What's meant by 'flat handling' and 'lazy front end' ?

[stormbytes_imp]

Getting ready to pull the trigger on a soon-to-be-mine new 2014 CB1100, I've been reading every article I could get my hands on. In one article the author tells of 'flat handling' and a 'lazy' front end on the '14 models which he says were 'corrected' in the 2017s. If anyone is interested the article can be found here: https://columnm.com/i-really-wanted-the-...#?geoID=US

Frankly I don't pay much heed. Hearing another's 'critique' of a motorcycle is quite often like having someone review a flavor of ice cream. These 'reviews' are often so qualitatively subjective they hardly offer any value at all. When I had my Monster 696 I thought the damn thing was a beast. You'd just look at the throttle and the damn thing would literally take off. I remember watching a video review where the author states that he found it to be 'severely underpowered'. Laughable, I thought. Still, this is the second review where there's talk of a 'lazy' front end -- one was a Youtube test ride video where the rider found the bike had difficulty coming out of a lean.

Anyways, thought I'd put this out there and see what bites back

[chync_imp]

I think the rake it a little longer than modern sport bikes (by design) and maybe it's a comparison to how quickly or easily it leans in to a turn. I like a sporty ride and lowered my triple tree on my front forks by 10mm to effectively decrease the rake a little. It turns in a little quicker. But it really depends on how you like to ride. I liked the CB the first time I rode it as much as I do with the mods I have made.


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I think the 2017 has a modified geometry to give it a sportier ride. I'm guessing that is what the reference was to?


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[Hondahawkrider_imp]

Lazy Front end, is kinda like understeer in a car.. Basically if you got to make a turn the bike requires more input or force to get it to turn.

As mentioned, you can change the steering geometry by dropping the front. This actually means lifting the front fork in the triple tree, so the front end sits lower (rear is higher). So that the front end is more responsive or reactive to input. It takes less force to make the bike turn into a turn..

I find the cb1100 with stock bars and shock to be very neutral. Neither lazy or responsive. Some folks don't like it, I love it. It means if I am just putting along its not going to react to every little bump micro input from the rider. It's easy to ride under normal conditions. It takes a little extra to ride it hard, but it dead nuts in its reactions. To ride it hard it takes some extra concentration, but you know exactly how it will respond with a little experience.

All I want to do to mine is put the lower type II bars so it's a little easier to force ( for the bars, just need to put em on)

[stormbytes_imp]

Lazy Front end, is kinda like understeer in a car.. Basically if you got to make a turn the bike requires more input or force to get it to turn.

As mentioned, you can change the steering geometry by dropping the front. This actually means lifting the front fork in the triple tree, so the front end sits lower (rear is higher). So that the front end is more responsive or reactive to input. It takes less force to make the bike turn into a turn..

I find the cb1100 with stock bars and shock to be very neutral. Neither lazy or responsive. Some folks don't like it, I love it. It means if I am just putting along its not going to react to every little bump micro input from the rider. It's easy to ride under normal conditions. It takes a little extra to ride it hard, but it dead nuts in its reactions. To ride it hard it takes some extra concentration, but you know exactly how it will respond with a little experience.

All I want to do to mine is put the lower type II bars so it's a little easier to force ( for the bars, just need to put em on)

Wow that's so odd. The guy (a foreigner) complained about the bike being 'lazy' in the context of straightening out (coming out of a turn). Maybe he didn't quite get it. He admittedly was a new rider so.. go figure. I'm actually looking for exactly that -- a neutral bike. Something that's pretty much on autopilot, smooth and stable. Very encouraging to read this.

[tinboatcapt_imp]

I have had my 2014 Std for about two weeks and a thousand miles. I have been riding since 1966. The CB11 is my fifth liter bike. I find it to be the easiest bike to ride "precisely" I have ever ridden. Handling is not on the par with a sport bike setup. But on the other hand the CB doesn't need a steering dampener to tame the front end and prevent a tank slapper. My other go to bike is a ST1100 with a heavily modified suspension and lowered. The ST handles better than a stock ST1100 but is heavy, requiring some sliding around on the seat when riding aggressively (Track Days).

To put your concern to rest, I think you will find few faults with the CB11. Honda got it right with this bike. Is the 2017 better? I don't know. My local dealer wouldn't order one in for me to look at. I'm happy with that though. My 2014 suits me perfectly.
Jim

[Hondahawkrider_imp]

Lazy Front end, is kinda like understeer in a car.. Basically if you got to make a turn the bike requires more input or force to get it to turn.

