The CB1100 Community Forum

Yesterday the weather was cooperative enough to hold my annual "Ride each bike to the gas station for its pre-winter top-off" event.

As such, I took each bike on an identical 8.2-mile loop to get gas and add some Stabil before putting them down for the winter. I've not ridden for a month and came away with some interesting impressions of each:

Engine:
1998 K1200RS *****
2014 CB1100 *****
2013 F800GT ***
2015 R1200RT **

• I've always loved the K1200RS. Its engine is electric-smooth, offers bottomless torque at any rpm, and just plain works. The engine has great drivability around town and has perfect manners. And this thing has 134,000 miles on it, so it's no spring chicken.
• The CB1100 was a very close second. The engine is a tad more vibey than the big yellow Beemer, but it's luscious and has perfect fueling and great power. Perfect.
• The F800GT is a bit down on torque compared to the above two bikes, plus, as a twin, it's a bit busier. Still, it runs clean, revs easily, has plenty of guts for real-world riding, and is extremely fuel-efficient (70 mpg).
• Despite the glowing reviews, the boxer engine in my R1200RT feels archaic, vibey, lurchy, and it's annoyingly noisy as well. Will my K1200RS engine fit into this chassis?

Gearbox:
CB1100 *****
F800GT *****
K1200RS *****
R1200RT *

• The CB, K-RS, and F800 all have wonderfully light, precise, and quiet shifting. I'd say the CB is the best of the three but they're all outstanding.
• The gearbox on the R1200 is a fail, at least on my bike. It's impossible to engage any gear without a lurching, embarrassing clunk, plus the 2-3 upshift isn't always there. My bike may have an issue but I can't imagine this rock-box will ever match the other bikes in terms of shifting excellence. Very sad.

Suspension:
R1200RT *****
K1200RS ****
CB1100 ****
F800GT ****

• All of these bikes are pretty good. By virtue of its multi-mode, electronically-controlled suspension, the RT is a dream. Adjustments are simple and can actually be felt.
• The K1200RS, even with its mileage, is good too, though it doesn't offer electronic adjustment, which is fine by me. I'm jaded by BMW's Telelever front suspension, and on this beast, I think it's a great application.
• The CB1100 works fine for where and how I ride the bike. I'm sure I could throw some money at it to improve the suspension, but for me, it wouldn't be a good use of funds.
• Similarly, the F800 has good suspension too, though they feel like budget items (the non-Telelever front forks especially). Still, the setup works fine and I have no complaints. The on-the-fly ESA adjustment for the rear shock (damping only) is a gimmicky touch. Adjustments are barely discernable except on the roughest roads.

Brakes:
CB1100 *****
R1200RT *****
K1200RS *****
F800GT *****

• All good. Each bike has ABS and each has the ability to stop harder and with more control than my ability to ride the bike, so that's a good thing. I think good braking is one thing most manufacturers have nailed.

Ergonomics and Comfort:
R1200RT *****
CB1100 ****
F800GT ***
K1200RS *

• Okay, full disclosure. I'm 6'6", 220 lbs. I have the R1200RT set up for long-distance comfort, which means lowered pegs and a raised Comfort seat. This thing's a Barcalounger on wheels. Plus, the electronically-adjustable windscreen and cruise control provide comfort in spades. That's why I bought the bike.
• The CB is a bit cramped but I've had no complaints with the stock ergos and find the seat to be fine. This is a 300-400 mile/day bike for me. The engine smoothness is a big reason why. I have no desire to change anything.
• The F800 is similarly cramped for me, and the windscreen creates some buffeting, but it's a really fun bike to ride and I usually overlook the slight discomfort because I have so much fun on it. I've done several 12-hour, 600+ mile days on it with only minor complaint. As long as I remember it's not supposed to be a touring bike, I'm fine.
• I'm getting older by the day. I've owned the K-RS since new (21 years now) and no longer comfortably fit on it. The pegs are high, the bars are low and quite far forward. This bike, for decades, was my all-time favorite motorcycle but yesterday's short ride left me wondering how much longer I'd be able to enjoy it. Especially when any of the other three bikes are considerably more comfortable.

Weight and Handling:
F800GT *****
CB1100 ****
R1200RT ***
K1200RS **

I've combined these categories because I think they go hand in hand.

