Partially Deluxifying the '13

[Ridem32_imp]

Looks great. Looks just like the deluxe! It sure does make the 13 look so much better. I don't understand the 13 being called candy glory red and it has the same paint code as the 79 cbx candy glory red. But it's not the same color as the cbx. The 13 & 14 are very close in color to me Thanks for sharing pics. Again looks great

[Cormanus]

Yeah, that does look really good, Shdwghst.

[shdwghst457_imp]

Thanks! I can also confirm that it's a 100% direct fit, thanks mostly to it being the same frame. When I lined up the wide part into its grommet, the top pin fell into place and the bolt hole was perfectly lined up.

I was a bit shocked when my wife said she liked the silver ones better. Didn't expect that!

[Ridem32_imp]

You can't go by what women say about bikes! Lol

[shdwghst457_imp]

For the life of me I can't figure out why Honda didn't go with color matched side covers

Two reasons I can think of are:

1. A single part number can be used on multiple colors of CBs. Manufacturers love it when they can do that.

2. The designers wanted the contrast a different color cover would bring.

I've not seen a matching side cover bike yet, so I can't say if I'd like it. I can say that I like the silver covers, and having them match the tank isn't even on my radar for upgrades.

Likewise I definitely prefer how the '13 covers fit inside the frame tubes and show them off, vs. how the '14 covers lay over the top of the frame tubes.

You're absolutely right that the '13 center covers do a great job highlighting the frame, which on a naked bike seems like the right thing to do.

However, I think the CB1100F was a subliminal source of inspiration for changing the covers. I like how the color flows right off of the tank onto the side of the bike.

[flynrider]

For the life of me I can't figure out why Honda didn't go with color matched side covers

Two reasons I can think of are:

1. A single part number can be used on multiple colors of CBs. Manufacturers love it when they can do that.

2. The designers wanted the contrast a different color cover would bring.

I've not seen a matching side cover bike yet, so I can't say if I'd like it. I can say that I like the silver covers, and having them match the tank isn't even on my radar for upgrades.

Likewise I definitely prefer how the '13 covers fit inside the frame tubes and show them off, vs. how the '14 covers lay over the top of the frame tubes.

Two reasons I can think of are:

1. A single part number can be used on multiple colors of CBs. Manufacturers love it when they can do that.

2. The designers wanted the contrast a different color cover would bring.
Since the CB1100 is kind of a composite of design features from the CB glory days, I think the side covers were a nod to the original CBX (as well as the tank shape). The different colored, triangular shaped side covers were something you didn't see on other Honda's of the day.

I may be full of it, but when I first saw the tank/side cover combo on the CB1100, the CBX was the first bike I thought of.