Anyone feel underwhelmed?

[the Ferret]

And the water level in your battry

[_imp]

I have had mine 3 days and still, honestly, cannot shake off several automatic actions which happen every time I see it:

1. I want to check the petcock to make sure it's turned off so as not to let the carb bowls overflow in the event of a sticky needle/float.

2. My mind adds in the marks left under the ignition switch by a key fob dangling there for 40,000 miles (there are no such marks).

3. My mind adds the spotty corrosion on the engine side covers along with the odd rust spots on the forks and fenders.

4. I need to stop myself checking for any oil or fluid leaks.

I have, however, ceased to look for the enrichener lever.

Don't forget to check your bias-ply tires for cracking!!

Don't forget to check your bias-ply tires for cracking!!
I will check that today!

[Team Bob_imp]

Hey Dudes. For as long as I've pined for the CB1100, since first looking at the Tokyo Motor Show's prototype, I'm finding myself underwhelmed. At only 26 years old, I can't look back fondly at the 70's and the great CB's of the era, although I've owned a few. A CB350, CB500T, CB750, etc. All great. But this new one leaves me... let down. I understand it was never going to win drag races against ZX14s or out-cruise a Harley, but compared to more modern offerings, it seems like the 11 is a bit boring.

I took my CB350 down the highway yesterday and I was grinning ear to ear the entire time. Took my 919 for a 60 mile loop around my house and back, and was completely into it. Did the same ride on my 11 a few days later and I couldn't have been more bored.

Maybe, although I've loved my old CBs that I had, it was simply because they were mine. The nostalgia hasn't fully enveloped me. Maybe that's that mystique that Harley owners insist 'I won't get.' Maybe cruising around on old tech, however modern, and harkening back to the old times, isn't my bag. If the CB750 in 1969 was the Ferrari 250GTO of the day, this CB11 isn't the F40, or the Enzo. Its a F50. It looks fantastic but isn't near as good as that which came before it.

Anyway, that's my .02 on the matter. Having lived with it, it makes me love my 919 that much more. I'm seriously considering downsizing and just enjoying not having the debt.

Anyone else want to chime in?

It's suppose to be boring. My un-boring bike is a 2007 Hayabusa. I do love my CB1100 though. I've had RD400's, GS1100's, CBR1000's. The CB1100 is my cruiser bike.

[mrhonda1987_imp]

Crikey, I feel like I'm being vilified here. Don't get me wrong, the CB1100 is a fantastic bike; smooth, powerful and very well put together, but its just not as smooth, powerful and it's just as well put together as my 919. I don't need to go 100+ all the time, and I rarely do (only if there's a girl with me, tbh), but its nice to know its there. Granted, I'm not in my 60s and I didn't pine for a Triumph 650 until the CB750 came out, then the Z1 as I skated around on my Doodlebug scooter. They're great. They have character because of the era and what they were. Speaking only for myself, I'm on the fence. I can ride it one time and think its the most boring thing, then the next day, think its positively brilliant. My expectations failed me. Simple as that.

I'm genuinely in a pickle. With a comfy seat, crash bars and highway pegs, I could very easily live with it. But that's what? $600 for a seat, $150 for crash bar and I'd have to get a pipe, so $600 for the Moriwaki. That's $1350 in just farkles to make it liveable for me. For that, I could trade it in for a Shadow or something, get the seat, pipes, bags and windshield and have... a boring V-twin. Damn it all. They need to do a modern day Kawi Eliminator. If I could weld... boy howdy. Wrecked 919 engine in the frame of a shadow or something... comfy and it'd go like a stabbed rat. That'd be ideal. Anyway, I'll have to think on it.

[Guth_imp]

Well, it's probably hard to obtain a totally unbiased answer from everyone here as this forum is dedicated to the CB1100.

In all honesty, I do hope you figure out what works best for you. Aside from the underseat exhaust, I really do like the 919 quite a bit, much better than the newer CB1000R.

[ChipBeck_imp]

Crikey, I feel like I'm being vilified here. Don't get me wrong, the CB1100 is a fantastic bike; smooth, powerful and very well put together, but its just not as smooth, powerful and it's just as well put together as my 919. I don't need to go 100+ all the time, and I rarely do (only if there's a girl with me, tbh), but its nice to know its there. Granted, I'm not in my 60s and I didn't pine for a Triumph 650 until the CB750 came out, then the Z1 as I skated around on my Doodlebug scooter. They're great. They have character because of the era and what they were. Speaking only for myself, I'm on the fence. I can ride it one time and think its the most boring thing, then the next day, think its positively brilliant. My expectations failed me. Simple as that.

I'm genuinely in a pickle. With a comfy seat, crash bars and highway pegs, I could very easily live with it. But that's what? $600 for a seat, $150 for crash bar and I'd have to get a pipe, so $600 for the Moriwaki. That's $1350 in just farkles to make it liveable for me. For that, I could trade it in for a Shadow or something, get the seat, pipes, bags and windshield and have... a boring V-twin. Damn it all. They need to do a modern day Kawi Eliminator. If I could weld... boy howdy. Wrecked 919 engine in the frame of a shadow or something... comfy and it'd go like a stabbed rat. That'd be ideal. Anyway, I'll have to think on it.

MrHonda,

Heck no. You started one of the best and most read threads on this forum. Old dogs like me could sound off and give our opinions and you sparked a lot of discussion. Most of us wish we were your age and had your eyesight and reaction time too. Remembering when the first CB750 hit the showroom is ok but I'd rather be 26. Keep sounding off bro.

