2013 Honda CB1100

[Scoobynut]

Originally Posted by Moonshiner

If it hasn't been posted before in this thread, let's remember some of the attempts at "retro" that are no longer sold in the U.S. such as the Kawi W650, the Kawi ZRX, and other older Honda attempts like the GB500.

I remember when one of the mags did a comparo between the "new" Hinckley Bonnie and the Kawi W650. Their take on it was that Kawi made a better Bonneville than Triumph did. Yet, it's the Triumph that's still selling.

If the CB1100 is a success in the U.S., then maybe we'll see more of the Japanese retro bikes that we currently don't get here in the U.S. But, I'm not holding my breath.

Good points all, Moonshiner, but I still think the market wasn't nearly as ripe for retro rides as it is now. I may be wrong, but the continuing strength of Triumph's lineup, and I sense more of just a general weariness of cruisers and sportbikes, makes the timing good. In these complicated times, I think there is a pent up desire for a return to simplicity. I may be wrong, but I think the timing of the W650 and especially the GB500 were just too premature. Remember, when both those bikes were being sold, the cruiser market was still going from strength to strength (unfortunately, in my opinion), and most everything else was being swept aside by that craze. The cruiser market has leveled off and even contracted for most manufacturers, so maybe, just maybe, there's room for a return to a more rational style of standard bike like the CB1100 (and other bikes like the W800). I sure do hope so.

[Scoobynut]

BTW, I was trolling a (Hinckley) Triumph website yesterday and they had a thread on the CB1100. Some of the posters were concerned that the majority of Triumph riders on the forum were going to ditch their Bonnies for the CB1100 when it arrived. A common comment from a lot of the posters was that this was the Honda they'd been waiting for before they bought their Triumph. Anecdotal evidence only, for sure, but I found it very interesting.

[furious_blue]

Originally Posted by Scoobynut

BTW, I was trolling a (Hinckley) Triumph website yesterday and they had a thread on the CB1100. Some of the posters were concerned that the majority of Triumph riders on the forum were going to ditch their Bonnies for the CB1100 when it arrived. A common comment from a lot of the posters was that this was the Honda they'd been waiting for before they bought their Triumph. Anecdotal evidence only, for sure, but I found it very interesting.

Oh, wouldn't that be the height of irony if the new Honda 4 took from the established Triumph Twin, again.. 4 decades later... of course it's different.. all modern bikes are just 'turn the key, push the button and ride' affairs now, but still...

[Gregster]

Doesn't BMW make an R retro bike? I bet the CB will sell for a lot less and perform as good or better and look better doing it. What was the Ducati retro bike with the spoked wheels called? That's another one in this niche that would be competing for the retro dollar but the Honda wins for me hands down because of the fantastic dealer network and because of the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I look down and see the word HONDA cast into the clutch cover.

[ZappBranigan]

Originally Posted by Scoobynut

Good points all, Moonshiner, but I still think the market wasn't nearly as ripe for retro rides as it is now. I may be wrong, but the continuing strength of Triumph's lineup, and I sense more of just a general weariness of cruisers and sportbikes, makes the timing good. In these complicated times, I think there is a pent up desire for a return to simplicity. I may be wrong, but I think the timing of the W650 and especially the GB500 were just too premature. Remember, when both those bikes were being sold, the cruiser market was still going from strength to strength (unfortunately, in my opinion), and most everything else was being swept aside by that craze. The cruiser market has leveled off and even contracted for most manufacturers, so maybe, just maybe, there's room for a return to a more rational style of standard bike like the CB1100 (and other bikes like the W800). I sure do hope so.

I think there's a lot of truth in this, cruisers are becoming a passing fad (thank God!) Although I think the reason the likes of the W650 and the GB died were not so much because of poor sales but because the manufacturers had only a lukewarm committment to keeping them around. My understanding is that the W650 was built for the Japanese market and it was only after begging and pleading that we got them over here, then when sales tanked (because the bike was hardly marketed at all) Kawasaski pulled the plug.

