2014 CB1000R

[grover_imp]

For reference, the Versys only makes ~60 hp @ 8,400 RPMs and 42 lb/ft of torque @~7,000 RPMs. The acceleration afforded by either of the Honda's will be significantly stronger than what you're accustomed to.

That being said, the Versys is also ~85 lbs lighter than the CB11, so I would expect it to feel somewhat more "flickable" in transition in twisties. Versys does LOOK like it carries it's weight higher.

Only way to really know is to ride them. Personally, I'm kind of an adrenaline junky and coming from my 65 hp Suzuki SV650 I've been more than pleased with the performance of the CB11. The retro styling pushes all the right buttons for me. It's a comfortable and surprisingly practical do-all bike.

Please keep us posted on what you decide!

grover


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[the Ferret]

Good charts and comparison ferret!
By the way this is a little off topic (but health was mentioned as a reason for selling), but I know I've read your wife had a hip replacement, I've been having trouble with one of mine.

Question: How did she know it was serious enough to warrant surgery? Did her GP recommend an ortho guy? Was it seen on X-Ray or Cat Scan? Mine is starting to worry me and I'm wondering whether to seek out my GP opinion or go straight to an ortho dr. Naproxen is holding it in check at the moment, but that can't last forever.

I'm trying to figure out which will fail me first, my ability to walk or my ability to ride.

Pain 24/7. Go straight to Ortho. GP is not educated enough in this area and will either prescribe stronger pain meds or refer you to Ortho. Xrays will tell the answer.

[JGran_imp]

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments, I really appreciate it. The quality of the responses says a lot about this forum and about the CB1100. I do take to heart that CB1100 riders emphasize the overall happy experience of the ride whereas the CB1000R riders talk more about the upper end of the performance range that I'll never see.

All the thoughts (and dyno charts) about HP and torque make total sense...for the riding I do, the performance of the CB1100 sounds like it would be more than enough power and plenty of fun. It has more HP and torque (but also more weight) than my Versys, so I'm pretty sure it would feel at least as strong as my Versys, and I've never felt especially held back on that. And truly I don't need (or even want) the kind of speed and HP that the CB1000R can deliver at the top end. LOL I think I'm talking myself into CB1100.

I think my lingering question is whether the willing nimbleness of the Versys has spoiled me, or would the CB1100 feel just as good. (And are the narrow tires on the CB1100 a liability in any respect?) Because most of my rides are short rides around town, having something that is maneuverable and fun at corners is important, but I still need it to have comfortable ergonomics. Unfortunately the dealers around here seem totally uninterested in offering demo rides so all I can do is research by reading and asking questions.

And about the harness. Yikes, I didn't mean to hit such a nerve but I appreciate your thoughts. I'm a very safety-conscious rider, always in head-to-toe safety gear, alert, cautious, etc. I say this only to emphasize that I know I'm vulnerable and do what I can to put the odds in my favor with defensive riding. I'm never on big or fast roads with the kids, and they're also in safety gear. They can reach the pegs and hold on to me but I'm more comfortable with them in the harness. It's designed specifically for kids on motorcycles and has hand-holds for them. The peace of mind knowing they're staying on the bike with me is worth it.

Again, thanks for the thoughtful responses. I've read a lot of posts on this forum and think the civility and thoroughness of the conversations on here is itself a big point in favor of the CB1100, as it shows the level of admiration the CB1100 inspires. If (or should I say "when"?) I join your ranks as an owner I'll let you know.

[the Ferret]

Jgran...one of my riding buds has a Versys see this thread

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3926

I have ridden his Versys on several occasions and must say I find the CB a much more nimble handler than the Versys, partially due to the narrow tires, and partially do to the much lower center of gravity, and partially due to the lower seat height. True, it physically weighs more than the Versys, but you would never know it riding, the weight only makes itself known when pushing it around in the garage.

And thanks for the kind words on the forum, some pretty knowledgable and reasonable people hang out here. The People who possess these qualities seem drawn to the CB 1100 as you noted.

[JGran_imp]

Thanks ferret, that's exactly what I was hoping to hear!

[Elipten_imp]

I wanted to add a smaller nimble bike to the collection and relive my youth. I went and looked at a CB350 F. Light, nimble yep, but I'm a lot bigger no than when I was 21, and it felt like a toy. The CB1100 is a great all around bike.


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[Randy B]

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments, I really appreciate it. The quality of the responses says a lot about this forum and about the CB1100. I do take to heart that CB1100 riders emphasize the overall happy experience of the ride whereas the CB1000R riders talk more about the upper end of the performance range that I'll never see.