Chip

[Lunatic Fringe_imp]

Crikey, I feel like I'm being vilified here. Don't get me wrong, the CB1100 is a fantastic bike; smooth, powerful and very well put together, but its just not as smooth, powerful and it's just as well put together as my 919. I don't need to go 100+ all the time, and I rarely do (only if there's a girl with me, tbh), but its nice to know its there. Granted, I'm not in my 60s and I didn't pine for a Triumph 650 until the CB750 came out, then the Z1 as I skated around on my Doodlebug scooter. They're great. They have character because of the era and what they were. Speaking only for myself, I'm on the fence. I can ride it one time and think its the most boring thing, then the next day, think its positively brilliant. My expectations failed me. Simple as that.

I'm genuinely in a pickle. With a comfy seat, crash bars and highway pegs, I could very easily live with it. But that's what? $600 for a seat, $150 for crash bar and I'd have to get a pipe, so $600 for the Moriwaki. That's $1350 in just farkles to make it liveable for me. For that, I could trade it in for a Shadow or something, get the seat, pipes, bags and windshield and have... a boring V-twin. Damn it all. They need to do a modern day Kawi Eliminator. If I could weld... boy howdy. Wrecked 919 engine in the frame of a shadow or something... comfy and it'd go like a stabbed rat. That'd be ideal. Anyway, I'll have to think on it.

Man if you wanted cutting edge power and handling I'm surprised you didn't pop for a left over Suzuki bking. Back in 2011 they were selling for 7999 new leftover with full warranty. Deal of the decade in my opinion. As usual folks that clamored for a full powered naked bike got stage fright when the bike actually was produced. Want modern power and performance catch a ride on one make some memories.

[the Ferret]

Just ride it every other day..... On the brilliant ones lol

seriously you are not being vilified. The bike is being supported and justified. Most of us read a few early reports and researched a bit before buying and knew it wasn't a naked power house...and that's exactly what we wanted, something to just cruise around on. It's a perfectly capable motorcycle. I'm leaving next Monday on a 1500-2000 mile trip on mine knowing full well its not a Goldwing, not going to provide the wind protection, the storage, or comfort of a Honda ST, but I knew that when I bought it. I knew it wasn't going to be as fast as a CBR1000, or have the wail of a Triumph triple, or have the off road prowess of a GS BMW.

They make Wings and STs and GS Beemers, and CBR1000s and Speed Triples already and if thats what one is seeking, then that is what one should buy. Most people that buy one of these know that going in and therefore are not surprised when it's not. This bike is actually better than many of us thought it would be.

[Flynbulldog_imp]

actually MrHonda, you sound a bit confused to me. The CB is neither a sport bike nor a cruiser with crash bars and highway pegs.
personally I don't find those accessories appropriate for this bike and I never liked them on all the old bikes either.

I find the CB11 to be a sporty standard with plenty of pep for what it is and not something I would turn into a couch potato bike.

It certainly has more power and performance than any of the bikes it is supposed to represent as a retro.
That fact alone makes it a win, never-mind the reliability and build quality that far exceeds the old bikes.

I'm not sure what you are looking for but I don't think the CB is it. Maybe an older shadow is your calling?
But since cruisers are basically all copies of Harleys I doubt you'll find an I4 version of one.

Like ferret, I find the CB1100 much better than I expected. I am very happily impressed by it.

I know how you feel, I've bought a few bikes that turned out wrong for me. The best thing to do is to sell it and find something that suits you better.
I had a Ducati Panigale for 4 days!

[_imp]

Crikey, I feel like I'm being vilified here. Don't get me wrong, the CB1100 is a fantastic bike; smooth, powerful and very well put together, but its just not as smooth, powerful and it's just as well put together as my 919. I don't need to go 100+ all the time, and I rarely do (only if there's a girl with me, tbh), but its nice to know its there. Granted, I'm not in my 60s and I didn't pine for a Triumph 650 until the CB750 came out, then the Z1 as I skated around on my Doodlebug scooter. They're great. They have character because of the era and what they were. Speaking only for myself, I'm on the fence. I can ride it one time and think its the most boring thing, then the next day, think its positively brilliant. My expectations failed me. Simple as that.

I'm genuinely in a pickle. With a comfy seat, crash bars and highway pegs, I could very easily live with it. But that's what? $600 for a seat, $150 for crash bar and I'd have to get a pipe, so $600 for the Moriwaki. That's $1350 in just farkles to make it liveable for me. For that, I could trade it in for a Shadow or something, get the seat, pipes, bags and windshield and have... a boring V-twin. Damn it all. They need to do a modern day Kawi Eliminator. If I could weld... boy howdy. Wrecked 919 engine in the frame of a shadow or something... comfy and it'd go like a stabbed rat. That'd be ideal. Anyway, I'll have to think on it.

MrHonda,

Heck no. You started one of the best and most read threads on this forum. Old dogs like me could sound off and give our opinions and you sparked a lot of discussion. Most of us wish we were your age and had your eyesight and reaction time too. Remembering when the first CB750 hit the showroom is ok but I'd rather be 26. Keep sounding off bro.

Chip

MrHonda,

Heck no. You started one of the best and most read threads on this forum. Old dogs like me could sound off and give our opinions and you sparked a lot of discussion. Most of us wish we were your age and had your eyesight and reaction time too. Remembering when the first CB750 hit the showroom is ok but I'd rather be 26.

Chip Not me. I wouldn't be 26 again if I could. It's great to be able to look back over 30 years of riding. I know the youngsters will just reject everything I suggest and will go out and do whatever the hell they want. One thing about doing it three decades is you know a lot, that is if you actually rode a lot. I hated guys that were my current age (56) when I first started riding at 26. They thought they knew everything and most of them didn't mind telling me so. I thought of them as a bunch of smug know-it-alls. That's because they had what I wanted; they had made it through most of a lifetime of riding. Now I have that and the youngsters mostly hate me for it. This dude should just sell the bike to some old retread who will appreciate it and save his money. Someday he will "get it".