Honda VF 1100 C
Honda VF 1100 C

Middleweight Import Cruiser Shootout

Although this beast isn’t equipped with whitewall tires, it still cuts a graceful, glittering profile. The only flaw we noticed was the small headlight that looked like it was swapped from the smaller, V-Star 650. Looking at both machines, we noticed the gobs of chrome mounted shamelessly around the engine case and exhaust pipes.

Both machines had various bits of chrome-colored plastic and chromed steel hiding ugly spots yet contributing to its overall glimmer.


The exhaust pipes on both machines were covered in chromed sheet metal. While the majority of this bright work looked oh-so-fine, there were certain areas that seemed to a certain extent tacky, notably at the cylinders heads.

After mounting each bike we proceeded to look for the ignition switches. The V-Star placed the switch on the right side, right behind the steering column. The V-Star ignition switch also has an integrated fork lock for added security. The ACE has the switch behind the rider’s left leg, camouflaged in a chrome cover.

The fork lock for the ACE is located separately underneath the triple clamps.

We then noticed the tank-mounted speedo on the V-Star. As one editor stated, it’s gorgeous.

The traditional and utilitarian ACE speedo, mounted on the handlebars, suffered a bit by comparison and looked as if it were an afterthought, something forgotten by a haphazard engineer. Both rides also had lengths of clutch and other cabling emanating from the grips. However on the ACE it looked more like insect antennae.

Honda VF 1100 C
Honda VF 1100 C

The V-Star at least clipped the groups of cable together, making a somewhat neater package.

The ACE is water-cooled. Those wonderful cylinder fins are primarily ornamental, although they probably do reduce engine temperature since the radiator fan would engage only momentarily after the bike was stationary after a brisk ride. The V-Star on the other hand is completely air-cooled. Both bikes started right away.

The V-Star responded immediately to throttle input, but the ACE bogged down when throttle was initially applied, however after a few minutes of relaxed riding the ACE had the necessary warm-up time to smoothly respond to throttle changes.

Merging onto the freeway we realized that these twins share one more attribute: These bikes got some giddy-up.

They’re not sport bikes, definitely, but they did have enough acceleration for all our merging and, more importantly, passing requirements. And very well they should.

Honda VF 1100 C
Honda VF 1100 C
Honda VF 1100 C
Honda VF 1100 C
Honda VF 1100 C
Honda VF 1100 C
Honda VF 1100 C
  • WHAT IS SCOOTER CAR? – The popular MP3 Piaggio & Peugeot+ Hybrid…
  • Honda cb
  • 2012 Honda Odyssey Reviews – Autoblog and New Car Test Drive
  • Could the SYM Wolf T2 250 / SB 250Ni be Mahindra’s answer to the Pulsar 200NS?
  • New Honda NSF250R Motorcycles