Honda Rebel 1100... what's in a name?

[bottlenecker]

I guess you're right. There's no correlation between helmet use and injury rates. There's no correlation between motorcycle speed and injury rates. It's all the fault of car drivers and the government. It's all chaos out there, and there's nothing we can learn.

But what about studies like this one from the NHSTA for example? Probably just propaganda; probably just assumptions and misinformation:

https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/kentuky-la03/background.html#:~:text=In the three years before,Kraus et al.

I didn't say there wasn't a correlation.
You said motorcycle deaths skyrocketed since the 1970s. That's not true.
You said it was for two reasons, and given the most common causes of motorcycle fatalities, these are not likely to be the two biggest reasons for any of the increases or decreases in fatality rates over the four decades since the 1970s ended.

Motorcycles are my primary transportation,and have been for 25years. These aren't trivial issues to me and I don't have patience for BS about it.

 

[Dan German]

To answer a couple of OP questions: liquid cooling allows for a more stable engine temperature, which contributes to increased performance and reliability, not least because it makes it easier to use modern fuel injection and engine management. An added benefit is that the water jackets dampen engine noise, making it easier to meet legislated standards. (My preference is old crocks with air-cooled engines, but one needs to move with the times.)

As for Honda’s use of the Rebel name, I am going to hazard a guess that they were VERY deliberate about that. Riders who sneer at the Rebel were never going to be their market. But the old Rebel was around for decades, and (especially the 250) was the First Bike for many many riders. I worked for a very large Honda dealer in the ‘90s, and year after year they provided Rebel 250s for the MSF courses. A lot of people bought the demos after the course, or came in to buy a brand new one. That is the market that Honda was tapping into when they brought out the 300 and 500 Rebel. Obviously those two models were successful for them, because they brought out the 1100 for riders to move up to. The fact that they had a parallel twin engine with optional DCT already proven in the Africa Twin made it a no-brainer. I will be shocked if the Rebel line proves to be a mistake for Honda. For the record, I ride a CBR300R (same drivetrain as the smallest Rebel), and it does everything I need a daily commuter/weekend fun bike to do. I live on a moderately sized island, and I have put just short of 30,000 km on it in 4 1/2 years. Other than oil, tires, and (only yesterday) a battery, it’s asked nothing of me. And it lives outdoors. Would I like something more exciting? Sure. But I’d hate to give up the versatility and reliability just for pretty looks or a name that impresses.

 

[VonBonfire]

i wish it was possible for yamaha to make the XS-650 again.

Bean counters fixed that for us. Quality was too high. They'd want a fortune for that bike if they made it again but I share your appreciation for them. I have had a couple and built a few, usually just top ends, new clutch, Boyer ignition, and sprucing up the bike with custom seat, tank, and bars. Great bike asides some of it's quirks and the nut shaking vibration on the freeway.

 

[Dan German]

Bean counters fixed that for us. Quality was too high. They'd want a fortune for that bike if they made it again but I share your appreciation for them. I have had a couple and built a few, usually just top ends, new clutch, Boyer ignition, and sprucing up the bike with custom seat, tank, and bars. Great bike asides some of it's quirks and the nut shaking vibration on the freeway.

Legend has it that Craig Vetter used the XS650 to test early Windjammer fairings. If the fibreglass held up to those vibrations, they’d survive anything! (Still one of my favourite bikes, though.)

 

[CoronaPremier21]

It seems like you're thinking of the day that Harley riders were the only "real riders" or so they thought. They were the only real cool cruisers Myself and a few friends had had been saving for new new motercyçles for several years. My two friends both bought the Shadow 1100, I bought a Magna, I could easily blow both of them away as well as all Harley they could do it but not so easy. You've got to remember that most Harleys had some pretty heavy mods back in the day and the shadow was designed and marketed to specifically look and sound like the Harley, that's why it's looked down upon and frowned upon by that crowd, the guys with the big four big cruisers also. The Shadow didn't fit in with anything back then. It was the beginning of somewhat of a design revolution for the Big four.


There's nothing to be ashamed about no matter what you ride.

 

[stratisfied]

My sons first bike was a Yamaha VStar XVS650 that came from the factory with a blue ghost flame paint job. I bought a set of Vance & Hines Pipes from the dealer and had them installed along with the carburetor re-jet to surprise him. The first time he started it in the shop, everyone's heads turned toward the Warrior 1700 that was in for service until they realized the sound was coming from his 650.

That was a great bike. Nimble and light but with enough weight to be stable on the highway in cross-winds. It handled very well and had a glorious sound with that thumping offset crankpin idle just like a Harley. The shaft drive made it very smooth on the road and the pegs were rubber mounted for no vibration. I have always liked pegs as opposed to footboards as I felt more "locked in" with the pegs when riding.

Yamaha still makes this bike including a blackout model. Great first bike.

 

[PhoenixBill]

There’s some really nice bikes out there now, they are ten times the things we rode in the 70’s. Well maybe 10 times is an exaggeration but they really are good now. Good brakes, smooth, plenty of power, fuel injection, and a chassis that won’t send you into a white-knuckle death wobble.

 

[rz350]

Liquid cooled two stroke motorcycles are my thing, see my user name....

 

[El Marin]

For me, is a 883 wanabee

 

[radiocaster]

Mo betta, if you just wanna ride on the back.

I've ridden something like that with my motorcycle jacket on. I didn't have a helmet though.

 

[41144]

Come on guys, the whole wear a helmet/not going to wear a helmet thing's a no brainer!

 

[VonBonfire]

Come on guys, the whole wear a helmet/not going to wear a helmet thing's a no brainer!

