Author Topic: NGC - Tomorrow will tell the tale ...CB1100 (Read 13950 times)

ohiorider · « **on:** April 09, 2017, 07:35:02 PM »

Well, at last, the weather looks like it'll cooperate. We're leaving at 5am and driving 200 miles from home to pick up the recently-purchased 2014 CB1100. I love my twins (GS and 1200Sport,) so I'm more than curious to find what my initial reaction will be to the retro-styled Honda in-line DOHC four cylinder. We'll drive from Hudson OH to Clarksburg WV the quick way, (OH Tpke, PA Tpke, I-79 south) but I'll ride a lot of US 250 thru WV and OH on the way back home.

A few current owners here on WG are positive about the bike. Hopefully she'll strike a chord with me, too.

Bob

kevdog3019 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2017, 08:02:11 PM »

How exciting for you Bob! I did the same many years ago, but took Greyhound down and picked up the bike. This was in W. Virginia. Stayed the week with the fine fella and road every twisty we could, then road back up home to Michigan. That was a Guzzi however. Your experience will be interesting since it's an inline 4. I'll let you know I'm getting my first inline 4 Honda any week now on a trade with a friend. I really enjoy the Honda for a change of pace and hope you do as well. Best to you and enjoy your experience.
-Kevin

aschem · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2017, 08:17:21 PM »

Congratulations on the purchase of the CB. I bought a new a 2013 CB1100 and have no regrets. Have you checked out the CB1100 Forum? Lots of good stuff for CB owners.

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2017, 08:24:55 PM »

Can't wait for a ride report.
GliderJohn

Wildguzzi.com · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2017, 08:24:55 PM »

Tom · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2017, 08:29:16 PM »

Rear sprocket will be too big and footpegs too high.

Shorty · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2017, 12:02:05 AM »

HWY 250 is grand even on an ox cart....

kingoffleece · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2017, 05:38:12 AM »

Agreed. 250 is a blast.

cookiemech · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2017, 05:59:09 AM »

Very interested in hearing your impressions of the bike. I've never owned an inline-four machine; if I could easily fit Bike #9 in my garage, I think I'd have one of these. They are absolutely beautiful; I like the looks much better than the 1970s bikes they emulate.

I don't know how tall you are; I've read that they may be cramped for someone over 5'10" (I'm 6'1"; at least I used to be). Like to hear about comfort experience. Two hundred miles should tell!

aschem · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2017, 02:31:43 PM »

I purchased lowered 1 inch pegs and had Sergeant raise the seat 1 inch. Total cost less than $300 for both mods.
My inseam is 32.

Tom · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2017, 02:37:48 PM »

Stock set-up will get you in the hips.

JJ · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2017, 02:47:03 PM »

Congrats and good for you Bob. The late model Honda CB1100 is one of the all time great, practical, reliable, "UJM's" (Universal Japanese Motorcycles) on the market today. I predict you will have no regrets...

:1:

Lannis · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2017, 02:51:19 PM »

Quote from: Tom on April 09, 2017, 08:29:16 PM

Rear sprocket will be too big and footpegs too high.

and it needs 10 or 15 more horsepower ...

Markcarovilli · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2017, 04:10:39 PM »

....waiting to hear....

Mark

kevdog3019 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2017, 04:53:54 PM »

Quote from: Lannis on April 10, 2017, 02:51:19 PM

and it needs 10 or 15 more horsepower ...

My (new to me) '85 Honda Nighthawk 700s has just 7 fewer ponies and weighs 24 lb less, 6 gears and shaft/hydraulic valves/4 per cyl. That's surprising with the hp # in comparison.
The CB IS A BEAUTY THOUGH.

Frulk · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2017, 05:13:03 PM »

11.5K miles on my 2013 CB. Love the damn thing. Low cost routine maintenance. Good looks. Smooth and QUIET. Enough usable power and torque for real world riding. A long term keeper you don't see on every street corner.

alanp · « **Reply #15 on:** April 10, 2017, 05:30:47 PM »

Congrats. Really pretty bikes. Will be interested in your thoughts.

swooshdave · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2017, 05:37:21 PM »

Doesn't your 1200 Sport fit the same category as the CB?

ohiorider · « **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2017, 06:24:19 PM »

I'll put my ride report together either tomorrow or Wednesday. Right now, I'm recovering from my first real ride of the year. Punctuated by several wrong turns on US 250 (Fairmont WV, Wheeling WV, and the Ohio side of the river. If Tom didn't miss a turn, I did. US 250 was not well-marked in places. And the road itself needs some repair work ..... a bit beat up. Heavy trucks doing a number on the road. Three hours from home to the dealer in Tom's car, nearly 7 hours home. How the hell did it take this long to ride 247 miles (?) Better question .... how did Tom do it in 3 hours?

So, tonight I'm gonna sit back, relax, and have a few Stella Artois (sorry, the carry-out had no Peroni, and I've never acquired a taste for Japanese beer)

I think the little Honda will be a neat machine once I get her on roads I know and like. It's been ages since I rode 250, and though I remembered several tight turns, just not this many of them! Lots of pipeline and timbering activity that wasn't there last time I rode it.

