defects CB 1100

[GoldOxide_imp]

Well put Guth.

For me, a motorcycle is a way that enables me to find where I want to be. Each one takes a different path, and more often than not, I find myself.

The CB1100 is a glorious carriage for that journey.

[VLJ_imp]

I'm late to this thread, so I'll add only a few observations...

The CB1100 was in no way designed with the Chinese in mind. Holy crap, but was that just about the most off-base comment I've seen on this forum.

Next, regarding the engine's smoothness, yes, it is relatively smooth, but many I4s are smoother. The CB1100 with the 6-spd tranny has a noticeable patch of somewhat obtrusive, typical I4 engine vibration from 3,500-5,000 rpm. Above and below those RPM it is world-class smooth. Part of the reason people so often describe the motor and the overall bike as "smooth" has to do with its table top-flat power delivery. That sort of dead linear power (non)curve combines with the uniquely neutral-handling chassis to imbue the entire riding experience with a strong patina of Old World craftsmanship and thoughtful precision. The bike feels very highly engineered, with all the rough edges fettled away.

Honda fans love this level of refinement. Fans of more immediate, raucous, explosive experiences deride the Honda Way as boring and lacking in character. The CB1100 definitely has character, but it's more Churchill than Mussolini, more Steven Wright than Chris Rock.

Lastly, this...

Wisedrum Wrote:I think, it is the rider who brings boredom to a motorbike not the other way round.
...is genius.

[j3gq_imp]

This thread intrigued me to the point that I had to go for a ride and really LISTEN to the bike. And you guys are absolutely right. The character is there, it's just not in-your-face-center-of-the-party loud. More low key, refined and sophisticated. But it calls for recalibration if you come from, say, a modern supersport. I've been on two wheels since 1981, had 50+ different bikes and many of them I "got" and tired of fairly quickly. The CB is different. Still things to discover and, to paraphrase tommymck, it just suites me. The ride was three hours in foggy eight degrees Celcius (ok, quite a lot of that in my favourite 1950s café) on rather dull roads with traffic and I still came home grinning. Says a lot, I think.

Hi Olof, nice picture, good post. Thank you !
So you are still able to spend time in your favorite café on the edge of town. How envious I am. Ever since March and the first lock-downs I am considering "migration to Sweden". I know not all swedes agree with the gov's approach in your country, but I would be perfectly happy with your slightly different balance of risks.

PS: how many miles do you have on these pipes ?

PPS: I have that strange hunch that Ale72 actually never owned a CB1100, is he just pulling our legs, and the posters all fell for it

[Paris_imp]

I'm late to this thread, so I'll add only a few observations...

The CB1100 was in no way designed with the Chinese in mind. Holy crap, but was that just about the most off-base comment I've seen on this forum.

Next, regarding the engine's smoothness, yes, it is relatively smooth, but many I4s are smoother. The CB1100 with the 6-spd tranny has a noticeable patch of somewhat obtrusive, typical I4 engine vibration from 3,500-5,000 rpm. Above and below those RPM it is world-class smooth. Part of the reason people so often describe the motor and the overall bike as "smooth" has to do with its table top-flat power delivery. That sort of dead linear power (non)curve combines with the uniquely neutral-handling chassis to imbue the entire riding experience with a strong patina of Old World craftsmanship and thoughtful precision. The bike feels very highly engineered, with all the rough edges fettled away.

Honda fans love this level of refinement. Fans of more immediate, raucous, explosive experiences deride the Honda Way as boring and lacking in character. The CB1100 definitely has character, but it's more Churchill than Mussolini, more Steven Wright than Chris Rock.

Lastly, this...

Wisedrum Wrote:I think, it is the rider who brings boredom to a motorbike not the other way round.
...is genius.

...is genius.
“Defects” is not the word I would choose, but the stock CB1100 can be improved, at least to better suit my taste.

First is the seat. Ironically, this is one of the things which drew my attention to the CB1100, the ‘70s retro-style bench seat. While I know what Honda was trying to do, I soon found that one can suffer only so much for the sake of art. When younger and lighter, I guess it didn’t matter, but that seat was like riding on a sawhorse for me. It had to go, and Corbin was there to help. I now have two very comfortable and stable seats in brown leather for my CB, one a Gunfighter for me and another Gunfighter and lady for when my et ux joins me.

Next is the suspension. The rear shocks are not very good, but this again is an easy fix.

Third, I believe the bike would benefit from a 4 into 1 exhaust. It would have more power, be a lot lighter and nimbler, and would sound better.

Finally, I added a National Cycle Plexifaring to make the ride more comfortable, especially in the rain.

These are, obviously, my preferences, and not defects in the stock CB1100, which is a lovely bike even if you do nothing to it.

[Wisedrum]

I'm late to this thread, so I'll add only a few observations...

