10-23-2014, 01:29 PM
What I find most interesting about the CB1100 is the wide variety of other bikes owners of the CB have or have owned. Everything from cruisers, sport bikes, antique/classics, sport/adv touring, and dirt/dual sport. All my other bikes I have owned seem to appeal to a very similar crowd. my previous 3 bikes were a DL650, FJR1300, and KLR650. I guess the DL was the most versatile and the KLR and FJR were just one notch to either side of the Strom in terms of their respective capabilities. I have known several people who have owned at least 2 of those 3 bikes.
What is funny, the CB seems very different from any of these bikes. To be honest, I was drawn to the CB for its identity as a standard UJM. Sure, you can put bags and a windshield and travel on it or fit better suspension parts to make it sportier, but there are obviously better machines from a function or performance standpoint.
I like the purity of the CB. It's more than a 2 wheel appliance. It has soul. I bought it because, among other things, it felt right. I love the bike, but there are some things it doesn't do for me. I want a bike that is extremely light and flickable. Longish (5-6 inches) travel suspension and some dirt road capabilities are certainly on my list. Weight should be around 450 lbs or less. At least 2 cylinders rules out a super moto bike as does a small fuel tank and uncomfortably narrow seat. Ducati's Hypermotard might be the closest thing to what I want, but I am afraid of owning anything Italian since I am not sold on reliability and cost of ownership.
The bike that really has my attention is Yamaha's forthcoming FJ-09. I think with a set of street oriented adv tires lime Pirelli MT90s or Scorpion Trails, this could satisfy my criteria for a single bike if I were to go that route. 8 love the CB so much, something would have to be awful awesome. Still, I wouldn't find a bike like the CB500X as a stablemate to the CB1100.
What is funny, the CB seems very different from any of these bikes. To be honest, I was drawn to the CB for its identity as a standard UJM. Sure, you can put bags and a windshield and travel on it or fit better suspension parts to make it sportier, but there are obviously better machines from a function or performance standpoint.
I like the purity of the CB. It's more than a 2 wheel appliance. It has soul. I bought it because, among other things, it felt right. I love the bike, but there are some things it doesn't do for me. I want a bike that is extremely light and flickable. Longish (5-6 inches) travel suspension and some dirt road capabilities are certainly on my list. Weight should be around 450 lbs or less. At least 2 cylinders rules out a super moto bike as does a small fuel tank and uncomfortably narrow seat. Ducati's Hypermotard might be the closest thing to what I want, but I am afraid of owning anything Italian since I am not sold on reliability and cost of ownership.
The bike that really has my attention is Yamaha's forthcoming FJ-09. I think with a set of street oriented adv tires lime Pirelli MT90s or Scorpion Trails, this could satisfy my criteria for a single bike if I were to go that route. 8 love the CB so much, something would have to be awful awesome. Still, I wouldn't find a bike like the CB500X as a stablemate to the CB1100.