2013 Honda CB1100

[Hickey]

Originally Posted by oldhippie1

Its obviously the same bike. Are you able to pull up a servce manual? That would be great information to have.

Nope. The owners manual was all I could find.

[Ed-B]

This new CB takes me back... It reminds me of the 1973 Honda CB750 that I owned in the late '70s. That '73 CB was my first big street bike, and my motorcycling role models rode tricked out Honda 750s and Z1 Kawasaki 900s.

This new CB is very tempting, and I'm certainly going to give the new CB1100 a close look when it hits the dealer's showrooms this Spring. But I'm afraid I'd be tempted to make the same mistake I made almost 30 years ago - trading a more advanced machine for a charming but lesser bike.

Back in 1980 I wanted to buy a brand new bike, and I really wanted the European Yamaha XJ 650, but of course we couldn't get that bike here. So, in 1981 I bought the new whizz-bang Yamaha Seca XJ750. That really turned out to be a great bike for me, and it was somewhat advanced for it's time. A couple years later I sold the XJ750 and bought a leftover 1982 Seca XJ650 after Yamaha finally brought that model into the US market. Although the XJ650 was a fine bike, and I probabaly would have been very happy with it in 1980, I thought the XJ750 was a superior machine in all respects - except for the classic European styling of the XJ650. I realized that I missed my XJ750 when the newness wore off the XJ650.

And so here I am today, with a perfectly fine 2007 Suzuki Bandit 1250S, thinking how nice it would be to have a charming new CB1100 Honda. Yes, it takes me back. But I'm getting that "Been here before feeling"... in more ways than one.


Ed.

[mrbreeze]

Well, I am sure it is worth exactly what it cost, but in my opinion - well let me just say I am somewhat biased against anything that says "Suzuki" on the tank. I really like the 1250, and on paper at least it is an excellent choice for me. And it is probably an excellent choice for most people. Unfortunately I have had problems with the last two Suzukis I owned. I bought both of them new, and in the second case I even bought the extended warranty. I would have been happy to over look the worn out clutch, if Suzuki had only honored the warranty, but instead they told me replacing hte clutch at 20,000 miles was "routine maintenance".

I traded that bike for a Honda ST1300, and I was blown away by the difference in quality. The Honda was FAR SUPERIOR to the Suzuki in that regard.


I will not be in a position to buy another bike anytime soon, but if I was and I wanted something "more advanced" than the CB1100, I would probably just wait to see what Honda does in another year or two. That is the silver lining for me. I am hoping by the time I am ready to buy another bike, that the Crosstourer will be an option in these United States.

[Towjam]

Does anyone know of any CB1100-specific discussion forums on the interwebs?

[Towjam]

Originally Posted by Hickey

Nope. The owners manual was all I could find.

According to the owners manual, the CB comes with a complete toolkit. What do you want to bet that the US model will only come with spanner wrench (if even that)?

[markjenn]

Originally Posted by Towjam

What do you want to bet that the US model will only come with spanner wrench (if even that)?

Do other US Honda models come with abbreviated toolkits vs. other markets?

- Mark

[dirtdreamer50]

Originally Posted by Towjam

Does anyone know of any CB1100-specific discussion forums on the interwebs?

Looked for one earlier, with no luck. There is the 1100F site for the older models, though. The new model may end up having its own section there, some day.

http://www.cb1100f.net/

[jon_l]

Originally Posted by Towjam

According to the owners manual, the CB comes with a complete toolkit. What do you want to bet that the US model will only come with spanner wrench (if even that)?

My '09 CBF came with the usual OEM toolkit; minimal and mediocre, but it is there, neatly stowed under the pillion seat.

[DWR302]

I am also interested in this retro Honda, and since Bonnevilles and Becker hard bags have been brought up in this thread I thought I would include a picture of my current ride. After putting thousands of touring miles on several different bikes I finally have found that the Bonneville gives me the most smiles per mile. It's the retro thing I suppose cuz I started riding back in the 60's. The modern bikes I owned just didn't do it for me. I've got about 25,000 touring miles on a Bonneville now so I think I'm done looking for a touring bikes. I think this new Honda would also be a great touring bike, especially for the guys that rode the inline fours back in the day. Put some bags on that puppy and hit the road every now and then.

[jas67]

Originally Posted by DWR302

I am also interested in this retro Honda, and since Bonnevilles and Becker hard bags have been brought up in this thread I thought I would include a picture of my current ride. ...... Put some bags on that puppy and hit the road every now and then.

There is absolutely no reason why a cool retro bike like the CB1100F (or Bonneville) can't be used for touring. The bike on the left in this picture is my 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic with 30L Hepco Becker Junior side cases and 50L Journey top case. If you're considering Hepco Becker -- spend the little extra and get the Juniors, they are way better than the Journeys. I will, someday soon, hopefully, be replacing my top case with either the 45L or 55L Junior top case.

[MacMcMacmac]

Nice bike. Not really into Hondas, but clean, simple machines really appeal to me. The icing on the cake for this one would be a rounder tank like the originals, plus a few original paint schemes like the black and gold, or black and blue.

[The Killstar]

Did somebody say Bonneville touring?
Mine;


My brother's

[Yokomo]

Can't wait to see one in person.

[oldhippie1]

I thought this was a CB1100 thread. All I'm seeing in pictures of Bonneville's.

[kindofblue]

Nice photoshop image. It would be way cool if someone came up with an original style/size tank from the CB750 to fit the CB1100.

Originally Posted by RicH2

The whouse version....