07-04-2018, 09:48 AM
Novice Wrote:4 years and 10k....still love my bike
I can't imagine only doing 2,500 miles per year on a new bike, especially one as nice as any of these CB1100s. Wow.
Two words, dude...
Ride. More.
In any case, after my CB sat at the dealer for six weeks, I still only have 4,000 miles on my '17 EX. Some of that has to do with the lengthy stay at the dealership, and some of it has to do with that same lengthy stay forcing me to do all my riding on my modified XSR900. Before the CB went into the shop, I was splitting time between the two bikes, plus my car. Once the bike went into the shop and I was forced to ride the XSR every time, man, but did I fall in love all over again with that bike. It's definitely the better long-distance freeway ride, and much better/more fun as a sportbike in the canyons. As a result, I've recently been taking the Yamaha on nearly all of my long rides, at the expense of the Honda's seat time.
Now I'm trying to move it in the other direction. I've been riding the CB exclusively over the past week, the object being to ride her so often that she will soon feel normal to me, as opposed to jumping on her right after riding the much lighter, faster, more comfortable XSR. In doing so, I've learned that the big Honda is probably the best city bike imaginable. Between her perfect throttle response and solid, predictable, Swiss watch of a clutch, she is clearly the easiest, most balanced urban crawler I've ever encountered. She is equally adept at turning relaxed, meandering country roads into a truly special experience.
So pure.
I'm with mickey on this one. The CB isn't the ultimate do-everything bike. She is flat-out excellent at a few things. She's the finest sub-60-mph bike I could ever hope for. If the going is slow or just relaxed, she's a perfect ten. As long as I'm not in a hurry, or on the freeway, she is nigh on ideal. She just isn't very good out on the highway, primarily due to her high pegs and overly-restricted motor. Give her a bit more low-end oomph and upper-midrange zip and I would happily live with the slouchy seating position. Those are the two areas where she loses out big-time to the Yamaha, in terms of highway comfort. For that matter, I'd much prefer mickey's smoother, faster FJR out on the highway, or an R1200RT, and not just because of their shaft drives and luggage-carrying abilities, although I'm certain I'd still prefer the XSR's lack of a noisy windshield.
Along similar lines, I don't like the new Kawasaki Z900RS. I don't like its looks, and I don't like its fakeness. That being said, with its punchier, less strangled-feeling, smoother motor working in tandem with its greater legroom I'm certain it's better than the Honda out on the highway, and almost certainly in the canyons, as well.
The Honda absolutely destroys it in the parking lot, however, and there is zero doubt as to which bike I'd rather own.
I used to think I only needed two bikes: a sportbike, and a tourer. Now I think I need three, or just one. Ideally, I'd want the CB for the majority of my riding, a sportier standard such as the XSR or CB1000R for the canyons, and an FJR or R1200RT for traveling. If I can't swing that, then I think I'm probably best off with just one bike, which I would use for everything, and get used to using for everything. That's what I've always done, until now, and I was always fine with it. It's only by switching back and forth between different types of bikes that each bike's deficiencies become food for thought.
Better to have enough bikes to cover everything, or just keep it simple and make your one bike your bike, and that's that.
Even despite their clear functional superiority, I'm not sure that I could ever remain fully satisfied with having the XSR or CB1000R as my only bike. Ditto, for any large touring bike. Give me enough time on the CB1100, however, and I'm certain she could easily manage the job, for good.
I can't imagine only doing 2,500 miles per year on a new bike, especially one as nice as any of these CB1100s. Wow.
Two words, dude...
Ride. More.
In any case, after my CB sat at the dealer for six weeks, I still only have 4,000 miles on my '17 EX. Some of that has to do with the lengthy stay at the dealership, and some of it has to do with that same lengthy stay forcing me to do all my riding on my modified XSR900. Before the CB went into the shop, I was splitting time between the two bikes, plus my car. Once the bike went into the shop and I was forced to ride the XSR every time, man, but did I fall in love all over again with that bike. It's definitely the better long-distance freeway ride, and much better/more fun as a sportbike in the canyons. As a result, I've recently been taking the Yamaha on nearly all of my long rides, at the expense of the Honda's seat time.
Now I'm trying to move it in the other direction. I've been riding the CB exclusively over the past week, the object being to ride her so often that she will soon feel normal to me, as opposed to jumping on her right after riding the much lighter, faster, more comfortable XSR. In doing so, I've learned that the big Honda is probably the best city bike imaginable. Between her perfect throttle response and solid, predictable, Swiss watch of a clutch, she is clearly the easiest, most balanced urban crawler I've ever encountered. She is equally adept at turning relaxed, meandering country roads into a truly special experience.
So pure.
I'm with mickey on this one. The CB isn't the ultimate do-everything bike. She is flat-out excellent at a few things. She's the finest sub-60-mph bike I could ever hope for. If the going is slow or just relaxed, she's a perfect ten. As long as I'm not in a hurry, or on the freeway, she is nigh on ideal. She just isn't very good out on the highway, primarily due to her high pegs and overly-restricted motor. Give her a bit more low-end oomph and upper-midrange zip and I would happily live with the slouchy seating position. Those are the two areas where she loses out big-time to the Yamaha, in terms of highway comfort. For that matter, I'd much prefer mickey's smoother, faster FJR out on the highway, or an R1200RT, and not just because of their shaft drives and luggage-carrying abilities, although I'm certain I'd still prefer the XSR's lack of a noisy windshield.
Along similar lines, I don't like the new Kawasaki Z900RS. I don't like its looks, and I don't like its fakeness. That being said, with its punchier, less strangled-feeling, smoother motor working in tandem with its greater legroom I'm certain it's better than the Honda out on the highway, and almost certainly in the canyons, as well.
The Honda absolutely destroys it in the parking lot, however, and there is zero doubt as to which bike I'd rather own.
I used to think I only needed two bikes: a sportbike, and a tourer. Now I think I need three, or just one. Ideally, I'd want the CB for the majority of my riding, a sportier standard such as the XSR or CB1000R for the canyons, and an FJR or R1200RT for traveling. If I can't swing that, then I think I'm probably best off with just one bike, which I would use for everything, and get used to using for everything. That's what I've always done, until now, and I was always fine with it. It's only by switching back and forth between different types of bikes that each bike's deficiencies become food for thought.
Better to have enough bikes to cover everything, or just keep it simple and make your one bike your bike, and that's that.
Even despite their clear functional superiority, I'm not sure that I could ever remain fully satisfied with having the XSR or CB1000R as my only bike. Ditto, for any large touring bike. Give me enough time on the CB1100, however, and I'm certain she could easily manage the job, for good.