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

[johnf514_imp]

john some guys just really dislike tank seams. They think it looks cheap. For others it's no big deal. When I started hearing complaints about tank seams about 2 years ago, I actually had to walk out to the garage to see if my bikes had them That's after owning one of them for 7 years and the other for 2. I actually never noticed before. It is not something that bothers me. They both do, and I don't really care lol. Couldn't tell you if my brothers Bonnie has them, if my son's Ducati M696 or FJ-09 has them, if my one nephews NC700 has them, if the other nephew's SV650 or 690 Duke has them? It's not something even on my radar.

Sounds about what I was thinking. I wasn't sure if perhaps in the past, they had been looked at as cheap or indicative of some larger issue with quality or style. I was the same way with mine, didn't notice them until they were pointed out.

Beats the yards of plastic I had on my old Ninja 636. That thing was nicely sculpted, but why style in thin fairings when you can carve out a beautiful powerplant and put it on display?

[Labrador12_imp]

I only have about 100 miles on my new CB1100. I hadn't considered buying a bike this fall when I got back from spending six months fly fishing in Ak. I was at home in PA during 2016 before I left for Ak in July and was tempted to buy a used big twin. I've been riding since the 60s, my first ride was on a buddies Triumph and I was hooked. I've never owned two running bikes at the same time but I've run a 350 four, driven cross-country on a water buffallo I bought in Edmonton, got a deal on a 1100 Katana and sold my Sportster Sport a couple 0f years ago. I read that story about 10,000 miles on a CB1100 and was intrigued. I think I'm going to enjoy this bike. I bought it right after a test drive, and it's going to be a big part of my pre- Ak fishing trip life in Pa. It is a sweet machine that really exemplifies what a motorcycle is to me. I've met the nicest people on a Honda and this old fart is going to enjoy the snot out of my bike. I don't need to ride at 150+ mph. I have the T-shirt even if it doesn't fit anymore.

[egleaves_imp]

You know VLJ, it might not be a bad idea to see if anyone in your area is selling a used CB1100. Riding any of the variations that Honda offered is going to give you a real solid idea of what this bike is all about. in the end, you might not end up caring for it at all. But on the other hand, I suppose there is a chance that you'd like it enough that you might consider buying a pre-owned bike at the right price. If you were up front with the seller about this I'm guessing that you'd actually have a better shot at a test ride than you would trying to snag a test ride of a current EX model at your local dealership (I know, that's both incredibly sad and pathetic) It's just such a shame that so many dealers simply won't allow test rides. No wonder the industry is in a bit of a pickle from the way things sound. There are enough folks on this forum that are into modifying their CBs that you might find others who are willing to swap out parts with you to achieve the combination that you're ultimately looking for (although it's probably highly unlikely that the 5-speed configuration would be to your satisfaction). I'm guessing that this has already been discussed with you elsewhere on the forum and I missed it. Oh well, just a thought.
Tank seems don't bother me at all. They are certainly appropriate on a bike that is meant to honor Honda's CB heritage. I you look at the handcrafted K10 tanks that Whitehouse produces, you'll see that they use them as well.

I think the new tank shape is really more about trying to tap into those folks who happen to like old Triumphs rather than anything to do with Honda's CB past — at least those CBs that I'm familiar with. Does anyone here know of a previous CB that didn't have the tank seams/flanges?

Interesting discussion going on here.

I gather that I approach this subject from a very different starting point than the majority of the people here. Growing up, I knew absolutely nothing about motorcycles. I grew up in L.A., and all I cared about was sports, girls, and history books. I never rode a dirtbike. No one in our neighborhood rode.

The first bike I ever had was a used Honda Hawk CB400 Hondamatic, with a two-speed (IIRC) automatic transmission. I didn't know that it was unusual for bikes to have automatic trannies. To me it was just cheap transportation, and that was it. I thought it looked cool in its aqua and orange livery, and I came to realize that girls thought it looked cool too. Good thing for me, they also had no idea that a 400 with an automatic transmission was not exactly the coolest bike on the block. They just thought it looked dangerous, plus it vibrated right where they liked to be vibrated.

