Will this Honda CB1100 be a classic, is it already?

[Clifton]

The CB1100 was announced in Japan in 2009, 40 years after they introduced the 4-cylinder CB750, paying homage to the many, many in-line 4 cylinder, air cooled motorcycles that Honda had offered from the 70's - mid 2000's. The retro, air cooled CB1100 generated a fair amount of interest in the US and Europe and was finally exported for model year 2013. Most dealers here sold out their limited allotments immediately. 2014 introduced some changes including a 6th gear for relaxed highway travel, better instrumentation, and some colour and trim changes. including a standard (black) and deluxe (red with ABS, silver drivetrain, twin silencers, and larger tank). With 2013 being so successful and with the updates, Honda upped production and dealers here ordered as many 2014's as they were permitted. But there was a problem.

Most of the geezers that wanted a retro air cooled UJM had already bought 2013's so the large number of 2014's that were ordered were slow to sell, some languished on dealer floors for 2 years. Honda NA stopped importing them and focused on getting rid of the 2014's. Until 2017 when Honda made some minor changes and made clear the run was soon to end. There were minor changes to the engine and FI as well as wheels and minor styling but essentially they looked like the 2014 Deluxe. 2017 was the end for sales in the US and (I believe) Europe.

There's a beautiful, low mileage, well maintained, 2014 Deluxe with factory luggage rack, engine guards, centre stand, as well as fly screen, for sale a few hours away ......, not cheap almost $8,000. I'm not sure if I need encouragement to go for it or be talked out of buying it?

 

[Bravo]

If you like it then go for it,you only come this way once.

 

[RichardD]

I had one for a while, a few years ago. Lovely build quality, somewhat basic suspension, and a little lacking in the horsepower dept. A joy to look at though.





Looking at these pictures, I kinda regret selling it... (story of my life).

 

[J biker]

No.

 

[theoneandonly]

why would it become a classic ? ( except with age )
not ground breaking
not the first model
not iconic
not the last model.
don't think so ..NO , it won't be.
( unless , you get all the others , and crush them , even then not guaranteed )
just because it is rare doesn't make it valuable.

 

[Fireflyer]

I guess if it the air cooled nostalgia your after then for you it might look the part.
But if you’re thinking along the lines of classic as a non depreciating nice to own asset then I’d be looking at the original incarnations where the influence originated from.
They’re already classics?

If it’s something classic looking but with reasonable performance and reliability I can highly recommend the CB1300’s
Not air cooled but have the look and an engine that makes you grin involuntarily on any sort of ride out.

 

[Clifton]

I had one for a while, a few years ago. Lovely build quality, somewhat basic suspension, and a little lacking in the horsepower dept. A joy to look at though.





Looking at these pictures, I kinda regret selling it... (story of my life).

Beautiful example you had there Richard. What is the current market for these bikes there compared to what you sold your mint example for a few years ago? Depreciating a lot or holding value?

why would it become a classic ? ( except with age )
not ground breaking
not the first model
not iconic
not the last model.
don't think so ..NO , it won't be.
( unless , you get all the others , and crush them , even then not guaranteed )
just because it is rare doesn't make it valuable.

Last of Honda's big air cooled in-line 4 cylinder motorcycles in classic style with metal mudguards and real clocks.
Exquisite build quality and finish.
Prices have been slowly increasing here on these bikes over the last 5 years.
To be clear I'm not looking at this as a money making investment, more as a motorcycle that will hold its value, maybe even with inflation.

Honda's GB500 based on the old XL600 seems to have become a collectable classic here. https://www.cycletrader.com/Honda-500-Classic-Vintage/motorcycles-for-sale?make=Honda|2316874&trim=500|4232&category=Classic / Vintage|2002322

I guess if it the air cooled nostalgia your after then for you it might look the part.
But if you’re thinking along the lines of classic as a non depreciating nice to own asset then I’d be looking at the original incarnations where the influence originated from.
They’re already classics?

