Your opinion is logically applied relative to most important attributes and overall familiarity of motorcycle riding, compfort, safety, handleability, performance and cosmetics. Your opinion is an educated one and I subscribed because I can tell you are the business end of researched facts by your own hands. Job well done. A trustable and competent source ... .. ..
I bought a larger transparent windscreen off eBay and it really cancels the wind on your chest. It sends the wind over your head or at the top of your helmet. I too have had things hit my helmet face shield (before my windscreen) with the biggest being a medium-sized bird at about 40 to 45 MPH. It felt like getting a really solid punch to the face. If I didn't have my helmet on, I'm pretty sure I would have had a broken nose to deal with. The last thing about a windscreen is how nicely it blocks the wind on long highway rides. Without it, you arrive at your destination with sore arms and shoulders from holding on against that wind force. Another great video Steve. Thanks again, and keep them coming.
Nice summation, Papa Steve. I would have personally rated the cost at only 3 or 4 motorcycles because Honda doesn't sell the fairing, the cowl stay, the headlight cowl, and the windshield together as a unit. Instead, they sell each piece separately and charge fairly high markups for some pieces of plastic and one overengineered steel cowl stay. 🙂
Purchased the 9 inch windscreen from Gustafson plastics in St.Augustine, Florida.. Great service worked with Zack, then ride down there and they installed it in about 20mins!!
Thanks for the info! Can you send pictures and more details. What did you spend? Why did you choose this route? How should me viewers contact Gustafson?
Agree with you 100% that it's over-engineered. Everything else you said is exactly what I have experienced as well. I added a Puig windshield extension on the top so now the air flow is about 2-3 inches above my helmet. I just wish the whole the were wider. Installing this was one of the most frustrating things I've ever installed. Great review!
Outstanding video content and review! I just received my new CMX 1100 DCT last Thursday and it came with a wider version of the batwing fairing. My hands are full protected, but the windshield has a smoked tint and it’s wide. Which leads to believe that this fairing was intended for a different bike, but it looks great and functions well. As a new subscriber I am looking forward to more of your videos, great job!
I wonder if you have the fairing for the touring version of the Rebel 1100. Is the windscreen tall enough to deflect the wind over your helmet? My screen is shorter than I would like. That's my biggest pet peeve.
Thanks Steve, your video was most informative, I have only just purchased a 2023 CMX1100 and am looking to fit a batwing, my previous bike a Suzuki C90 had one and even though I am trying to drop to a lesser weight bike in my age (66) I think the batwing has advantages that will outweigh the cost and extra few Ibs.
I just purchased the bike and love it. However, I also wish the fairing was taller and wider. Hoping for a similar contoured fairing I could replace it with. Still looking. I have a fair amount of helmet noise, hoping my nonoise earplugs will take care of that when they arrive. I live in the same area Papa Steve, will probably see you around. Also installed heated grips and Daytona crash bars. Nice looking. Also, thanks to you installed the Fobo tire monitors.
I should look into the no-noise earplugs. I'm hoping some aftermarket seller begins to offer a larger windshield that bolts onto the Honda fairing. I've given thought to heated grips. No decision yet. Heated gloves might be more effective. How do you like your FOBO monitors?
@@papastevesgarage Totally love them. So happy you mentioned there was such a thing. If you find a higher windshield, please share. Meanwhile the NoNoise earplugs I purchased are on Amazon I noted. My helmet is so darn tight, am working on a comfortable fit. Does quieten the noise somewhat.
Thanks for the video. I'm waiting for my new Rebel and in the meantime I've been considering what plexiglass to buy. Now I know that I prefer more ordinary, but higher, for example from Puig or others. Plus at half price. Thank you once again and greetings from the Czech Republic.