• The F800 is a feather at 450+ lbs., and its superior on-road handling and agility make it a no-brainer when twisty roads are on the day's itinerary. It's an effortless ride.
• Not far behind, I find the CB to be a wonderfully capable bike on fun roads, mostly by virtue of its narrow tires. Despite its heft, the bike is well balanced and easy to ride, especially when twisting hard on the go-handle. I like it.
• The R1200RT is a heavy boat but actually feels pretty good once you've left the driveway. I think it's one of those bikes that you can ride faster than you expect. That being said, on the few occasions where I've had it on the narrow and winding, it's held its own, but it is a bit top heavy and the huge fairing is a visual distraction when you really want to haul the mail.
• The K1200RS has a mile-long wheelbase, plus it's heavy. That, combined with the racer-boy ergos, translates to huge fun on high-speed sweepers where the bike's stability is unsurpassed, but it's not as pleasant when you're just riding around town or heading to the gas station, especially compared with these other bikes.

Riding Impression:
CB1100 *****
F800GT *****
R1200RT ***
K1200RS *

• Just based on my 8.2-mile ride, the CB1100 is far and away the most satisfying bike of the group. The refinement of the engine and drivetrain, deep torque, good ergos, eye-pleasing bling, and easy handling all contribute to making this an effortless, fun bike to ride. I love it. Preaching to the choir, I know.
• The F800GT is super-satisfying too, though its engine characteristics are a bit quirkier than the civility of the Honda's smooth inline four. I chalk up the F800's good showing to its lightness and agility. It's a really fun bike to ride.
• Taking the R1200RT to the gas station is like flying a Boeing 737 to the airport in the next county. It's a lot to muscle around and totally out of its element. Coming off the CB and F800, it's a pig. On the open road, it's the clear winner among this group of bikes, but riding around town isn't fun. And don't even try to upshift into third gear -- it's not there. Something's wrong.
• My perennial favorite K1200RS was a huge letdown on this loop. Heavy, ponderous, slow-steering, and so cramped that I couldn't wait to get off. Oddly, I've completed five SaddleSore 1000's on this bike, but that was years ago when my joints were more flexible and tolerant. Now, riding this bike feels a bit unsafe. Hmmm.

Next month I'll have to buy gas for the snowblower. Too bad I can't ride it.

Nice read/comparison and pics, sure CB is overall winner =
Thanks for sharing.

Great post! Thanks.

I had a K1100RS for 19 years. That one didn't have the telelever and was more wieldy. When the engine broke because of false air thru a rotten rubber intake socket I bailed out. My friends tried to convince me, a K1200RS would be the logical next step. But I fell in love with a CB1100. That was 2014.

Interesting and well written post. Thanks.

LongRanger, it was a pleasure to read your comparison.
Although I'm German, I can't write I like BMW motorbikes. Some old ones, yes a bit, but all newer stuff no. The CB in my eyes is the best of your bikes and between your lines I read something like that.

Django, unfortunately your lived CB love did not last long...

Wisedrum

what a great and fair read. I love how differnt bikes have different plus's and minuses which when added up leave the rider with a clear picture as to what appeals to him.

That was a good read , are you comparing snow blowers next month ?

When we left upstate NY I told my wife that we were going to live in an area were they don't even sell snow blowers !
(they do sell them in WNC )

Man, I'd be hard pressed to sell that yellow BMW. Just has the look I like. Would probably pull the fluids out and park it in my study after it hit its life expectancy. I can hear the spousal unit wailing now....

That was an interesting post. You comments about the K1200RS struck a chord. I have a '94 K75RS, the flying brick. It just goes and goes. It's got 50K and it will probably do three more 50Ks before it's done. It's been a called a Bavarian cream puff, and not for no reason. It does everything smoothly without drama, and never gets you anywhere near the edge of anything. If I tried to lean it like my ZRX, I'd grind away the exhaust in a shower of sparks. If someone told me that before I bought the bike, I never would have, but I'm glad I did, because I learned that's not a fault, but a rare species of motorcycle indeed.

I can't have so many bikes, so it's going. In fact, when I got the '17EX a few weeks ago, two of my friends were clever enough to figure that out. One first, and then the other, asked how much I wanted for the BMW, even before asking if it was for sale. They knew. This world belongs to the quick, and the first one got it. But now I'll miss it, and both he and I know that.

Well, after rereading my words several more times, honestly acknowledging what I experienced during my little 8.2-mile ride yesterday, and taking a very deep breath, this afternoon I posted my K1200RS on Craigslist, for a reasonable price considering its age, condition, and mileage. Within an hour I had a stranger milling about in my garage admiring the bike, and following a two-minute test ride, he pulled back in the driveway and exclaimed "Sold!" before even removing his helmet. So my favorite all-time motorcycle, the one I dreamt about and finally rode off the showroom floor so many years ago, the one that took me valiantly across all parts of the U.S., Mexico, and Canada for over a third of my life, the one that never failed to start and only left me stranded once (split fuel filter), is gone. Gone. No regrets, but it's been a bittersweet day. So long, old friend. Be good.