2015 CB1100 Article in RideApart

[treytexag_imp]

But it's beautiful - isn't that what's important?

[NightRider_imp]

I don't feel the four into two is beautiful. I lean (sorry for the pun) for either a four into one, correct side, or the original four into four. Both are traditional layouts for the Honda fours but clearly the four into two is a late post original design revenue add-on also adding weight without any added real power or looks unless you are trying to look like a Bonnie.

<pause> Wait! Now I understand why there is a Bonnie picture thread on this forum, it is from all those past Bonnie owners or owner wannabees who buy DLX models and even some added rubber thingies to their levers and rubber thingies to their forks and other stuff like tank pads (pure Bonnie) while trying to get the CB to look like a Bonnie, including the two silencers!

Ah ha...it makes sense now. Bonnie on guys!

[Django]

The addition of the 4-2 exhaust system on the DLX over the 4-2-1 on the base model—aesthetically—makes the bike very beautiful, but it adds no additional power benefit and adds weight to the bike.

Like he says, useless waste of material and weight!

I've to admit +1.

[nhawk7504_imp]

The addition of the 4-2 exhaust system on the DLX over the 4-2-1 on the base model—aesthetically—makes the bike very beautiful, but it adds no additional power benefit and adds weight to the bike.

Like he says, useless waste of material and weight!

It actually sounds a bit better coming out of the TWO pipes. A HUGE factor of its engineering is the "low rpm rumble", which they perfected on the DLX... not that I am complaining about the STD myself. The wind could blow me away so I like the lighter STD weight.

[the Ferret]

Going by memory here, so someone correct me if I'm wrong.

The four into 1 was never a feature on ANY Dohc Honda 550, 650, 700, 750, 900 or 1100 Honda from 1979 until 2003 a 34 year run. They all had 4 into 2s

The 4 into 1 was a feature on the "Supersport model" SOHC 400, 550 and 750's from 1975 until 1978, a 3 year run. No Honda I can recall had a 4 into 1 on the left side.

The DOHC CB 1100 if it follows Hondas history should have a 4 into 2.

If the rider of a 4 into 2 CB 1100 weighs 20 pounds less than a rider on a CB 1100 with a 4 into 1, the rider on the 4 into 2 will have a lighter GVWR, his bike will be faster, and he will get better mileage.

[Light_imp]

Ha ha, the comments section for the article - people seem so confused by this bike. My response to the confusion is twofold. 1), explaining this bike or writing about it doesn't do it justice, you have to see it in person and ride it. 2), the fact that people are confused points to the fact that it is genuinely a work of art - great works of art always confuse/divide people.

[mgoodie_imp]

Going by memory here, so someone correct me if I'm wrong.

The four into 1 was never a feature on ANY Dohc Honda 550, 650, 700, 750, 900 or 1100 Honda from 1979 until 2003 a 34 year run. They all had 4 into 2s

The 4 into 1 was a feature on the "Supersport model" SOHC 400, 550 and 750's from 1975 until 1978, a 3 year run. No Honda I can recall had a 4 into 1 on the left side.

The DOHC CB 1100 if it follows Hondas history should have a 4 into 2.

If the rider of a 4 into 2 CB 1100 weighs 20 pounds less than a rider on a CB 1100 with a 4 into 1, the rider on the 4 into 2 will have a lighter GVWR, his bike will be faster, and he will get better mileage.

Is the Ferret saying we need to diet?

[treytexag_imp]

My problem is I'm an engineer by formal training. The engineer in me likes symmetry - so when I saw the DLX for the first time - I knew one was in my future . . . .

[Papa Weeley_imp]

Few things I would like to pick apart from his review:

"It's almost hard to imagine that between your legs breaths a 1142cc air cooled inline 4 cylinder engine. Many will say that this bike is underpowered and too heavy, and it is but that’s not why you’re buying this bike. Even if you wanted more power, there are a number of modifications you could potentially make to give it a bit more zest."

Yet another jab at horsepower. Why is everything about horsepower? Where is the claim this bike had jaw dropping performance? I never saw such claim, but I did read the article written by the designers of this bike before I bought it. They nailed it in my book.

"The power comes on so smooth and even, it almost feels like an electric motorcycle."

An electric motorcycle has more torque vs horsepower. I guess I would like to know what CC electric motorcycle he's ridden, and comparing it to.

