzzi, a BMW, a Triumph T120 and a Suzuki 1400 at least. As I was leaving a couple of them came over and told me how much they liked the CB1100, what a lovely bike it was, how marvelous Hondas are and so forth.

I don’t much care if people don’t like the CB1100 or any other bike for that matter, but I do wonder why they feel the need to be so unpleasant about their dislikes. It’s almost a case of ‘methinks thou dost protest too much.’

I get the "awe 'n' wow" response all the time over the past four years of ownership at red lights, in traffic jams (yeah, fun), at gas stations and in parking lots. Most cases are people mistaking it for a late '70s CB and how "nicely it was restored". They are quite taken when they hear it is a 2014. It is quite amazing that people come up to me - never expected. Even some die-hard Bonnie owners express the unique quell the inline four brings and that they sometimes wished they had. Totally unexpected. Once I looked out the window at a country cafe restaurant only to see two Harley riders gawking (or poking fun?) at the CB. No seriously, they were still there when I was leaving and they liked the cycle. Maybe they had CBs when they were teenagers, or sumthin'. I have never had young riders give a hoot though. I have had cagers at red lights (maybe a caged rider?) say to me, "Man, that bike is quiet - like incredibly so".

Many years ago I was working at a place with a crew who all rode HD's. It was always some what confrontational when I would ride my BMW to work. The discussions were interesting in that they all had reasons for the HD that centered on what others thought of them and their rides. "BMW? Not cool". "I can't even hear it running. It sounds like a sewing machine". "Nerds ride them". And so on.

They had difficulty with the concept that I ride what gives me pleasure. I choose a machine that performs the kind of riding I wish to do. Finally, I often put on more miles in a weekend than they did in an entire riding season. And I did it in all sorts of weather. My choice of motorcycle was (and is) a tool. It is not bling; function not flash.

That said, I concede that one can choose a ride to meet one's own pleasure that seems to follow the crowd. The point I'm trying to make (badly) is: ride what gives you pleasure and realize that others just won't get what drives us.
jim

Somewhat ironically the CB1100 is one of the few things in life that I just knew I was going to purchase as soon as I saw it (or at least as soon as I knew it was finally going to be made available to me). My reasons for purchasing are almost just the opposite of tinboatcapt. When I learned that Honda was actually going to make a true retro, air-cooled engine and all, it made me a bit weak in the knees. But ultimately it was the looks of the actual production motorcycle that landed the knockout punch. Even if this bike featured less performance I'd probably still be crazy about it. I don't ride nearly as much as most around here and my needs aren't all that demanding. For that matter I already had a motorcycle that served my needs that I was crazy about. This purchase was all about the "bling and flash" for me. The fact that I actually enjoy riding it so much was just icing on the cake.

Many years ago I was working at a place with a crew who all rode HD's. It was always some what confrontational when I would ride my BMW to work. The discussions were interesting in that they all had reasons for the HD that centered on what others thought of them and their rides. "BMW? Not cool". "I can't even hear it running. It sounds like a sewing machine". "Nerds ride them". And so on.

They had difficulty with the concept that I ride what gives me pleasure. I choose a machine that performs the kind of riding I wish to do. Finally, I often put on more miles in a weekend than they did in an entire riding season. And I did it in all sorts of weather. My choice of motorcycle was (and is) a tool. It is not bling; function not flash.

That said, I concede that one can choose a ride to meet one's own pleasure that seems to follow the crowd. The point I'm trying to make (badly) is: ride what gives you pleasure and realize that others just won't get what drives us.
jim

Now this is where we are in alignment. I've pretty much always followed my own path in life. More than anything else perhaps, the fact that I fell head over heels for the CB1100 was probably a solid indicator that sales in this country weren't going to generate big numbers, lol. The last motorcycle that I was this crazy about was the Hawk GT if that tells you anything. It doesn't stop at motorcycles by the way, there are any number of things where my attraction seemingly signifies subdued interest from the general population. Fortunately I'm not exactly worried what anyone else thinks. When it comes to the CB1100, the only possible true disappointment for me is if I wouldn't have been able to get my hands on one.

To each their own as they say.

