I have strayed and the guzzi gods appear to be angry

[lazlokovacs]

I have a LOT of work on this year, ( ) and not much time for projects.

 My poor loop is awaiting a new rear drive from mr mullendore.

My lemans had 3 clutch failures in as many years, trying different plate manufacturers each time, so I'm not too keen to rebuild that

My Cali is a real slow build involving custom aluminium body panels etc... (its gonna be great but I'm in no hurry)

And my griso... well.. The Mrs can't really get comfortable on the back

So...

for my do all, allround 2-up, townbike/tourer do it all mount for the next 12 months

I went ahead and bought the only new motorcycle (guzzi and triumphs excluded) out there that actually looks like a motorcycle...

The HONDA CB1100EX

And it's beautifully built..

And I wish Guzzi built bikes like that

Gorgeous to look at

And there's little plastic and it fits so well

BUT

The engine SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUCKS

I just don't get it

There's a horrible buzzy vibration from 3K to 5K (ie the usable midrange) and a less pronounced high frequency buzz at all other revs

I've heard from other owners that the secret is to keep the revs around 2-3k

Maybe I just got a lemon???

Or am I being punished for straying from the path of guzzi righteousness??

Hundreds of thousands of miles on Guzzis, full engine rebuilds, a garage full of spare parts, a pair of red overalls that are now just black with dirt and grease, scars from the road and hot pipes....

and I'm not allowed to stray just for a moment???

calling out to the other guzzi riders that also have the CB, help me out... do you really just keep the revs below 3k all the time? what happens when you need to overtake?? I've been actually lifting my hands off the grips every time I have to pass through 4krpm just from a sense of self preservation!

[guzzisteve]

Balance the throttle bodies. OR have a dealer do it.

I think someone else here bought one, maybe Ohiorider(Bob)

They are not all sewing machines.

[AJ Huff]

That's a bummer to hear. That bike has sure tempted me.

-AJ

[Huzo]

You’d think that you should not have to know a “secret”, avoid vibrations which are right where the bike lives rev wise.
Just ditch it and get a cheap Breva for the same task...(and we’ll never speak of this again.....).
Just a thought..
Did you actually RIDE the thing before bought bought it....?

[Kiwi_Roy]

What do you expect, Hondas may have a good motor but zero character.

[ohiorider]

I rode the 2014 CB1100 for 3 seasons (2017, 18, 19) and traded it on a used, low mileage (1600 mile) 2016 T120 Bonneville.  I didn't notice excessive vibes from the inline 4.  My biggest aggravation was slop in the drive line.  Well finished bike, but after riding my buddy's T120, I decided I wasn't a Honda in line 4 guy.  It wasn't apparently intended to be a high revver, but more of a lower rpm torque powerplant.  I think this bike would have held a lot more appeal for long time Honda riders who were used to the characteristics of the brand.

I rode the CB1100 for 11750 miles, and found it trouble free ..... typical Honda.  It wasn't a hands-on machine like my older BMWs or the 1200 Sport or Griso.  DOHC with (I believe) shims ....... I wasn't going to attempt that task when the time came!

Would I own another CB1100?  I wouldn't rule it out.  Later models had much better front suspension ...... so much better that several riders on the CB1100 forum swapped out their 2014 forks for later model forks.

Bob

[Huzo]

What do you expect, Hondas may have a good motor but zero character.

But zero character usually translates out to a motor that you CAN’T feel.

[lazlokovacs]

But zero character usually translates out to a motor that you CAN’T feel.

Exunctly my good Huzo

I was indeed quite prepared for sewing machine blandness....

and yees, I test rode it, it was a model with very low mileage and I promised the dealer that I wouldn't take it too far. and that I wouldn't go above the break-in revs of 4k... (guess where the rough patch is??)

I was more focused on its handling, power, fuelling, how the pilion was doing.. and on a 10 minute ride at low revs the vibes aren't a problem...

Reading further, it seems that Honda have, in their infinite wisdom decided to

DELIBERATELY MAKE IT UNBALANCED

by staggering the closing degrees of the intake cams.

Uh... someone pinch me

I was not expecting that one. Or to be fair to me, to check prior to buying that the manufacturer hasn't decided to deliberately unbalance the engine??? I've literally never heard of that! Nor could I have ever imagined someone would do that...

