Posts: 278
Threads: 14
Likes Received: 200 in 93 posts
Likes Given: 220
Joined: Apr 2025
Hello! I'm coming from the V4musclebike forum. I'm a young midwestern guy who restored my first bike (84' VF700 Magna - 10k miles) and now have gotten so addicted to motorcycles I want to get another one. I love the vintage bike look, if I could I'd buy a CBX and be happy to maintain and ride it, but that is not realistic.
So was gonna buy an old CB750 and run that, but my friends want to do cross country trips and so do I. I would really like something new and reliable. Some internet searches later I found the sexiest modern bike (CB1100  ) so here are my questions.
1. Life expectancy/maintanence required? Coming from an old bike, I don't want to pick up a CB1100 with 20k miles to find out the PO didn't do valve checks etc. What is the service intervals on these bikes? Are there service manuals available? I wrench on my own bikes.
2. Does anybody currently know a way to reprogram the ECU? Browsing this site I've seen Dave Guhl was the guy but he doesn't do this anymore. I want to do the basic upgrades to this bike being open exhaust, velocity stacks, changeup sprocket size and remove that speed limiter. As well as smoothing out the timing etc for best performance. I know this isn't a superbike and won't be, just like having all the power I can... reasonably. Any advice on this would be much appreciated!
3. Is the 2014 version with the 6 speed that much better than the 2013? I've read there were some upgrades for the 2014 but how much better is it than the 2013?
Most of what I can find available around me is a 2013 or '14.
Thanks for reading, looking forward to buying this bike this winter and ready for another fun season of riding!
Posts: 23,487
Threads: 697
Likes Received: 610 in 274 posts
Likes Given: 786
Joined: Apr 2025
Howdy and welcome to the forum
1) we have guys with close to 150,000 miles on their CB's with no major work. My personal bike is at 76K miles and the valves have never needed adjusting. Spec is every 16K I believe. Oil and filter every 4,000.
2) No, as far as I know no one is reprogramming ECUs at this time
3) matter of opinion. I had a 2013 and felt the upgrades were worth the change so I traded it in on a 2014 dlx. Some feel the 2013s were sportier than later versions, but a 2014 std is about the same as the 2013 with 1 more gear, gear indicator etc..only in all black
"my friends want to do cross country trips and so do I" ) not the best bike for the job, with no wind protection, and limited tank range, but doable. Heck people tour on Groms.
Posts: 440
Threads: 18
Likes Received: 18 in 11 posts
Likes Given: 2
Joined: Oct 2019
Still have my DLX guys, still with only 801 miles on it, but if you remember it is the one that was under a tarp for 6 years and had the funky looking seat. That may jar you guy's memories. I had about 1/3 of the parts put on before the Palsy hit me. I am going to sell it, but all the parts will go in big plastic totes with it. It is a rare find with the mileage it has, and with all the parts installed, it will look brand new. Any serious buyers just send me a private email, and I can go over all I have done do it, and the parts still new just waiting to be put on. I am just coming back to the Forum after a long spell since my riding time is almost zero with my vision like it is now. I am having trouble with the Forum's new look, or my browser is messing things up. Have missed speaking with you older members here, and especially miss riding. Take care, Michael
PS...just sold my Z900RS yesterday, now down to 2 CB1100's and an 1982 GS1100E that needs the carbs redone inside. My vision has stalled this restore too!
Posts: 16,318
Threads: 348
Likes Received: 875 in 478 posts
Likes Given: 1,006
Joined: Apr 2025
Michael, so sorry to hear you haven’t been well. I’ve sent you a message about the appearance of the forum.
Posts: 2,635
Threads: 125
Likes Received: 1 in 1 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jun 2016
(08-27-2024, 04:40 AM)MagnaRider_imp Wrote: Hello! I'm coming from the V4musclebike forum. I'm a young midwestern guy who restored my first bike (84' VF700 Magna - 10k miles) and now have gotten so addicted to motorcycles I want to get another one. I love the vintage bike look, if I could I'd buy a CBX and be happy to maintain and ride it, but that is not realistic.
So was gonna buy an old CB750 and run that, but my friends want to do cross country trips and so do I. I would really like something new and reliable. Some internet searches later I found the sexiest modern bike (CB1100 ) so here are my questions.
1. Life expectancy/maintanence required? Coming from an old bike, I don't want to pick up a CB1100 with 20k miles to find out the PO didn't do valve checks etc. What is the service intervals on these bikes? Are there service manuals available? I wrench on my own bikes.
2. Does anybody currently know a way to reprogram the ECU? Browsing this site I've seen Dave Guhl was the guy but he doesn't do this anymore. I want to do the basic upgrades to this bike being open exhaust, velocity stacks, changeup sprocket size and remove that speed limiter. As well as smoothing out the timing etc for best performance. I know this isn't a superbike and won't be, just like having all the power I can... reasonably. Any advice on this would be much appreciated!
