looking to buy cb1100 - as an occasional commuter

[arva_imp]

hi all, i am looking to buy the cb1100; all the dlx are sold out so it has to be a 2014 std black; beautiful none the less.

i will be commuting in to a large city with tons of traffic; is this a sane choice? will it be too heavy?

i am a returning rider; currently owning a buell blast.

Edit: of course will be taking it out on weeeknds and potential "long rides"; i want one bike that does it all; not 5 bikes to do 5 specialized things...

[arva_imp]

hi all, i am a returning rider and love the cb 1100. i live in nj and all the dlx versions are sold out; only 2014 std black available.

whats a good price to pay? on the phone i was informed that it would be many hundreds less than the msrp of $10,399.

can i get a feel for how much y'all paid? especially in the north east? thx.

[the Ferret]

Hi arva and welcome. The bike is certainly easy to ride, very neutral in handling, very torquey, and smooth. However if that was my sole intention for a motorcycle I would probably choose something smaller, lighter, more maneuverable, less expensive to insure and that got better gas mileage like an NC 700, or a CB500R or a CBR250, or even a 150-400cc scooter.

[drodg33]

I would agree with Ferret. I think if the bike was used just in town I would go for something a littler lighter. It is a wonderful motorcycle though.

[the Ferret]

Arva I merged your 2 threads since they are so similar and be answered at one time

Btw there are several lightly used 2013s available here and abouts or are you adamant about the 6 speed version of the CB?

[ClassicVW_imp]

I would agree with Ferret. I think if the bike was used just in town I would go for something a littler lighter. It is a wonderful motorcycle though.

I too, agree with you and mr.ferret. While the CB certainly isn't difficult to handle, and I would never try to talk someone out of buying one, smaller might be a better fit. My 350 Piaggio scooter is easy to handle, has a lot of storage internally and with the factory top case, and still has a top speed of 86MPH if you need to go on a highway once in a while and large wheels for high speed stability.

Here in New Jersey, one of the highest states to insure a vehicle, even with my perfect record, a CB1100 costs about $600 a year to insure. My small scooter is $170/year and my maxi (350) scooter is an even $200.

[widude]

I paid $8800 after all was said and done, taxes, fees, plate transfer etc.. for my new 2014 standard black CB1100. There are likely better deals, this was new at the local dealer, easy.

That's just to give you a baseline to work off.

[metallyguitarded_imp]

I think with your edit, explaining that although your bike will largely be a commuter, you plan to ride it on the weekends and on longer trips, the CB11 is an excellent choice and will not be too heavy. It is a heavy bike but the weight is distributed very well and the bike handles nicely in traffic. I commute often on mine and have never wished for a lighter, more nimble ride.

I love the CB so much that even if all you ever did was commute on it, I'd still say it's a great motorcycle for the job. There's a reason you were drawn to it and I suspect it was not completely out of utility. There's a lot to be said about commuting on a bike that has the styling you like along with the performance to easily handle highways and city streets.

[JustPassinThru_imp]

It's hard for one person to say to another person what might be best.

IN-TOWN: As noted, Twist-N-Go might be the best plan. The Suzuki Burgman 400 will give you 68 mpg; a top speed of over 80; underseat storage. Water cooling with a fan on the radiator, so you won't overheat in traffic. And they're inexpensive secondhand - I'd advise you to buy used, because they depreciate fast. Just a limited market for them.

A Suzuki TU250 might bear looking at, too. Light and neutral chassis. 80mpg. You're limited on top speed, though - it will depend on weight but you won't get it over 68.

A little bigger: You could check out the Yamaha SR400, if you don't mind learning how to kick-start. I owned its predecessor, the SR500, in the 1980s. It wasn't a perfect commuter bike - it did few things excellently but it did a lot of things acceptably. Lack of electric starting, though, might make this a tough one to accept.

There are other Hondas, as mentioned, as well. The CBR250 or the CB300F. Honda's dropped the price on these entry-level bikes - made in Thailand, I guess, which is okay since it's a Honda plant. But you can get on one of those new for about $4k.

Or, if you just want a knockabout bike...there's the Yamaha TW200. It's no highway cruiser, but it does everything else well, pavement and light off-road. I have one and I'm pleased. 70 mpg. Available used for less than $2k - and essentially unchanged since 1987.

[dr_rock_imp]

I would also consider the DR650 if you are going to be urban commuting. Very simple and reliable. You could buy a good used one for $3000 drive it for 5 years and sell it for $2500. If it gets rained on its not a big deal. Also very forgiving of bad roads and comfy for tall riders.