Winnah!

Once I bought that bike, though, I was hooked. I immediately started looking into new bikes, and the first motorcycle I ever lusted after was the 1992 Suzuki Katana 1100. Not only did it look awesome to a young moron like me, it had an electrically adjustable windshield! Holy crap!

Remember, this is the pre-helmet-law era, so the idea of a windshield sounded awesome to me after one too many nights riding home at five a.m to the San Fernando Valley from my girlfriend's place in Canyon Country, wearing nothing but one of her borrowed scarves and a flannel shirt. I will always remember that damnable '28 degrees' reading on the local bank's outside ticker display, knowing it was going to be a whole lot colder than that at seventy mph in the rolling hills. Sure enough, yep, every time I'd crest a hill and drop down into some little dip in the mountains, it suddenly felt ten degrees colder.

By the time I got home one night, my bottom lip had frozen and split open, and my face was covered in frozen snot.

Yeah, the Katana 1110 looked like something out of The Jetsons to me.

Problem was, I couldn't afford one. Somehow, though, I was able to afford a brand-new leftover Yamaha FJ1200, which I cartwheeled at 140 mph on Hwy 58 in the Mojave desert when my tailpack worked its way over the seat and into the wheel area, locking up the rear wheel and sending me fishtailing until finally it tossed me down the road.

Undaunted, I continued to go Full Retard through a succession of ever-faster racy bikes: VFRs, CBRs, GSX-Rs, Ninjas, etc. Eventually I mixed in some sport-tourers so my two wives and a few different girlfriends could join me. I watched a couple of riders die right in front of me; one at Sears Point during a track day; the other, my best friend, on Hwy 49 near Auburn.

I lost my desire for track days. I had hit a plateau, and wasn't going to go any faster without a major change of commitment, which I wasn't about to give.

A few years later I had to undergo multiple neuro-spinal reconstructions, which put paid to my ability to ride anything with even the slightest forward lean. Just can't tilt my head into the required position now, which precipitated my recent spate of purchases of bikes with upright seating positions. My neck won't even allow me to do the Street Triple seating position now, so it's become Naked Standards Time for me.

Any guess as to which Naked Standard happens to be the most attractive to yours truly, who also happened to spend ten years as a Honda motorcycle dealer?

Marked vs unmarked? I don't know which style is really my bias. I know what I don't like, i.e., Japanese Transformers styling, and I want nothing to do with the whole world of cruiserdom. Otherwise, I like the look of classic Triumphs and Japanese UJMs, and I came of age as a motorcyclist, so to speak, during the era of Miguel DuHamel's domination of AMA Superbike, so I've always loved Superbikes, especially Hondas and GSX-Rs (Doug Polen and Kevin Schwantz).

With the exception of that first Honda 400 Hondamatic, what I've never had is a slow, non-sporty bike. My ST1100, ST1300, and V-Strom 1000 were the least sporty things I've ever owned, so my desire for this CB1100 is a complete departure for me.

I don't know, but somehow the CB1100 seems to be the perfect example of both a marked and unmarked motorcycle to me. Pick either direction, and it pegs the meter for me.

If you are looking for sincere advice about what bike to buy, given your medical condition and other factors, you're going to really need to ride a CB1100 before you buy one. In your case, the T120 Bonneville would also seem an excellent choice. That bike is much lighter than a CB1100 and most certainly handles the curves better (I am assuming you still like spirited riding). It's also quite a bit "brisker" in acceleration.

I really can't think of any other machine that would be comparable to the Honda in terms of "retro" appearance and function. The bikes are quite different in many respects but in the last analysis, both satisfy a similar desire for simplicity, function, and enjoyment.

As my signature indicates, I am a previous owner of a 2013 CB1100. Like any bike I've owned, I rode it hard, and under all kinds of conditions. Call it a 10,000-mile test ride, if you want. My only modifications were for better performance, but none to the engine, as that's really a fruitless endeavor. That bike handles reasonably well if you get it set up right, and the later models, with better suspension, are likely a lot better right off the showroom floor. My next mod would've been the forks, but I think Honda have got that worked out now. I have a buddy with a '13 who rides the daylights out of it still.

