Topic: 2013 Honda CB1100 Cafe Racer

[Feyden]

Hey guys... long time no talk. Previously I was working on a '76 CB550 Cafe Racer project. It was coming along great, but I hit some financial hardships.

I still have the bike, but here's my new train of thought:

Part out my old CB550 (it was a K not an F model anyway) and take the money I make off that and put it towards a downpayment for a new CB1100 and run with a Cafe Mod on it.

I know to some people this idea sounds stupid since it's not a "classic" bike, but the body is classic in heritage, and there's just something about that look that makes it great! I know there's more to a cafe racer than just the outward appearance, but I figure if I can start with forward handlebars, change the look of the rear fender, maybe tweek the engine and replace the pipes with some pod filters or put some slimmer pipes on it for a "Scream" effect, I'll be well on my way!

What are peoples thoughts? Has anyone already done this yet? Pics?

Please let me know, and please let me know what YOU would do to preserve the "newness" of the bike, but still make it seem like a classic. One more thing, I want this to be on the tightest budget possible. All of this is a challenge, but I think this is what we all live for!

Help me make this thing come to life!!!

Also, here's a link to the 1100 via Honda's website: http://powersports.honda.com/2013/cb1100.aspx

Again thank you guys so much, this community of people RULES!

PS. if anyone is interested in my old 550's parts, let me know. I will give you a FAIR price on the engine, and the carbs. The carbs were completely rebuilt by a local bike mechanic who's been in the biz for over 40 years... he knows his stuff, so I trust his work. So carbs are basically guaranteed to work, engine... eh, who knows.

Currently the parts reside with my dad in Indiana and I reside in Pennsylvania, so especially if you live in those two states and are interested, or hell, even want to buy the whole thing, let me know. Yes there are things missing, but I know the value of the carbs alone, so let me know!

[Stev-o]

So you hit some financial hardships and now want to buy a $10K bike?
Sounds like a great idea!

[darmahman]

GO 4 IT!  I love that bike and dog goneit you are good enough and smart enough... to buy it.  Post pics when u get it.

[Thousandson]

I just saw the bike in "Cafe Racer" mag. It needs some good tweaking to get that cafe racer look going, but she has a soul of a late cafe bike there. I say finish the 550 project if you can. I'm in the same place, I owe more money then I should. But I need my CB750 so i can ride again. A few years down the line I might be able to part it together and build a better bike (I hate taking a beautiful new bike and cutting into in, give me a basket case any day). New tank, better seat, take out the oil tank, handle bars, new dash controls, rip out the front and rear fender, new air box, it already has the four in one maybe a new muffler.

"Every bike has a soul, you just have to find it."

[goldarrow]

I've only been into sohc4 for less than a year, and I already have 5 of them, plus a few that I let go.

[750K]

Why not, at least your not thinking of taking another vintage 750 and hacking it up for a cafe build. At least with a new bike you'll not be wrecking and old classic...

[bollingball]

You ought to cafe out a new V-Max leave the poor ole cb alone
Ken

[matt mattison]

The new bike looks real nice. Hopefully you have a surplus of cash and endless resource to see your plan through. I'm not certain the pods are gonna like, or even mount to an EFI.

[Teknojeffo]

Are the new 1100's at the dealers yet? I thought it wasn't coming until Spring 2013.

[flybox1]

one of the many internet pictures...

[ekpent]

So how much money does it take to do all those mods to a new $10,000 bike ? You must have hit the jackpot or have great credit because a few 550 parts aren't going to get you too far. One good thing is doing that to a new bike will keep your hands nice and clean and cut down on degreaser costs 

[greenjeans]

those won't need much...

[Jiminy Indy]

Well mebbe it's just me, but why would you want to drastically change a brand new bike? OK, I probably would change some minor things to personalize it for my own taste, but that's about all.

If you really want a cafe bike, I'd keep the 550 and build it they way you want it. Hopefully it wasn't too stock to begin with. I'm more impressed when someone can take a bunch of crates & boxes of parts and create something special, not like that doofus on the Cafe Racer show that butchered a perfectly fine '69 CB750 and laughed about it. OK, I did like his end result but that's not the point.

[Feyden]

I think there's some confusion regarding the 550 and the purchase of something new.

When I found the 550 it was in pieces in the back of my uncle's shop. I didn't hack the bike up, I was restoring it. It needs EVERYTHING new as far as the exterior is concerned. All it had was the exhaust (rusted) the frame, and the engine plus carbs.

The reason I want to alter something new is because it would take a full shop to fix the old one, something I had before I moved but have since lost. The reason for the move was financial issues so I moved for work... About 6 hours away.

Now that I've answered a bunch of questions that weren't anyone's business, thank you to those who actually answered the question and posted pics etc. I found a few of those online but weren't sure if they were officially an 1100.

Looks gorgeous... I hate upright handlebars. have to jet for now I have a few more questions ill post tonight when I get home, thanks again all.

[matt mattison]

those won't need much...

Those bikes look like photo shop jobs to me. Not even real. Look closely at the frames too. Totally different.

[Retro Rocket]

those won't need much...

Those bikes look like photo shop jobs to me. Not even real. Look closely at the frames too. Totally different.

They are both "altered" but they are also 2 completely different models, we get them both in Aus....

[bender01]

I want one! I havent talked to a dealer yet but soon I will! Those 4/4 pipes are aftermarket? Ayone have a link to those?

[luap]

one of the many internet pictures...

Man that black looks nice! In the furture will these become a 25,000.00 bike on ebay in 35 years from now?

[fastbroshi]

They are both "altered" but they are also 2 completely different models, we get them both in Aus....

You guys get the second one too?  Wow.

[Retro Rocket]

They are both "altered" but they are also 2 completely different models, we get them both in Aus....

You guys get the second one too?  Wow.

Sorry guys, screwed up, we got the CB1300s, the other pic is a concept bike...

CB1300s

[750K]

^^^ That's sweet! I'd love to see an inverted front end on it though.

[Retro Rocket]

^^^ That's sweet! I'd love to see an inverted front end on it though.

I think they were going for a more classic look, my neighbor has one...

[750K]

^^^ That's sweet! I'd love to see an inverted front end on it though.

I think they were going for a more classic look, my neighbor has one...

Shame, with the seat & tail and the rear swingarm an inverted fork would be the icing on the cake. Especially with the mag wheels and those sexy dual disc's up front. I wouldn't kick it out of bed though regardless of the front end.

[fastbroshi]

They should've stayed with the concepts headlight treatment IMO.  And where'd the blue go?  Still a great looking bike though.

[jas67]

Well mebbe it's just me, but why would you want to drastically change a brand new bike? OK, I probably would change some minor things to personalize it for my own taste, but that's about all.

If you've got the money, and are looking for a modern fuel-injected bike that is going to be reliable, but yet, have a look that is "yours", I can see why you'd want to do this vs. building a cafe on an old bike.    This is especially true if you're going to put some serious miles on like (like riding it daily).    Personally, I ride about 12,000-13,000 miles per years.     I'd be having to rebuild an old 550 every few years at that rate.     I choose to use a modern bike for most of my riding, and enjoy my classics for occasional riding, and keep the miles to under 1,000 miles per year on them.    That way, they'll last for years to come.

That is what works for ME.   Each of us is different, and has different wants, needs, requirements.    Do what works for YOU.