Who cares ? '13/'14/DLX ?

[kballowe_imp]

I bought a nice 2013 CB1100 and rode it around and got it rained on and rode it down gravel roads and thru mud puddles and and and it took me everywhere I wanted to go.

AND, I was happy.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I now have a 2014 CB1100 Deluxe.
It has some extra "nice to have" stuff, but what's the difference? Even with that 6-speed transmission, I'm not sure that I care, one way or another.

Now, I admit that I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but (having owned both) I simply see no difference in the riding/handling between the two bikes. To the untrained eye, they look virtually identical.....

:biker:
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[Ulvetanna_imp]

I bought a nice 2013 CB1100 and rode it around and got it rained on and rode it down gravel roads and thru mud puddles and and and it took me everywhere I wanted to go.

AND, I was happy.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I now have a 2014 CB1100 Deluxe.
It has some extra "nice to have" stuff, but what's the difference? Even with that 6-speed transmission, I'm not sure that I care, one way or another.

Now, I admit that I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but (having owned both) I simply see no difference in the riding/handling between the two bikes. To the untrained eye, they look virtually identical.....

:biker:
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.
.

The standard has just the one pipe, the tank is sleeker. It's a lot lighter, I guess it's about 30 pounds less. For guys who spend longer hours in the saddle on the slab or open road, the extra six-tenths of a gallon could make the difference of making it to that next gas stop or needing to stop sooner than you really wanted to. Sixth gear helps with all that, too.

But, as far as the real purpose of the bike in being a sport heritage machine, the Standard gets it righter. Single pipe, lighter, and the visual to me is a sportier signature.

I also think it works better than the new liquid-cooled Bonneville; the eye just catches the outline of that radiator and some other bits and says, "wrong". With the Standard there's nothing out of place, nothing in the field of view that's not in keeping with the classic configuration. I ride mine mostly in a sporty way, though.

These new models, including the RS, are going to cover the bases really well.

But for riders who are doing a mix of all kinds of riding and not trying to stretch the intervals between fuel stops, the Standard is probably a little better machine.

Nice to have someone who owns both chime in on this.

 

[the Ferret]

As someone else who has owned both a 13 and a 14 I can say from a riding perspective there is no difference imo. I certainly can't "feel" the extra 30 pounds of my dlx over my 13 std, and I have ridden std and dlx's back to back. no diff I can tell, but then again I am not an expert road racer. The 30 pounds is a moot point as far as I am concerned. Heck I'm even ok with the stock suspension. I loved my 13 because it was the first iteration of a style of bike I have always enjoyed, made in Japan by my favorite manufacturer. BUT... I love my dlx more for a lot of reasons, mostly aesthetic, (the dual mufflers, the double wall chromed headers, the chrome bar ends, the polished triple trees and master cylinders, the wrap around the frame color matched side covers, the pleated seat, the metal sprocket cover, the silver engine and wheels) but also from a functional standpoint. I do travel freeway, even to other states occasionally and enjoy the lower rpms the 6 speed affords. I like the extra 40-45 miles of gas it carries. I like that it came std with ABS which may save my bacon someday. I like the digital gear indicator and the fuel/trip computer. I like the 1/2" taller bars.

I could have been happy for the rest of my life with my 13 std, if they hadn't brought out the DLX, but in the end I'm happier with my 14 dlx.

YMMV

 

[clearviewx]

+ 1 The ferret

 

[4 Paws_imp]

I'm satisfied to own and ride one regularly, got what was available without a complaint.
Main controversy I am aware of is from the folks that own a black one wishing theirs was red.

 

[LongRanger_imp]

I've not ridden a '13 but I was a little disappointed with the black engine and rims when I finally saw one at the dealership. They returned my deposit. I felt better when I saw a DLX the following year. For me, it's all about the emotional and visceral appeal, just as Honda intended, not the outright performance. I have other bikes for that.

 

[DAC]

LongRanger and I had almost the same experience. I saw the '13 and just couldn't pull the trigger. I figured I would wait for a different color and maybe a silver engine. Wasn't hoping for much else. Then comes the DLX. Just blew me away. Would have loved black tank and covers with everything else the same but the red is just gorgeous as well. The Std has grown on me since and seeing some in the wild makes me appreciate it more.

Now with the '17 coming, looking forward to more variations!

 

[BestStandard_imp]

Same here... when I went to see the '13 CB the eclectic styling just wasn't for me. Then I noticed the also new for '13 CRF250L and purchased it instead, lol. But Honda read my mind somehow when they gave us the '14 DLX with every change I had wished for and more!!!

 

[Elipten_imp]

Well just could not decide so I have the 13 and the 14 DLX

Now can those spoked wheels and led headlight fit on my DLX?


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[pdedse]

I wanted to buy a '13 when it first came out...too expensive, and I don't like red. The '14 standard I bought was over 2k cheaper...and not red.

 

[Elipten_imp]

Yea I want blue. Not happening in USA.