If it’s something classic looking but with reasonable performance and reliability I can highly recommend the CB1300’s
Not air cooled but have the look and an engine that makes you grin involuntarily on any sort of ride out.

While I greatly admire Honda early UJM's I have no desire to own another old one These last CB1100's are in most ways simply better motorcycles to ride and made to run on today's petrol with electronic ignition, FI, stronger brakes, and overdrive 6th gear. The example I posted also sports the cast wheels which I'd want.

I could certainly would be interested in a CB1300 as well but they were not imported to the US so very seldom does one show up for sale and if so it's big money.

 

[Arsey]

Beautiful example you had there Richard. What is the current market for these bikes there compared to what you sold your mint example for a few years ago? Depreciating a lot or holding value?




Last of Honda's big air cooled in-line 4 cylinder motorcycles in classic style with metal mudguards and real clocks.
Exquisite build quality and finish.
Prices have been slowly increasing here on these bikes over the last 5 years.
To be clear I'm not looking at this as a money making investment, more as a motorcycle that will hold its value, maybe even with inflation.

Honda's GB500 based on the old XL600 seems to have become a collectable classic here. https://www.cycletrader.com/Honda-500-Classic-Vintage/motorcycles-for-sale?make=Honda|2316874&trim=500|4232&category=Classic / Vintage|2002322



While I greatly admire Honda early UJM's I have no desire to own another old one These last CB1100's are in most ways simply better motorcycles to ride and made to run on today's petrol with electronic ignition, FI, stronger brakes, and overdrive 6th gear.

I could certainly would be interested in a CB1300 as well but they were not imported to the US so very seldom does one show up for sale and if so it's big money.

Not sure about ‘exquisite build quality’
I looked at two last year , a white and a yellow and both had bad corrosion on the engine casings . Very unlike Honda .

 

[Hairnet600]

classic no

you want

then do it

 

[theoneandonly]

buy it

you're a long time dead !

 

[MILLE_RIDER]

It's better to regret something you have done than something that you didn't

 

[SBD]

It's better to regret something you have done than something that you didn't

Keir would not agree with you…

 

[Davey B]

I suspect we have a different market in the UK to the US Clifton. The market for a bike such as this is dwindling rapidly and like the 750/1100 Zephyr in the 90s....a nice thing to look at but it's neither the classic original nor much to write home about 'ride' wise.

 

[MILLE_RIDER]

Keir would not agree with you…

He wouldn't have regretted that he hadn't so the motto stands firm

 

[Clifton]

Thanks all for your thoughts both positive and not so positive.
Factoring them all, along with just stewing on the decision for a day, I'm leaning toward not buying it and just keeping my 2014, less flashy black one.

I love the Special's red colour and larger, seamless, 4.6 (US) gallon tank vs the 3.9 on mine. I also like the natural polished aluminum engine and wheels vs the black on mine. I'm just not a fan of black but at least it's gloss not flat BBQ grill paint black. I also like the Special's chrome exhaust finish over the stainless mine has but I don't care for 10kg heavier twin silencers nor the straight headers, preferring the curvy headers going to a single silencer that flows a bit better on the Standard. Plus one of the two arrangements must contribute to a more even balance and my hunch is it's the single silencer as the bike was originally designed.

Both the Special for sale and mine have the same mileage and are in about the same nice condition. Mechanically the bikes are the same and offer the same pleasant riding experience. I have a Corbin seat which I'm not sure would transfer to the Special because of the different tank. Keeping mine saves a long day going for the Special along with having to sell mine. For reference this image is of the less attractive 2014 Standard.

 

[Wapping]

Buy it, stick in a shed and spend years building a mystique about the model. Bingo! A sure fire classic, Rodney.

 

[Clifton]

Beautiful motorcycle and there's not many of them but I've pretty much talked myself out of it. I still think bikes like this will hold their value pretty well, heck they already are. He's asking more than they were selling for 7-8 years ago.

 

[Greenman14]

If it floats your boat then ok, but don’t buy it expecting to sell it a few years later and make a profit.