Why the CB1100 will never be a big seller

[uscgmac_imp]

When I say general bike community, I mean the rest of the world that makes sports bikes, cruisers and scooters so popular. The CB1100 is very unique and we picked it because it appealed to us as owners. We are the breed apart from the rest.

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[the Ferret]

Lol well, we are among the unique

[Ben70_imp]

Thanks for the tech assist Cormanus! I need to get my son to show me how to do that, s well as post pics. As soon as I get the typewriter ribbon untangled from my ankles

[LongRanger_imp]

You have cruisers, adventure bikes, dirt bikes, sport bikes, uber licensed race bikes - and now a retro in line four UJM. Indeed a niche bike. A niche that is not all that big compared to some of the more traditional market segments and I strongly suspect a shrinking segment as the customer base is aging/dying out of the market. Very few youngsters will buy it for retro reasons (but hey, the basic design is still sound but it's tough to sell compared to more modern designs).

It would be most enlightening to see the CB1100 sales compared to the entire Honda motorcycle lineup - and even other manufactures. We're kinda spittin' in the wind here without actual numbers. It may actually be a decent performer!

+1

[Roper_imp]

I like to ride. I can only ride for about an hour with my feet high up on rearsets and weight on my wrists. It's also not comfortable for me to ride with all my weight on my butt and my legs stuck out in front like I'm sitting in a Lay-z-boy with wheels. I like being fairly upright with my feet under me, so I can shift my weight around when I do a little more "spirited" riding. Adventure bike? Don't like the way they handle on pavement. Sport tourer? Depends. Some are close to what I like, but I've never been a fan of lots of plastic. As so many others have said, this bike checks all the right boxes. I commute on it. I take my kids for Saturday rides on it. I take my wife for dates on it. I can throw on soft bags for longer trips. It's not a flickable 600, but it's not a bloated cruiser or a luxo-barge either. I can pilot it as well as my skill level can manage in the twisties. I can customize it. It's mechanically reliable. It looks like a motorcycle. I don't care that it's not a big seller. I have one. And I really like to ride it. 8)

[Guth_imp]

If nothing else, like Capo has mentioned before, I would have liked to see Honda feature the CB1100 a bit more prominently in their showrooms. But then I remind myself that they initially developed the CB1100 for the Japanese market and had no intention of bringing the bike to North America back then. I've stated in the past that I've often felt like Honda was sort of throwing us a bone here in the States by finally bringing the bike over here. I'm guessing that our general reaction to the bike hasn't come as too much of a surprise to their corporate types.

Honda certainly has money to dump into some sort of real marketing effort for the CB1100 if that was what they wanted to do. Obviously that hasn't been part of their plan for the bike. Releasing a small number of these machines over here that were priced on the high side of what consumers could bear with little fanfare to speak of was what Honda decided to do. Surely they realized that such a plan wouldn't result in large sales figures for the CB1100. Despite my disappointment with Honda's choices when it comes to marketing the bike, if nothing else I remain grateful that they changed their mind about releasing it to the US market. I can still remember when it seemed like that was never going to happen.

For reference, Triumph sold a total of approximately 50,000 motorcycles worldwide in 2016. Honda sold something like 1.5 million. They spend over $200 million on car advertising in the US alone. They can do whatever they want. They would produce as many CB's as they possibly could sell.

Recall Ferrett's posting about Honda building precisely the bike they wanted to? I concur. And they advertise it precisely as much as they want to. I'm in that business and have worked with Honda on campaigns.

Regarding Nortoon's vivid comments about the ugliness of CB's, in that this is a tight forum, and 99 % of the members own 'ugly blacked out / twisted pipes' bikes, a little common courtesy might be a good idea.


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Good point of reference. In that light, just imagine the impact it would have on Triumph Motorcycles Ltd if they were to never have sold the Bonneville here in the States. Such a decision would have had quite a notable effect on the company. On the other hand, if Honda had stuck with their original plan to not bring the CB1100 over here, the impact would be negligible in the overall scheme of things as far as Honda is concerned. With that in mind, one can understand why Triumph offers so much in the way of related accessories and lifestyle products (and perhaps why Honda doesn't).

[Nortoon_imp]

For reference, Triumph sold a total of approximately 50,000 motorcycles worldwide in 2016. Honda sold something like 1.5 million. They spend over $200 million on car advertising in the US alone. They can do whatever they want. They would produce as many CB's as they possibly could sell.

Recall Ferrett's posting about Honda building precisely the bike they wanted to? I concur. And they advertise it precisely as much as they want to. I'm in that business and have worked with Honda on campaigns.

Regarding Nortoon's vivid comments about the ugliness of CB's, in that this is a tight forum, and 99 % of the members own 'ugly blacked out / twisted pipes' bikes, a little common courtesy might be a good idea.


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The thing that sets the CB1100 apart from most motorcycles is it large 4-cylinder air-cooled aluminum engine. It should be the jeweled centerpiece of this heritage motorcycle, not sprayed with black paint. Might as well hide it under plastic shrouds like today's sport bikes.

The most coveted CB1100s are the 2014 Deluxe models. Aluminum engine, chromed headers and 4-into-1 exhaust systems. All three models of the 2017 EX models are following suit with less black paint on the engine, chromed headers and 4-into-1 exhaust systems.

If you look at the thread entitled "Japan Dealers' New Bikes" almost all have aluminum engines and 4-into-2 or 4-into4 exhaust systems.

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8591

I understand a lot of people bought the Standard version. It was the only thing available before and after 2014, and less expensive than the Deluxe model. If the Deluxe model was always available and $1000 less expensive, I sure it would have out sold the Standard model.

[Guth_imp]

Hey Nortoon, you're entitled to your opinion, but contrary to the picture you paint we all don't prefer the same engine and wheel treatments, tank shapes, exhaust configurations, etc., etc..

[Hawkeye_imp]

Hey Nortoon, you're entitled to your opinion, but contrary to the picture you paint we all don't prefer the same engine and wheel treatments, tank shapes, exhaust configurations, etc., etc..

[Rolls_imp]

For reference, Triumph sold a total of approximately 50,000 motorcycles worldwide in 2016. Honda sold something like 1.5 million. They spend over $200 million on car advertising in the US alone. They can do whatever they want. They would produce as many CB's as they possibly could sell.

Recall Ferrett's posting about Honda building precisely the bike they wanted to? I concur. And they advertise it precisely as much as they want to. I'm in that business and have worked with Honda on campaigns.

Regarding Nortoon's vivid comments about the ugliness of CB's, in that this is a tight forum, and 99 % of the members own 'ugly blacked out / twisted pipes' bikes, a little common courtesy might be a good idea.


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If you understand the heritage, benefits and artistry of the beautifully crafted 4 into 1 and you simply prefer the symmetry of the 4 into 2, I can understand your position. If you don't get bundle of snakes pipes and their heritage or benefits at all; if their beauty, purpose and craftsmanship is completely lost on you, then to me, that is a shame. Well, it's a shame the first 5 times you mention it. Something else each time beyond that.

[url=https://refract.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Forum-Photos/i-d7DXdW8/A]

Not ugly, twisted or lobsided to me. Or the designers of every F model or Super Sport CB before the lovely CB11. I think the DLX is a gorgeous execution of a slightly tweaked mission from that of the original CB from show floor to 2014 standard. But I'm glad to be around while someone in a giant corporate factory in Japan still gets the sexy 4-1, lobbied effectively and ultimately made it available to me here in the U.S.