3. Is the 2014 version with the 6 speed that much better than the 2013? I've read there were some upgrades for the 2014 but how much better is it than the 2013?
Most of what I can find available around me is a 2013 or '14.
Thanks for reading, looking forward to buying this bike this winter and ready for another fun season of riding!
If you don't want to go faster than 112mph.. you don't need to worry about the ECU
The fueling can be taken care of with the power commander and autotune box is advised.
The fueling part of the ECU is what makes most of the power...the ign curve changes are only worth 3hp at best.
Bore the stacks, change the exhaust- add fuel
Posts: 1,003
Threads: 63
Likes Received: 46 in 18 posts
Likes Given: 8
Joined: Dec 2013
1) we have guys with close to 150,000 miles on their CB's with no major work. My personal bike is at 76K miles and the valves have never needed adjusting. Spec is every 16K I believe. Oil and filter every 4,000.
Hi Ferret, I am impressed that your bike reached 76K miles and never needed a valve adjustment. I am curious as to how you achieved this; my guess is you keep your engine RPMs low. I am convinced that valve wear is directly related to engine RPM - the higher the RPM, the greater the valve wear. I remember a post you made a long time ago where your gas mileage was pretty incredible also. Can you please share with us some details about how you ride? What is the typical RPM you ride? Is there a maximum RPM that you don't exceed? What RPM do you typically shift?
Also, can you please share at what intervals your valves were checked?
Thank you.
Posts: 930
Threads: 9
Likes Received: 57 in 17 posts
Likes Given: 3
Joined: May 2025
My experience with the CB1100 is as follwos:
Own a 5 gear 2013 model for 10 years and have ridden 77.000km with it. The only problem has been an idle issue which could be cured by a software update in my country Germany. I think it is not available in the USA.
If you want to put the speedlimiter away, you can order this modul and install it. It works.
https://www.1000ps.de/produkt-1193269-l-...begrenzers
Concerning the valves I also believe that not reving the engine high or hard, they will stay in shape. Never had them checked until yet. As long as the CB starts well, has similar fuel consumption with comparable riding and runs fine, I leave them untouched. I rode and still ride my CB mostly between 1.050 and 3.000-4.000/rpm with an average fuel consumption of 4,5l/100km. While touring alone or with a sozia I don't rev the CB seldom higher and stay within this range. In my eyes the CB is a good touring bike even on longer trips which led me across the UK, Irland, up to the North Cap and the through the Balticum. The CB never let my down and always started and ran well.
I mounted an MRA windshield and saddlebags beside other accessoires. As far as mantainces goes, I do oil and filter changes, did one chain kit change, renewed tires when needed and so on. Just normal mantaince things. Maybe the oiling fork seals lately were not quite normal, but I guess they gave up due to the age of the bike. Although I have mounted gate protectors right from start. Otherwise the CB is very commod in the need for spare parts when not ridden hard.
All in all it is a very reliable bike. I keep mine for many more km and years. In Germany was the rider itsme who has ridden 250.000km with his 2014 6 gear CB while documenting his experience with his Honda. He sadly crashed it in the end and disappeared.
If you are into retro classic bikes and like inline 4, I highly recommend the CB. 90PS is more than enough in my eyes. Especially for this kind of bike.
Posts: 19
Threads: 1
Likes Received: 6 in 3 posts
Likes Given: 1
Joined: Apr 2025
Forget about CB if you want to do cross country with your mates. CB is a city bike. There are far better bikes out there for touring
Posts: 930
Threads: 9
Likes Received: 57 in 17 posts
Likes Given: 3
Joined: May 2025
(09-03-2024, 05:15 PM)KeepLeft_imp Wrote: Forget about CB if you want to do cross country with your mates. CB is a city bike. There are far better bikes out there for touring
No, as I mentioned before, I disagree.
The CB is a very good touring bike. It's s matter of eyesight. As an UJM bike it can be used for everything except motorcross or racetracks.
Posts: 7,102
Threads: 94
Likes Received: 591 in 324 posts
Likes Given: 996
Joined: Apr 2025
(09-03-2024, 06:19 PM)Wisedrum_imp Wrote: (09-03-2024, 05:15 PM)KeepLeft_imp Wrote: Forget about CB if you want to do cross country with your mates. CB is a city bike. There are far better bikes out there for touring
No, as I mentioned before, I disagree.
The CB is a very good touring bike. It's s matter of eyesight. As an UJM bike it can be used for everything except motorcross or racetracks.
No, as I mentioned before, I disagree.
The CB is a very good touring bike. It's s matter of eyesight. As an UJM bike it can be used for everything except motorcross or racetracks.
+1
Love long distance rides on my CBs, no commuting at all
|
