Honda CBR1100XX reviews

This bike is a masterpiece. Honda should be as proud of building it as I am to own it. The bike is absolutely incredible. I have ridden just about every sportbike out there. This one is the best hands down. Ther are others that are faster but none can come close to the overall refinement you can find in the CBR1100. This bike is to motorcycles what Bently is to cars. Fast, powerful, balanced, but civilized. The balance is perfect, at almost 500 pounds, it feels like a middleweight. Once you are moving the pounds disappear in the cloud of dust that you will surely leave your friends in. The fit and finish are typical Honda but more like Acura in my book. The bike's weight adds to the feeling of stability and inspires the rider with confidence. The acceleration will take the breath away from all except the most jaded of riders. The power delivery is completely smooth with no flat spots. The bike pulls to redline in every gear with a ferocious smoothness. The only two gripes I have is that the brakes, while immensely powerful and offering great feedback, need to have the pads replaced frequently. Also the stock pipes should certainly be replaced. If you are into having one of the quietest liter bikes around then by all means keep them but I needed more of a growl so I replaced them with Yoshimura RS-3 slip ons that provided an extra 3-4 horsepower advantage as well as gave me the sound I wanted. If you want the fastest bike in the world buy a Hyabusa. If you want the best liter bike money can buy, buy a Blackbird. Afterall how much time will you actually spend above 170 mph anyway? Show less

I bought my CBR1100XX in March, and have already put 14,000 miles on it. I love the machine. Ride it to work and back (66 miles) every day, rain or shine, hot or cold outside. It handles great in the rain with the Michelin tires. Very smooth, and very awesome acceleration. First gear redline at 11,000 rpm gets to 75 mph in about 3 seconds, and exhilerating is putting it mildly. Hit second, third, forth, fith, and sixth, and there is no letup in the arm stretching capability of this bike. I've had it up to 170 mph a couple of times, and it happens very quickly. The last bike I owned was a 1979 Honda 750 which I only had a few months before it was stolen, so it had been 22 years until the XX. I was a bit apprehensive to get started riding again with such a powerful bike, but it didn't take long to get comfortable on the new one, and I recommend it highly for anyone who is into awesome power, with great looks, and responsive handling. Show less

I've just changed from a CBR1000 to a bird. My oh my what a stunning bike not to mention the awsome speed. Had a little run with a busa but he could not keep up with my bird in corners. What more can I say you have to own one to enjoy one Show less

After getting my motorcycle driver's license, the summer after my 19th birthday, I couldn't wait to climb aboard something with a little more kick than the entry level 250cc bikes that the rider course offered. So you can imagine my first impression when I hit warp speed on the XX I rented for two weeks after the class. Although I do have virtually no basis for comparison, one thing I can say with the utmost confidence is, "Honda should be patting themselves on their back for this one." As I flew down the road all I could do is smile and wonder if there was a way I could stay on the bike for life. The bike not only had blistering speed but it also gave you a very comfortable ride. It is perfect for a quick bike ride around town or the occasional trek across the state. Some people would advocate going from a 250cc motorcycle to a 1100cc rocket is not a good idea, but let me tell you, I did it with great ease and even greater fun. So lets all tip our hats to Honda and thank them for building a great bike that is fun, fast, comfortable, and easy to handle. Show less

This may not be the bike that does anything the best, but it does most everything a rider could want so very well that it is a gem. This wasn't a bike that I was considering when I started looking around. Having ridden it for the last year, I am convinced that I made the bst posible choice. One review I read when doing my research summed it up the best: "It combines the power of a heavyweight champion with the manners of an English butler". Show less

