POLL - CB1100 DLX or CB1100 EX?

[Henrik_imp]

I personally think the 2014 EX is the nicest one. Unfortunately you did not get that one in the US though.

Also, I really don't know what the big deal is about spokes being difficult to clean. I have had a few bikes with spokes, and never found it to be more difficult than other wheels, and they don't get dirtier more quickly either.

[Stichill]

Cleaning spoked wheels is easy.
1. Go buy some anti-breakdust spray and spray your spokes.
2. Use wheel cleaner and brush.

Not much difference from cleaning all other wheels really.

I personally think the 2014 EX is the nicest one. Unfortunately you did not get that one in the US though.

Also, I really don't know what the big deal is about spokes being difficult to clean. I have had a few bikes with spokes, and never found it to be more difficult than other wheels, and they don't get dirtier more quickly either.

I bought [url=https://www.amazon.com/EZ-Detail-3001-BP-Brush-Mini/dp/B007UTN60K]this brush for my GT's complex front wheel but haven't given it a try yet. It looks like it would work pretty well on spokes.

[physics-teacher_imp]

Here's a question for you spoke fiends. Did manufacturers abandon spoke wheels just as a styling change, or were the new cast wheels actually superior in some way, as it lightness, rigidity, ease of upkeep, not to mention being easier to use with tubeless tires, which are indisputably superior to tube types by any standard? If you're forced to ride over a newly surfaced road, I pity you when you try to clean those tar wormies off forty or so spokes and their nipples. They do look nice, but are best for garage queens.

[LongRanger_imp]

Cast wheels tend to be lighter than steel rims, though I'm not sure about aluminum rims. They also more easily allow the use of tubeless tires. I disagree spoked rims only belong on garage queens. My '56 Jaguar XK-140 Roadster has 16" spoked wheels with knock-off hubs and tube-type tires. It's no garage queen! Solid wheels on that car would be heresy.

[TCBronson_imp]

I wonder about manufacturer costs, are spoke wheels more expensive to manufacture than a cast wheel?

[jedd_imp]

That's a nice brush. I'd cut the handle off, chuck the rod end into my cordless drill and get that job done in no time.

I wonder about manufacturer costs, are spoke wheels more expensive to manufacture than a cast wheel?

imo, yes spoke wheels are more expensive than cast wheels. the type of cast wheels on production m/c's are of the gravity cast type. gravity cast tooling costs are the cheapest of all, and so this allows small batch production, flexibility in design and short development time.

With spoke wheels, not only are there more parts to manufacture, but also have to factor in longer assembly times.

[the Ferret]

I voted DLX but if I didnt have my DLX, like Cormanus I would take an EX in a heartbeat. I'm not afraid of spokes, but I'm not the fanatical cleaner some of you guys are either. I'm more of an "Id rather spend my time riding than cleaning kinda guy". My 2003 Triumph had spokes. No biggie ( as did about 25 other motorcycles I owned)

[emptysea]

I reluctantly voted for the EX because it is different enough from my 2013 STD. However, it still has the 4-2 exhaust and I like the 4-1 and it has spoked wheels and I like the black/silver wheels on my 2013 (they remind me of the Comstar wheels Honda had on bikes starting in the late 70s). I do like that the tank has a larger capacity than my 2013 and I like the rear grab rail and that the EX seems more sporty looking to me, at least in pictures. I guess I would have voted for my STD had that been an option. LOL

[Rolls_imp]

I reluctantly voted for the EX because it is different enough from my 2013 STD. However, it still has the 4-2 exhaust and I like the 4-1 and it has spoked wheels and I like the black/silver wheels on my 2013 (they remind me of the Comstar wheels Honda had on bikes starting in the late 70s). I do like that the tank has a larger capacity than my 2013 and I like the rear grab rail and that the EX seems more sporty looking to me, at least in pictures. I guess I would have voted for my STD had that been an option. LOL

Yes to the sexy 4-1, yes to the black/silver cast wheels, and yes to the Comstar look!
Yes, yes and yes!

YMMV.

[usa_imp]

Spoke wheels ?

Certainly beautiful to look at.

However, if you lube your chains every 500 miles like Honda recommends, which for me is about every 7 days of commute, your rear spoke wheel should look very messy like mine. Cleaning it a rear greasy cast wheel simply takes much less time.

From the safety point of view, what happens if your front tubed-tire gets a nail while you ride ? Wouldn't a tubeless tire safer in such a situation ?

I personally think the 2014 EX is the nicest one. Unfortunately you did not get that one in the US though.

Also, I really don't know what the big deal is about spokes being difficult to clean. I have had a few bikes with spokes, and never found it to be more difficult than other wheels, and they don't get dirtier more quickly either.

Thank you for the picture. Beautiful bike ! Just like I would want it to be. Not only we don't have it here in the US, we don't even get to see the left side of the bike very often.