Will the CB1100 be the last of it's kind in America?

[rboe]

The baggers with the 30"+ front wheels are poser bikes to me. Different kinda posing; but poser. Same with riders. But that is their gig so, meh. What ever spins your prop.

I would not be surprised to see someone riding the CB, posing for the retro crowd. At least the CB has the ability to do about anything (within reason) except pose with baggers.

Now the CB seems to be selling OK in Japan and Europe, if the US purges its' inventory of '13 and '14s I wonder if there is a chance it will return? I fear the niche that it fills is full (and I think it was filled with the '13 model and a bit shocked the 14 came over) but perhaps it will spark a renewed interest in standards and get people off the horsepower kick and back on the real world riding kick.

[JustPassinThru_imp]

The baggers with the 30"+ front wheels are poser bikes to me. Different kinda posing; but poser. Same with riders. But that is their gig so, meh. What ever spins your prop.

I would not be surprised to see someone riding the CB, posing for the retro crowd. At least the CB has the ability to do about anything (within reason) except pose with baggers.

Now the CB seems to be selling OK in Japan and Europe, if the US purges its' inventory of '13 and '14s I wonder if there is a chance it will return? I fear the niche that it fills is full (and I think it was filled with the '13 model and a bit shocked the 14 came over) but perhaps it will spark a renewed interest in standards and get people off the horsepower kick and back on the real world riding kick.

The CB1100 is an honest machine.

There's no way to know of everyone who buys one. However, it's not a hyped good...not a "lifestyle" or "identity" product like a Macbook computer or an SUV or...just saying...Harley-Davidson cycles*.

Someone who buys a CB11 for the image and social acceptance, is going to be sorely disappointed. That...or else he'll learn to REALLY love riding for its own sake.

(*Guys, please - I mean no PERSONAL insult. Some H-D riders love to ride. Just as there are Mac owners who know what their computers can do, and need those features and love it. But those ARE "image" choices for many...)

[Wisedrum]

Besides the image choice there may be another reason, to buy the above mentioned products as Mac Computer and HD. How about the fact, that you are used to them?

As far as I can remember, I'm working with Macs. That's the reason why I'm buying them. The same may happen to some HD owners. And of course, they probably will like
their motorcycles, as I like my Honda. Or my W, and I don't not had or have in mind, what other people will think about me buying and riding them. Although
I often made the experience, that these modern retros are often well accepted by people, who take a look at my bikes. And I must admit, I appreciate that.

Wisedrum

[sig_a_imp]

Even if it is the last of its kind, I don't think its reign is over yet. Except for their home market (Japan), there seems to be a two year strategy behind Honda's distribution of the CB before taking a break. They sold it in Australia for two years (2010-1011), then in the US, Canada and Europe for two years (2013-2014). The run in Japan was from 2010 to 2014, with a limited edition of just 200 for 2015. So there does appear to be a marketing plan, including the current break in production. The question is will it come back and if it does will it be the same or have additional changes. It could have just a mix of color changes, spoke wheels, etc. (maybe we will get the EX and Europe will get the DLX), or it could have additional improvements to those already made for 2014. One clue comes from this statement made in CB1100 Engineers Talk: “The engine feel for the 2014 model reflects and refines the opinions of our customers and the R&D Center, and we’ll refine it even further. Maybe it will be a process of going as far as we can, then coming back to the beginning”. IMO, this statement says the CB will definitely be back at some point with further refinements. I also don't believe they would have designed a completely new transmission requiring revised engine cases for just the 2014 model year.

I believe you're right. Honda's engineering, testing of motor and gearbox is the heart of their investment, and its unlikely they'll abandon a design/model with so much potential.

The surplus stock of 13's is primarily the result of the intro 14 six speed. And the black 14 surplus stock problem is the the black-on-black paint scheme. Better would have been white on silver or silver on silver, as in Japan.

The 14 DLX is more inline with the target demographics, and will be an easier model to refine within the modern classic trend.

[DAC]

Agree with Sig and Best - this will be back. Looking forward to more things from Honda. A new ST (VFR1200 motor?), a VFR800X, revised CB. Apart from the frustrations about some mis-steps, it's a good time to be a motorcyclist and Honda fan.

[Teamwalker_imp]

Most of us, geezer crowd

LoL!! I think you are right.

[rboe]

A year or so ago many many folks on this forum lamented that the CB did not come in black. So Honda brings a black bike over and for the most part they sit on the floor. Oops.

Red or white would be better. And faster.....

[Teamwalker_imp]

I don't think that there are poser bikes. Bikes can (most of the time), and will do what they are intended for. The riders can be posers. I have mixed feelings about posers. I don't care much for them, but sometimes I think I'm a bit of a poser myself. I don't over do it, but I'll admit dressing slightly differently when I rode my Harleys, or getting on my Triumph, or my CB. Now you won't catch me with skinny jeans, bottom folded up, with high-top laced leather boots, while riding my Triumph, or in full adventure gears, riding an adventure bike to work, or to the grocery store (I see them all the time), but I will wear my full face helmet on the CB, my half helmet on the Harley, and my retro leather jacket on the Triumph. A little flair of authenticity, and playing the part isn't all that wrong, like embracing the heritage of our ride. It's what makes us happy. I get that some are obsessed (truly or not) with safety, and will tell you that others are irresponsible for not riding their Ducati in full racing one piece $1,500 Valentino Rossi leather suit, but most of us, for practical reasons (more suited to everyday riding life), simply wear jeans, a leather jacket, helmet, and gloves. I say choose those to match your style and your bike, and enjoy the ride, and what you ride.

