Nighthawk vs. the new CB

[Mike_imp]

I always thought my 2003 Nighthawk 750 was the ultimate motorcycle however my new CB1100 is incredible in comparison. In 40 degree weather today in Wisconsin on the last ride of the season (12/1) the 2003 Nighthawk 750 is doing its best but choking along in the cold weather with its old carbs. The new CB 1100 fires right up and is as smooth as silk in the cold weather with the awesome fuel injection. At 50 mph the Nighthawk 750 is turning at 3500 rpm in gear 5 while the new 1100 is sailing along in gear 5 at 2900 rpm. Unless you are on an interstate everyday, A 6th gear does not seem all that necessary on this new motorcycle.
Anyway I love them both but the new CB1100 is a true upgrade. (Others in my collection include a CL 450, CB 750 and Elite 150.)
-MMc

[Rolls_imp]

Well, certainly a comparison of the brakes is in order, no? With the exception of those plagued with faulty rear brakes, I think the silky, yet tenacious, brakes of the '11 are a real highlight. (Non-abs guy's point of view.)

[Buffalohead_imp]

Mike, welcome to the asylum!

[the Ferret]

I really liked my 750 Nighthawk and rode it all year round. The picture below was taken on my annual New Years Day ride ( notice fingers indicating 1-1 or jan 1st) which is a tradition with my brother and I. Usually possible in southern Ohio. I never had any carb troubles in the cold, but it is nice not having to thumb a choke lever. Even with a faulty rear brake on my CB 1100, the big CB s brakes are far superior to the Nighthawks. Power is a lot better as well as handling although I had my handling straightened out on the Nighthawk with a Superbrace and Progressive shocks. I wish the big CB had hydraulic valves though.

I really liked my 750 Nighthawk, but the CB1100 is really the superior machine in nearly all aspects.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Jan1-2009_zpsc7c581f0.jpg.html]

[bubblerboy64_imp]

Yep fuel injection is hard to beat. The best of the carbed bikes are almost as good as fuel injection but in todays world with the crappy gas we have it sure is nice to not have to fool around getting it warmed up and running. I have one carbed bike in my collection and while it's a real nice running machine it might go to the top of the list when I thin the herd just because of the carb.

Motorcycles same as cars. They say "they say they don't make them the way they used to" and to that I say "thank God". I will admit a certain nostalgia for the "old" vehicles but if you want to use them on a daily basis the new stuff is far superior.

I like the 55 chevy and if you want to spend 50 to 75 grand to modernize one it would be a real usable car. But would it ever be the equal of say a Lexus or similar? I doubt it.

I understand the attraction for the old bikes and love to look but for me I'll take the new ones.

[OldF7Guy_imp]

Yep fuel injection is hard to beat. The best of the carbed bikes are almost as good as fuel injection but in todays world with the crappy gas we have it sure is nice to not have to fool around getting it warmed up and running. I have one carbed bike in my collection and while it's a real nice running machine it might go to the top of the list when I thin the herd just because of the carb.

Motorcycles same as cars. They say "they say they don't make them the way they used to" and to that I say "thank God". I will admit a certain nostalgia for the "old" vehicles but if you want to use them on a daily basis the new stuff is far superior.

I like the 55 chevy and if you want to spend 50 to 75 grand to modernize one it would be a real usable car. But would it ever be the equal of say a Lexus or similar? I doubt it.

I understand the attraction for the old bikes and love to look but for me I'll take the new ones.

+1 on all of that. Like most of you in here I have owned my fair share or carbed cars and motorcycles. I came so close to buying a 750 nighthawk back this summer and the deal feel through at the last second. I figured it happened for good reason because I have always had my heart set on a CB11.

I had an old school mechanic tell me that FI is the best thing that ever happened to a internal combustion engine and I believe it. Electronic ignition is probably the second best thing. Not a thing in the world wrong with a Nighthawk though. I just knew from reading here that so many had them and said the Cb11 had better brakes and a little more power in reserve that I knew that is what I wanted.

Just to be sure, I have visited Yamaha, Kaw, Suzuki, Triumph, Ducati, and HD dealers in the last little bit and literally looked at everything made. I know in my heart the 11 is what I want. Now, I just have to get my pocketbook to agree with that.
A little off topic but one of my crazy buddies is about to buy a 750 Nighthawk that has been wrecked for the engine only. He rides a Texas chopper of all things with a 117 inch S and S motor. He is building a custom chopper and wants the engine to put on that. It should be one heck of a crazy project but this guy is super mechanically inclined and will make it work one way or the other.

[CA200_imp]

I remember the first time I rode the last gen. 91-03 CB750
I worked at a large Honda dealer and they brought one around so the
employees could test ride it. I had a wing at the time, I thought it was a good al round bike, but thought it did not stand out. At that time I had heard they had come up with the bike sourced from a bike
they used as a police bike in Japan.
Funny I did buy a used one later when I was working full time and trying to put togather my retail store in secret. I got rid of the wing
and put the money into my store. A employee almost caught me
because I parked it in front of my new store when I was putting it togather. It was a bright blue one. Those were the days. Don't think
I could work like that again.
I did have another one, a black one the we sold as a used bike.

[flynrider]

Welcome, Mike! I can relate. I bought my '93 Nighthawk brand new and didn't really consider buying another bike until the CB1100 came along. I consider the CB1100 to be a Super Nighthawk. Everything I loved about the CB750, but more power, better brakes, better suspension and modern intake system.

That said, I couldn't bear to part with the Nighthawk when I got my CB11. I still love to ride it and it shares riding duty just about evenly with the new bike. The big plus is that by splitting my riding between the two, both of them will probably last longer than me!

[the Ferret]

Flynrider..what seat os on your CB 1100?

[flynrider]

Flynrider..what seat os on your CB 1100?

That's the stock seat.