All that said, my 2017 SV650 can outrun a CB1100 in a straight line, has a higher top speed, and as for cornering, well, no comparison. So you won't be able to keep up with anyone who has even a middleweight sporting machine, naked or otherwise. I say that only because it seems your "need for speed" is a permanent medical and psychological condition. I know mine is.

The top speed limiter is going to keep you very honest (112 mph). It can be deleted with a reflash, but I'd not recommend riding the bike any faster than that. The chassis really probably should not be subjected to it. I'd really say the same for any Bonneville-class bike, either T100 or T120, except a Thruxton. But the riding position on the Thruxton is not going to suit you, I think.

It's a boost to morale for a forum when folks think they may be getting a new member to the club, but judging from your posts, you are really here for one reason: to get some reasonably helpful information about buying your next bike. If it's a CB1100, you'll be sticking around, for a while, anyway.

If it's something else, you'll probably fade away.

I have no dog in this hunt; If I had the room and resources, I'd probably go get a 2017 EX tomorrow, just to see if I could stand the bike for one last round of ownership. But it wouldn't be my only bike, by any means.

In your case, you must choose wisely. Because resale on a slightly-used CB1100 is not what any of us had hoped.

Honestly Ulvetanna, I find this comment offensive. I can handle people calling me names or telling me that they don't care for my motorcycle or how it looks. I don't encourage that kind of behavior and that's not how I want things to go down on this forum. But the reality is those things aren't nearly as big a deal to me as someone indicating that I would attempt to steer another person to the CB1100 just to pick up a new forum member in hopes that that they might stick around. I've made it perfectly clear that I am not concerned about the number of members we have or the volume of posts created.

In fact, I've already suggested to VLJ elsewhere on the forum that the CB1100 is likely not the bike that will keep him happy. Still he has a genuine interest in the bike and if he is willing to keep an open mind then I can obviously understand the attraction to the bike. I would think that if VLJ is totally honest with himself in considering the CB1100 that there might be a chance he could enjoy the bike for what it is. I would actually give him a greater chance of enjoying the bike than yourself if you were to take another chance on it. You spent an awful lot of energy trying to convince everyone here (and certainly yourself) that the CB1100 was a true sportbike. Eventually you figured out what most of us already knew from the beginning. I realize that there are plenty of things to like and admire about the CB1100. That doesn't mean that it's the right bike for everyone and that's okay.

Guth, the bikes (or at least the CBs) at our local dealer are sitting assembled on the showroom floor with no fluids or batteries. I didn't even get to hear the exhaust note before I bought mine.

VLJ, I have yet to see a used CB1100 around here for sale. Would you like to take the test ride that the dealer won't give you? We could grab a coffee and you can kick the tires.

[VLJ_imp]

johnf514, while I can't speak for anyone else, to me the seams looks cheap. The seamless tanks look like pricier, hand-built items, and do a much better job of matching the artisan-level craftsmanship Honda touts with the CB1100.

Ulvetanna, believe me, I'm right there with you on the speed thing, the SV650 thing (I owned a track-prepped, aluminum trellis-framed SV650 for 50,000 miles, including a trip up to and across western Canada with my wife and a full set of Ventura luggage on the back), the Z900 thing, and, especially, the T120 thing. I've been debating the T120 vs the CB1100 ever since the T120 was announced. The first T120 demo I rode had very poor fueling/throttle response, and it felt soooooo slow. A year later I rode two newer units, both of which had spot-on fueling. They were still mighty pokey compared to my Street Triple R, never mind the XSR900, but they were at least fast enough, I suppose, given that a large part of my motivation for going that route has to do with wanting to try to slow down.

