The CB1100 Community Forum

Folks,

If the CB1100 does not sell, I will likely trade it in on a 2021 BMW R Ninet Pure model. I went to the dealer to sit on the sweet new Scrambler in the Kalamata Olive color, but the seat is just atrocious and I didn't like the large front wheel and knobby tires. I did sit on the Pure model and it just spoke to me. Going on a test ride Tuesday. Very interested in how it rides and "feels" compared to the CB1100. I do worry about the Beemer's intrinsic quality though, compared with our CB1100's....the CB is just so flawless, I probably take it for granted!

Anybody with real experience with the R NineT range?

Thanks...

Would this talk you out of it?

I rode one of these at Barber in 2019 during a demo day. I can tell you I was honestly only impressed with the top end power. Between 0 and 6000 rpms it's basically the same feeling as the CB but then it has a fairly large push to give you after that, whereas our bike doesn't. It also feels a bit more nimble but a lot more cramped. However, at low rpms, say under 2000, it doesn't feel nearly as buttery smooth as the cb.

Then there's the cost of maintenance..it comes with a BMW brand premium price unles youre doing everything yourself, and it doesn't come with that Honda style reliability.

Cool factor? Yea ok. Its just a different kind of cool.

Power? It certainly wins but only if you're wringing it out all the time.

Handling? Felt to me like it tips in more sluggishly than our bike and felt less stable the line, but is certainly lighter. You'll forget you have 1200ccs under you.

Cost of ownership? Not great, depending how much of a BMW enthusiast you are.

Comfort? Less so than ours, despite superior suspension.

Comparisons aside, all in all the r9t is an awesome ride but if you ask me there are better bikes for the price.

(04-17-2021, 12:49 PM)Stichill_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Would this talk you out of it?

Ha, I own two 2018 Moto Guzzi V7III...one Milano and one Carbon Shine. Love them! The Carbon Shine is also listed for sale.

I own ten bikes, I can say for me, ten is too many!

(04-17-2021, 12:50 PM)misterprofessionality_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I rode one of these at Barber in 2019 during a demo day. I can tell you I was honestly only impressed with the top end power. Between 0 and 6000 rpms it's basically the same feeling as the CB but then it has a fairly large push to give you after that, whereas our bike doesn't. It also feels a bit more nimble but a lot more cramped. However, at low rpms, say under 2000, it doesn't feel nearly as buttery smooth as the cb.

Then there's the cost of maintenance..it comes with a BMW brand premium price unles youre doing everything yourself, and it doesn't come with that Honda style reliability.

Cool factor? Yea ok. Its just a different kind of cool.

Power? It certainly wins but only if you're wringing it out all the time.

Handling? Felt to me like it tips in more sluggishly than our bike and felt less stable the line, but is certainly lighter. You'll forget you have 1200ccs under you.

Cost of ownership? Not great, depending how much of a BMW enthusiast you are.

Comfort? Less so than ours, despite superior suspension.

Comparisons aside, all in all the r9t is an awesome ride but if you ask me there are better bikes for the price.

Price has always been the stumbling block....considering I paid $7400 OTD for the CB....but the willingness of the dealer to take multiple bikes in trade (and for very fair prices too!) alleviates that.

Thanks for sharing your impressions!

Love ^^this^^ Guzzi !

I like the Pure as well, it's definitely the one in the R9T model range I like the most. A friend of mine has the R9T racer model and boy is it a stunner in the BMW livery. I've ridden it a couple of times, and its fun. However, I do like my CB a lot more. I get the impression he does as well; he's taken the CB out a few times and he really likes it.

To me, the R9T felt somewhat clunky and buzzy compared to the CB, and the side to side motion of the boxer takes a little getting used to, especially coming from the buttery smooth Inline-4 in the CB. As others have mentioned the maintenance costs between the two will be noticeable, and at least around here the CB is way more exclusive than the R9T. At any given B&B event, there are at least 3-4 R9T's and unless I ride my CB, there's never usually another one there.

If I had to get rid of the CB but still wanted something with retro flare, I'd probably get the Kawasaki Z900RS. The Triumph Street Twin is a close second. There's nothing wrong with the Pure, its a great bike. But, the CB does everything really well and its the kind of bike you miss when its gone. I can even appreciate it compared to my Superduke which is a ballistic missile - the CB just has an infallible charm to it.

Trades or no, if that same dealer has, say, an MT10 or a triumph speed twin for around that same price (or more likely less $$, they're much more worthwhile purchases. The speed twin particularly. Good grief that thing is good.

(04-17-2021, 12:40 PM)DaSwami_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Folks,

If the CB1100 does not sell, I will likely trade it in on a 2021 BMW R Ninet Pure model. I went to the dealer to sit on the sweet new Scrambler in the Kalamata Olive color, but the seat is just atrocious and I didn't like the large front wheel and knobby tires. I did sit on the Pure model and it just spoke to me. Going on a test ride Tuesday. Very interested in how it rides and "feels" compared to the CB1100. I do worry about the Beemer's intrinsic quality though, compared with our CB1100's....the CB is just so flawless, I probably take it for granted!

Anybody with real experience with the R NineT range?

Thanks...

I won't talk you out of it. I have both ('17 ex and '18 Ninet Urban GS). Me personally, if I had to keep just one, it'd be the CB, but not for any particular technical reason. They are both great, but the CB is a better "all-around" machine to me....or at least it just feels that way.

Lots of people talk about the cost of ownership with BMW, but I've had several (and still have two) and over the long haul, they really haven't been that bad for me. One of the more annoying "features" for most BMW bikes (including the R NineT) is the battery replacement experience. I swear that the battery must be the first thing that appears on the assembly line at BMW, and the rest of the bike gets built around that. I spent the entire day today removing seats, covers, tanks, etc replacing the batteries on my Urban GS and my R1200C. That's neither here nor there though...just top of mind.

In any case, if you are set on getting rid of the CB, the Pure is a great bike and the best value in the RnineT series in my opinion.

Don't buy it, its horrible looking

(04-17-2021, 01:20 PM)misterprofessionality_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Trades or no, if that same dealer has, say, an MT10 or a triumph speed twin for around that same price (or more likely less $$, they're much more worthwhile purchases. The speed twin particularly. Good grief that thing is good.

Thank you, but I don't "do" watercooled bikes, never have and never will.