Honda brings back the UJM CB1100

[Bonz]

Along those lines... Since my last post, I have read Honda is claiming 71 mpg for the CB1100. Saw that in the British Magazine, BIKE (my favortite motorcycle read). Which, even if it gets 55-60 mpg in everyday riding, is pretty amazing.

The bike uses a single throttle body vs. one for each cylinder and has approx. a 73x67 bore/stroke. Very similar to the XS in bore/stroke.

I'm kinda liking this Honda... A "thinking man's bike".

[crazy steve]

The bike uses a single throttle body vs. one for each cylinder...

That's why they're seeing the high mileage; that's always been a major failing of the big inline multis or any motor with isolated, individual fuel supply to each cylinder. Great for max output, but poor mixture control at light loads unless you go to sequential port injection (which is generally above the 'price point' on bikes...).

Be curious to see what the intake system looks like; a single-carb setup for the XS has been talked about numerous times, but 'equalising' the intake tracts has been the sticking point...

[Bonz]

Honda may have a solid hit on their hands for sure!

I'll try to get a ride on one at my dealer when they come out.

I took a ride on the Honda NC700V a few months back, and it was a great riding bike. 680cc parallel twin with the crank set for a v-twin feel. Low rpm/high torque is what Honda was after, and I'd say they did it very well. The NC700V pulls really well off idle, like a much larger bike, and you can just ride the torque and short shift it better than any "mid" displacement bike I have ridden.

[TomB]

a single-carb setup for the XS has been talked about numerous times,

Not just talked about

Click

Tink had a play at it, though I think carb size and jetting is still an issue.



.

[mharrington]

Beautiful retro bike but the hp is less than an XS1100. Suzukis' GS1100E in 81 made 105 hp. A modern injected air cooled inline 4 should at LEAST make 100. Lots of advancements in combustion chamber, intake and exhaust ports in the last 30 years.

[Bonz]

Sure, the technology is there to get an EASY 100 hp out of the new Honda, however I don't think that was their aim.

Look at the new NC700X Honda has. Long stroke, great torque, very good gas mileage. Something like 78 mpg rating from Honda, but don't hold me to that. I know the magazines are flogging the crap out of it and gettng 58 mpgh, so in regular riding I can see a much higher number.

Motorcycles have to start getting the kind of gas mileage they are capable of relative to cars. Used to be motorcycles were chosen for their economy. Now, I hear "I ride my bike for fun, who cares what gas mileage I get?" Manufacturers have catered to that mindset no doubt when it comes to "UJM" type bikes up until now, and gone for the last ounce of horsepower when in reality, 10-15% less top end might net 25-35% better fuel economy.

With many non hybrid cars getting 40 mpg these days, it's inexusable for motorcycles not to get a whole lot more than a 3000 pound car.

Honda is doing the same with the CB1100. Very similar bore/stroke as the XS, 8500 rpm redline. Where the difference lies is the while the XS really doesn't wake up until 3500 rpm, the Honda is riding a wave of torque way down at 2000 rpm, and as such has a broader useable powerband.

I'm basing this off what I've read in magazines for initial rides. Once a full test comes out, we'll know a lot more, but I bet it'll be a great engine for everyday use. I expect very good MPG with the CB1100, as european magazines report Honda claims 71 mpg. Regardless of what type of riding that gives 71 mpg, that is way ahead of anything, including current 650's like the VStrom, Versys, BMW F800, the CB even rivals the NC700X mentioned above.

[daveyg]

I wonder what kind of mileage you could get out of an xs11 with a duo of slightly bigger carbs...? Cuz I have a pair of 38mm mikunis sitting on the shelf collecting dust... Even if the hp lost a tad, if it gained 4-5mpg... Could be worthwhile.

[motoman]

I wonder what kind of mileage you could get out of an xs11 with a duo of slightly bigger carbs...? Cuz I have a pair of 38mm mikunis sitting on the shelf collecting dust... Even if the hp lost a tad, if it gained 4-5mpg... Could be worthwhile.

Think it would take a bit more than that to keep from ventilating some pistons.

[Bonz]

Do the FD swap and you can gain 1-2 mpg. On a 36 mpg machine, that is a 3%-6% gain. I now get between 37-38 mpg like clockswork, as opposed to an even 36 mpg before the swap.

NO don't need a discussion on the FD swap, been part of plenty of them!
Just wanted to toss that out there, as that is the improvement I've seen since doing the FD on my Special after almost two years of riding and keeping track.

[jetmechmarty]

MOTORCYCLIST has reviewed the new Honda in the Feb 2013 issue on the news stand now. Their review is favorable. Also, their explanation of why this is a 1140cc, 90hp makes perfect sense to me. It's a bike I could put on my own short list if I wasn't so committed to a garage full of relics.

[Bonz]

RIDER magazine and Cycle World both did first rides as well, both really like the bike.

However, Motorcyclst did the most in-depth write up for a first ride, as they included more info on what Honda is doing in terms of rationale compared to the other magazines.

Based on what the performance looks to be, it's not much different than our XS's in terms of power to weight, etc. Funny how the XS was a fire breathing beast, and the CB1100 is a pussy cat in the way it is presented. What a difference 35 years makes, eh?

As soon as one shows up at a local dealer, I'll take one for a ride and share my thoughts!

[Geezer]

Damn, I may have to buy a new bike this year. Every time I went to the Honda/Yamaha dealer in Beaverton, OR, I'd ask about this bike and they always told me to dream on, it's not coming here...

Geezer

[Bonz]

Motorcyclist magazine showed up in the mail on Monday. The downer to the bike that I see is Honda sized it like a 750 with an 1140cc engine to give it an easy going feeling with a very smooth engine. Otherwise, the philosophy is right in line with what a bike should be to my mind. However, I am a bigger guy in height, and if the size of the bike is true, it really disappoints me!

In all seriousness, my 80G is one of the best fitting bikes for me, so a new, good sized standard is a bike that is sorely lacking.

[Geezer]

That is a bummer I'm tall too and if got one, I wouldn't be able to ever ride it 2 up...

Geezer

[CaptonZap]

You two sound like you are prime suspects for HD ownership.
CZ