Very well said!
I really like JustPassinThru's quote that the CB1100 is "just an honest machine". I completely agree and that is why I bought it. It is an honest motorcycle that looks like a motorcycle should look. Not like a 'machine" a Marvel character (your choice) might ride.

[Ghis_imp]

Even if it is the last of its kind, I don't think its reign is over yet. Except for their home market (Japan), there seems to be a two year strategy behind Honda's distribution of the CB before taking a break. They sold it in Australia for two years (2010-1011), then in the US, Canada and Europe for two years (2013-2014). The run in Japan was from 2010 to 2014, with a limited edition of just 200 for 2015. So there does appear to be a marketing plan, including the current break in production. The question is will it come back and if it does will it be the same or have additional changes. It could have just a mix of color changes, spoke wheels, etc. (maybe we will get the EX and Europe will get the DLX), or it could have additional improvements to those already made for 2014. One clue comes from this statement made in CB1100 Engineers Talk: “The engine feel for the 2014 model reflects and refines the opinions of our customers and the R&D Center, and we’ll refine it even further. Maybe it will be a process of going as far as we can, then coming back to the beginning”. IMO, this statement says the CB will definitely be back at some point with further refinements. I also don't believe they would have designed a completely new transmission requiring revised engine cases for just the 2014 model year.

Very good points.

The baggers with the 30"+ front wheels are poser bikes to me. Different kinda posing; but poser. Same with riders. But that is their gig so, meh. What ever spins your prop.

I would not be surprised to see someone riding the CB, posing for the retro crowd. At least the CB has the ability to do about anything (within reason) except pose with baggers.

Now the CB seems to be selling OK in Japan and Europe, if the US purges its' inventory of '13 and '14s I wonder if there is a chance it will return? I fear the niche that it fills is full (and I think it was filled with the '13 model and a bit shocked the 14 came over) but perhaps it will spark a renewed interest in standards and get people off the horsepower kick and back on the real world riding kick.

The CB1100 is an honest machine.

There's no way to know of everyone who buys one. However, it's not a hyped good...not a "lifestyle" or "identity" product like a Macbook computer or an SUV or...just saying...Harley-Davidson cycles*.

Someone who buys a CB11 for the image and social acceptance, is going to be sorely disappointed. That...or else he'll learn to REALLY love riding for its own sake.

(*Guys, please - I mean no PERSONAL insult. Some H-D riders love to ride. Just as there are Mac owners who know what their computers can do, and need those features and love it. But those ARE "image" choices for many...)

The CB1100 is an honest machine.

There's no way to know of everyone who buys one. However, it's not a hyped good...not a "lifestyle" or "identity" product like a Macbook computer or an SUV or...just saying...Harley-Davidson cycles*.

Someone who buys a CB11 for the image and social acceptance, is going to be sorely disappointed. That...or else he'll learn to REALLY love riding for its own sake.

(*Guys, please - I mean no PERSONAL insult. Some H-D riders love to ride. Just as there are Mac owners who know what their computers can do, and need those features and love it. But those ARE "image" choices for many...)
Very good points. We also have to consider people who push their love of motorcycles to transforming them into works of art. There is such a thing as motorcycle as an art form. Most of the time these bikes are rideable, and sometimes not.

[thessler3_imp]

I respectfully disagree about emissions being the primary factor in discontinuing air-cooled engines. A factor - yes, but the real big push for water cooling is because of the desire for more horsepower and larger displacement motors. Gasoline engines are roughly 30% efficient - that means 70% of the energy ends up in heat that has to be transferred away.

Catalytic converters have made it easier to meet emissions standards, but they do reduce power output, which the manufacturers have addressed by increasing displacements and generating more heat energy to radiate away.

As engines make more power, more heat is generated and water cooling is used because the radiators have much larger cooling areas than engine fins. Note that water-cooled engines are also air-cooled. The water simply conducts the heat out to the radiator were it is cooled by air-flow. The coolant does not actually cool anything - it simply conducts the heat away from the engine. In some ways, it works similarly to a home air conditioner that conducts the heat to the outside of the house.

Engines have grown much larger over the last 40 years. A 650 used to be a big bike. Now, even so-called adventure bikes are 1200cc or bigger. More displacement equals more heat to radiate to the air.

Water cooling has a second advantage in that the coolant reduces noise radiated by the engine. Fins tend to radiate noise and motorcycle must meet noise standards.

There are more efficient methods of moving heat to radiators than water but they are expensive and somewhat caustic. Communications satellites use heat-pipes, which use chemicals like ammonia to move heat from electronics to radiators. The ammonia is liquid when cold and vapor when hot and is much more efficient than water or anti-freeze.

I still think air-cooled engines have a future, especially in smaller engines.