2014 DLX - Combined Brakes or not?

[dave]

I read through many interesting threads about brakes (rear in particular) on this forum. It appears that there were some problems with the rear brakes on the 2013, non-ABS models related to air in the rear brakes (were these issues resolved - Ferret?). I didn't find much information about the 2014 DLX brakes, which are ABS. I am throwing this question out there: Are the 2014 DLX ABS brakes combined (linked) or not? I saw threads with comments about the 2014 DLX brakes being linked, but I do not believe they are. My bike, a 2014 DLX, exhibits no characteristics what-so-ever of having a combined braking system. Page 14-5 of the Honda service manual states: "ABS model ('13 CB1100A only) is provided with a Combined Brake System (CBS)". Please respond with your comments.

With that said, can I please receive some feedback concerning the operation of the rear brake on a 2014 DLX with ABS? I did some tests yesterday to see how quickly the bike will stop from about 50 mph applying the rear brake only (I wanted to gain a better understanding of exactly what to expect from the anti-lock feature as this is my first motorcycle with ABS). Applying the rear brake only would slow the bike well, without locking up (as ABS is supposed to do). It felt like the wheel would lock momentarily when the brake was applied quickly with high force, then the braking force was reduced, allowing the wheel to rotate. My question is this: The ABS on my car seems to work much differently. On my car, you can definitely feel the ABS modulator cycling the brakes off and on at approximately 60 hz (my guess). On my bike, there is no such indication of the ABS cycling the pressure off and on quickly. Instead, the ABS on the bike seems to be modulating the brake line pressure, but not cycling it off and on completely like on my car. I can sense a cycling of pressure being reduced by the ABS, but not really being cycled completely on and off, and at a much lower frequency than what I experience on my car. Any responses are appreciated. Thank you.

[Lord Popgun]

As far as the 2013 rear brake thing, Ferret never did anything about his before he traded it on his DLX.

My dealer said all was good so I took it home and bled a LOT of air out of mine. At least one guy's dealer did bleed his. The rest of us had to do it ourselves.

I can't speak to the ABS as I don't have it on my CB and have never, to my knowledge, activated it on the ST.

[rbike_imp]

I did a very ardent stop on my 13CB - no need for story. I was amazed how quickly it stopped (?40-50mph) and even more amazed that I didn't get hurt. I had not done anything like that in ?20+ years. My amazement was in the facts that I did it 100% properly (from instinct) and the CB allowed me to do it correctly without any assistance from ABS! No wheels locked, bike shudder, or sway. If you do it evenly, the CB has 100% beautifully matched front & rear brakes and f&r shocks. This is probably my highlight to date of riding this work of art. Initially I thought I should maybe have purchased the ABS model after all, but in hindsight, nothing replaces good riding on a great bike. A big smile is on my face as I write this post.

[Django]

Here in Germany, the 2013 CB1100A came with the Combined ABS and three brake zylinders in the front calipers.

2014 additionally the CB1100EX came out, ABS for front and rear, but not combined, 2 brake zylinders in the front calipers.

My CB1100A has the CBS, but I don't care much about it. Actually I would prefer seperated front and rear breaks.

I think, there are no none-ABS CB1100 models at all in Europe.

[Rocky_imp]

The 2014 Honda brochure available in Canada clearly states that the CB1100 has linked brakes and shows a picture of the Canadian model with the Spencer blue tank.
I took that as a fact for several months until ferret brought up the subject some months ago and we realized that the ABS brakes are not linked.

[Paulb_imp]

I bought my CB1100EX new in March 2015 and it comes with ABS but not combined brakes. ABS is compulsory on all new bikes sold in Europe as from 1st January 2016.

[curlyjoe_imp]

I read through many interesting threads about brakes (rear in particular) on this forum. It appears that there were some problems with the rear brakes on the 2013, non-ABS models related to air in the rear brakes (were these issues resolved - Ferret?). I didn't find much information about the 2014 DLX brakes, which are ABS. I am throwing this question out there: Are the 2014 DLX ABS brakes combined (linked) or not? I saw threads with comments about the 2014 DLX brakes being linked, but I do not believe they are. My bike, a 2014 DLX, exhibits no characteristics what-so-ever of having a combined braking system. Page 14-5 of the Honda service manual states: "ABS model ('13 CB1100A only) is provided with a Combined Brake System (CBS)". Please respond with your comments.

With that said, can I please receive some feedback concerning the operation of the rear brake on a 2014 DLX with ABS? I did some tests yesterday to see how quickly the bike will stop from about 50 mph applying the rear brake only (I wanted to gain a better understanding of exactly what to expect from the anti-lock feature as this is my first motorcycle with ABS). Applying the rear brake only would slow the bike well, without locking up (as ABS is supposed to do). It felt like the wheel would lock momentarily when the brake was applied quickly with high force, then the braking force was reduced, allowing the wheel to rotate. My question is this: The ABS on my car seems to work much differently. On my car, you can definitely feel the ABS modulator cycling the brakes off and on at approximately 60 hz (my guess). On my bike, there is no such indication of the ABS cycling the pressure off and on quickly. Instead, the ABS on the bike seems to be modulating the brake line pressure, but not cycling it off and on completely like on my car. I can sense a cycling of pressure being reduced by the ABS, but not really being cycled completely on and off, and at a much lower frequency than what I experience on my car. Any responses are appreciated. Thank you.

My understanding is that cars and large Honda scooters use what Honda calls circulating ABS which uses a combination of valves and a motor driven pump to modulate brake pressure through sensors monitoring wheel speed. This system gives that high frequency pulsating feedback to the driver.

Our bikes and other motorcycles have a different system which uses a motor driven piston. The piston can move both directions and thus can increase or decrease hydraulic brake pressure depending on sensors monitoring wheel speed. Honda claims this system to be more precise and effective for motorcycles.

Here's the link: http://world.honda.com/motorcycle-techno...ke/p6.html

Here's an image from the link: You can see that from the graph on the right that the system on our bikes more precisely controls variations in wheel speed and hydraulic pressure.

[Cormanus]

Others have recently been seeking information from Honda on the nature of the ABS braking system. See [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=5377]this thread.

[dave]

Thank you very much Curlyjoe.