CB1100 Questions from a potential new owner

[alprider]

wisedrum ..i know....of course

hmm i guess you know i drove a VTX 1300S for 75000km....in 7 years

I strongly suspect this is now actual my own vtx again for sale after 8 years..only the rear leather bag is new

https://www.motorradhandel.ch/occasion-n...preis:alle

[VLJ_imp]

The biggest difference between the CB1100 and nearly every V-Twin cruiser is the handling. The neutral-seating-position CB1100 can certainly be ridden at putt-putt cruiser speeds, in fact, it loves doing so, but there are no feet-forward V-Twin cruisers (the Ducati Diavel is an L-Twin, not a V-Twin) that handle and brake anywhere near as well as the CB1100 does. They're worlds apart.

The CB can cruise, but, thank god, it sure ain't a cruiser.

[alprider]

but clear the seat position and basical handling.....is not like a chopper/crusier

[Wisedrum]

unless you are going to race on a GP circuit, this bike has plenty of power.

FTFY

The bike has a wonderful motor that is perfectly suited for the CB1100's design brief, but make no mistake, for an 1140cc I4 from Honda, it is definitely at least 25 rwhp underpowered. Give the CB1100 75 ft-lbs of torque and 115 rwhp straight from the factory, and there would be precious little reason to own any other retro standard.

E11, the Z900RS isn't available in tacky Kawi green. Its main color motif is a rootbeer brown and orange homage to the original Z1. No green to be found anywhere on the bike, unless you're talking about the Cafe variant with the bullet fairing and lower bars.

Also, the Triumph for you (someone who seems to want a performance retro, as opposed to something like the Speed Triple, which falls into the Supernaked category) is the new Speed Twin, which is a lighter, more agile, much more comfortable Thruxton R that looks more like a Bonneville, only with modern 17" wheels.
Oh, and yes, as others are mentioning, the Yamaha XSR900 would also be a great choice, but it does stray rather far from the whole retro thing. Great bike, but thoroughly modern. Unless you're talking the yellow and black "Yamaha speed blocks" paint scheme from the Kenny Roberts replica 60th Anniversary model, only the XSR900's single round headlight and bench seat really give any sort of a nebulous nod to any old school Yamaha model.

The CB don't need such a power upgrade. The engine is fine the way it is and strong. There's no reason to wish another retro bike. Of course it depends on what you want and see in a motorbike. The only reason why I own two other different motorbikes is, I want some variation and like different motor layouts like a single cylinder and a real parallel twin. All aircooled ones. Not because the CB feels in a way underpowered. The opposite is true.

Wisedrum

The CB don't need such a power upgrade. The engine is fine the way it is and strong. Their is no reason to wish another retro bike. Of course it depends on what you want and see in a motorbike. The only reason why I own two other different motorbikes is, I want some variation and like different motor lalyouts like a single cylinder and a real parallel twin. All aircooled ones. Not because the CB feels in a way underpowered. The opposite is true.

Wisedrum
Except that there are countless people who have ridden the CB1100 and disagree with you. Riding the bike at elevation, I would be one of them. The bike needs more power, in order to pull a grade with any authority up in the mountains. Make it a two-up ride, with luggage and a giant windshield, and it only gets worse.

There is zero doubt that one of the main reasons the CB1100 never sold well in America is the fact that nearly every review of the bike described it as needlessly underpowered. "Great bike, amazing attention to detail, handles surprisingly well, beautiful to behold. If only Honda had given it more power. For an eleven hundred cc inline-four pushing five hundred and sixty pounds of motorcycle, eighty-five horsepower can best be described as 'adequate.'"

In other motorcycle forums mickey and I frequent, we see people left and right ripping the Honda's relative lack of power. Nearly all of those people admit that it's a beautiful, well-turned-out machine, but its meager motor is a dealbreaker for them. I was right there with them. I sat on the fence for years about the bike before making my purchase, largely because I was worried I would find it too slow and boring.

Plenty of other people never got off that fence.

Here's the thing. Had Honda given the CB1100 the usual horsepower and torque of an eleven hundred I4 UJM, they wouldn't have lost a single current owner of the bike. We all still would have bought and loved our CB1100s. Not one of us ever said, "The main reason I bought this bike is it offers only eighty-five horsepower. I love that it won't accelerate on top, and that I can't get a sniff of redline above third gear."

