So, I’ve been eyeing the Honda CB1100 for a while now. It’s got that classic look that I really dig, but I wasn’t sure if it was all show and no go, you know? Anyways, I finally decided to take the plunge and get my hands dirty. I got my bike from the dealer and took it back home to start my project.
First thing I did was take it for a spin around the block. Honestly, it felt pretty heavy, especially when I was trying to maneuver it at low speeds. It was like wrestling with a beast! And the suspension? Don’t even get me started. It felt like I was riding a pogo stick, especially when I had a passenger. Every time I hit the brakes, the front end would just dive like crazy.
After that initial ride, I started digging into the bike’s guts. I noticed that the idle speed was all over the place. Sometimes it would drop so low that the engine would just die. It was super annoying, especially in stop-and-go traffic. After checking the forums, I found out that this was a common problem, especially with the 2014 and 2015 models. Then I tried fixing the idle speed following some advice, but it didn’t work either.
I also heard some people talking about a weird hesitation or stuttering when they were riding. Mine had that issue too, right out of the box. Some folks said they fixed it with a simple throttle trick, but others had to mess with the ECU or something called a PCV. I tried the throttle trick, but it didn’t do much for me.
Since I wanted to keep track of everything, I started logging all my rides and fuel-ups. I figured it would be helpful to see how the bike was performing over time. Up until now, I’ve logged data from about 18 different rides, 501 fuel-ups, and I’ve put about 61,753 miles on the bike. It’s been a lot of riding, let me tell you.
I’ve also been thinking about what tools I should carry with me in case I run into any problems on the road. Getting a flat tire is my biggest worry. I haven’t figured out the perfect tool kit yet, but I’m working on it.
From what I read, Honda stopped making the CB1100 in 2014, at least for the US market. Some people say it wasn’t “retro” enough, which I guess makes sense. It did look classic, but maybe not in the right way for some folks. I heard that they were made in Honda’s Kumamoto factory and they put a lot of effort into the craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Overall, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag with the CB1100. There are definitely some things I love about it, but there are also some quirks that drive me nuts. I’m still figuring things out and trying to make it my own, but it’s definitely been an interesting journey so far. To be continued, I need to go now. Bye!