"While cruising along the highway, there were a couple of times where I was in 6th gear between 70-80mph and I found myself needing to drop down a gear or two to find the power to overtake another vehicle."

The older CB's did not have any accelerator pumps, or modern carb technology. This dump and thump he's explaining is nothing when you've ridden it's older brothers. You would need to always get the rev's up, dump a gear, then power shift up to get the "thrill". Sounds like he's wanting a sport bike's "twist of the wrist" experience, and didn't get it.

"Due to the displacement and compression of this engine, the CB1100 DLX produces some rather noticeable engine braking when downshifting and closing the throttle."

Again, ride it's older counterpart. This is perfectly normal, and should not be a surprise to him. The older inline fours had a 9.0 x 1 compression ratio, which is not much different than the 9.7 x 1 ratio of the cb1100. This difference should be hardly noticeable if at all. My CB750K is running 10x1, and I can't tell the difference between them. I think this drag or engine braking he's complaining about, is because he is use to a bike like the NC700X with coated pistons. When you try to use engine braking on an NC700X, you will notice there is hardly any

"I would even go so far as to say the Honda CB1100 is the perfect big bike for beginners or larger/taller individuals and for those seeking a beautiful cafe-styled bike with more power and performance than a Triumph Bonneville or Thruxton—all while remaining cheaper than the Moto Guzzi 8V SE and BMW R-Nine T."

My sales rep told me that most salesman will say that about any bike to get a quick sell, offering confidence to the buyer and presenting the bike as less intimidating. When the word "beginners bike" gets thrown around like this, my first thought runs to a greenhorn setting his duff for the first time on a motorcycle. And that, is where I disagree with these types of statements. The fact is, the CB1100 is a 570 lb bike with 87 hp. It is by no mean's, a beginners bike. Any motorcycle safety instructor will tell you, start small.

Other than that, the review was positive


Sorry for the rant!

LOL. A good-natured rant, got to love it!
Well, I don't think anyone has ever said that this bike had "jaw-dropping horsepower", but there IS an understandable expectation of a lot more horsepower than that from a modern 1100+cc mill. I mean, fer cryin' out loud, my '83 Suzuki GS1100e had something like 108hp, and that was over 30 years ago! When you think about how power has increased across the board with every style bike, engine layout and engine size, this is a bit of an oddity. Is it enough? Probably. And Lord knows, they no doubt over-engineered this sucker so much, it'll probably last forever, but I'll still confess to wishing for about 20-25 more hp myself, and I'm in my mid-fifties, and ride like an old lady most of the time!
I definitely have to agree with you about it not being a beginner's bike, though. It's too big, too heavy, and in my opinion, carries too much of its weight up too high; as you mentioned, these are all the antithesis of what would normally be considered beginner bike traits. There are way too many better-suited rides out there, especially these days.

[NightRider_imp]

Going by memory here, so someone correct me if I'm wrong.

The four into 1 was never a feature on ANY Dohc Honda 550, 650, 700, 750, 900 or 1100 Honda from 1979 until 2003 a 34 year run. They all had 4 into 2s

The 4 into 1 was a feature on the "Supersport model" SOHC 400, 550 and 750's from 1975 until 1978, a 3 year run. No Honda I can recall had a 4 into 1 on the left side.

The DOHC CB 1100 if it follows Hondas history should have a 4 into 2.

If the rider of a 4 into 2 CB 1100 weighs 20 pounds less than a rider on a CB 1100 with a 4 into 1, the rider on the 4 into 2 will have a lighter GVWR, his bike will be faster, and he will get better mileage.

Most if not all 4 into 2 pictures I see are aftermarket on those old bikes. The four into one does appear on stock fours as you say.

The single appears on the right side leaving no hot pipe on the traditional left mount side.

If the rider of a 4 into 2 CB 1100 weighs 50 lbs more than the rider of a 4 into 1, which is (itself) 30 lbs lighter, the rider on the 4 into 2 will have a much much higher GVWR (50 + 30 = 80!!!), his 4 into 2 bike will be slower run and the rider (non-sexist) will get worse mileage. But what's the point? The 4 into 1 is 30 lbs lighter just from the pipes and smaller size tank and even lighter still with both bikes topped off since it's tank is smaller and the higher weight 4 into 2 must carry more gas because it is heavier. So...a bike being 30 lbs lighter is not a small thing, it is a great advantage which is why the bike was designed this way to begiin with.