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I was coming home from a pretty long, hard ride yesterday afternoon, and hit one of favorite winding roads heading home. I noted that for some reason, the bike felt noticeably stronger everywhere, especially in the low and midrange. The weather was a few degrees cooler, but very humid, so I dismissed the temperature and humidity (high humidity robs power anyway).
Then it occurred to me I had probably turned over 10K on the odometer at some point during the ride; I have been reliably informed that in modern vehicles, the ECU is programmed to open up performance at certain benchmarks. Sure enough, the odometer read 10,055 when I checked.
I know that with BMW as well as other marques, there is a timing retard and restriction on the rev limiter until the first service is completed. I noticed a significant power increase on my GS after picking it up from the dealer and was told the ECU'd been reflashed.
My Chevy dealer told me that the new cars "learn" how you drive and adjust accelerator response and shift points accordingly. I loaned my car to a friend who drove pretty sedately, and when she gave me the car back, it felt rather slow. After some time, it started gaining response again.
I think it's entirely possible that Honda, one of the world's most advanced automotive manufacturers, has included these types of features in the CB1100's ECU; it makes even more sense for an air-cooled bike, which really needs to be broken in over the long term. I know that with air-cooled BMW boxer engines, they were never considered broken-in until at least 15,000 miles.
If not an ECU thing, then maybe a break-in thing; maybe everything's just come together finally.
You guys with over 10K, how are your bikes running? Strong? Do you feel your bikes got stronger over time?
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I can't really say one way or the other. Because of the flat landscape of home and my much dialed back riding style compared to my salad days, I've not really noted a change but someone who rides with a bit more elan might see a change. Knowing your background in track days and such, I would trust that some change has taken place that I wouldn't detect.
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My '13 just went over 53,000 mi. and seems to run better each time I ride. I did notice a nice improvement @ 25,000 miles, but it's probably just me and my riding style. I touched 5k rpm twice before 30,000 mi. and now have taken it into the 6k rpm zone a time or two. Just yesterday I ran a while at 100 mph indicated, but it was still below 6,000 rpm.
In 99.99% of my riding I find no reason to spin more than 5k rpm. FWIW
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(10-28-2016, 01:10 AM)Haystack_imp Wrote: My '13 just went over 53,000 mi. and seems to run better each time I ride. I did notice a nice improvement @ 25,000 miles, but it's probably just me and my riding style. I touched 5k rpm twice before 30,000 mi. and now have taken it into the 6k rpm zone a time or two. Just yesterday I ran a while at 100 mph indicated, but it was still below 6,000 rpm.
In 99.99% of my riding I find no reason to spin more than 5k rpm. FWIW Interesting, so it gets better and better!
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Mine is just over 26,000 miles. Some days it feels better than other days but honestly I think it's in my head
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I've not felt anything with mine. Fresh tires, yes, noticeable improvement. Miles on the odometer, no. But that's an interesting theory and probably more valid than the manufacturers want us to believe.
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I don't really notice much difference in the way the CB runs after 30.000km than it did right from start. On some days it runs better or more powerful winding it's way up from the upper part of the rpm ladder. But it may have it's reason in the way how the weather condition was or in the mood and condition I was in. Mostly I don't rev the CB hard to find out any difference. I'm just cruising the same style throughout, smooth and with a sense of saving some money on gasoline and nerves and whatever. And the CB runs effortless with a lot power in the backyard I don't really use. But it feels good and satisfying.
Wisedrum
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(10-28-2016, 09:25 AM)Wisedrum_imp Wrote: I don't really notice much difference in the way the CB runs after 30.000km than it did right from start. On some days it runs better or more powerful winding it's way up from the upper part of the rpm ladder. But it may have it's reason in the way how the weather condition was or in the mood and condition I was in. Mostly I don't rev the CB hard to find out any difference. I'm just cruising the same style throughout, smooth and with a sense of saving some money on gasoline and nerves and whatever. And the CB runs effortless with a lot power in the backyard I don't really use. But it feels good and satisfying.
Wisedrum Maybe it's just sneaky; just when you get bored, it starts to wake up again!
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I have 16K miles on the CB and haven't really noticed any change in power since my first ride. My riding style is laid-back though and I rarely push it hard so I probably wouldn't notice.
Ulvetanna, maybe you experienced what could be described as a "late ride euphoria". 
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(10-28-2016, 08:24 PM)curlyjoe_imp Wrote: I have 16K miles on the CB and haven't really noticed any change in power since my first ride. My riding style is laid-back though and I rarely push it hard so I probably wouldn't notice.
Ulvetanna, maybe you experienced what could be described as a "late ride euphoria". Could be; only one thing convinces me otherwise. At the last stop sign before heading up the hill toward my home (on level ground) I thought I had in fact imagined the whole thing, because the bike once again felt sluggish pulling away before I shifted into second.
Then I checked and realized I had pulled away while still in second gear. So it'd pulled from a stop as smoothly in second as previously in first. When I dropped into first, it was pulling hard.
I have noticed in the last few days the bike does seem to be very sensitive to temperature and humidity. A couple of days ago it was both hot and humid and no doubt about it, the bike was a dog, just plain soft and uninspiring everywhere.
Maybe that modest drop in temperature accounted for the change. I'll keep tabs on those things.
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