Interesting and thanks again Steve. Yep I was surprised the screen wasn't a little bigger but I still think the batwing fairing and screen are worth fitting. Honda may have underachieved with the fairing and screen but overall I'm happy with the bike and glad I had the touring pack added. With hindsight I wouldn't have bothered with the rear rack....it weighs more than you can carry on it! 😂🤣👍
I also had the Volusia (2004 model) and put the Memphis Slim windscreen on it. Loved it. I'll be buying the Rebel 1100 this spring when the dealers get more in stock. Since I suspect I'll be paying MSRP for the bike and batwing fairing, I plan on asking them to do the install for free. We'll see how that works out.
@@BrandonWest87 I've been waffling on the 1100 and think the NC750x DCT will fit my needs better when it comes to travelling long distances. I put a few $ down on the NC more than a month ago. It's supposed to ship from Japan today and be here in a week. edit: I couldn't order what I wanted; i.e. heated grips, taller windscreen, bags, usb port, wind deflectors... Honda is telling dealers they'll send out bikes and you'll take it or leave it.
@@jeffrielley920 I’m glad you at least got your heart set on a bike that better fits your needs/wants, that’s what the Goldwing ended up being for me in the end. I’m dang sure sorry to hear you couldn’t get the gear you wanted on it from the factory though, but there IS a silver lining to that. You can add those items aftermarket and likely do so at a substantial discount versus OEM parts. That NC750x is a REALLY good looking bike. When are you supposed to get it?
Nice review. I agree that it would be nice to have the cowl a little wider to protect the hands but I find the windscreen perfect. I like to look over the windscreen, I don't like looking through plexiglass. I also dislike the look of those huge batwing fairings you see on a lot of cruisers. I think the size matches the aesthetics of the bike perfectly. I give it a 4.5.
Fair enough! Although, even if it were 4 inches taller I would still be able to see over the top of the windscreen. I don't want a huge fairing either. Who needs to put speakers in a fairing? I've got speakers in my helmet if I want to listen to music or or GPS directions when I ride.
Hi Steve, got the risers installed. Didn't have to extend or re-route any cables. Just had to release the brake line from the wire on the tripple tree and cut lose the plastic stay on the wiring harness between the left control pod and the instruments.
@papastevesgarage These are effectively 1" high and 1" towards you. If you were to the actual total ŕise it would ba about 1.5 " on a diagonal. If yours are 2" straight up, that might be a stretch. I have taken pictures but don't know how to attach them here. This may help, I'll road test it today Topteng Motorcycle Handlebar Risers, CNC Handle Bar Clamp Riser 27mm fits for Honda REBEL CMX 250 2017-2021, REBEL CMX300 / CMX 500 / CMX 1100 2017-2021
Thanks dad! 😉 and greetings from belgium. Problem with fairing is that i can’t hear the motor rumble anymore, only windsound around my helmet. Thx for the video! 👊
I thought the noise problem was my 74-year-old ears. I'm glad to know its just the fairing. Maybe you should consider aftermarket pipes. Two Brothers and Vance and Hines seem promising. Although, I don't care for their upswept look on the 1100. Yours is my first comment from Belgium. Stay in touch.
@@papastevesgarage There’s a company in Germany that will have pipes (in April) called Breaker. They’re lower so you can have big panniers on both sides.
@@papastevesgarage Hey Steve, Coffman’s Exhaust makes shorty and low slung exhaust pipes for the 1100 that would allow one to use panniers on their bike and enjoy the sound.
I did find your video helpful. I am downsizing and im considering the rebel 1100 and coming from fully faired bikes i was wondering if i should go for the tour model. Your review seems to be in line with others.
The Honda fairing is difficult to install, the plexiglass is a little short, and the fairing doesn't cover the hands well. I don't have experience with the fairing on the tour model, but from what I've read the coverage is better. There is certainly an advantage to buying the 1100 with the fairing already installed. Here is something to consider, though. Several aftermarket manufacturers have windscreens available for the 1100. Those can save you money and you might even prefer the look. Check out Memphis Shades' alternatives, especially the El Paso Sportshield. I like the look better. It comes in various heights and tints.