The CB1100 was in no way designed with the Chinese in mind. Holy crap, but was that just about the most off-base comment I've seen on this forum.

Next, regarding the engine's smoothness, yes, it is relatively smooth, but many I4s are smoother. The CB1100 with the 6-spd tranny has a noticeable patch of somewhat obtrusive, typical I4 engine vibration from 3,500-5,000 rpm. Above and below those RPM it is world-class smooth. Part of the reason people so often describe the motor and the overall bike as "smooth" has to do with its table top-flat power delivery. That sort of dead linear power (non)curve combines with the uniquely neutral-handling chassis to imbue the entire riding experience with a strong patina of Old World craftsmanship and thoughtful precision. The bike feels very highly engineered, with all the rough edges fettled away.

Honda fans love this level of refinement. Fans of more immediate, raucous, explosive experiences deride the Honda Way as boring and lacking in character. The CB1100 definitely has character, but it's more Churchill than Mussolini, more Steven Wright than Chris Rock.

Lastly, this...

Wisedrum Wrote:I think, it is the rider who brings boredom to a motorbike not the other way round.
...is genius.

...is genius.
“Defects” is not the word I would choose, but the stock CB1100 can be improved, at least to better suit my taste.

First is the seat. Ironically, this is one of the things which drew my attention to the CB1100, the ‘70s retro-style bench seat. While I know what Honda was trying to do, I soon found that one can suffer only so much for the sake of art. When younger and lighter, I guess it didn’t matter, but that seat was like riding on a sawhorse for me. It had to go, and Corbin was there to help. I now have two very comfortable and stable seats in brown leather for my CB, one a Gunfighter for me and another Gunfighter and lady for when my et ux joins me.

Next is the suspension. The rear shocks are not very good, but this again is an easy fix.

Third, I believe the bike would benefit from a 4 into 1 exhaust. It would have more power, be a lot lighter and nimbler, and would sound better.

Finally, I added a National Cycle Plexifaring to make the ride more comfortable, especially in the rain.

These are, obviously, my preferences, and not defects in the stock CB1100, which is a lovely bike even if you do nothing to it.

Right. I just mounted some must have accessoires at the bike but leave it technically as a stock CB1100. Of course it's a matter of getting used to a seat or the rear suspension and so on, some are not able to do so.

It took me a while to get used to the seat but now I can ride endless hours and km on the CB without having changed or altered the seat. I never saw an modyfied seat, that doesn't ruined the fine shape of a stock CB. Same goes for all other modifications like cutted fenders and exhaust systems. Each one has a different taste and some try to be satisfied by customizing. I like a bike the way experienced engineers build and designed it. If not, I wouldn't buy it. I'm a customer, not a customizer.

Wisedrum

[rboe]

I read on the guzzi forum about some bikes having no character or soul - they just liked the power pulses from a V twin.

I've owned a couple Guzzi's, you could say I'm between Guzzi's at the moment. If that is your thing then there are a lot of bikes that deliver it.

I'm fairly motor agnostic what with a single and two in line 4's in the stable now, previously had the Griso in the mix too. The Griso is gone mainly because after 7+ years of trying to fit the bike to me I gave up and moved on.

Some folks can appreciate the bike's motor no matter what it is and some folks seem to appreciate any bike no matter how big or small.

If a buyer is just not getting on with their machine of choice I need no advantage in trying to talk them into keeping said bike. That said, some bikes need a good 100 + miles of test ride to gel with them. Like a lot of the Guzzi's.

I also feel that bikes have a personality, for me the CB's personality fits me very well (as long as I keep the rpm's below 6000 ). The Griso was not as well fitting either.

Then there is the whole environment variable - what kind of rides/roads you have available in your area and how you like to ride them. Little narrow country lanes in the hills favor torqie motors like bike singles. Wide open roads (American West) favor touring and sport touring bikes.

[Ale72_imp]

I see a lot of participation. some characteristics are objective such as the size and the lack of comfort for rider and passenger, at least in my case, others such as the emotions that the bike can give are subjective and to me its perfect delivery makes it tasteless.
i think i ride a Moto Guzzi California 1100

[Wisedrum]

Interesting, I switched from a California to the CB and you will switch from the CB to the Cali. I would by no means go back to my few Cali days. The bike failed much too early, if a bike should ever give up. It shouldn't. So my trust in Italian motorbike art is gone and destroyed. The Cali is in no way a comparison to the CB in my opinion. Somehow attractive but not solid. At least the relative fresh one I bought. Wish you luck, you will need it.

Wisedrum

[Cormanus]

Good luck, Ale72. If you sell the CB and get the Guzzi, please come back and tell us how you find it. We like people who like bikes.

[Ale72_imp]

gladly, of course, today if I can take her home