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[kballowe_imp]

I would maybe like laced spoke wheels.
But, I want stainless steel spokes.

I would have liked the older version of the fuel tank.

I also want to win the lottery.

 

[MM300_imp]

I have the 2014 DLX and I love it. Classic color, silver motor and, I think, much better looking side covers.

But...

If not for the new 2013 Thruxton I had just gotten I would have bought the 2013 CB on sight in 2013. Problem is I didn't know about the 2013 CB until I went to my dealerships spring '13 'Sale a thon' and saw it sitting there. I liked the Triumph but right then and there I was like WTF! Why didn't I know about this Honda?

The 2014 cost. Because I got the 2014, and wanted red, I had to pay for ABS. I don't care about ABS, I've been riding long enough to know how to use motorcycle brakes and I will not buy a black bike. While it's a cool looking bike in its own right, IMO the blacked out bike drains away most of the classic look of this machine. (That said, if I had the dough I'd go down to my dealer right now and buy their last '14 CB Standard, ya know, so I could have two of them)

So yeah, I would love the 2013 CB as much as my '14 and, I think, for less money.

 

[flynrider]

I bought a nice 2013 CB1100 and rode it around and got it rained on and rode it down gravel roads and thru mud puddles and and and it took me everywhere I wanted to go.

AND, I was happy.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I now have a 2014 CB1100 Deluxe.
It has some extra "nice to have" stuff, but what's the difference? Even with that 6-speed transmission, I'm not sure that I care, one way or another.

Now, I admit that I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but (having owned both) I simply see no difference in the riding/handling between the two bikes. To the untrained eye, they look virtually identical.....

:biker:
.
.
.

I'm with you, Kballowe. I also feel the same way about the black standard and the new '17 EX. They're all CB1100s. The (IMHO) relatively minor differences in colors and features don't really make that much difference once you're in the seat.

 

[ride4now_imp]

As someone else who has owned both a 13 and a 14 I can say from a riding perspective there is no difference imo. I certainly can't "feel" the extra 30 pounds of my dlx over my 13 std, and I have ridden std and dlx's back to back. no diff I can tell, but then again I am not an expert road racer. The 30 pounds is a moot point as far as I am concerned. Heck I'm even ok with the stock suspension. I loved my 13 because it was the first iteration of a style of bike I have always enjoyed, made in Japan by my favorite manufacturer. BUT... I love my dlx more for a lot of reasons, mostly aesthetic, (the dual mufflers, the double wall chromed headers, the chrome bar ends, the polished triple trees and master cylinders, the wrap around the frame color matched side covers, the pleated seat, the metal sprocket cover, the silver engine and wheels) but also from a functional standpoint. I do travel freeway, even to other states occasionally and enjoy the lower rpms the 6 speed affords. I like the extra 40-45 miles of gas it carries. I like that it came std with ABS which may save my bacon someday. I like the digital gear indicator and the fuel/trip computer. I like the 1/2" taller bars.

I could have been happy for the rest of my life with my 13 std, if they hadn't brought out the DLX, but in the end I'm happier with my 14 dlx.

YMMV

I was going to write my own response... but since I too have owned both and happen to agree with Ferret on everything he said, I thought I'd just repost his. Saves a lot of typing. :beerchug:

 

[TCBronson_imp]

Since in my opinion this bike is all about looks first for me, the DLX is as close as I have seen to what I like the best. I really like the silver engine and 4 in to 2 exhaust as well as the color match side covers and the functional larger tank and 6th speed. The new 2017 appeals to me because of the spoke wheels and larger tank. I wish they had made a lot more of the 2014 DLX's. I also hope the price of the 2017 is too high for me to be tempted to sell my 2013 to try to get closer to what I like best.

 

[use2b_imp]

I love this bike but do think the 17 is not going to change anything and i sure wouldn't trade mine for one.
must admit my 4.7 gal tank goes for a long time between refills with the short distances and low speeds i travel so volume is good.
once again Honda could have done so much better with so little effort to go more classic. how hard would it be to go total retro with knee pads on the tank but perhaps its just me stuck in the 60's.

 

[Cormanus]

I'd have liked knee pads too.

 

[Nortoon_imp]

Quote: I was going to write my own response... but since I too have owned both and happen to agree with Ferret on everything he said, I thought I'd just repost his. Saves a lot of typing.
I agree! The CB1100 is supposed to reflect the air-cooled 4-cyclinder Hondas of days long gone. Replacing the double-walled chrome headers and dual mufflers with twisted discoloured headers and a lopsided 4-into-1 exhaust system really spoils the look of the motorcycle. If the standard model had a 4-into-2 exhaust system, I would have bought one two years ago here in Canada.

Oddly enough I like the look of the cast wheels on the 2014 Deluxe, although the spoke wheels on the 2017 Ex model are more authentic. I wonder if they run tubeless tires? The specs don't reference that.

 

[the Ferret]

no they are tubed