Can I hear from all 45 and under riders? Why did you pick the CB1100?

[Siggy Javotnik_imp]

41 years old. I too dislike plastic on bikes. Triumph Bonnies have plastic rear fenders now (they didn't used to -- it was a change somewhere in the carburetor era). I lusted after the ZRX1100/1200's, but didn't want to deal with 4 carbs ever again. My first road bike was a '79 CB650, with the blessed electronic ignition (adjusting points is not fun for me, although I did it on my wife's old CB450 until the head gasket blew and the 450 went to a new home with a much-depleted set of gaskets/seals -- I'd replaced most of them already from earlier failures or the clutch replacement). In other words, I like metal bikes, but with modern metallurgy, ignition, and FI. I loved the swoopy CB400-style exhaust headers on the CB1100 and everything else about the bike, but hemmed and hawed until I realized: buy it now! This bike is like the Kawasaki W650 -- it's not long for the U.S., and if I don't buy it I'll regret it! I found a nicely discounted used model with Yosh pipe and it's been a love affair ever since.

My Guzzi Stelvio is better at slab or long trips (huge aluminum panniers). But the CB is better around town, tight spaces, and there's nothing like the sound of the CB in full inline 4 song. It's also a pretty capable 2-up bike, with some preload added.

[gary_imp]

37 here. For me it was function following a splendid form. It was the best I could do for my money and get near perfect fit and finish with a form that is simple and purposeful. From the obvious design work that went into the engine as a center piece of the bike, this is how I think a motorcycle should be built. To me a motorcycle should strive to be the simplest form of engine powered transportation. When compared to the competition, Honda got on the right side of this idea with the CB.

[Rebel73_imp]

Honda Lover, it looks like your uncle owned a KZ650 and a CB400.

Sorry to dilute the conversation at 52 years of age, but I can tell you even at half my age my preferences weren't all that much different than they are now. In my youth, my interest in bikes had decreased as the amount of plastic covering up the mechanicals increased. Then Honda came out with the Hawk GT — one of the first so called "naked" bikes. To my eyes, it simply looked beautiful with its exposed engine and frame and almost no plastic to speak of. In fact there wasn't much to the bike period, even the swing arm was single sided. Just the bare essentials. That almost became my first street bike purchase, but I didn't go through with it and sadly Honda didn't end up selling all that many of them.

Fast forward a couple of decades and the few bikes that I found interesting besides the retro models were very similar to the list that Jim21680 rattled off above. The common thread amongst the bikes I'm attracted to, and always have been, is the pure, basic qualities that they exhibit via their designs. As Setchman emphasized, these are the elements that make a motorcycle a motorcycle. The CB1100 has this quality in spades and I'm certain that I would have been just as attracted to it in my 20's, 30's and 40's as I am in my 50's. To me, the design (and the attraction to it) is timeless.

Sorry for the interruption, I'll let you young whippersnappers get back to your conversation now.

Ha ha. No worries, Guth. All are welcome to contribute. Even y'all were young once!
Agreed, great design is timeless.

[danielquin_imp]

I am 34 now and bought my cb in September of 2013.
My best friend has twenty something triumph motorcycles and we would work on them in our free time and at some point I decided maybe I wanted a motorcycle too. I asked him to find me a bike for 500 bucks or less and he came up with a nearly running 1969 cb350. I rode that for a few months and then in the fall tore it apart to restore it over the winter. The next spring came around and I didn't have a restored cb350 and therefor no bike to ride so I went on the hunt for a cheap bike to ride for a little bit while I finished up my restoration. I found an 81 cb750 for 500 bucks. 300 dollars and two days later I had that bike on the road and enjoyed it for a summer.
By now my searching for parts and research on the bikes I had, coupled with my great experiences with them had turned me into a full fledged Honda believer and that's around the time that I saw the cb1100 in a magazine. It was a daily rider that I could just get on and go and at the same time it fit right beside any other bike in my garage. I was absolutely in love. My wife protested about adding another bike but I assured her that this I could use every day (plus my other purchases at that point were only 1300 dollars combined so they didn't really count, right?) she caved and signed off on me buying the 2013.

Other bikes have been added to the garage in that time, hopeful of their day in the sun and that poor cb350 is still waiting for its return to glory, but the cb1100 is just the perfect bike.

[chillis_imp]

I am 44. I like the ergos. And the looks.

[ludva12345_imp]

44 y. old .. after my last muscle retro cb13

is cb11 relevant now ..

[Setchman_imp]

Wow! It looks like that bike and that road (old runway?) was a match made in heaven.

[holy666diver_imp]

I'm 27. I wanted a standard riding position. It came down to a triumph scrambler /Bonneville or cb1100. I didn't want an adventure style or sport bike. I chose the 1100 because it has more power and a sportier feel to it than the triumphs while having Honda reliability. No regrets. I also thing the '14 in all black sold me too.

[Rebel73_imp]

I'm 27. I wanted a standard riding position. It came down to a triumph scrambler /Bonneville or cb1100. I didn't want an adventure style or sport bike. I chose the 1100 because it has more power and a sportier feel to it than the triumphs while having Honda reliability. No regrets. I also thing the '14 in all black sold me too.

Yes, I was looking closely at the Bonnie/Thrux myself. Ultimately, the Honda is just a better all around bike with more power and reliability, with the added benefit of ABS and a 6th gear on my DLX. Also, the CB seemed like a blank canvas for me to turn into my own creation. The Thrux is an "out of the box" cafe racer, I like to create and make my visions become reality. That's a lot more fun to me.

[Ghis_imp]

It has become apparent to me that, at 42, I'm still one of the "young pups" on this forum.

I just want to hear from the other younger riders on this forum as to why they went with a bike like the CB1100 rather than some sport bike or Harley or other bike most popular with the younger demographic.

For me, personally, I've always had an affinity for all things retro and vintage. The CB1100 just has a timeless beauty. I wanted a good all-around bike that I can ride around town or go on a long trip with, and the CB fits that bill nicely. I don't care if some may consider it an "old fogie" bike.

I dare any 21 year old to look at my bike and tell me it's not a beautiful machine.

I'm with you on that one. My dream bike has always been the 1969 CB750 FOUR, but they are rare in good shape or restored stock form, and expensive. I was glad when they introduced its modern retro version punched out to 1100, at nearly 90hp. I didn't want to constantly have to fix an old bike with hard to find parts, and the fact that an old bike used as a primary ride might not be all that reliable. Now, the day I can afford one as a non commuter or primary ride, I'll sure try to get one. But for now, I've got a powerful, new, retro looking CB that makes me just as happy as the old CB, but without all the headaches. Oh, and I'm 42 as well
I too looked at the Triumph Scrambler. I had a hard time choosing between the CB and the Scrambler. In 2013 I went with the Scrambler for its cool look, and cheaper price. A month ago I also bought a new '13 CB. Now I have both.