The ferret_imp said:
Ulve..maybe you can give your opinion on this. Obviously not all forks and shocks have the same level of performance even though they "look like" they would. In other words, not all forks whether conventional, or male slider perform the same, True? The same goes for remote reservoir shocks. They are not all created equal. Some are better than others. Also true?
Are we to assume that the Showa Dual Bending Valve fork of the new RS is going to be vastly superior compared to current forks. Or will they be slightly better? How about compared to current forks with Race Tech internals? Will they be designed for the same limited rider weight range? Will they be compliant or taut or adjustable in between? How adjustable? Will they require after market asistance if you are over 200#'s? or under 150 #'s?
Also are the "Twin Showa remote-reservoir rear shocks (with damping rates to match the front fork)" going to be the equal to top of the line Ikons or Ohlins?, or even much superior to the conventional shocks we have now? Again, compliant? Taut? How much adjustability for rider weight?
Honda obviously builds to a price point or we would have better suspenders on our current rides. These new suspenders may look great, but only preform moderately better than the current stuff, and not as good as modified current stuff, correct?
We are assuming by looking at pictures of fancy gold colored pieces that they are going to be vastly superior, but are they?
a quote from a aftermarket shock mfg "suspension budget is minimal from manufacturers so performance and quality is reduced and in return the handling and comfort from the suspension is poor due to materials used, design of the system and also tolerances."
is the rider of an RS still going to have to buy after market kit in order to realize the handling potential of the RS? If so, the new stuff may not be an upgrade at all, just window dressing meant to entice buyers.
The answer is yes. Very few bikes come with truly good suspension. We have to get into a pretty high price range to reach that point and the CB1100RS is not likely to be in that area. The serious sporting rider will need to spend some money on suspension, just like with the current model. But he or she will be starting with a far better platform in many respects.
The current forks are actually very good as are the brakes. On my 2013, I've only changed the oil to 15W, and carefully adjusted the preload to match the Ikon shocks. The Ikons were a huge improvement. I mentioned before that the current bike has some attributes, like the light handling and taller, narrower wheels, that will make it a better sporting standard. The greatly expanded choice of rubber along with the other changes on the RS really do make it a "sport heritage" offering. I do wonder about decreased cornering clearance, though, because of the 17" wheels. But the CB1100 in any version is never going to have much cornering clearance, it's more about the handling and confidence from the modern tire sizes.
The lack of any damping adjustment on the shocks suggests they'll need to be replaced, or at least resprung and revalved, for any serious improvements beyond the stock performance.
The swingarm design will have a lot of effect on how the rear end works and hopefully the shocks have been tuned to work with the new swingarm.
Anyone really serious about taking the RS to a higher level of performance for braking and cornering, and chassis handling, is going to need new shocks with multi-rate springs that match the rider's weight and riding style, as a minimum.
I have no issue with the power; Honda have reportedly tuned the engine for increased low/midrange and I like mine the way it is now, so the improvements are welcome but not really necessary.
It's said that the smaller diameter wheels provide 3% more acceleration due to the lower gearing, making the bike snappier all around. That sounds like something I would appreciate.
The slipper clutch is definitely an upgrade for anyone wanting to trade in his or her current model. Smooth shifting is always best but the new clutch apparently has lighter effort, too, so it's an overall ergonomic and functional improvement.
The reasons I personally am seriously considering picking up an RS come down to the chassis, wheels, and tires. The aluminum swingarm, 17" wheels in 750-class supersport sizes, quicker rake/trail, and shorter wheelbase are all significant mechanical improvements and provide a much better platform upon which to start personal modifications. The wheels and tires alone should provide a much more compliant ride, with potentially huge improvements in grip if fitted with good sporting rubber like the Dunlop Q3s or similar.
My bike has a five-speed transmission; the six-speed on top of all the other changes is an enticement to upgrade, too.
We'll know more when they show up on the street but, since I really, really like the CB1100 I have now, this RS is the logical next step.