I say that, and it makes sense intellectually, and yet every time I ride my XSR I continue to go way too fast. I still seek out roads like Skaggs Springs to approximate track riding. It's stupid, I know, but I just can't help it. Once I'm up there, I want to carry high corner speeds and accelerate hard into and out of the corners. I have no problem with sitting up and relaxing on the straights. Top-speed runs do nothing for me. My enjoyment comes from cornering, handling, and the sound and feel of the motor. On the way home, I want to be comfortable. No hand-numbing buzz, overly busy-feeling motor, or bone-jarring suspension. Oh, and no noisy wind turbulence!

Initially I favored the T120 over the CB1100, purely for looks. I find the Triumph to look smaller, and, despite the radiator, perhaps even more authentic. Whereas the CB is a mix-and-match homage to a number of older CBs, the T120 looks just like the original Bonneville. It's the fork gaiters, the white piping on the flat seat, the hand-painted coach lines on that rubber knee-guards-festooned tank, the period-correct twin peashooter pipes, and the '60s-era tail light. It also sounds and feels absolutely fantastic. That was the biggest thing in its favor, to me, the sound and feel of that big 270-degree parallel Twin. I love that motor out on the highway. Zero buzz, the mirrors stay clear at 75 mph, and the motor has a righteous rumble, as well as a wonderfully relaxed, leisurely cadence. Perfect.

Also in its favor is the fact that everyone except mickey who's ridden both bikes says the T120 is munch punchier and smoother than the CB1100, even the '17 EX with the slightly more powerful motor. Additionally, the T120 supposedly has a bit more ground clearance than the CB, despite having much more legroom. It also includes as standard excellent factory heated grips and traction control.

So, yep, there's a lot of things in favor of the Triumph, including the fact that I prefer my local Triumph/BMW/Ducati dealer to my local Honda dealer. Plus, hey, I can actually get a test ride on the Triumph, which has proven to be manifestly impossible with the CB1100.

The thing about the T120, though, is that it sure handles like a pig. Man, is the steering slow and heavy, especially after you rode an XSR900 to the Triumph dealership to grab a test ride on the T120. Coming off the Yamaha, the T120 handles like a dump truck, or a Harley. It also has a few niggling issues, such as the squeaky brakes (problem eliminated on the '18 model), water condensation in the instruments, too-small numbers in the digital display, and a clock that only offers the 24-hour military method rather than the usual 12-hour type. Smaller gas tank, too, plus it has those nasty seams.

For all of those pluses and minuses, the T120's biggest issue for me is simply the existence of the '17 EX. I love and admire the Honda in ways that I simply do not love and admire the Triumph. I love the Triumph's overall look nearly as much as I love the CB's, and I'm sold on the feel and character of the T120 motor. I also appreciate how small and comfortable it is for me, with perfect ergos. It's only ten lbs lighter than the CB, which is absolutely nothing when you're talking about 550-lb bikes, but it feels much smaller than the CB, while still having more legroom. In fact, its wheelbase is a couple inches shorter than the CB's, and its seat height is also lower. It certainly feels much slimmer between the knees, as well.

When I last visited the T120, I followed it up with an immediate trip over to the Honda dealer for another visit with the CB. This was when I realized that I simply prefer the CB1100. As much as I like the T120, I finally understood that it didn't pull at me or seem as special to me as that jewel-like CB1100 EX. I also realized that my attraction to the T120 wouldn't last as long as my deeper attraction to the CB1100.

So, even though the T120 might actually be the superior machine, functionally, I crossed it off my list. If it's going to be a retro, it's going to be the CB1100 EX. I may yet change my mind and let the T120 back into the running, but at the moment I'm nearly certain that if someone put a gun to my head and made me choose between those two bikes, I'd choose the Honda.

The Honda isn't without its foibles, however. For instance, even though everyone agrees that the new Dual Bending Valve Forks (or whatever they're called) are better than the old forks, I'm still rather nonplussed that Honda cheaped-out with those things on a $12k bike. For the money Honda is asking for the CB1100, there is no justification for going with a cost-cutting imitation of a cartridge design. They should have done the CB1100 proper justice and given it the best Showa suspension available, such as their Big Piston Forks, or at least the Separate Function BPFs they're using on the upcoming CB1000R.

