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On paper the Bonneville is a superior machine to the Moto Guzzi V7. But after riding both the V7 has the bigger smile factor. Less horsepower is more than compensated by much less weight and lighter handling. If the V7 was physically a bit larger I probably would have gotten it instead of the CB, but my long frame pushes me away from the smaller machines.
Plus, the CB has more power, the inline 4 (I do like singles and twins but they get boring if that is all you have in the garage).
Time will tell, but I think the CB is just a better machine. Purely subjective opinion and not by any stretch saying the Guzzi or Bonnie are built cheaply - except in some cases the Guzzi's are. sigh. I love the brand some things they do leave you shaking your head.
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My quest for a retro started with a Moto Guzzi. I always liked my brother's 72 850 Eldorado. So, I test rode a Breva and disappointedly, was less than impressed. I then looked at a Bonnie, nice bike, but it was a Triumph (wasn't sure how reliable they would be remembering the old ones) and the dealer was pretty far away. I tried looking at a W650 but the Kaw dealer didn't even have a brochure, much less a bike to look at. The Japanese had nothing else to offer. (in retrospect I should have tried to locate a low mileage Kawasaki 1100 Zephyr) . I then took my wife back to the Triumph dealer and we test rode the Bonnie and bought it that day. We rode that for a couple years before I decided more power was in order, so sold the Triumph to my brother and bought a used 750 Nighthawk. Although the step up in power was noticeable, two years later I wanted more. I test rode a Suzuki Bandit 1200 but the styling didn't thrill me. Then I bought a new Yamaha FZ-1. THAT had power. Rode it awhile, loved the power, the brakes, the light weight, but decided the riding position didn't suit me and didn't like the notchy transmission, and my son really wanted it so I sold it to him (he still has it). Kept riding the Nighthawk but decided I missed the power and brakes of the FZ-1, so found a clean used one and bought it. THEN Honda announced the CB 1100 was coming to the U.S. Sold the Nighthawk 750 ( to a guy that worked with my son) and the second FZ-1 (again to my brother who still has it) to buy the 13 CB 1100.
Where are my going with this? Just the looks of a bike is not enough. In order to satisfy, a bike has to tick many boxes. Price, looks, sound, feel, balance, power, stopping ability, reliability, it has to fit ergonomically, it has to be insurable, and it has to be able to do the job you have in mind for it. That is why so many manufacturers build so many different models. Tough job for 1 bike to satisfy so many demands for so many individuals.
I believe the CB 1100 checks most of my requirement boxes with the exception of being a good long distance two up tourer, (it does a great job as a solo tourer) but I have another bike in the garage that fulfills the two up touring duties. All the bikes that came ahead of it were "lacking something" or else they would still be in the garage.
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Should have kept the Fatbob, I know money is tight, just I believe in multiple bikes
