Threaded Mode | Linear Mode

OldF7Guy · 01-30-2015 10:01 PM

I continue to be amazed how good my CB1100 is. I mean its really really good imo. All of this has to do with my point of reference. Going from a 2003 rigid mount Sportster to a 2003 Honda 750 Nighthawk felt like a light year leap in the right direction. The 750 will run circles around the 1200 Harley in just about every category that matters to me. Its been stone cold reliable even bought used. I would climb on it and go anywhere right this second without worry.

Enter the CB1100 I got late last year. Its a Super Nighthawk. It does everything better to the point that when I ride the 750 it almost feels archaic. The Nighthawk after all is basically 1991 technology refined and made reliable.

Things have come a long way and I am glad I am around to enjoy some of the advances. I really like my 750 and its fun to ride but Honda really did a good job on these 1100s. Both of these bikes are some of the more satisfying purchases I have ever made and that is saying a lot because I can be a pretty nasty critic at times. Whats scary is that I like them so much I have now started thinking about buying a used Honda car when the time comes. I really like my Hondas new and old.

gossman · 01-30-2015 10:59 PM

Went for a 30 mile ride today and I too am amazed by its refined character. Very few motorcycles in my 40+ years of riding makes me want to ride more. For decades I grew to see them as just transportation but the more I ride, the more I want to.

Flynrider · 01-31-2015 04:05 AM

(01-30-2015 10:01 PM)OldF7Guy Wrote: It does everything better to the point that when I ride the 750 it almost feels archaic. The Nighthawk after all is basically 1991 technology refined and made reliable.

Refined? Nope. Your '03 feels archaic because it is UNrefined '91 technology. The '91-'03 Nighthawks are all mechanically identical. No refinements or improvements. Just different colors and decals.

I know what you mean, though. I've ridden my Nighthawk for 20 yrs. and always considered it the pinnacle of reliability and performance in the UJM category. Then along came the CB11. Now the old Nighthawk feels a little less perfect than it used to. No matter, I still love to ride it and I'll probably ride it until one of us is dead Tongue

OldF7Guy · 01-31-2015 09:49 PM

(01-31-2015 04:05 AM)Flynrider Wrote:
(01-30-2015 10:01 PM)OldF7Guy Wrote: It does everything better to the point that when I ride the 750 it almost feels archaic. The Nighthawk after all is basically 1991 technology refined and made reliable.

Refined? Nope. Your '03 feels archaic because it is UNrefined '91 technology. The '91-'03 Nighthawks are all mechanically identical. No refinements or improvements. Just different colors and decals.

I know what you mean, though. I've ridden my Nighthawk for 20 yrs. and always considered it the pinnacle of reliability and performance in the UJM category. Then along came the CB11. Now the old Nighthawk feels a little less perfect than it used to. No matter, I still love to ride it and I'll probably ride it until one of us is dead

You are correct and its what I meant to say. Its basically 1991 stuff on a 2003. They never changed over the years but you know they were solid and reliable. Fly, they are old but they are reliable and solid as can be. Still like riding the 750.

mikedude · 01-31-2015 10:13 PM

(01-31-2015 09:49 PM)OldF7Guy Wrote:
(01-31-2015 04:05 AM)Flynrider Wrote:
(01-30-2015 10:01 PM)OldF7Guy Wrote: It does everything better to the point that when I ride the 750 it almost feels archaic. The Nighthawk after all is basically 1991 technology refined and made reliable.

Refined? Nope. Your '03 feels archaic because it is UNrefined '91 technology. The '91-'03 Nighthawks are all mechanically identical. No refinements or improvements. Just different colors and decals.

I know what you mean, though. I've ridden my Nighthawk for 20 yrs. and always considered it the pinnacle of reliability and performance in the UJM category. Then along came the CB11. Now the old Nighthawk feels a little less perfect than it used to. No matter, I still love to ride it and I'll probably ride it until one of us is dead

You are correct and its what I meant to say. Its basically 1991 stuff on a 2003. They never changed over the years but you know they were solid and reliable. Fly, they are old but they are reliable and solid as can be. Still like riding the 750.

Actually the NH's are 80's tech.Remember the 700S,KILLER 650 and the 1 year wonder CB-550 NH?

CA200 · 02-01-2015 08:59 AM

I worked at a Honda dealer when the 91-03 750NH came out.
Honda brought a test bike around to let the employees test ride.
They thought they could get the UJM customers from the 80s to buy it. It never did sell well. I had two of them in later years.
They had hinted the bike was taken from a domestic bike used by
the Police units, I don't know if that is true or not though.
I think you have to keep in mind what Honda had coming out then.
The liter super bikes and all the new cruisers.
I remember my first test ride on a 900RR, took me a while to calm
down after that.

**The ferret** · 02-01-2015 09:37 AM

It's actually a shame the Nighthawk 700s and 650 Nighthawk tech went by the wayside. A current 700S(or maybe an 1100S) would be a very desirable bike at least to me. Hydraulic valves that never need adjusting and shaft drive in a pretty lightweight package. What a sport tourer that could be.

Ole · 02-01-2015 09:59 AM

(01-31-2015 10:13 PM)mikedude Wrote: Actually the NH's are 80's tech.Remember the 700S,KILLER 650 and the 1 year wonder CB-550 NH?

I do remember the 83 Nighthawk 550. I rode the ell out of that bike. Hyd valves, shaft drive just put gas and tires on it and go go go.
loved that bike mine was Burgundy

ClassicVW · 02-01-2015 10:30 AM

I do very much like what I call the hidden technology. The stuff I don't have to think about like hydraulic valves and fuel injection, computer engine management, and ABS brakes. Im speaking in general technology terms, not all of that is on my CB of course.

The other, added on computer crap that BMW forced down our throats without us asking for it, because just about all their bikes come completely loaded, is not what I prefer. This crap causes thousands of dollars of repairs soon after the warranty runs out, and is what drove me back to Honda. But that's a discussion for another thread.

chikers · 02-01-2015 01:49 PM

I'm pretty new to road riding (my cb is actually my first "real" street motorcycle), but the cb's modern attributes, combined with its retro styling, are the exact reasons I bought one. I'm glad to have a bike with some basic technical updates such as FI and great brakes, while still having some soul. From what I've read, I'm glad I didn't ride through the older carburetor days. I put up with enough of those jetting dirtbikes for 35 years!