Let each man ride the way he sees fit. Freedom is great.

 

[JayFreddy]

I was seriously tempted by the Rebel 1100. My local Honda dealer only had the DCT version in stock, which cost an extra $1200, otherwise they probably would have talked me into a bike payment... Lol

When trying to decide on a bike, your insurance company can be a big help.

They have access to information about different bikes as well as about you, your experience level, etc., and by cross referencing that info, the resulting insurance quotes will give you good idea of whether a specific bike is a good fit for you.

I was originally looking at a CB650, but the high cost of insurance for that model steered me to a different bike.

I ended up getting a used CB1100, which has similar power and torque numbers to the Rebel 1100, but was cheaper to insure than the CB650.

If you are looking for a good starter bike, I highly recommend the Honda Shadow 750. Very mellow power and torque curves, but still lots of fun to ride, and a similar height profile to the Rebel 1100.

 

[John Backlund]

I think water cooling allows for longer valve life in bikes with more than 2 cylinders. When Honda introduced the retro Cb1100 it was air cooled on keeping with its history. @John Backlund owns one so he could tell you more about the advantages and disadvantages

The CB1100EX I had, (and was traded-in last week, by the way), was an entirely different model from what the OP is referring to. My CB was an air-cooled online four cylinder machine, and was very 'retro' in its appearance.

 

[Old Deaf Roadie]

Get whichever bike you like that fits you safely, and have fun! I see you are in Denver. I am willing to bet that switchback that goes up to Lookout Mtn. from Golden (over the Coors brewery) would be a riot on a bike.

 

[John Backlund]

For me, is a 883 wanabee

Which itself, is a 1200 "wanabee" in turn.

 

[JayFreddy]

The CB1100EX I had, (and was traded-in last week, by the way), was an entirely different model from what the OP is referring to. My CB was an air-cooled online four cylinder machine, and was very 'retro' in its appearance.
View attachment 851263

I just bought a 2014 CB1100 Standard. Yours appears to be the deluxe model.

I'm curious about why you decided to trade it... I'm still in the honeymoon period with mine, but I realize that nothing is perfect.

I rode in college and when I lived in Japan, but took a 15 year break from bikes when I first got married. Covid changed that when I found a nice Shadow 750 for $1500!

I then acquired an ST1300 which had issues which turned out to be more than I could handle... The dealership gave me a decent trade towards the CB1100... I've been very happy with it so far, but I'm still keeping my old Shadow 750 too!

Riding the Shadow is like driving a VW Beetle. It's a lot more fun than what the numbers on paper would suggest...

 

[lowatter]

I rode a Honda CB450 Nighthawk for a few years in Tucson MANY years ago. It was OK to boot around on in town(though dangerous because of U of A students and seniors) but way under powered for the highway. 1100 CCs should be fine. Be careful out there and ALWAYS wear a helmet.
My 1st bike was a 185CC Honda Twinstar that's more of a girls ride and it's comfortable but WAY under powered for the road if you ask me.
I quit riding because I was tired of being cut off and flopping around on the road.

 

[jman72]

Hondas are incredible bikes. I grew up riding dirt bikes, 3 wheelers, and 4 wheelers, mostly Hondas. And the Honda Rebel was one of the biggest jokes my friends and I had. If you wanted to insult your buddy, you'd say he rode a Rebel!

My first real bike (when I was 13) was a 1978 Honda XL250. It was a dual purpose bike, but being 13, I converted it into a pure dirt bike by taking off all the mirrors, tail lights, and turn signals. That bike was awesome!


Back in '96 (I was in my early 20's), I took a break from real life- I went out and bought a 1993 Honda Nighthawk 750 with my credit card and went on a multi-month camping trip across the country. Put thousands of miles on that thing. I was just wandering- no real destination or purpose, and it was amazing! There's nothing like riding across the Dakotas or Montana/Wyoming on a bike. Camped anywhere I could find, saw amazing scenery, and experienced the world in a way you never could in car.



Here's a shot in the Badlands of South Dakota with all my gear strapped to the back, just before a major thunder storm rolled through:



The Nighthawk was a great first bike- big enough and powerful enough to do what I needed, but not so big that I was afraid of it or couldn't handle it (most of the time).

But I got rid of it soon after this trip, and have never ridden on the road again (over 25 years). I almost got killed at least twice on that trip- closest I can recall coming to actual death- and both times it was because some idiot in a car/truck who wasn't paying attention and almost ran me down. No fender benders on a bike. Now, I have three kids and can't justify it, but some day soon I'll likely get a nice dual purpose again for riding around on the trails near me.

 

[John Backlund]

I just bought a 2014 CB1100 Standard. Yours appears to be the deluxe model.

I'm curious about why you decided to trade it... I'm still in the honeymoon period with mine, but I realize that nothing is perfect.

I didn't have one complaint about that CB1100EX.

Of the, now, sixty-one motorcycles I've owned over the years, it was definitely one of the finest and most pleasurable machines I've owned.

I very reluctantly traded it in because of my recent infatuation with what I hope will be an equally great machine, the 2021 Kawasaki W800.

The W800 is substantially less powerful than the not-overpowered-itself, CB1100 Honda four-cylinder (47 versus about 85), but it's build-quality, finish, and retro-mid 60's 'British twin' styling is absolutely on a par with the excellent Honda, which emulates the early 70's Honda fours.

As for my new W800, so far, so good, but I only have 300 miles on the Kawasaki due to my recent work schedule, though the more I ride it, the more I like it.

I hope you like your CB1100 four, they are superb machines.

A few images of my new W800...

And also my sorta-period-appropriate 'getup' for riding it...