06-22-2018, 08:48 AM
(06-22-2018, 12:32 AM)Sorg67_imp Wrote: It has been forty years since I have ridden an inline four. I remember my old 550 Four as being very smooth. But I was 18 at the time and had very limited experience.
I am now 58, have more experience and am more sensitive to comfort. The dealer that has the 2013 with 12,000 miles on it does not allow test rides. I have not asked the other dealers.
My Harley is pretty smooth by Harley softail standards. At cruising speed it is very smooth and quite. It does not handle bumps well. But it is very smooth and comfortable cruising smooth roads. I like the engine vibe. It is a soothing low frequency vibe.
My Versys has much better suspension. Handles bumps much better. And is probably technically smoother than the Harley, especially over 70 mph. Versys is pretty smooth up to 80 mph. However, I rarely go that fast. I do not go on highways much. And when I do, I am usually in the high 60's, low 70's.
What vibration my Versys does have is a higher frequency, more buzzy vibe. Less pleasing than the Harley vibe.
I have read some places that inline fours are smooth as silk and in other places that they are buzzy. I have particularly read that the BMW inline fours are buzzy.
From all I have read, the CB1100 is a smooth inline four. So I am thinking that I do not need to worry too much if I am not able to test ride one before I buy.
Any thoughts on this? What is everybody's experience about dealers allowing test rides? We have a CB500X. That is almost creepy smooth under 60 mph, but it gets a bit buzzy when you start pushing 70 and above.
Obviously that is a parallel twin, much smaller and a completely different animal. I am guessing the CB1100 is barely breaking a sweat at 75 mph.
Literally sold my 09' Versys for a brand new 2013 cb1100, my initial impression is that the CB is so much smoother than the versys. It definitely can't transition side to side as well though. I found I miss the bar position of the Versys. I can't say much to over 75mph as I'm still in engine break in period but I will keep you posted. But at 65MPH very smooth.