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My wife, who does not really care for motorcycles in general for safety reasons yet nevertheless has been understanding of my interest, raised an eyebrow or two when I bought my '17 several weeks back. Today we were in the garage getting ready to leave in the car when I noticed she was standing in front of the CB1100, staring at it. Unusual. I asked here what was wrong, and she said "nothing, just looking at your motorcycle". Surprised, I asked what she thought of it.
She said, "the tank...it's really beautiful".
"Better looking than the other ones?" I asked. (I was referring to the black '14 standard and to the silver Street Twin)
"the others were nice, but this one I really notice...it's gorgeous".
My wife, the one who pays little heed to motorcyles, said it was gorgeous.
There you go...the definitive, irrefutable, final verdict is in. 
I knew the tank's look would grown on me!
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well I'd say you gotta go with that then. 
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It's mainly the deep red, sparkling metallic paint. I haven't met a non-motorcyclist yet who didn't find it strikingly beautiful. The other tanks are also beautiful, with great paintwork, but they don't have the '17's shimmering brilliance. The shape of the '17 tank is also more elegant to most objective observers, because of its sinuous contouring. The breadbox tank on the '13 model and the '14 Standard are closer to the shape of the original, but only hardcore CB fans know or care about such things. To everyone else, the tank on the '17 seems prettier, more custom, more artisan-crafted.
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I don't know how you can keep your concentration on the road with all that "sinuous" beauty? Kind of like driving with Sophia Loren in the seat next to you, (if you can ignore her nose)! :-)
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(04-01-2018, 07:53 AM)VLJ_imp Wrote: It's mainly the deep red, sparkling metallic paint. I haven't met a non-motorcyclist yet who didn't find it strikingly beautiful. The other tanks are also beautiful, with great paintwork, but they don't have the '17's shimmering brilliance. The shape of the '17 tank is also more elegant to most objective observers, because of its sinuous contouring. The breadbox tank on the '13 model and the '14 Standard are closer to the shape of the original, but only hardcore CB fans know or care about such things. To everyone else, the tank on the '17 seems prettier, more custom, more artisan-crafted.
I love this rhetorical device. There is simply no such thing as an objective observer of anything that must result in a statement of opinion.
Which is not to detract from the beauty of the 2017 tank.
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By 'objective observers' I'm referring to non-motorcyclists, or motorcyclists who have never owned a CB1100; people who don't have a built-in bias, unlike nearly everyone on this site.
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(04-01-2018, 07:53 AM)VLJ_imp Wrote: It's mainly the deep red, sparkling metallic paint. I haven't met a non-motorcyclist yet who didn't find it strikingly beautiful. The other tanks are also beautiful, with great paintwork, but they don't have the '17's shimmering brilliance. The shape of the '17 tank is also more elegant to most objective observers, because of its sinuous contouring. The breadbox tank on the '13 model and the '14 Standard are closer to the shape of the original, but only hardcore CB fans know or care about such things. To everyone else, the tank on the '17 seems prettier, more custom, more artisan-crafted.
I'm not an objective observer 'cause I own a first CB 1100 model, but to compare the 2013 tank design with a breadbox would never enter my mind. I never saw a breadbox with leaner sides. The smaller tank design gives the engine room to breath and shine, especially with a silver engine, so it will become the main eyecatcher of the CB. The more bulkier form of later models are more distracting. And what is a Honda without apparant shown wings on the tank? Not able to fly....
Wisedrum
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Wisedrum Wrote:And what is a Honda without apparant shown wings on the tank?
Authentic...
![[Image: 8897885857e52aa00a68d0f40d6bea88.png?resize=625%2C341]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201804/8897885857e52aa00a68d0f40d6bea88.png?resize=625%2C341)
The originals all had the raised 'Honda' script, not the winged logo.
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You’re about to be surprised by the response you get to that last sentence.
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"Hate" is an awfully strong word for a poll option, lol. So I'll temper my answer with the following. When it comes to the tank on the 2017 EX I'll simply say that I just don't "get it", as far as the latest tank design goes. (I've also never been a really big fan of metal flake paint jobs in general.) But while the style is definitely not to my liking, after seven years it was probably time for a change and the new tank definitely qualifies as such. I do think that it has helped to bring a new group of owners into the fold that might have otherwise not have gone for the earlier models and that's a good thing. I'm also guessing that you'll end up growing used to the look of the tank as the bike becomes more "familiar" to you over time. Much like any sort of trusted/valued tool.
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