The CB1100 Community Forum

(01-12-2020, 02:01 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uioD0VQKyA

I love my 14 Deluxe and my Z900rs equally, just for different reasons. Thanks for the video Ferret

For me the eye test is huge with "retro" bikes, so not taking into account anything else but looks, here's my un-solicited review of the 8 retros, in order as they appear in the video:

Triumph Speed Twin: I like the gold headers, wonder how they will hold the gold. Mirror = ugh! Triumph easily has the best radiator design, long and rectangular that follows the downtubes.

Triumph Thruxton: A little too glossy with the paint, but still a good looker. Ugh again with the mirrors. Do not like that metal strip down the top middle of tank, too busy with gas cap.

Honda CB1100 RS: Trying not to let bias creep in...fine looking machine, indeeed, proper mirrors. A little too much low end silver for case covers and swingarm, just a bit off. Wide tank strip much better than that chunk of metal on the Thruxton.

Kawasaki w800 street: Ok overall look but funky uplift on the seat and too round of tank. Not sure...might grow on me. Nevermind, just saw the big W on the side of the tank--maybe if you were Gorge Bush Sr's son.

Kawasaki Z900RS: Like the tip of hat to Kawa green, nice splash of yellow. Interesting header pipes. Tail end a bit too modern looking. Radiator...gulp, that's ugly.

Moto Guzzi V7 lll Stone S Ridiculous name; keep it simple. Awesome looking bike....except for that ridge on the side of the tank...too abrupt, knees on long legs will be fighting that. But that's a tight looking motorcycle. Would like to see polished silver pipes on it. Again with the silly mirrors, just do not like that style. Best looking seat of the lot.

Royal Enfield 650 Continental GT First off, get it the heck away from the wall! Unfair to the RE. Shiny tank...maybe. Kind of cool looking. Bars / mirrors...nope.

Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor: Much nicer than the other RE. Love the orange tank look from top view. Nothing really wrong with this bike's overall look, but need to see the other side.

So who are my top three winners? Again, just going on eye test, nothing else...

#3: The RE 650 Interceptor. Orange. I love the orange tank...the bike just oozes "retro" look.

#2: The Honda CB1100 RS: Great looking machine, but since I'm biased the CB had too look way better than all the rest to receive my coveted #1 rating, but it doesn't quite do that.




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#1: The Moto Guzzi. Even though I think it'd be better with polished silver pipes, its overall look makes me want to look again and again.

Lovely looking machines, all of them. Fun video.

My eyes rarely avert from most Guzzis, in particular any V7. Nice list pdedse.

Except for the RE 650 Int and W800, none of those bikes do anything for me. Black wheels don't cut it.

the video's selection is a bit puzzling to me, from a retro perspective. The Speed Twin and not the T120? The new Kawa W800 has aluminum cases, chrome pipes, and nice paint--and looks more retro--so why do they feature the less retro blacked-out W800 Street from last year's lineup? If the Z900RS, with its liquid cooling and monoshock tail-in-the-air gets in, why not the new BMW RnineT/5, which is the most retro of that line, and still air/oil cooled with a boxer engine? And of course, why the CB 1100 RS, with its reservoir shocks and 21st century turn signals, instead of the CB1100EX? surely many of these other bikes were also at the show.

Lots to like in that video and pieces of all of those bikes have something to offer. The CB and the RE Int are closest to the complete package though.

To me the RE Interceptor is like an updated XS 650 Yamaha. About the same power with updated features and pretty similar looks. And that price .... holy cow. What a bargain.

I'm not a fan of the RS 1100 CB. Too modern. I agree with baxtercat, should be a Deluxe, or at least an ES. Also agree about the Bonnie T-120

I'm also not a fan of the V7 Guzzi's that almost everyone swoons over. They just don't do it for me. They look ok, but riding one really turned me off.

I think for the most part the Kawasaki 900 rs is fantastic until you get to the back end, then it looses me. Also don't like the urine cup master cyl or the fact that you can see the radiator cap while riding it.

The V7, for me, is indeed difficult to fit in and not a great ride. The power delivery is dismal. However, I like the styling and engineering, fit and finish has been great most years. And it has shaft.

I always really enjoy looking at V7s when I see them. Don't see myself on one any time soon, but any of the newer Guzzis catches my eye.