Conversely, plenty of prospective buyers took a pass on the CB1100, precisely for that reason. Honda made a great bike with the CB1100, but by dumbing down the motor the way they did, purely on the whim of a single Large Project Leader back in Japan, they greatly limited its fun factor, and, as a result, its sales potential. Even the RS version's sales numbers were greatly diminished by the motor's lack of sportiness, when the rest of the bike was ostensibly designed to seem sportier than the EX model. Reviewers and punters alike saw right through the smoke and mirrors.

Squealing front brakes notwithstanding, I love my CB1100, including the motor. That being said, I would love it even more if the motor offered more grunt down low, and more acceleration up top. So, too, would many other people, as evidenced by all of the "How can I get more power out of this thing?" threads that immediately pop up in every forum discussion, whenever the CB1100 is the subject.

For sure, there are.

To each his own opinion. The more years I ride motorbikes the less I'm concerned with hp. Each bike offers the power it has and that's good. Good enough for me. The CB is the strongest motorbike I ever have bought. 90hp in Germany and plenty of torque in comparison to the other 2. Do I need more? No. Do others need more? Most likely. I still use just maybe half of the CB's hp on my rides. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. So what should I do with more power? I can imagine that another rider knows exactly what to do with it. Maybe he starts searching for a stronger bike or tries to tune the CB. In my eyes both ideas are not so overwhelming. But people are different and agree or disagree.

Wisedrum

[E11even_Hunnit]

Gents, I appreciate the bike suggestions, but let me explain that I am not actively in the market looking to replace my ol' F. Should I proceed with the purchase, its only due to a rather particular set of circumstances- I remember the first time I saw a red 1100 in the wild(probably a 2013model) strolling down Shattuck Ave. In Berkeley, I was instantly captivated by the looks, and owning an XS650 at the time, sorta wished I had been able to find a pristine 70's CB750. Some years and bikes later, I struck gold finding an intact 900F that ran, so I immediately jumped on it, and that made me feel better about not being able to score a dirt cheap CB750 a few years back.

I've owned the bike for nearly a year now, and trying to piece together a parts list, I quickly came to the realization that its gonna take a few thou to get the bike where I'd like it to be, without mentioning the countless wrenching hrs. that I don't seem to find these days, so as I come across this particular '14 CB, it comes down to 2 options for me:
A.) Blow the thousands in CR carbs, and a 17" modern sportbike suspension setup(thats without counting the inevitable motor overhaul)
B.) Sell the F and throw some cash(not thousandS) ontop to upgrade to the FI '14

At no point am I suggesting I'm tired of my bike and intend to sell it for pennies just to walk into a stealership and have them rip me a new one with their BS "out-the-door" fees. No other feeling as buying a bike fresh out the crate(or in the crate as I did with my '14 R1) But I am not looking to make that type of purchase at this time, in fact, I probably shouldn't upgrade anyway, or so my bank account would think

If this were a money-is-not-an-object type of purchase, I hate to break it to y'all but I'd be looking elsewhere. Probably a modern $25K Norton Commando or ThruxR for the "just get it over with" factor.

I've had my eyes on the XSR's, Husky 701 and a few others since release, and I'm sure I will own them at some point, when the time is right.

[VLJ_imp]

E11, the 900F will never do and be what the CB1100 does and is. The CB is a retro design, but a thoroughly modern motorcycle.

Spend your money on the brand new, 100% reliable 2014 CB1100 Standard. Ride it. Decide for yourself whether you need more power. If you decide that you do, and that your goals can be achieved without completely reinventing the bike, then spend a little extra to get there. Otherwise, hopefully you will be like the vast majority of us and simply leave your CB1100's motor, fueling, and suspension stock, and enjoy the crap out of it. It's not meant to be an R1, or even a CB1000R. That's not why you're looking at it.

It's a CB1100. Embrace it. Enjoy it for what it is.

The plus side is, hey, even if you you ride it for a spell and decide it's not for you, you will have bought it so cheaply that you won't lose your behind on it should you decide to ditch it on Cycletrader. You live in Motorcycling Mecca, the Bay Area. You will not struggle to find eager buyers there.

[Wisedrum]

E11, the 900F will never do and be what the CB1100 does and is. The CB is a retro design, but a thoroughly modern motorcycle.