The CB's suspension capabilities are already compromised by the decision to stay authentic with the dual shocks. The least Honda could do on their crown jewel Statement Bike is lavish it with the best components available from their Honda-owned suspension company. Not only would top-shelf suspension offer superior handling, it would also provide a plusher ride, all without changing the retro visual aesthetic one iota.

I really don't like that the CB uses the same forks as some new Harleys. The CB1100 deserves so much better, and Honda ought to know better.

In any case, I've pretty much eliminated the sport-tourers (Ninja 1000, and the upcoming Tracer 900GT) from my list. I don't want to deal with the windshield hassles. The Z900RS was never on my list. The upcoming CB1000R is certainly a strong contender, although its high price-point and forward-lean seating position will almost certainly preclude it as a candidate.

So, unless the T120 works its way back into my heart, I'm down to two contenders: the CB1100 EX, and, believe it or not, your Z900. I can't explain it, but somehow I have grown to like the looks of the Z900. I know it has a great motor, excellent fueling, a very low seat height, and a seating position that I think my reconstructed neck might be able to handle. I've sat on it a few times, and it's borderline. Compared to my modded XSR900, it has way less legroom and a bit more forward lean, but not as much lean as the stock XSR900 bars. The Z900's seating position might hit that perfect sweet spot for me of having just enough lean to combat the wind on the freeway, but not so much lean that it hurts my neck.

Yep, that goofy-looking Z900 might just work for me, plus it's super-affordable. Its only two major downsides are that it offers nowhere to attach soft luggage, and it supposedly doesn't offer enough available electrical capacity to power up heated grips, never mind heated vests and the like. That would be a deal-breaker for me. Where I live, I have to have heated grips, especially on a naked standard.

I'd call it an 80% to 15% lean towards the Honda over the Kawi, with the T120 making up the remaining 5%. From Day One the Honda has been at the forefront of my thoughts, and nothing else has come along to push it aside.

Edit: egleaves, I just saw your post offering me a test ride on your 2014 Standard. It's a six-speed, so that's the big thing. It won't sound and feel exactly like the '17 EX, but it's certainly close enough to give me a decent feel for how the EX turns, stops, accelerates, and vibrates. Yes, I would love to grab a test ride from you. We can swap bikes, so you can try riding an XSR900 with bar risers that come very close to approximating the CB's upright seating position. If anything, I think my bars are a bit higher than the CB's.

I live only five minutes from the place where you bought your bike. I'm definitely up for it, and thank you for the generous offer.

[Acrobat_imp]

VLJ I finally done it. Just managed to contact Mr. Kohama in his office and after a long conversation , Mitsuyoshi promise me to consider your aesthetic and technical suggestions . He also said that would be a very good idea of a limited edition like a CB1100VLJ 2018 model year (if you can stomach the price..). If you can take a joke , what's your doctor opinion?

[VLJ_imp]

Ooooh, a 2018 CB1100VLJ? Niiiice!

I'll pay the price.

The RS should have been the equivalent of a CB1100SP, only they didn't go nearly far enough in differentiating it from EX-spec.

[Guth_imp]

You know VLJ, it might not be a bad idea to see if anyone in your area is selling a used CB1100. Riding any of the variations that Honda offered is going to give you a real solid idea of what this bike is all about. in the end, you might not end up caring for it at all. But on the other hand, I suppose there is a chance that you'd like it enough that you might consider buying a pre-owned bike at the right price. If you were up front with the seller about this I'm guessing that you'd actually have a better shot at a test ride than you would trying to snag a test ride of a current EX model at your local dealership (I know, that's both incredibly sad and pathetic) It's just such a shame that so many dealers simply won't allow test rides. No wonder the industry is in a bit of a pickle from the way things sound. There are enough folks on this forum that are into modifying their CBs that you might find others who are willing to swap out parts with you to achieve the combination that you're ultimately looking for (although it's probably highly unlikely that the 5-speed configuration would be to your satisfaction). I'm guessing that this has already been discussed with you elsewhere on the forum and I missed it. Oh well, just a thought.
Tank seems don't bother me at all. They are certainly appropriate on a bike that is meant to honor Honda's CB heritage. I you look at the handcrafted K10 tanks that Whitehouse produces, you'll see that they use them as well.