As mentioned, you can change the steering geometry by dropping the front. This actually means lifting the front fork in the triple tree, so the front end sits lower (rear is higher). So that the front end is more responsive or reactive to input. It takes less force to make the bike turn into a turn..

I find the cb1100 with stock bars and shock to be very neutral. Neither lazy or responsive. Some folks don't like it, I love it. It means if I am just putting along its not going to react to every little bump micro input from the rider. It's easy to ride under normal conditions. It takes a little extra to ride it hard, but it dead nuts in its reactions. To ride it hard it takes some extra concentration, but you know exactly how it will respond with a little experience.

All I want to do to mine is put the lower type II bars so it's a little easier to force ( for the bars, just need to put em on)

Wow that's so odd. The guy (a foreigner) complained about the bike being 'lazy' in the context of straightening out (coming out of a turn). Maybe he didn't quite get it. He admittedly was a new rider so.. go figure. I'm actually looking for exactly that -- a neutral bike. Something that's pretty much on autopilot, smooth and stable. Very encouraging to read this.

Wow that's so odd. The guy (a foreigner) complained about the bike being 'lazy' in the context of straightening out (coming out of a turn). Maybe he didn't quite get it. He admittedly was a new rider so.. go figure. I'm actually looking for exactly that -- a neutral bike. Something that's pretty much on autopilot, smooth and stable. Very encouraging to read this.
If you dive a cb into a turn going into the start of a switchback (quick alternating turns, left then right, or right then left), the cb isn't going to snap back to a neutral setting (ie straight up and down) that quickly. That said, with a little extra force, its fine. To me it's not bike that's lazy, it's the rider.. The cb in stock form has decent but not race taught springs in the forks, and its a dual shock rear, i.e. Not a mono shock.

So in stock form it's only going to do so much, but it's stable and a competent rider can make it go fast with additional input.

It's not a cbrgsxrzxrninja, but having owned several, they suck for basic riding, i.e. Commmuting, errand running, or just riding to a friends house. At the gap, or on the track, they effing rock..

However, if you need a real world motorcycle that's easy and fun to ride under any circumstances, can go fast if you know what you are doing (ie have or can learn skill) the cb is imho one of the best all round bikes you can own.. I won't argue it's slanted towards everyday or may basic riding, whereas a sportsbike is more race orientated.

However, that said, what kind of riding do most folks do.. I'd rather have the so called "gentleman's" ride over the racer replica. I will get more usuage and practicality. Plus, if I happen to out ride someone on a replica, either I'm the better rider, or the other guy is clueless.

I've been riding for over 25 years, own multiple bikes, and have wheeled and dealed at least one different bike a year for 15 years. The cb isn't the end all beat all bike, but it does a lot more that folks think.. I've put a staintune exhaust on mine as the only mech mod (PO replaced the fenders and side covers with black ones), I'm putting a t2 bar (lower) to make the transitions easier. Its probably the best all purpose bike I've owned (if you don't count needing to go off-road). At some point when the time is right it will get better fork spring and shocks, but only after the oem ones are done.

It's a Honda, it will run, it's got classic looks, you can switch it up to fit your needs a (thanks samurider.com), what's not to like/love

[Frulk_imp]

Stormbytes...this about the author Bhuvan Chowdhary:

'Bhuvan has been riding motorcycles for more than a decade. He loves travel, food and writing about interesting developments in the motoring industry and is habitual of pulling wheelies now and then.'

Wow...a decade of riding and he has a habit of pulling wheelies.

Notice the "and is habitual of pulling wheelies". That prose usage is peppered throughout his article, more noteworthy for the high quality pictures than the insight it provides on the CB.

Two take away's from this:

1) This hipster journalist was never the target demographic the CB was aimed at.

2) In Bhuvans short test ride world the CB's handling is "flat and lazy". In my real world of 13K ridden miles on the CB its controlled, steady, predictable.

If you have an opportunity to ride it BEFORE you buy, do it and make up your own mind. Don't let either of us talk you into, or out of buying the CB.

[chync_imp]

I wasn't sure I wanted an engine as big as the cb but when I took it for a test ride I fell in love with how easy it was to ride and handle. No surprises from the road and smooth.


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