Spend your money on the brand new, 100% reliable 2014 CB1100 Standard. Ride it. Decide for yourself whether you need more power. If you decide that you do, and that your goals can be achieved without completely reinventing the bike, then spend a little extra to get there. Otherwise, hopefully you will be like the vast majority of us and simply leave your CB1100's motor, fueling, and suspension stock, and enjoy the crap out of it. It's not meant to be an R1, or even a CB1000R. That's not why you're looking at it.

It's a CB1100. Embrace it. Enjoy it for what it is.

The plus side is, hey, even if you you ride it for a spell and decide it's not for you, you will have bought it so cheaply that you won't lose your behind on it should you decide to ditch it on Cycletrader. You live in Motorcycling Mecca, the Bay Area. You will not struggle to find eager buyers there.

A very good reference point. One that fits to the CB. All others are somehow inadequate.

Wisedrum

[peterbaron]

Well it looks like E11 joins PB and Redbirds on the dark side. I’ll keep my stupid mod though. You do know these were standard items on the old bikes, right?

The CBs come standard with center stands. Some exhaust mods delete it, but members here have come up with ways to avoid that too. Search is your best friend. There are complete exhaust replacements and are expensive. Nice though.

Two places to start looking are samurider.com and japan.webike.net

lol ... PB - How did you will this to happen?

[url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/member.php?action=profile&uid=3454]

lol ... PB - How did you will this to happen?
Redbirds, do you have any rubber waste on your OEM levers???

[Lord Popgun]

PB, Redbirds is the original Dark Sith Lord. He rules the darkside. With you now

He once said go ahead and put RLETs on his bike. He had a big knife and they come off easily...

[jimgl3_imp]

unless you are going to race on a GP circuit, this bike has plenty of power.

FTFY

The bike has a wonderful motor that is perfectly suited for the CB1100's design brief, but make no mistake, for an 1140cc I4 from Honda, it is definitely at least 25 rwhp underpowered. Give the CB1100 75 ft-lbs of torque and 115 rwhp straight from the factory, and there would be precious little reason to own any other retro standard.

E11, the Z900RS isn't available in tacky Kawi green. Its main color motif is a rootbeer brown and orange homage to the original Z1. No green to be found anywhere on the bike, unless you're talking about the Cafe variant with the bullet fairing and lower bars.

Also, the Triumph for you (someone who seems to want a performance retro, as opposed to something like the Speed Triple, which falls into the Supernaked category) is the new Speed Twin, which is a lighter, more agile, much more comfortable Thruxton R that looks more like a Bonneville, only with modern 17" wheels.
Oh, and yes, as others are mentioning, the Yamaha XSR900 would also be a great choice, but it does stray rather far from the whole retro thing. Great bike, but thoroughly modern. Unless you're talking the yellow and black "Yamaha speed blocks" paint scheme from the Kenny Roberts replica 60th Anniversary model, only the XSR900's single round headlight and bench seat really give any sort of a nebulous nod to any old school Yamaha model.

FTFY

The bike has a wonderful motor that is perfectly suited for the CB1100's design brief, but make no mistake, for an 1140cc I4 from Honda, it is definitely at least 25 rwhp underpowered. Give the CB1100 75 ft-lbs of torque and 115 rwhp straight from the factory, and there would be precious little reason to own any other retro standard.

E11, the Z900RS isn't available in tacky Kawi green. Its main color motif is a rootbeer brown and orange homage to the original Z1. No green to be found anywhere on the bike, unless you're talking about the Cafe variant with the bullet fairing and lower bars.

Also, the Triumph for you (someone who seems to want a performance retro, as opposed to something like the Speed Triple, which falls into the Supernaked category) is the new Speed Twin, which is a lighter, more agile, much more comfortable Thruxton R that looks more like a Bonneville, only with modern 17" wheels.
Oh, and yes, as others are mentioning, the Yamaha XSR900 would also be a great choice, but it does stray rather far from the whole retro thing. Great bike, but thoroughly modern. Unless you're talking the yellow and black "Yamaha speed blocks" paint scheme from the Kenny Roberts replica 60th Anniversary model, only the XSR900's single round headlight and bench seat really give any sort of a nebulous nod to any old school Yamaha model.
I yield about the elevation thing, not much of that around here, but not the sport bike thing. It's not a sport bike. Stop trying to make it into one. And since you got me started, I used to watch Garrett Gerloff make dogs of liter bikes on a 250. Skill wins. HP only counts when skills are equal.