I think the new tank shape is really more about trying to tap into those folks who happen to like old Triumphs rather than anything to do with Honda's CB past — at least those CBs that I'm familiar with. Does anyone here know of a previous CB that didn't have the tank seams/flanges?

Interesting discussion going on here.

I gather that I approach this subject from a very different starting point than the majority of the people here. Growing up, I knew absolutely nothing about motorcycles. I grew up in L.A., and all I cared about was sports, girls, and history books. I never rode a dirtbike. No one in our neighborhood rode.

The first bike I ever had was a used Honda Hawk CB400 Hondamatic, with a two-speed (IIRC) automatic transmission. I didn't know that it was unusual for bikes to have automatic trannies. To me it was just cheap transportation, and that was it. I thought it looked cool in its aqua and orange livery, and I came to realize that girls thought it looked cool too. Good thing for me, they also had no idea that a 400 with an automatic transmission was not exactly the coolest bike on the block. They just thought it looked dangerous, plus it vibrated right where they liked to be vibrated.

Winnah!

Once I bought that bike, though, I was hooked. I immediately started looking into new bikes, and the first motorcycle I ever lusted after was the 1992 Suzuki Katana 1100. Not only did it look awesome to a young moron like me, it had an electrically adjustable windshield! Holy crap!

Remember, this is the pre-helmet-law era, so the idea of a windshield sounded awesome to me after one too many nights riding home at five a.m to the San Fernando Valley from my girlfriend's place in Canyon Country, wearing nothing but one of her borrowed scarves and a flannel shirt. I will always remember that damnable '28 degrees' reading on the local bank's outside ticker display, knowing it was going to be a whole lot colder than that at seventy mph in the rolling hills. Sure enough, yep, every time I'd crest a hill and drop down into some little dip in the mountains, it suddenly felt ten degrees colder.

By the time I got home one night, my bottom lip had frozen and split open, and my face was covered in frozen snot.

Yeah, the Katana 1110 looked like something out of The Jetsons to me.

Problem was, I couldn't afford one. Somehow, though, I was able to afford a brand-new leftover Yamaha FJ1200, which I cartwheeled at 140 mph on Hwy 58 in the Mojave desert when my tailpack worked its way over the seat and into the wheel area, locking up the rear wheel and sending me fishtailing until finally it tossed me down the road.

Undaunted, I continued to go Full Retard through a succession of ever-faster racy bikes: VFRs, CBRs, GSX-Rs, Ninjas, etc. Eventually I mixed in some sport-tourers so my two wives and a few different girlfriends could join me. I watched a couple of riders die right in front of me; one at Sears Point during a track day; the other, my best friend, on Hwy 49 near Auburn.

I lost my desire for track days. I had hit a plateau, and wasn't going to go any faster without a major change of commitment, which I wasn't about to give.

A few years later I had to undergo multiple neuro-spinal reconstructions, which put paid to my ability to ride anything with even the slightest forward lean. Just can't tilt my head into the required position now, which precipitated my recent spate of purchases of bikes with upright seating positions. My neck won't even allow me to do the Street Triple seating position now, so it's become Naked Standards Time for me.

Any guess as to which Naked Standard happens to be the most attractive to yours truly, who also happened to spend ten years as a Honda motorcycle dealer?

Marked vs unmarked? I don't know which style is really my bias. I know what I don't like, i.e., Japanese Transformers styling, and I want nothing to do with the whole world of cruiserdom. Otherwise, I like the look of classic Triumphs and Japanese UJMs, and I came of age as a motorcyclist, so to speak, during the era of Miguel DuHamel's domination of AMA Superbike, so I've always loved Superbikes, especially Hondas and GSX-Rs (Doug Polen and Kevin Schwantz).

