06-02-2020, 09:54 AM
The V-Strom 650 is scarcely any smaller than the 1000. It's just lighter and more manageable, and delivers its power at higher RPM. Otherwise, it's available with all the same safety tech.
As for the VFR800, no one in real life rides them at the same RPM one rides a CB1100, so there is no point in comparing their bottom-end power, at least as it pertains to a given RPM. The VFR revs much more quickly, and much more, period. As a result, you're never down in the 2-3,000 RPM range for long on a VFR, as you nearly always are on the CB. Take off from a stoplight, however, or accelerate practically anywhere, and it will smoke a CB1100. Sure, you're nearly always riding in a higher RPM range, but so what? That's how it's ridden in the real world. In fact, that's how it's designed to be ridden. Plus, yes, the top end is in a different league altogether. The CB is all about smooth, effortless, linear, leisurely acceleration. It never leaps or lunges. It never accelerates hard, not even off the very bottom. It simply steams forward, like a locomotive. The VFR is somewhat similar, in that it prioritizes linearity over peak numbers, but it always accelerates harder than the CB. It's a much lighter sport-touring bike with more HP.
Most bikes don't come with gear indicators. It's not a big deal. That's how we all rode, for most of our lives. You quickly learn your motor, to the point that you can always tell by the sound, feel, and RPM what gear you're in. Gear indicators are nice to have, but not essential. They're especially not essential for a commuter bike, with redlines never coming into play.
As for the safety factor, the only important technology your CB lacks is ABS, which, as you know, is available on certain CB models. Unless you're commuting in the rain, even ABS really isn't all that important. Again, it's better to have it, but it's not essential. Most people never engage their ABS in the entire time they own the bike, except to test it out when they first get the thing out on a straight, deserted road. There, they test it out at about thirty mph, in a controlled drill. In the real world, on dry pavement, riding normally, people rarely brake hard enough to engage it.
If you do a lot of rain riding, by all means, insist on ABS. Traction control is not important on a basic commuter bike. It's important for high-hp bikes that have the ability to overpower their rear tires with only a decent handful of throttle. A KTM Super Duke R needs traction control. A CB1100 does not. Neither do many of the bikes on your list. From among your stated options, probably only the Versys 1000 might ever need it. Maybe the V-Strom 1000, but not really.
As for the VFR800, no one in real life rides them at the same RPM one rides a CB1100, so there is no point in comparing their bottom-end power, at least as it pertains to a given RPM. The VFR revs much more quickly, and much more, period. As a result, you're never down in the 2-3,000 RPM range for long on a VFR, as you nearly always are on the CB. Take off from a stoplight, however, or accelerate practically anywhere, and it will smoke a CB1100. Sure, you're nearly always riding in a higher RPM range, but so what? That's how it's ridden in the real world. In fact, that's how it's designed to be ridden. Plus, yes, the top end is in a different league altogether. The CB is all about smooth, effortless, linear, leisurely acceleration. It never leaps or lunges. It never accelerates hard, not even off the very bottom. It simply steams forward, like a locomotive. The VFR is somewhat similar, in that it prioritizes linearity over peak numbers, but it always accelerates harder than the CB. It's a much lighter sport-touring bike with more HP.
Most bikes don't come with gear indicators. It's not a big deal. That's how we all rode, for most of our lives. You quickly learn your motor, to the point that you can always tell by the sound, feel, and RPM what gear you're in. Gear indicators are nice to have, but not essential. They're especially not essential for a commuter bike, with redlines never coming into play.
As for the safety factor, the only important technology your CB lacks is ABS, which, as you know, is available on certain CB models. Unless you're commuting in the rain, even ABS really isn't all that important. Again, it's better to have it, but it's not essential. Most people never engage their ABS in the entire time they own the bike, except to test it out when they first get the thing out on a straight, deserted road. There, they test it out at about thirty mph, in a controlled drill. In the real world, on dry pavement, riding normally, people rarely brake hard enough to engage it.
If you do a lot of rain riding, by all means, insist on ABS. Traction control is not important on a basic commuter bike. It's important for high-hp bikes that have the ability to overpower their rear tires with only a decent handful of throttle. A KTM Super Duke R needs traction control. A CB1100 does not. Neither do many of the bikes on your list. From among your stated options, probably only the Versys 1000 might ever need it. Maybe the V-Strom 1000, but not really.