Variant and version?

[olafurarason_imp]

Many threads have been written regarding various and complex types of CB1100’s. As far as I understand none of them can explain my following concerns.

I have CB1100 which was imported and registered in the year of 2016. I understand all bikes sold in Europe 2016 were made 2014. That’s not the issue here.

I bought it as an EX and on the frame is an label marked CB1100SAE. But on Certificate of Conformity (CoC) it’s commercial name is CB1100SA, not SAE. That is an strange difference I hope you can explain.
On the CoC is as well type, variant and version:

Type: SC65 (which is Honda's code for the CB1100)
Variant: 3
Version: 1

Do you know what Variant and Version stands for?

[peterbaron]

I think Cormanus explained VIN somewhere, not sure it will answer your question.
Here you go;

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=10637

[Cormanus]

Olafurarason, can you tell me the first 10 digits of the VIN and I’ll try to explain some of it. I suspect the Variant and Version may relate to the country where the bike was actually registered, in which case I won’t be able to enlighten you.

As for the SAE, I can’t be sure. ‘SA’ has certainly been used by Honda as a label for the 2014 DLX in the USA, the 2014 EX in Europe and for the 2017 and onwards CB1100EX. It is possible the ‘E’ is derived from the year of manufacture—see the thread on VINs—but I can’t be sure. Alternatively It could well be a letter used by Honda in parts lists etc.

[olafurarason_imp]

Olafurarason, can you tell me the first 10 digits of the VIN and I’ll try to explain some of it. I suspect the Variant and Version may relate to the country where the bike was actually registered, in which case I won’t be able to enlighten you.

As for the SAE, I can’t be sure. ‘SA’ has certainly been used by Honda as a label for the 2014 DLX in the USA, the 2014 EX in Europe and for the 2017 and onwards CB1100EX. It is possible the ‘E’ is derived from the year of manufacture—see the thread on VINs—but I can’t be sure. Alternatively It could well be a letter used by Honda in parts lists etc.

Thank you Cormanus. The VIN is JH2SC65CXEKxxxxxx

[Cormanus]

Pretty much what you thought, Olafurarason: the SC65 tells you it’s a CB1100. To be honest, I’ve never seen a ‘C’ in that position, but I’ve found it near impossible to find information on European VINs*. X is a magic number in the VIN; and E says it’s a 2014 model. I’ve never known whether Honda uses that digit to denote model year or build year. In any event, assuming it was imported from Europe, it tells you it has a seamed tank, spoked wheels and a 4 into 2 exhaust system.

I can’t be sure about the ‘SAE’. My guess is that, in 2014, ‘E’ denoted the standard model, ‘AE’ denoted the standard model with ABS, and ‘SAE’ denoted the EX/DLX. E was possibly derived from the model year scheme in the ISO VIN standard. But, as I say, it’s all speculation on my part. The really important thing is that, in my view, the 2014 DLX/EX with its dual exhaust and chrome headers was the most handsome model of all of them.

* A quick search on the parts site, https://oem-bike-parts.com/, tells me VINs beginning JH2SC65C are for the 2014 CB1100 EX.

[bioman_imp]

These 2 web pages may help somewhat (or create more confusion - not sure)?

[url=https://bikeswiki.com/Honda_CB1100]BikesWiki

[url=https://www.motorbikecatalog.com/model/honda/cb1100.html]Motorbike catalog

[olafurarason_imp]

Thanks for the information, probably correctly said information overflow!! As far as I can tell from the information provided by cormanus and bioman websites, my bike is most definitely a 2016 EX (well, 2014). Thanks again, you have been most helpful.

But I, as an amateur, still wonder why the CB1100’s were produced in so many different and complex variations over it’s short lifespan.It can confuse anyone who wants to participate in the discussion.

[Cormanus]

Olafurarason, I think the truth is that there were essentially 5 variants on the CB1100:
[li]2010-2013 CB1100 with and without ABS[/li] [li]2014-2022 CB1100 with and without ABS (from 2017 probably available only in Japan[/li] [li]2014-2016 CB1100 EX/DLX[/li] [li]2017-2022 CB1100 EX[/li] [li]2017-2022 CB1100 RS
[/li] The confusion caused by model numbers and VINs results, I suspect, from a combination of internal Honda decisions and the requirements of the countries in which the bikes were sold.

The big outstanding question for me is whether Honda really came up with a DCT version of the CB1100 for the Chinese market.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Olafurarason, I think the truth is that there were essentially 5 variants on the CB1100:
[li]2010-2013 CB1100 with and without ABS[/li] [li]2014-2022 CB1100 with and without ABS (from 2017 probably available only in Japan[/li] [li]2014-2016 CB1100 EX/DLX[/li] [li]2017-2022 CB1100 EX[/li] [li]2017-2022 CB1100 RS
[/li] The confusion caused by model numbers and VINs results, I suspect, from a combination of internal Honda decisions and the requirements of the countries in which the bikes were sold.

The big outstanding question for me is whether Honda really came up with a DCT version of the CB1100 for the Chinese market.

That would be one heck of a heavy CB1100 for that community.

[Cormanus]

For any community.