To be fair, the CB isn’t really unusual or rare. It’s definitely interesting. But I’d not take the criticism or opinions in a group aimed, perhaps, at more esoteric machinery, too seriously. And there are a number of Facebook groups dedicated to the CB, where the feedback loop and confirmation biases will be more to the good side.


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Leave it to a guy who got rid of his CB1100 to make perhaps the most sensible comment here, lol. Good points Capo.

Heh, when I first saw the CB1100 I touched and sat on it. I then thought, get me away from this! I was not needing a new bike at the time. I left hurt. A year passed, it happened again at another dealer. I wasn't looking at the CB1100, but I got seduced by the bike and could no longer get away. Incredibly, at the same time I was equally seduced by another girl, err, um bike: Motoguzzi Griso in green. Oh boy. Anyway, somehow the CB won the heart (and it cost a bit more).

[Cormanus]

Welcome waterfordhunter and good luck in your quest for a CB1100EX.

[Bradders_imp]

Posted on the 919 forum “the CB1100 sure doesn’t feel slow, nor does it feel scary fast” and some asshat went on and on about the “specs”.

“It weighs too much”, “Same HP as a 599”, and on and on. Of course he’s never ridden one and his 07 KTM 990 Superduke is the best bike ever made.

My response? “I’m happy you found a bike you enjoy “.

Only the ignorant run a bike down that they have never rode.

I kill my friends superpuke off the lights up to about 70mph when he can finally get himself together....can’t beat long wheelbase and lower centre of gravity at the hit, irrespective of weight.

[misterprofessionality]

Posted on the 919 forum “the CB1100 sure doesn’t feel slow, nor does it feel scary fast” and some asshat went on and on about the “specs”.

“It weighs too much”, “Same HP as a 599”, and on and on. Of course he’s never ridden one and his 07 KTM 990 Superduke is the best bike ever made.

My response? “I’m happy you found a bike you enjoy “.

Only the ignorant run a bike down that they have never rode.

A lot of people talk about max HP without giving any consideration to where and how that HP is delivered. Revvers can post big numbers on their spec sheet, because they're showing you what you get at a screaming 10000 rpms. at, say 2500rpms you're going to get garbage power on most of those bikes. In real life you're not going to be riding around like that. Bikes like the CB give you good (not great, but good) numbers almost all around the dial. There are very few bikes that do that, and even fewer that can give you good Power at all RPMS and great power at high revs. the R9T comes to mind.

[Mtneers]

Facebook is what you make of it. If you like political propaganda and the like, it’s a feast. For me, I initially joined to keep in touch with some of my good high school friends and relatives. Additionally, there are some great groups that share motorcycle info, such as CB1100 Owners Group started by Mike Payne (Memphis Mike) Goldwing Riders, Vintage Honda, etc. Several other forum members are fb subscribers as well...empty sea, Inhouse bob, nemo, mscb1100 and others.

Like most of you, I bought the CB1100 for its nostalgic look. Just yesterday, I took a short ride thru a park near my house. A guy playing frisbee golf saw me ride by, gave me a “thumb’s up” and yelled “nice bike”. Rarely can I stop at a gas station that someone doesn’t make a comment to me about the bike. It’s a blast to ride and I’ll probably keep it long after I sell the Goldwing and cease touring.
However, I only bought to please me, not others.


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[Capo]

The CB and Bonnie are both bikes that many current Harley riders/ lifestylers ‘approve’ of, not that it matters one bit. The older Harley guys grew up in the 60’s and ‘70’s and many rode British bikes and Honda CB’s back in their youth....AMF- era Harleys were not good bikes. At a local bike night that draws 90% Harleys, I’ve never received anything but props when I arrived on the CB or Thrux. ‘Metric’ cruisers are looked down upon, though.

I loathe that kind of moto- tribalism.

[Cormanus]

The CB and Bonnie are both bikes that many current Harley riders/ lifestylers ‘approve’ of, not that it matters one bit. The older Harley guys grew up in the 60’s and ‘70’s and many rode British bikes and Honda CB’s back in their youth....AMF- era Harleys were not good bikes. At a local bike night that draws 90% Harleys, I’ve never received anything but props when I arrived on the CB or Thrux. ‘Metric’ cruisers are looked down upon, though.

I loathe that kind of moto- tribalism.

+1