defects CB 1100

[pdedse]

The Bonneville T-120 is significantly slimmer than the CB1100, and offers much more legroom. The CB1100 requires a much greater bend at the knees. Even though the Bonneville has a lot more legroom, it still feels significantly smaller than the CB, because of its slimness. The Honda feels thick and dense. The Triumph feels thin and waifish.

Motor-wise, the Bonneville is much torquier, with less vibration throughout the midrange, but there is a lot less peak power. It has no revs to speak of. The Honda doesn't offer many revs either, but it's a lot more playful than the Triumph.

Handling? No contest. The Triumph handles like a truck. The front end steers so heavily, so slowly. The CB almost feels like a sportbike in comparison, its handling is so much lighter, quicker, sharper, better.

"Much more legroom"...I didn't find that to be the case. But maybe that's because I don't notice the tightness on the CB1100--for me it's in the hip area--until about 30 minutes into a ride. I came to the T-120 test ride after owning the CB1100 for two years, so for me, if the leg room were "much more", I think I would have noticed. All I can say is it felt about the same.

"Much more legroom"...I didn't find that to be the case. But maybe that's because I don't notice the tightness on the CB1100--for me it's in the hip area--until about 30 minutes into a ride. I came to the T-120 test ride after owning the CB1100 for two years, so for me, if the leg room were "much more", I think I would have noticed. All I can say is it felt about the same.
You are correct. I should have said a "much greater bend at the hips," not at the knee.

My bad.

Anyway, yeah, the T-120 has a lot more legroom than the CB, requiring much less of a bend at the hips.

I guess when I hear the t-120 has "a lot more legroom" or "much more" than that of the CB1100 I shake my head no and say maybe a bit, but that's because a lot more room for me would have to be something in a different class of mc, like an adventure bike; example, my klr650 w/ 35" seat height gives me a lot more leg room.

Having said that, a little difference can go a long way. I've mentioned that I use a simple 1" foam seat pad on my CB1100, and this takes away any tightness in my hips even if I ride 3+ hours. So if the t-120 were to straighten out my hip angle by that 1 inch, that might be enough to take away the need for a seat pad in my case. If that turned out to work, then I'd more agree it has more leg room. I'm just saying it didn't feel that much on my test ride.

In the end, what I would say to someone who experiences tightness at the hips / knees is maybe try a higher seat, a seat pad, lower the pegs before thinking of a new bike...because otherwise it looks so nice and has many more positives if the ergonomics can be worked out.