All the thoughts (and dyno charts) about HP and torque make total sense...for the riding I do, the performance of the CB1100 sounds like it would be more than enough power and plenty of fun. It has more HP and torque (but also more weight) than my Versys, so I'm pretty sure it would feel at least as strong as my Versys, and I've never felt especially held back on that. And truly I don't need (or even want) the kind of speed and HP that the CB1000R can deliver at the top end. LOL I think I'm talking myself into CB1100.

I think my lingering question is whether the willing nimbleness of the Versys has spoiled me, or would the CB1100 feel just as good. (And are the narrow tires on the CB1100 a liability in any respect?) Because most of my rides are short rides around town, having something that is maneuverable and fun at corners is important, but I still need it to have comfortable ergonomics. Unfortunately the dealers around here seem totally uninterested in offering demo rides so all I can do is research by reading and asking questions.

And about the harness. Yikes, I didn't mean to hit such a nerve but I appreciate your thoughts. I'm a very safety-conscious rider, always in head-to-toe safety gear, alert, cautious, etc. I say this only to emphasize that I know I'm vulnerable and do what I can to put the odds in my favor with defensive riding. I'm never on big or fast roads with the kids, and they're also in safety gear. They can reach the pegs and hold on to me but I'm more comfortable with them in the harness. It's designed specifically for kids on motorcycles and has hand-holds for them. The peace of mind knowing they're staying on the bike with me is worth it.

Again, thanks for the thoughtful responses. I've read a lot of posts on this forum and think the civility and thoroughness of the conversations on here is itself a big point in favor of the CB1100, as it shows the level of admiration the CB1100 inspires. If (or should I say "when"?) I join your ranks as an owner I'll let you know.

I agree that I believe the narrow tires most likely aid in the nimbleness of the bike. Is is very easy to control at slow speeds.

As far as the harness goes its not so much a nerve and we are just looking out. The last thing you want is to be strapped to a motorcycle in a crash, and that includes being strapped to the other rider. Things go wrong in a hurry and being strapped to someone else can only amplify that.

Look at it this way......there is a reason they don't install seat belts on bikes.

The gear is great, but just think about what would happen of you were to land on top of your child at say....40 mph because someone changed lanes into you and knocked you to the ground. It would get ugly in a hurry.

[/soapbox]

I hope you get the CB1100 because you will enjoy it immensely!

[offroadfx4_imp]

I had a similar thought on seat belts for toddlers on airplanes and got in trouble on a flight 25 years ago.

After reading that almost every child that was being held on to (this was when children could ride in the lap of a parent) became separated from the parent on impact during the 1989 Sioux City, IA airliner crash http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_232 I decided to make a modified seat belt for my son.

At the time I thought it was brilliant of course, I took an automobile seat belt, had a shoe repair guy sew a loop on the back side of a single seat belt that I could then fasten my seat belt though this loop. That way my son would remain firmly in my grasp should we crash. Of course the stewardesses freaked out about it and didn't want me to use it, saying my son could sit on my lap WITHOUT the seat belt which made no sense to me at the time.

Afterwards, thinking about the physics should we crash and my big body probably being doubled over at the waist, I would have probably smashed my son.

This thinking is similar to strapping your child to your back....I don't know which would be worst, having them fly off alone or taking the chance (25%?) of you landing on your back and compounding the accident by smashing them with your large body?

I don't know the answer, I'm just saying, I had similar thoughts and I'm still not sure which poison is better.

[Henrik_imp]

From what I have read on here, the CB1100 would be by far the better choice. The CB1000R really shines when ridden more aggressively. It is much more of a sport bike, and even though it is easy and nimble to ride for its category, it is not on par with the CB1100 when it comes to more relaxed and city riding.

You can then add in that the CB1100 is more comfortable for the rider, and much more comfortable for a pillion.

Oh, and it looks so much better too...

[ClassicVW_imp]

I worked a car crash where a family took a long ride to go pumpkin picking. Their 2 yr old girl was "fussing and crying" on the way home. The mother took the child out of the seat and held her on her lap in the backseat and was feeding her a snack. A very drunk driver came into their lane and hit them head-on. The car was a small Toyota Corolla. The impact sent the mother and child forward with such force that the mother's body pushed the child's body under the front seat. You all know how little room there is under a compact car's seat, right? The mother had a compound fracture of the ankle. The little girl's cervical spine was severed. She actually survived due to the police officers being so thoroughly trained with regard to injury management. She is confined to living on a respirator, flat on her back, completely paralyzed, but she can talk. Her lifetime medical care cost is estimated at at least $25 Million. Several people around her have remarked she would be better off dead, she has no life, and seeing her like that absolutely kills you.