Cycle World CB1100 Road Test — July, 2013

[V452CB1100]

(05-31-2013 06:26 AM)thumper Wrote:  One of the things I love about the CB11 is that it doesn't ask you to go fast. It's perfectly happy tooling-around at 55-75mph. I know it sounds weird, but the engine just doesn't ask to be spooled to redline. It's a very serene, relaxed, enjoyable ride.

Too many people are judging this bike by its quarter-mile times. That's like judging a CBR250 for its cross-country touring capabilities. If the CB11 was built for speed, it'd be wearing 17" sport tires at both ends.

Now my Honda 919, which was also a standard-style bike, and one that some people try to compare to the CB11, was a totally different beast. That was a sport bike in standard clothing--and wasn't happy unless it was carving a road at supra-legal speeds. It was a blast to ride at 100, but it wasn't in its element at 55. I used the 919 many times while instructing on the racetrack.

My CB11 will be my comfort bike, and won't ever get taken onto the track, or flogged (well, not too hard!) on a back road.

You got that right. My FZ8 does not even wake up until 80 mph. The CB1100 feels perfect at any speed below that and encourages one to keep it at about 70 on the speedo. Quarter mile times are good to know when considering how quick the bike could merge onto the freeway or get out of harm's way, though.

[michael1954]

I have said our CB1100 are slow, but it was in comparison to my Z900RS, which has a complete Akrapovic exhaust system and K&N Air Filter. I have a K&N Air Filter on both of my CB's, but noticed only slight gains in acceleration.

[michael1954]

(05-30-2013 08:30 PM)oldyaler Wrote:  Funny thing is the CB1100 has the same 0-60 time as a 2011 ZR1 Corvette but some people say it's slow.

I am one of those, forgive me that has said it is slow. But, I was comparing it to my Z900RS that has a complete Akrapovic Exhaust system, and K&N Airfilter.
The Kawasaki smokes the CB, sorry, and it will hit 125 with a couple thousand rpm's left. That is as fast as I will ever go, again!

[GoldOxide]

(11-09-2020 12:22 AM)michael1954 Wrote:  

(05-30-2013 08:30 PM)oldyaler Wrote:  Funny thing is the CB1100 has the same 0-60 time as a 2011 ZR1 Corvette but some people say it's slow.

I am one of those, forgive me that has said it is slow. But, I was comparing it to my Z900RS that has a complete Akrapovic Exhaust system, and K&N Airfilter.
The Kawasaki smokes the CB, sorry, and it will hit 125 with a couple thousand rpm's left. That is as fast as I will ever go, again!

No reason to be sorry for stating a fact. I don't think anyone is waving the CB1100 race flag, however, I believe most are pretty happy with the machine's response.

[Guth]

(11-09-2020 12:22 AM)michael1954 Wrote:  I am one of those, forgive me that has said it is slow. But, I was comparing it to my Z900RS that has a complete Akrapovic Exhaust system, and K&N Airfilter.
The Kawasaki smokes the CB, sorry, and it will hit 125 with a couple thousand rpm's left. That is as fast as I will ever go, again!

Apples and oranges. Yes, the Z900RS offers greater performance than the CB1100, but let's be honest, it is retro in styling only. Even then notable concessions were made to blend that styling with thoroughly modern underpinnings — I just saw one of these again in person last month and was reminded of what that gas tank looks like from an angle other than the side view. A much more suitable comparison for the Z900RS would be the Honda CB1000R (or the Yamaha XSR900 or the Suzuki Katana).

[michael1954]

(11-09-2020 09:53 AM)Guth Wrote:  

(11-09-2020 12:22 AM)michael1954 Wrote:  I am one of those, forgive me that has said it is slow. But, I was comparing it to my Z900RS that has a complete Akrapovic Exhaust system, and K&N Airfilter.
The Kawasaki smokes the CB, sorry, and it will hit 125 with a couple thousand rpm's left. That is as fast as I will ever go, again!

Apples and oranges. Yes, the Z900RS offers greater performance than the CB1100, but let's be honest, it is retro in styling only. Even then notable concessions were made to blend that styling with thoroughly modern underpinnings — I just saw one of these again in person last month and was reminded of what that gas tank looks like from an angle other than the side view. A much more suitable comparison for the Z900RS would be the Honda CB1000R (or the Yamaha XSR900 or the Suzuki Katana).

Quite right. I do not like to compare them, but was using it to make fast a relative term. I enjoy the ride on either of my CB's to the Z900RS, and in the looks department, the 2017 is one of the most beautiful bikes I have seen. If Kawasaki had put a pair of Ohlins shocks on the rear, they would have been so much closer to the retro look they were going for.