With the exception of that first Honda 400 Hondamatic, what I've never had is a slow, non-sporty bike. My ST1100, ST1300, and V-Strom 1000 were the least sporty things I've ever owned, so my desire for this CB1100 is a complete departure for me.

I don't know, but somehow the CB1100 seems to be the perfect example of both a marked and unmarked motorcycle to me. Pick either direction, and it pegs the meter for me.

If you are looking for sincere advice about what bike to buy, given your medical condition and other factors, you're going to really need to ride a CB1100 before you buy one. In your case, the T120 Bonneville would also seem an excellent choice. That bike is much lighter than a CB1100 and most certainly handles the curves better (I am assuming you still like spirited riding). It's also quite a bit "brisker" in acceleration.

I really can't think of any other machine that would be comparable to the Honda in terms of "retro" appearance and function. The bikes are quite different in many respects but in the last analysis, both satisfy a similar desire for simplicity, function, and enjoyment.

As my signature indicates, I am a previous owner of a 2013 CB1100. Like any bike I've owned, I rode it hard, and under all kinds of conditions. Call it a 10,000-mile test ride, if you want. My only modifications were for better performance, but none to the engine, as that's really a fruitless endeavor. That bike handles reasonably well if you get it set up right, and the later models, with better suspension, are likely a lot better right off the showroom floor. My next mod would've been the forks, but I think Honda have got that worked out now. I have a buddy with a '13 who rides the daylights out of it still.

All that said, my 2017 SV650 can outrun a CB1100 in a straight line, has a higher top speed, and as for cornering, well, no comparison. So you won't be able to keep up with anyone who has even a middleweight sporting machine, naked or otherwise. I say that only because it seems your "need for speed" is a permanent medical and psychological condition. I know mine is.

The top speed limiter is going to keep you very honest (112 mph). It can be deleted with a reflash, but I'd not recommend riding the bike any faster than that. The chassis really probably should not be subjected to it. I'd really say the same for any Bonneville-class bike, either T100 or T120, except a Thruxton. But the riding position on the Thruxton is not going to suit you, I think.

It's a boost to morale for a forum when folks think they may be getting a new member to the club, but judging from your posts, you are really here for one reason: to get some reasonably helpful information about buying your next bike. If it's a CB1100, you'll be sticking around, for a while, anyway.

If it's something else, you'll probably fade away.

I have no dog in this hunt; If I had the room and resources, I'd probably go get a 2017 EX tomorrow, just to see if I could stand the bike for one last round of ownership. But it wouldn't be my only bike, by any means.

In your case, you must choose wisely. Because resale on a slightly-used CB1100 is not what any of us had hoped.

Honestly Ulvetanna, I find this comment offensive. I can handle people calling me names or telling me that they don't care for my motorcycle or how it looks. I don't encourage that kind of behavior and that's not how I want things to go down on this forum. But the reality is those things aren't nearly as big a deal to me as someone indicating that I would attempt to steer another person to the CB1100 just to pick up a new forum member in hopes that that they might stick around. I've made it perfectly clear that I am not concerned about the number of members we have or the volume of posts created.

In fact, I've already suggested to VLJ elsewhere on the forum that the CB1100 is likely not the bike that will keep him happy. Still he has a genuine interest in the bike and if he is willing to keep an open mind then I can obviously understand the attraction to the bike. I would think that if VLJ is totally honest with himself in considering the CB1100 that there might be a chance he could enjoy the bike for what it is. I would actually give him a greater chance of enjoying the bike than yourself if you were to take another chance on it. You spent an awful lot of energy trying to convince everyone here (and certainly yourself) that the CB1100 was a true sportbike. Eventually you figured out what most of us already knew from the beginning. I realize that there are plenty of things to like and admire about the CB1100. That doesn't mean that it's the right bike for everyone and that's okay.

Guth, the bikes (or at least the CBs) at our local dealer are sitting assembled on the showroom floor with no fluids or batteries. I didn't even get to hear the exhaust note before I bought mine.