I'm 40 years young and recently traded in a 90'CBR1000 for the CBR1100XX. My seventh bike in 23 years of riding. The only thing that bugged me a little on the XX was the stock bars - a bit to much pressure on the wrists for every day riding. So I had the shop install Heli bars for the new machine. I've had the bike two weeks - so initial impressions only. The new candy red color looks awesome. The digital gauges and start up procedure is a whole event in itself. Very cool Honda, makes me smile very time I start it up. The whole computer controlled event is just something to show your friends. Riding position I was a little worried about before I bought the bike, having read some negatives on that topic. Also I'm 6ft 1in tall, but the riding position with the new bars is comfortable and very similar to the old CBR1000. Seat feels like it could do with a bit more padding but still comfortable. Bike does feel smaller than the CBR1000, seems to respond to input a little quicker adding to the smaller feel. Engine sounds great - a turbine like sound giving a hint of the power underneath the covers. Acceleration is obviously quick though I'm still keeping the engine under 5000 rpm for break in. Very stable in a straight line though a little harsher than I'm used to over the bumps - I'll probably dial in a softer ride through the suspension. Cornering is fun with very little input required for the right line. Night riding also cool, pleasant glow from the gauges and lights generally plenty of power. Another minor gripe is that I have an Eclipse bag for the rear seat with built in bungy cords. On the new CBR there are tie down bars for attaching items to the rear, they seem a little far apart and could have been better positioned. Overall I'm really pleased with my decision. In general Honda makes a complete motorcycle and in this particular bike they've excelled again. To me the bottom line is for the money, for the overall complete package there is no better buy. Well done again Honda. Show less

I picked up a "used" '99 (2400 miles) from an about-to-be-divorced enthusiast who was not happy to have to sell... cest la vie. Having tested the 2001 Hayabusa and the ZR12, I found the former to be all about brutal linear acceleration and the latter similar with some attempt at enhanced handling characteristics. Fit and finish were disappointing. Both felt cramped and uncomfortable, almost painful after two+ hours of saddle time. The Honda is somewhat more forgiving; and with the addition of Heli-bars, four+ hours are no problem. The 'Bird feels much better in any curves or sweepers, and can dance & dice emergency manuvers with aplomb. It is still much faster than many would ever attempt, although it's nice knowing the capability is at hand... literally. An outstanding feat of engineering, a well maintained example will give years of reliability and enjoyment. Show less

I have 7500k on the XX. I realize that It does not have top speed honors anymore but get real,none of the 3 open class big bores are track bikes anyway.Besides, who says 178mph is to slow.The way I see It all of these bikes are great.Except that the honda is better in quality,comfort and everyday use. I have had not one problem or complaint about this bike.Some people can be easily swayed by number crunching,but the fact is not to many people can push any of these bikes past there limits on the street anyway or the percentages will catch up to you.Basically if you want a great looking easy to ride and very fast,everyday bike you cannot go wrong with the xx.Also its best for a passenger. Show less

Once you wake up from that dream of outrunning a Busa and a ZX-12R you can check with any credible magazine or online source to find that it's impossible on your bike (1/4 mile, rolling start, top speed, anywhere). The Blackbird is a marvelous machine and it would be foolish of me to take anything away from Honda's accomplishments with the 1100XX, but I will not stand by quietly and let emotions overrun fact. Honda introduced this bike in the late 90's and it is definitely a force to be reckoned with in all measureable aspects of riding. It's beautifully designed, comfortable, reliable and stunningly fast. It fits neatly between hypersport and sport touring. This bike can be ridden much longer than the Busa or ZX-12R and is more of a pleasure for two than either of it's big bore competitors. This bike is for riders who want an all around performance bike but also want the comfort of a sport tourer. Show less

What a ride!! I had a Ibis Spanky Ti with Campy record components. Although I loved the ride, it lost a bit on hills. Titanium is a bit overated for the price. I decided to upgrade to a motorized cycle. I wanted to stay with Titanium (minus the price) so I went with this particular motorized cycle. It is a good bike that rides nice and you can easily exceed the speed limit. Ride carefully and don't forget to hold the clutch in when you shift or else you'll be asking for trouble! BYW, at about 6000 rpm's the V-Boost kicks in and WOW, before you know it....it's 65 and counting. See you guys in Sturgis!! Show less