Here's what's in my garage for 2018

[LongRanger_imp]

Yes -- pegs and bars from a Mana. He did the exact same thing, but with Buell pegs. Loves the bike. He completed the most recent Colorado Classic 1000 (SS1000) that I organized on the 1200, along with Rocker59 on his V11. He suffered a bad case of starter interruptus about halfway through the route and was lucky to finish. Gotta love it.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Ulvetanna Wrote:The real fix is to get a '17 EX. Yes, the EX forks and shock will help some, but they are calibrated to work with the chassis of the EX, and I think the overall package is going to work much better than tossing $1500 at the Deluxe.

I honestly don't think the first generation CB1100 is going to have the ride or handling the later model has. If you are making these observations now, chasing fixes probably won't work.
Good point. The chassis are slightly different, though I don't think the difference extends beyond the different width and location of the upper fork brace. I could be wrong, but I don't believe Honda altered the rake or trail or anything else with the frame on the '17 EX, compared to the previous models.

I suspect that a suspension swap to the '17 EX's components will result in significant improvement; perhaps not identical to the '17, but close enough.

Good point. The chassis are slightly different, though I don't think the difference extends beyond the different width and location of the upper fork brace. I could be wrong, but I don't believe Honda altered the rake or trail or anything else with the frame on the '17 EX, compared to the previous models.

I suspect that a suspension swap to the '17 EX's components will result in significant improvement; perhaps not identical to the '17, but close enough. I bet the powertrain changes helped. I understand some modifications were done to the ECU, subtle changes in timing, fueling to change the feel. The whole package is really massaged all the way through.

Your take on the '14 was that it was rather crude; agreed, that's why I felt I couldn't really get what I wanted from the '13. Someone looking for really sorted handling and the kind of throttle performance I was seeking is not gonna get that from the first generation.

This forum is littered with the memories of highly-modified, but sold-for-a-song first-generation CB1100s. Some guys poured tens of thousands of dollars into their machines and still ended up selling them. I been around here, lurking, visiting since 2013.

There was [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=9168]Motogeezer's bike, a real beauty, highly-modded. Just one example. I can think of one other, can't recall the member's handle, he'd done the bike up real nice with Ohlins shocks, all kinds of stuff. Then he sold it.

And so on.

Having worked on my '13 for four years, and still never getting it right, I think the whole package from the 2017 onward is needed to really get the bike to work as a seamless unit, for those who like to push the envelope and ride in a sporting fashion.

I don't know of a single attempt that's been really successful with respect to the earlier version.

I haven't managed to get to a dealer to take another look at that '17, which is a beauty, but I can say that the '13 whetted my appetite for more. I think your ride report, on the 2017, will be quite different than the 2014.

[VLJ_imp]

I already know it will. The suspension is clearly plusher, the bike turns much more easily, the handling is properly neutral, there is no drive lash to speak of, and gear changes are both faster and smoother.

Of those five differences, however, I do believe that four of them were specific to Eric's bike, as opposed to being common to all '14s. While I suspect that a '14 with new tires and a properly tensioned chain would turn, transition, and progress on and off the throttle and through the gears in a manner very similar to the '17, the one difference that I don't think any prior-year model can touch is the plushness and overall competency of the '17's suspension.

[Cormanus]

What you guys say make sense. The makeover for the 17 is likely to have involved other, under the seat, tweaks that make subtle improvements to the package. Be interested to hear from Houtman on this question. He has a 2013, 2014 and 2017. Is there a noticeable improvement in the riding experience?

[VLJ_imp]

One unexpected difference I discovered with the '17 is that Honda has bumped up the infamous valve-inspection interval from 8K miles to 12K miles. I know most experienced Honda owners feel this inspection is not necessary unless the bike is showing symptoms of out-of-spec valves, but that 8K interval has long served as precious manna for CB1100 detractors all over the interwebs, and now it's been increased by fifty percent.

Interesting.

[Houtman_imp]

My 2017 is the nicest riding bike WITHOUT any shock upgrades , as said before I did put Ohlins shocks on the 2013 and 2014.
Also right from the start I felt that the Dunlop tires were much better than the OEM Bridgestones on the 2013 and the 2014.
All my bikes have the Corbin seat and the Vario footpegs
Could it also be that the spoked wheels give a plusher ride ?
The only wish I have is that I would prefer an all silver engine like the 2014 , some black on the 2017 but not really a make or brake point.

[F800GT_imp]

OP,

With a title like this : "Here's what's in my garage for 2018"

and no picture ?

[jedd_imp]

The 2017 bar clamp position got moved farther forward of the stem centerline.
So, in addition to opening up the cockpit larger for taller riders, does this change do anything else, like changing steering input and/or steering effort goes?

ps, the '17 pinch bolt got relocated to the back vs '13/14 front.

[ohiorider_imp]

Hey ohiorider and Houtman, if you don't mind — how much do you guys weigh?

Just left doc's office and on their scale I weighed 162 .... wearing loafers, jeans, sweater, and with billfold in pocket .... say about 159-160.

Bob

OP,

With a title like this : "Here's what's in my garage for 2018"

and no picture ?

Garage is filthy. and cold. So no current pics. the CB looks exactly like any all-black 2014 with chrome fenders. And there is a link to a YouTube video of the Moto Guzzi from 2010. See my previous post in this thread. Plus I haven't picked a new photo hosting site since Photobucket decided to leave several of us high and dry. So, pix of Beemer will have to wait.

[Houtman_imp]

I weigh 220 lbs naked ! and 6 ft.
When on the bike I probably have another 25/30 lbs in Aerostich jacket , Daytona boots , Helite air vest and other ATGATT.