VLJ, I have yet to see a used CB1100 around here for sale. Would you like to take the test ride that the dealer won't give you? We could grab a coffee and you can kick the tires.

Nice!

You meet the nicest people...
By the way VLJ I'd like to think that i've always been very clear that whether or not a person owns, owned, or never owned a CB1100 they are welcome here. We have an entire section dedicated to "Other Stuff" (Other Bikes, gear, General Motorcycling topics) on this forum for just that reason. Even if the CB1100 doesn't work out for you, you're certainly encouraged to stick around should you find that you don't soon tire of conversation around here. Of course, no one can force you to stay either, lol. I hope you can meet up with egleaves sometime here in the not too distant future.

[VLJ_imp]

Thanks, Guth, I'm sure I will. I'm here as much because of mickey as because of the bike after which this forum is named, which I haven't even ridden yet.

It looks like I'll finally get to try a CB1100 this Sunday, thanks to egleaves' kind offer to allow me to ride his brand-new 2014 Standard. Ironic, innit, since he bought that exact bike out from under me. He beat me to the punch by only two days.

Except for the fact that the tank is black instead of red, the motor is almost completely blacked out, the side covers are black instead of silver, and the wheels are black instead of silver, I would think you would rate the 2014 Standard's aesthetics on par with your 2013 model. Same seat, same tank, same wheels, same pipe, same everything else, other than a slightly different instrument display, and six gears instead of five.

I've ridden the early-'90s CB750, and the 919. I'm expecting the CB1100 to fall somewhere in the middle, with the soft, plush, leisurely ride and nearly-bolt-upright seating position of that old CB750, with a bit of the 919's grunt. Come to think of it, it will probably feel like a smaller, more manageable version of the old liquid-cooled CB1000, aka "The Big One."

I'm curious to see what egleaves thinks after he rides my XSR900. Besides his new CB, I have no idea what he's owned, what he's ridden, or what sort of riding he does. I'm completely clueless as to his general frames of reference.

Should be interesting.

[egleaves_imp]

Thanks, Guth, I'm sure I will. I'm here as much because of mickey as because of the bike after which this forum is named, which I haven't even ridden yet.

It looks like I'll finally get to try a CB1100 this Sunday, thanks to egleaves' kind offer to allow me to ride his brand-new 2014 Standard. Ironic, innit, since he bought that exact bike out from under me. He beat me to the punch by only two days.

Except for the fact that the tank is black instead of red, the motor is almost completely blacked out, the side covers are black instead of silver, and the wheels are black instead of silver, I would think you would rate the 2014 Standard's aesthetics on par with your 2013 model. Same seat, same tank, same wheels, same pipe, same everything else, other than a slightly different instrument display, and six gears instead of five.

I've ridden the early-'90s CB750, and the 919. I'm expecting the CB1100 to fall somewhere in the middle, with the soft, plush, leisurely ride and nearly-bolt-upright seating position of that old CB750, with a bit of the 919's grunt. Come to think of it, it will probably feel like a smaller, more manageable version of the old liquid-cooled CB1000, aka "The Big One."

I'm curious to see what egleaves thinks after he rides my XSR900. Besides his new CB, I have no idea what he's owned, what he's ridden, or what sort of riding he does. I'm completely clueless as to his general frames of reference.

Should be interesting.

First bike - 1980 Yamaha XS1100 Special. Rode it. Wrenched on it. Loved it. This was my starter bike about 8 years ago.

Second bike - 1981 Suzuki GS650. Bought it last year to get back in the saddle after a multi year absence from riding. That Craigslist turd is still sitting in my barn.

Current bike - 2014 CB1100. Got fed up with the Suzuki and made it to the dealership faster than VLJ.

I don't have as much experience on a bike as most people here, but I am a focused, sensible rider trying to develop my technical skills. Early on I found myself attracted to the look of the UJM and I also have a soft spot for older vehicles in general. ('74 C-10 and '65 Corvair in the driveway) The CB is the newest thing I've owned in a while.

[LongRanger_imp]

XS1100 as a starter bike!