(10-06-2013, 12:06 PM)Bill Edwards_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I happen to own both the BMW F800GT and the CB1100. The Honda since April and nearly 5K miles. The GT since July and nearly the same miles. I'm also on the F800 Forum. Well, I just don't understand the vibration complaints. It's a parallel twin! I use those foam grip buddy things on BOTH bikes. And I hold those grips as loosely as I can. I'm 65 and I excercise every day. I dunno. Both bikes have vibes at certain RPM's. I love them both! Hey, the Madstad screen for the Beemer is the big fix. I put a Givi fly screen on the Honda. Looks good and just enough. For me, the CB is my local rider. I rode it today. But the Beemer has more luggage capacity and wind protection. Well,I'm rambling...get both!
In my case the vibration complaint stems from the buzz. Low displacement, high freq vibrations when running at 4.5 -5k rpm (highway speeds). There is just no way to damp them out. One day I noticed how the brake fluid in the reservoir was dancing around and foaming up.
Btw: I'm comparing it to a 250cc Vespa I had. I know there are radical differences between the GT and the Vespa, but for me it just felt odd that after an hour of riding, my hands felt completely numb. I have fixed it to some extent with bar risers, grip buddies, and a throttlemeister set.
Maybe I should have started with this: Would I need to buy all those things in order to be comfortable on the CB? I sure am a bit disappointed that I had to do all of that on the F800...
The only way you can answer that is with a test ride. I haven't had to do any of that to my CB.
(10-07-2013, 03:18 AM)Zenoster_imp Wrote: [ -> ] (10-06-2013, 12:06 PM)Bill Edwards_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I happen to own both the BMW F800GT and the CB1100. The Honda since April and nearly 5K miles. The GT since July and nearly the same miles. I'm also on the F800 Forum. Well, I just don't understand the vibration complaints. It's a parallel twin! I use those foam grip buddy things on BOTH bikes. And I hold those grips as loosely as I can. I'm 65 and I excercise every day. I dunno. Both bikes have vibes at certain RPM's. I love them both! Hey, the Madstad screen for the Beemer is the big fix. I put a Givi fly screen on the Honda. Looks good and just enough. For me, the CB is my local rider. I rode it today. But the Beemer has more luggage capacity and wind protection. Well,I'm rambling...get both!
In my case the vibration complaint stems from the buzz. Low displacement, high freq vibrations when running at 4.5 -5k rpm (highway speeds). There is just no way to damp them out. One day I noticed how the brake fluid in the reservoir was dancing around and foaming up.
Btw: I'm comparing it to a 250cc Vespa I had. I know there are radical differences between the GT and the Vespa, but for me it just felt odd that after an hour of riding, my hands felt completely numb. I have fixed it to some extent with bar risers, grip buddies, and a throttlemeister set.
Maybe I should have started with this: Would I need to buy all those things in order to be comfortable on the CB? I sure am a bit disappointed that I had to do all of that on the F800...
In my case the vibration complaint stems from the buzz. Low displacement, high freq vibrations when running at 4.5 -5k rpm (highway speeds). There is just no way to damp them out. One day I noticed how the brake fluid in the reservoir was dancing around and foaming up.
Maybe I should have started with this: Would I need to buy all those things in order to be comfortable on the CB? I sure am a bit disappointed that I had to do all of that on the F800...
As I mention, the CB is very smooth. All magazine reviewers said so. I don't feel numb in the hand. It is smoother after 1k miles
Vibration and your tolerance to same varies a LOT from person to person. I think this is one reason big V Twins are so popular, you got your vibration but the frequency is half that of an inline four so its more of a vibe than a buzz. In general it appears to me folks prefer a low frequency to a high frequency one (think V twin vs. a 2 stroke) and some guys like some thumping going on vs nothing at all (they use the term "sewing machine" in a derogatory manner).
I know I like the feel of the Moto Guzzi Griso motor at freeway speeds (so far, only 300 miles on the CB) and prefer it to the CB. That said, I'm very attracted to the vibration my Honda XR650L big single but I don't hate it either. Before I got the CB I enjoyed 650L more than the Griso just about everywhere but the open road. For a thumper that 650L is not bad all. The most I've ever spent on the 650L is about 3/4 of a day. After about 2 hours the seat is a chore.