But then there are people out there who buy pre-distressed jeans?

I think the modern motorcycle market has gone insane, but I'll save that rant for another time

 

[lazlokovacs]

Just ditch it and get a cheap Breva for the same task...(and we’ll never speak of this again.....).
Just a thought..

Another example of the madness of the modern world...

My work takes me to several major european cities, and yes, I do it on the bike. the Breva is now banned on account of emissions.

So I'm stuck with getting something Euro 4+

It certainly limits the choice somewhat as motorcycles are no longer being made as anything remotely resembling transport for humans but more as rich mens luxury sunny sunday toys.

(BARF!)

(IMHO)

[Dave Swanson]

Correct.  Honda engineered some vibration into the engine at those rpms.  This was Honda's first ground up air cooled 4 cylinder engine design in almost 40 years.  The option to keep it smooth was shelved to give it some character!   

I find this concept of character annoying but not terribly so.  It is a wonderfully screwed together bike, and it reeks Honda from every pore.  I cut my motorcycling teeth on a CB750 50 years ago therefore I do wax nostalgic for the whole 4 cylinder Honda deal and forgive the CB1100 for this small shortcoming. 

I feel that Honda definitely went over the top in the execution department compared to all of the other modern classics.  It is an utterly amazing accomplishment in my mind.

Taken at the recent Slimey Crud Run in Wisconsin.  The old Hondaphiles were drooling in droves.

[twowheeladdict]

I test rode one back in '14.  Rode it up lookout mountain and it did not want to take the curves without a lot of effort on my part.  Even at the extremely discounted price I just couldn't do it. 

[Moparnut72]

The Harley Milwaukee 8s have had some vibration engineered in to feel like the older bikes. I don't get it. My R50/2 was the smoothest bike I ever owned and the main reason I bought it. My R75/5 was good too. My Audace is probably next or maybe close to my R90/6. I can't believe that manufacturers would engineer vibration in when smoothness should be the ultimate goal. I remember the day when front wheels did their best to leave the ground and I don't mean wheelies. I do don't get it.
kk

[twowheeladdict]

The Harley Milwaukee 8s have had some vibration engineered in to feel like the older bikes. I don't get it. My R50/2 was the smoothest bike I ever owned and the main reason I bought it. My R75/5 was good too. My Audace is probably next or maybe close to my R90/6. I can't believe that manufacturers would engineer vibration in when smoothness should be the ultimate goal. I remember the day when front wheels did their best to leave the ground and I don't mean wheelies. I do don't get it.
kk

There is a difference between low frequency "power pulses" and high frequency buzzing.  I have a 2018 Milwaukee 8 107 and it is very smooth and comfortable.  No buzzing at all. 

[Motormike]

My wife has a Civic in the garage, a true "appliance" in every sense of the word.  It's given us zero problems, which is good, but driving it bores me to tears, which is bad.  That CB1100 is a beauty, too bad riding it is as exciting as watching paint dry.

[Alfetta]

I think the CB1100 is a very good looking bike. Better even than my V7. But i have a personal issue with such machines, they are too complicated and I don't care for the central timing chain design conventionally used on these inline 4's. as they restrict cooling of the center two cylinders.

i'm NOT knocking the bike, and you can't hardly knock Honda's quality...  I just like simple...

[ampm7]

I don't notice much vibration at all on my CB 1100,  matter of fact the engine is very smooth. There might be some at 4000rpm like most bikes so avoid that rpm and keep the bike between 3200 and 4500 for best cruising. Of course when you go on an on ramp, get her up to 6-7000rpm's or more. For stock suspension it works quite well, better than most but, can it be improved? Of course. It does go through the turns very well and the fit and finish is quite good. The only drawback I would say is the wind blast on the freeway at 75-80mph. Brakes are excellent and fueling is not bad. I put in a Boosterplug, K&N filter, Delekvic mini 8, Superbrace fork brace, bar end mirrors (much better than those rabbit ears), Puig flyscreen, LED headlight (super bright), tank knee pads, Viking tailbag on rear rack, gel seat, and MFW highway pegs. It is an excellent commuter bike but for the long haul I prefer something else. The inline 4's are definitely different than a V-Twin and since I've owned several before and I liked 'em I do like this bike.  Earlier picture of bike...   

