Is the CB1100 a Sportbike? Ask Freddie.

[the Ferret]

Cormanus Wrote:
it's curious that Honda US classifies the bike as a sport bike. In Canada it's 'naked' (as it was in Australia when it was sold here) and in the UK it's a 'street' bike.


See Cormanus's post above. Only in the USA is this bike called a sport bike I believe, in the rest it's classified as something other than a sport bike.

But hey..call it whatever you like, it's your bike. I call mine a retro standard regardless of how Honda labels it.

[Django]

Honda Germany puts the CB1100 into the Naked/Allrounder category, together with some other motorcycles:

http://de.honda.de/motorraeder/modelle_n...ounder.php

[WhiskeyUSMC1979_imp]

Categories for Honda Motorcycles:

Touring - Not the CB1100, even with an over abundance of luggage.

Adventure - Only on road adventures on the CB1100

Cruiser - Not the CB1100 without some SERIOUSLY tall risers and forward control swap.

Supersport - CB1100 doesn't fit here with quite a handful of additional power.

Dual Sport - CB1100 again would not do well once the pavement stops.

So, that leaves us with Sport. At least as far as the US Domestic market goes for classifications.

You are, of course, welcome to identify it however you like. Just don't be surprised if someone still gets upset if you service it in the bay marked "cruiser". Some people just don't care what you personally identify with, only your stock classification.


Sent from an undisclosed location

[the Ferret]

Hey was just looking at the page Randy posted of Honda Sport bikes and noticed the Grom is classified a sport bike too. It's all starting to make sense now lol

[Roper_imp]

Suzuki has a category called "Standard." They put the Bandit and the SV there. Yamaha has a category called "Sport Heritage" where they put the VMax and the XSR900. Triumph has a "Classic" category. Guzzi did it right with no categories, but they have a smaller line-up.

Where is the category which says, "Drive it to work every day, take your wife on it for dates on Friday nights, take your son/daughter on it for breakfast on Saturday mornings, mount some bags on it to go visit your military buddy in Oklahoma, go so fast on a twisty road that the adrenaline makes your legs shake, and smile a whole lot?"

That's what the CB1100 is--a motorcycle which does a lot of things really well. It's not a specialized bike for one category.

[the Ferret]

Suzuki has a category called "Standard." They put the Bandit and the SV there. Yamaha has a category called "Sport Heritage" where they put the VMax and the XSR900. Triumph has a "Classic" category. Guzzi did it right with no categories, but they have a smaller line-up.

Where is the category which says, "Drive it to work every day, take your wife on it for dates on Friday nights, take your son/daughter on it for breakfast on Saturday mornings, mount some bags on it to go visit your military buddy in Oklahoma, go so fast on a twisty road that the adrenaline makes your legs shake, and smile a whole lot?"

That's what the CB1100 is--a motorcycle which does a lot of things really well. It's not a specialized bike for one category.

Man, what a great description that is! Thanks Roper

[kmoney_imp]

Hey was just looking at the page Randy posted of Honda Sport bikes and noticed the Grom is classified a sport bike too. It's all starting to make sense now lol

Maybe this Grom, but that's about the only one I'd agree with them on.

[DaSwami_imp]

I call it a naked standard. Just like the TU250X. The closest thing I've ridden to the CB1100 is the Zuki GSX1100G.


It's such a flexible platform. Sedate and relaxed when you want it to be and 'oh my gawd hold onto to the grips tight" when you roost it. Strong enough to tote luggage and comfortable enough for long rides. Sporty enough for hills and curves.

A Swiss Army knife of a bike, IMO. Other than true off-roading.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Actually there's no need to ask Freddie since he already knows; [url=http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1969cb750four/]just ask Honda.

Here's part of what they say:

A Direct Descendant of Grand Prix Machines

Having captured five consecutive championship titles in the historic 1966 World Grand Prix Road Racing Series, Honda decided to withdraw from the World GP circuit beginning the very next season. Upon that announcement, the company turned toward its primary target; the development of high-performance consumer machines. Thus it would achieve through the application of technology obtained in road racing.

The bike in the image is even red.

[emptysea]

Would ya give it a rest, already. We all know about that CB750 evolved to the modern sportbike, but a) that doesn't make it a sport bike and b) the CB1100 was not designed strictly after the CB750, rather it was designed after a number of different STANDARD or UJM bikes from Honda's past. c) Copying the style of a bike that could, arguably, be referred to as a sport bike does not make the copy a sport bike.

The CB1100 is a standard. Freddie and Honda would agree with that. (and please don't post Honda's website showing it in the "sport" category... "sport" does not mean "sport bike" in this case... Grom proves that).

Race your bike. I think that's cool. Mod it out to be as sport-bikey as possible. I think that's cool, too. Even call it a sport bike, if you want. That's cool, too. It's not a sport bike, though. It is just not.