I use a big Memphis Shades windshield on mine... it was made for a Rebel 500 but fits my 1100 just fine. It works really good, and so much cheaper and easier, and can pop on and off.
@@papastevesgarage I have a 19" El Paso Sportshield that was listed for a 2017-2019 Rebel 300/500. I just snapped it all on as is. The release is pressed against the turn signals, so its slightly difficult, but not impossible, to snap them on and off. To make it easier, I could lower the turn signals down, but I did not.
I had a huge Memphis Shades windscreen on my VTX1300R that made helmet buffeting an atrocious nightmare at highway speeds, regardless of height or tilt setting. I ended up selling it because it was so bad. After having my ‘21 Goldwing, I realized the value of having a backpressure vented windscreen system and realized the engineering value of such in the Honda designed windscreen/batwing for the Rebel 1100. How does your bike do with helmet buffeting at 80mph? Hope you’re well!
@@BrandonWest87 haven't ever tried anything vented, but the buffeting isn't any worse than anything else I have tried all with similar windshields. I am also short and its a big windscreen, so maybe its all over my head 🤣
Hello Steve I 100% agree with your prospective on the Rebel 1100 batwing fairing; I have a new 2023 and looking into having a replacement screen made; I about the same height as you are 5'10 , what measurements would you recommend for the windscreen?
I would like three inches taller and the same extra on both sides. You want to be able to look over the top of the windscreen. So it should be about the same height as your chin when you're in normal riding position. Three inches might be too short, but that's what I'm going to try. I have an idea about where to get a custom screen made, but I can't do it until this summer. If it works, I'll post a video.
Took my windscreen off the batwing fairing due to too much helmet buffeting. Looks strange but works well. Head does not shake like a punk rock fan anymore.
I don't have a lot of issues with helmet buffeting. I'm 5' 10". How tall are you? I'm looking into having a windshield custom built for it. I think 3 inches more on the sides and the top will help. I don't know how soon I'll be able to do it, though. I'll do a video on it.
It's always a sacrifice and crapshoot when it comes to really good wind protection with anything but a big wind screen for a cruiser. My plan was to get a smaller one like this and then a big one for long trips with the use of quick release clips. I'm bummed to hear this one is a pain to install/uninstall
Hello, would the air intake of the fairing be a good place to install a dash cam. Not many places to do so. I just want a good position, not looking for go-pro quality but more like for insurance purposes, reading license plates etc....
It’s from harbor freight. I find it’s easy to use. But occasionally it’s hard to get the front wheel to roll out of it when I’m finished with my project. I haven’t pinned down the reason yet. So the problem seems random.
You're one of a few that hasn't put their Rebel 1100 up for sale after a couple riding seasons on it. I keep wondering what people dislike after having the bike two summers that they are flipping them? Any insight as to what you dislike?
The five percent of the bike I don't like is entirely fixable. I want a more upright riding posture, but I haven't mounted handle bar risers or a new handlebar, yet. The seat is not so good for riding more than an hour or two. I put a Corbin gunslinger on to fix the problem. Watch for my upcoming review of the aftermarket saddle. I don't like the look of the muffler. Vance and Hines and Two Brothers have aftermarket slip-on mufflers that fix the clunky look, but they're not quite what I want. I don't want an upswept muffler. Twin slender, understated silencers coming off the manifold, parallel to the pavement would be a nice look, I think. I'm curious why you think I'm "one of the few" hanging on to the Rebel 1100. I haven't gotten a lot of feedback from riders who are dissatisfied. On the contrary, the bike seems enthusiastically appreciated. Am I missing something?
