Thought experiment: $2500 worth of improvements to the CB1100

[misterprofessionality]

Peking, As stated above, the only way I'd do ABS is to buy a salvaged/crashed '17 CB1100 and scavenge all the parts. That bike likely won't cost me more than 2000. i might still have to buy 1 or 2 parts new but most of it will be there.

[pekingduck]

Peking, As stated above, the only way I'd do ABS is to buy a salvaged/crashed '17 CB1100 and scavenge all the parts. That bike likely won't cost me more than 2000. i might still have to buy 1 or 2 parts new but most of it will be there.

Well, a 2017 would give you the wheels, ABS, better forks, and larger tank.

[misterprofessionality]

But would also cost me a solid 5k out the door after trade in at minimum. :-p that's significantly more money.

[PowerDubs_imp]

No- those are not the right forks. Those are off the sportier model.

[misterprofessionality]

No- those are not the right forks. Those are off the sportier model.

Interesting. I wonder if they're even better? They seem to take a different brake caliper too.


So it was these then.

So when you fitted the '17 forks everything else bolted right on? no modifications necessary? The wheel even?

[PowerDubs_imp]

Josh,

That's great advice thanks. Did you buy your '17 forks off Ebay or was it a new part purchase? How big of an improvement are we talking here? Was cost the only reason you selected them over aftermarket forks?

edit: was it these?

Gone,

you're right, and you're wrong, lol. I want to commute on my CB, I love its feel and looks and power delivery profile. I'd be perfectly happy if nothing came of this and I was stuck with this bike for another 3 or 4 years. However, the practically minded side of me recognizes the need for some improvements. I don't really want to get a *smaller* bike for commuting because that would invalidate my desire to ride it. for example, If i got a NC700 or an older Vstrom650 i would find its power and responsiveness so lacking that I would feel compelled to pull out the CB at leasty 3 days a week anyway, which defeats the purpose of having the "safer" bike. This is the reason i started to gravitate toward bigger sport touring bikes like a Concours. These possess the comfort and safety and range but will not fall short of the CB in terms of ride enjoyment. in short, i wouldn't spend money on something i enjoy less.

your story about going to the 2013 CB from more advanced bikes actually illustrates one of the reasons i want to make improvements to the CB rather than getting a more advanced bike. Imagine if you could have the feel you get from your CB but still have some of the more advanced safety you get from that BMW? best of both worlds? that's my theory.

I bought them new from a Honda dealer.

The difference is big enough that-

#1- all the magazine / motorcycle websites test reports on the 17 model noticed the difference and rated them favorably.

#2- Once I had the front forks on, which as an example smoothed out expansion joints and sudden jolts- I became dis-satisfied with how the rear felt.

Originally I thought I was happy with the rear- but putting the new front forks on, I then noticed the rear feeling 'harsher' even though they hadn't changed.

So I swapped the rear shocks and all was good.

The reason I went with the factory front forks is, well- they are factory....designed with this exact bike in mind, weight, angle geometry, springs, damping.... not some tuner guys guess at a modification.

DBV tech is modern, used on a lot of fancy bikes now, but these forks look old to fit the CB style. It also allowed me to get silver fork legs and rid of the black ones that came on the bike.

Same with the rear- my whole bike looks like something Honda could have sold new...nothing looks out of place..like reservoir shocks would for example. The Ikon are adjustable, but the knob is hidden under the rubber. I also chose the longer silver cap for more period correctness.

Money wasn't an issue- performance while not looking tacked on was the goal.

If someone wasn't familiar with the modern CB, they could think mine was 40 years old- yet it has oem heated grips, fuel injection, 6-speeds, much better than 40 year old frame, suspension, brakes, dash, lights, and power. I was particular in all the details- from the seat, to the handlebars, the switch gear, the blinkers. Same thought for the Staintune and Arrow header, no more cat, looks like something the factory could do. Doesn't sound out of place.

Off the showroom the bike was pretty good- but now it is amazing.

Can't wait to get it back together and back to the dyno to see what it does now with the Guhl ecu on top of the power commander and autotune. I am also going to try the gear dependent tuning maps since Popgun found the wire I need for input.

Sorry for off topic blabing, I just love my bike.
Just saw your reply- the standard '17 forks are a direct swap, plug and play. If it wasn't for the writing on the caps up top you wouldn't know the difference by looking at them.

[misterprofessionality]

We all knew you'd be back on it again :-p

Thanks for the input! I'm going to add that to my rundown of possibilities.

[PowerDubs_imp]

Here is a relevant thread- http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=12934
And here- [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=12644&page=2]http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....644&page=2

[Gone in 60]

My idea for the smaller bike would be to keep the price down closer to the budget. In the end, whatever you do, you have to be happy with it, and it has to suit your needs.

It's funny about the power difference - I swap between the Bonneville and the CB every other day, and I just consider the additional power of the CB to be a treat when it's turn comes up. Yes, it was a bigger treat to go from the Bonneville to a 109 horsepower BMW, but an 86 horsepower CB is still a treat compared to a 68 horsepower Triumph.

[Cormanus]

Question: what's the advantage of the 2017EX wheels? Aren't they 18" and the same dimensions as the 2010-2016 models? And they have tubes. How does that increase the available tyre option?

The RS (not available in the US) has 17" wheels.