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Honda CB 1100 EX Review (Baujahr 2016)

The last retro classic with air-cooled in-line foursome

24.10.2023

Photos: Motorradtest.de

The Honda CB 1100 EX is considered to be the last mass-produced motorcycle with an air-cooled inline four-cylinder engine. Visually, it quotes many things from the first air-cooled inline four-cylinder from 1969, the legendary Honda CB 750 Four. Dietmar took a look at a used CB 1100 EX and describes his impressions here.

You can't get more 70s classical music than that.

The first Honda CB 1100 appeared in Germany in 2013, at that time still with a 5-speed gearbox and a 4-in-1 system. The bike came off well, but there were also points of criticism that Honda emaciated in the successor models EX and RS. The EX tested here got spoked wheels, a 6th gear and a larger tank and above all: a second exhaust! It wasn't enough for a 4-in-4 system like the 750 Four, but the 4-in-2 exhaust system looks almost identical. It's wonderful how the in-line foursome proudly presents itself in the double loop and the manifolds almost majestically seek the distance...

Dimensions and seat ergonomics

The riding position on the CB 1100 EX is very classic. Thanks to a seat height of 790 mm, even smaller pilots will find a secure footing, but taller riders will also feel comfortable. You sit upright with a comfortable knee angle and the one-piece, quilted seat fits like a glove for this classic. However, with a weight of 255 kg, the machine is not exactly a lightweight when ready to drive, which only "weighs in" when manoeuvring - you don't notice anything while driving. The view to the rear is okay, even if the round rear-view mirrors are not particularly large. But anything other than round rear-view mirrors wouldn't work either, keyword classics.

That's what it's like to sit on the Honda CB 1100 EX.

360-degree tour of the Honda CB 1100 EX

Technology of the CB 1100 EX

The technical equipment of the Honda CB 1100 EX is - well - very clear. Apart from the ABS required by law, there are no technical aids, including traction control. Of course, this also fits in with the retro claim of the machine, many buttons or complicated functions would be totally out of place here. The light is also classic: H4 bulbs at the front, fat and of course orange turn signals with incandescent bulbs and above all two (!) Honking at the front under the circular headlight - that's how it should be. Of course, there is no indicator reset, where do you think?!

What does exist, however, is a beautiful cockpit with two analogue instruments, whose dials are kept in the same petrol blue as they were on the 750 Four. And then the white hands with the red ends - simply heavenly! The fact that you often honk unintentionally when flashing due to the awkwardly attached button - for free. In general, you can forgive this bike for all points of criticism anyway, but there are hardly any of them. Between the analogue clocks there is an inverted LCD display with gear indicator, fuel level and various on-board computer information such as remaining range. This is very reminiscent of the Kawasaki Z900 RS and is similarly well done.

Sound

The sound of the Honda CB 1100 EX is exactly what you'd expect from an inline foursome of this size. She sounds confident, never strained and you can almost hear how smooth and silky it will be on the road. If you want to listen to this poem by Motor: In the upper right corner there is a sound check. But before that, be sure to set the volume to 10....

This is how it drives itself

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Conclusion - what sticks

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