It may be that the profits on standards are simply smaller than the profits on bigger-ticket bikes, the full-on sportbikes and the ever-larger Harley clones (am I the only one who thinks it's funny that manufacturers are now marketing their 900cc V-twins as "mid sized?" : )

[dirtdreamer50]

Originally Posted by markjenn

Since we're talking whimsical trips down nostalgia lane...

http://www.kawtriple.com/mraxl/artic...uperbikes1.htm

- Mark

Fun read. Interesting that the most powerful superbike of the time had 64.xx HP. My little KTM Duke 690, 650cc single produces 65HP. Technology has greatly helped improvements in drive trains and handling, over the past 40 years.

It was exciting to ride an H1 or H2 or a Z1 WFO, back in the day. We never even thought about the crappy biased tires, never designed to handle the speeds those bikes produced. Thrills outweighed safety back then. Trying to stop the bikes from those speeds with drum and single piston solid disc brakes was another thrill of its own. We didn't know any better, because we were on the best there was, at the time.

[dirtdreamer50]

http://www.bcsportbikes.com/forum/at...1&d=1286480149

Kawi's W800; a beautiful retro with decent pricing, that isn't available here, either.

[Smopho]

I'd love to see a nuevo retro- Bonneville styling with the motor from the Tiger 800 AND shaft drive. Gear it with a wide ratio 6 speed instead of the tiger's tight little box so you can turn 4K rpm or lower at 70mph. That would make a NICE cruiser.

[M3-SRT8]

For $9999.00 American, the cb1100 is a no-brainer for me, compared to it's competition. That's why I ordered one. With ABS.

Is it a better bike than a T100 Bonnie? Yes. Well worth the difference in price? You bet.

Remember, us 'old farts' frequently have $$$ burning a hole in our pocket, and will spring for new toys.

The Honda doesn't have the 'cachet' of the other bikes? That's debatable. If stone cold reliability and absolute creamy smooth control of the new cb1100 results in a lack of perceived cachet, or a desireable 'quirkiness' evoking past handling, braking, or maintinence nightmares of leaky old Triumphs or H-D's, then count me in.

Now, the waiting begins. Aarggh.

[M3-SRT8]

MarkJenn, do you have the 1975 Cycle Magazine Superbike test?

[M3-SRT8]

As far as Bonneville clones are concerned (and most other clones, for that matter), I think Harry S. Truman said it best:

"Given the choice between a Republican and a Republican, the public will pick a Republican every time."

In other words, they'll pick the origional, bona fide item, rather than a copy, unless it's a complete pile of cr*p.

I'm sure that's the primary reason the Kawasaki W650 isn't here in the States.

[skysailor]

Just got the bad news from the Manitoba dealer. Only getting ONE in Manitoba. They want $14600 for it. For 1400 more I can get into an R1200R. Typical brain dead Honda Canada. Off the wish list.
Lyle

[xrcris]

I don't know, but I think Honda will expect to sell an order of magnitude more bikes than the Triumphs, Duc's etc.

Originally Posted by M3-SRT8

Remember, us 'old farts' frequently have $$$ burning a hole in our pocket, and will spring for new toys.
.

A RUBBIE bike?

[The other Ferret]

Originally Posted by skysailor

Just got the bad news from the Manitoba dealer. Only getting ONE in Manitoba. They want $14600 for it. For 1400 more I can get into an R1200R. Typical brain dead Honda Canada. Off the wish list.
Lyle

Thats a shame. The good news is the R1200R is a fine motorcycle. I rented one for 9 days in Europe, and it was a pleasure to ride. an R1200R here costs $6 K more than the CB.

[M3-SRT8]

Originally Posted by skysailor

Just got the bad news from the Manitoba dealer. Only getting ONE in Manitoba. They want $14600 for it. For 1400 more I can get into an R1200R. Typical brain dead Honda Canada. Off the wish list.
Lyle

Well, that's one of three reasons why I ordered it with ABS. I figured it would be less ordered, and more available, out of the gate.