I'm not too far behind some of you in this. A couple of years ago I got rid of my 2015 Goldwing. I got tired of wrestling the weight around with my strength dwindling with age. However, after another year without a bike, the CB1100 is my fix at about 450 lbs less than my Goldwing. So far I handle the CB1100 just fine and am reliving my 1970's and 1980's years again. The wife doesn't ride anymore, and I am happy with the power etc. I am 64 now. Just a few more years and I will probably be reaching the point where riding 2 wheels is no longer safe. Until then, ride with care my friends.
Milk master, Rocky and Nachodaddy won’t see 80 again; the Ferret won’t see 70, and they’re all still riding. You’ve a long way to go.
I shared this on another thread, but this is a GREAT short video by an older rider FOR us seasoned, older riders, about recognizing when it's time to downsize, and some recommendations. I shared it with a friend of mine in his 70s who - despite constantly dropping his half-ton V-twin bikes, and despite having SERIOUSLY injured himself - STILL insists he MUST ride a big bike. Even though now, due to not being able to handle it, he CAN'T ride. Sigh. Anyway, good watch here:
https://youtu.be/WusDmPl2suo
BTW, I'm 68 and plan on riding for MANY more years. We're getting my wife (62) back onto her own bike next spring - either a Rebel 500 or Vulcan 650s. Previously she rode a Rebel 250 and then a GSX650F. (awesome bike)
You are right, M, don't need the weight, don't need the power. 550 lbs is plenty, more is nothing but a pain to us more mortals. But the CB1100 offers something else: a certain level, lure and appeal of sophisticated, timeless technology, craftsmanship, and complexity which I love and do not see in a modern 2cyl average water-cooled engine. And while my old CB550 Four is almost as good.... I love the 11.
Will scale down with age, of course, and only ride the 11 according to the following formula:
5 days a week at 50, 5 days a week at 60, 4 days a week at 70 .... until she or me cannot do it no more
(or I run out of money)
Well, as my hero Clint Eastwood said in one of his movies "Ya know, a mans just gotta know his limitations." I had a Harley CVO Softail Springer for 10 years starting in 2007. That thing weighed over 750 lbs. and was like wrestling a tank in around town traffic. I was younger and stronger back then, but it got to the point where I knew I needed to downsize. So, in 2017 I started looking at the options and was thrilled to find that Honda was making a machine called a CB1100EX, and huzzah, it was four cylinders just like my CB750 Four back in the day. By going getting rid of the Harley I cut over 250 lbs. of weight, and increased maneuverability dramatically.
Now I am going from the CB1100 to the Monkey. Oddly enough, the Monkey has the almost exactly the same wheelbase and seat height as my very first motorcycle, a 1968 Suzuki K11 Sport 80. Brand spankin new, the K11 was $350. I worked all summer at a 24-hr. restaurant washing dishes and bussing tables to make the money to buy it. It wasn't long before I started wanting a bigger bike with more HP.
The Monkey is a lot of fun, and it allows me to still ride when I want to. Despite age catching up with me, and various related ailments, it is easy to maneuver in and out of the garage, as well as the actual riding.
... ride well and safely 2017EX. The Honda Monkey must put on a smile during every mount.