Quote:It’s easy to read the spec sheet and dismiss Honda’s CB1100EX as not powerful enough, not special enough and maybe a bit pricey. Until you ride one, when you realise that having a smooth, torquey, easy-to-use engine is far more important than some numbers in a brochure.
07-16-2017 09:31 PM
baxtercat
1st Service Completed
Rhode Isand USA
Posts: 215
Joined: Jun 2017
he get it more than most. I have to disagree about the fake carbs, tho. That was a turn-off for me with the Bonneville, as is its ambivalent relationship to water-cooling. The CB gets it right by not pretending its FI is actually some other technology. The Honda designers handled the LED headlight, ABS bits, LCD screen and other 21st century amenities in a way that is both honest and respectful of past bikes, IMHO.
07-17-2017 07:30 AM
curlyjoe
High Mileage
Massachusetts
Posts: 1,323
Joined: Jul 2014
Yeah it always seems to come back to "too heavy" and not enough peak horsepower.
My simple understanding is peak HP relates to top speed and torque relates to acceleration. The fact that the CB1100 has such a nice flat torque curve makes this rider quite happy.
Lest we forget, the CB1100 is pretty good at the drag strip.
2013 CB1100 ABS
2008 ST1300
07-18-2017 01:34 PM
Flynrider
Been There
Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,233
Joined: Apr 2013
(07-18-2017 01:34 PM)curlyjoe Wrote: Lest we forget, the CB1100 is pretty good at the drag strip.
That's not bad, as the terminal speed isn't going to get any better than that with the speed limiter in place.
I think it could do even better with the limiter disabled and shift points about 1500 rpm lower. The dyno charts I've seen show peak hp at around 7300 rpm. Power actually drops off above that.
Phoenix, AZ
2013 CB1100 - Big Red
1993 CB750 Nighthawk - Tahitian Blue
I don't know if it has been mentioned on here (I'm sure it has but I couldn't find it in a search) but I took my CB out yesterday and did a quick test - at the 180kph speed limiter the bike was just slightly over 5000rpms. For reference I weigh 220lbs, was on flat ground and it was a calm day with no head wind.
08-08-2017 10:50 AM
Cormanus
Moderator
Queensland, Australia
Posts: 20,660
Joined: Dec 2013
This is my favorite line from the Bennett's review:
"Going back to where we started, the CB1100EX is not a ‘cool-as’ hipster-sled, but it could form the basis for one without too much work and is a thousand times more enjoyable to ride than any 70's or 80's classic, no matter how deep your rose-tinted view of the world."
My conclusion exactly, after having lots of time and miles on two '70's CB750's, a CB400F, and an RD350. There's no comparison.
Ride more. Worry less.
‘12 BMW R1200R Classic
'15 BMW R1200RT