@@papastevesgarage I'm not sure.... Some people don't like the DCT, some people complain about the governor limiting top speed to 98 to 99 MPH, some people don't like how it fits if they are over 6 ft tall. Some people complain about the mid footpeg arrangement. Some people complain about the heat shields near your ankles and how wide the foot pegs are, and that they drag in turns. Some folks complain the seat starts hurting in 30 minutes, 45 minute, an hour of riding. I'm looking for a used one in good condition, and it's tough to find one that hasn't been dropped, doesn''t have dings/ gouges in the fuel tank from being dropped, doesn't have bent foot pegs or rear brake levers, and they almost always have modified the exhaust system to make it louder. But I've seen a lot of them for sale, and very, very few are in pristine condition, and quite a few, are already for sale by the second owner, in 2 years. So, it just has me wondering? If I ever find one in red with the bat wing only and everything else stock, I'll probably buy it. I just don't want one in black. I'm located in Southern CA. Looks are relatively irrelevant to me, I want a quiet bike, near stock, where form follows function. The modifications you've made so far, seem carefully measured before you go ahead with adding the mod.
No motorcycle is perfect. I would like to brag that my Rebel 1100 will go 128 mph, but I don't race it. 128 mph is not cruising. I'm guessing, but I suspect Honda had a safety reason for limiting the bike to 100 mph. Perhaps the suspension is not stable enough for faster than 100. Maybe the bike needs more robust brakes to slow it down from that speed. Honda engineers don't seem to want to share their thinking. People really complain about the foot pegs dragging? The Rebel 1100 has a 35 degree lean angle. That's way more lean than most cruisers. Sport bikes have a steeper lean angle, but the Rebel 1100 doesn't pretend to be a sport bike -- a sport-cruiser, maybe. If you want to drag your knee on the pavement through the turns, don't buy a Rebel 1100. Sounds like you would enjoy a Rebel 1100 DCT like mine. I've added a Corbin saddle to alleviate butt-fatigue, which I was getting after about an hour with the stock saddle. The Corbin "Gunslinger" is very firm, but the greater surface area extends the bike's comfort range. You're not going to save much money buying used. Why not spring for a new one?
@@papastevesgarage May I please ask you a question? Do know any model of crash bars which can be mounted on DCT Rebel? I am going crazy about that, I can only find bars that can be mounted on Rebels with manual transmission.
Hi Pietro, I don't have great information about crash bars for the Rebel 1100. I know T-Rex offers a product. Here's a link to find it. www.amazon.com/dp/B09HHNT12P?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_MPGS6G0S3SWGEH4DWADG
@@pietror.vantaggiato8569 T-Rex Racing and Burly Brand both offer crash protection. T-Rex using the standard engine guard setup with replaceable crash pads (a great engineering idea) and Burly using Delrin frame and shock button sliders. If you have saddle bags, the Burly may not provide protection for them too, but if you ride sometimes with, and sometimes without, saddlebags, it provides damage protection at the rear as well when riding bagless.
My mistake. I had a senior moment. No way to send photos through RU-vid. However, if you upload them to Google Photos you can share them with me at steven.koski@comcast.net
All in all I like mine, but agree on extra height and width, as well as extending the batwing for better wind protection on the back of your gloves. The stock unit looks nice, but I much favor function over form. I did add a Puig clip-on windscreen visor to it which adds about 4" of height. I'd sure like to find a replacement screen that would fit the batwing hardware. Anyone know of a replacement screen that's both wider and taller?
First off I will say another great video . Now I don’t want dat bat! Only good till 62 mph Rumor has a 2023. Rebel 1100 Touring with the. Fairing installed On another note I like your Breast comparison😂
No, I'm one of the other Papa Steves from the gaggle of Papa Steves on RU-vid. I'm the Papa Steve who is a 70-something codger that rides a Rebel 1100 around California's East Bay.
@@tavraney3289 the foot pegs are mid mount and relatively high to provide excellent clearance leaning into turns. You’re 2-3 inches taller than I am. I find the seating position comfortable. My inseam is 30 inches. That might give you a clue. An aftermarket forward peg kit is available though I have not tested it, so I can’t recommend it. I wish I could give you better guidance. I would like a more upright seating position. Being taller, you might find the seating position to be good.