   

[JJ]

One of the Guzzisti down in Phoenix *SOLD* his green Griso 8V and now owns and rides two (2) Honda CB1100's.   He said has no regrets...

[SmithSwede]

I don't notice much vibration at all on my CB 1100,  matter of fact the engine is very smooth. There might be some at 4000rpm like most bikes so avoid that rpm and keep the bike between 3200 and 4500 for best cruising. Of course when you go on an on ramp, get her up to 6-7000rpm's or more. For stock suspension it works quite well, better than most but, can it be improved? Of course. It does go through the turns very well and the fit and finish is quite good. The only drawback I would say is the wind blast on the freeway at 75-80mph. Brakes are excellent and fueling is not bad. I put in a Boosterplug, K&N filter, Delekvic mini 8, Superbrace fork brace, bar end mirrors (much better than those rabbit ears), Puig flyscreen, LED headlight (super bright), tank knee pads, Viking tailbag on rear rack, gel seat, and MFW highway pegs. It is an excellent commuter bike but for the long haul I prefer something else. The inline 4's are definitely different than a V-Twin and since I've owned several before and I liked 'em I do like this bike.  Earlier picture of bike...   

 

I’m not exactly a Honda guy or an I-4 fan.  But that is a very pretty bike.   Tastefully done. 

[lazlokovacs]

thanks for the real world reports guys

some further thoughts

the goal of cam builders since the dawn of engines has been to attempt to make as much usable power across as wide a power band as possible, I'm really confused that we're now in a new era.

I did another 3 hour ride yesterday. It's a truly bizarre engine. On the highway, 80-90mph in top gear puts you right in the no go area of the rev range (where it vibes so bad that your hands would be a goner in around 15mins if you stayed there.)

BUT if you drop 2 cogs you end up at 5K where its noticeably smoother

or even shift all the way to 3rd, you end up at 6K where its REALLY smooth

...and fast! like glance down at the speedo and you're suddenly cruising at 100-110mph, an absolute 'gentlemans express'

but, as soon as I need to slow down back to say 65-75 I found myself pulling the clutch in, letting the speed drop and then flicking 3 gears back up to 6th and clutching back in at 3k

sounds crazy? It is....

It's a really weird feeling, going down the highway at 70mph in top gear and knowing that you are limited by
a nasty buzz from the engine.

I can't really explain why that rev range should be so rough, and yet the bike be so smooth at higher and lower rpms. I know every engine has it' rough point, but this is the most extreme version I've ever encountered

I kept asking myself, how would I be riding this thing differently if it wasn't for the vibraions, and the answer is, I would be riding in a much less complicated way!!

Really made me appreciate my guzzi lumps, which are super happy all the way though the revs, which means that in the real world that you can shift if you want to, but rarely because you have to.

[chuck peterson]

Drop 4 engine sizes to a 400, and the super smooth 6k rpm becomes a howling honda shriek at 9k..and the small motor makes every stoplight feel like a MotoGP start. They have a new 650..w amazing headpipes like the 76 400f

But you’re only tea kettle-ing along at 65mph in 3rd gear instead of 110mph on the cb1100

[Motormike]

Too bad they never brought the "RS" version to the states.  I thought it was a stunner:

[Cam3512]

The key is to learn from OTHER people’s mistakes.  This had played out dozens of times here, and they always come back.

[ampm7]

If you look at Samurider's and WhiteHouse websites and some of the links you will see upgrades to make the bike look like a CB750. They look great. The only problem is the cost...Also, there must be something wrong with your bike because mine at 70mph in 6th gear is smooth as silk.

[Dave Swanson]

If you look at Samurider's and WhiteHouse websites and some of the links you will see upgrades to make the bike look like a CB750. They look great. The only problem is the cost...Also, there must be something wrong with your bike because mine at 70mph in 6th gear is smooth as silk.

I appreciate all the work that went into the pieces, but this is pretty darn good looking just the way it sits.

[Chuck in Indiana]

The key is to learn from OTHER people’s mistakes.  This had played out dozens of times here, and they always come back.

Yep..