Later,

Bob

Bill Hagan · « **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2017, 08:50:30 PM »

Stop whining.

Just drink your beer, get some sleep, and write your report.

Bill

Frulk · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2017, 10:55:06 PM »

What Bill said!

twodogs · « **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2017, 07:24:44 AM »

:1: LOL, congrats on the new ride

ohiorider · « **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2017, 03:57:29 PM »

Quote from: Bill Hagan on April 10, 2017, 08:50:30 PM

Stop whining.

Just drink your beer, get some sleep, and write your report.

Bill

Just give me a little more saddle time and I'll write up my opinions on the CB1100.

What ..... me whine?

kevdog3019 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 11, 2017, 05:11:48 PM »

What... 7 hrs. of torture wasn't enough to tell??

You're killin' us!

ohiorider · « **Reply #23 on:** April 12, 2017, 05:22:27 PM »

Took the new to me 2014 CB1100 out for approx. 120 miles today. Not as warm as Monday, but still sunny and low 60s. Odometer now shows 360+ miles.

Re the bike. This won't be comprehensive, simply some initial observations.
- either lower to the ground than the 1200 Sport, or slightly narrower, making it easier to reach the ground.
- easier for me to get in and out of the garage than the GS, and much easier than moving the 1200 Sport

- I find it isn't necessary to wring the bike's neck to achieve really nice straight line performance. Since I'm still breaking it in, I'm keeping rpm normally below 4000. I find this engine is tuned to pull nicely in any lower gear from 2000 to 2500, and shifting at 3000 to 3500 and rolling on in the next taller gear shows the bike to have good low end torque, and more than adequate acceleration.

- RPM at indicated 60mph is an indicated 2750rpm (6th gear.) And the bike is not lugging at that rpm. A slight twist of the throttle and she's off. No drama mama.

- Rolls nicely into turns and comes out of turn nicely while adding power.
- Turbine smooth engine. It may be slightly buzzy over 4000rpm, but it's still tight and will most likely smooth out with miles
- Haven't calculated physical fuel consumption, but dash computer says I'm getting slightly over 50mpg

- Ergonomics: Not bad at all. I may need to rotate the handlebars a bit closer to me, since my 32" sleeve length doesn't give me a lot of reach. Saddle may need some work. Comfortable enough for 2-3 hours at a time (for me) but running under 60mph and I feel like I'm leaning too much toward the fuel tank. At 65-70mph saddle position feels fine.

- Instruments: Nice round analog speedo and tach (redline approx. 8500rpm) Large very visible gear indicator, TRIP1 and TRIP2 accessible by depressing a small button and moving thru menu items for each trip.

- Brakes. dual disk in front/single disk in rear. Easy to modulate
- Clutch. Hydraulic and not heavy.
- Tranny is six speed with nice spacing between gears.

It is an in-line four, so it will take some getting used to the lack of flywheel feel when downshifting .... seems to take a bit more finesse than either the GS or 1200 Sport.

- Suspension. preload adjust only front and rear. I find it slightly (I think) overdamped, and somewhat rough over frost heaves. But the CB forum feels most of that condition can be cured with lighter fork oil and perhaps less fork oil/more air cushion in the fork tubes. I'm going to put on several hundred more miles before deciding whether I need to make any suspension changes. It's not as harsh as I found my stock 2012 Griso's suspension, but not as supple as either the 1200 Sport or the GS.

That's it for now. I'd appreciate any comments from other WG forum members who also have a CB1100, and whether you agree or disagree with my initial assessment of the bike.

Bob

alanp · « **Reply #24 on:** April 12, 2017, 06:15:05 PM »

I don't have a CB1100, but I sure am surprised at how it seems to like low rpm. 2750 rpm at 60 mph is REALLY low, and it sounds like it has the torque to pull from there. Very nice. My FJR1300 doesn't much care for less than 3500.

Nice looking bike, and I guess I missed this in your earlier posts, but you bought it new?

Kev m · « **Reply #25 on:** April 12, 2017, 06:31:24 PM »

It sounds like a nice motor, sorta tuned like a twin. Hmmm

Lannis · « **Reply #26 on:** April 12, 2017, 06:52:02 PM »

Good report. Sounds like a bike that a Guzzi Guy would like!

Lannis

Adk.IBO · « **Reply #27 on:** April 12, 2017, 08:00:11 PM »

IF...I were to buy a 4 cylinder motorcycle again, one of these would be it.

notice the big if

kevdog3019 · « **Reply #28 on:** April 12, 2017, 08:08:43 PM »

What's redline on this CB? I wouldn't think keeping it under 4K RPM is easy on a four banger. My Honda four lopes along at 6k; redline is around 13k.

Ncdan · « **Reply #29 on:** April 12, 2017, 08:21:33 PM »

You will love the Honda inline 4. I have had a least 4-5 of them over the years , mostly the 900s. Great mechine.

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Author Topic: NGC - Tomorrow will tell the tale ...CB1100 (Read 13950 times)

Wildguzzi.com

Frulk

Bill Hagan

Frulk