Need advice on CB1100RS

[SportsterDoc]

I can certainly understand that changing the wheels on the RS will affect handling in some way and I certainly appreciate everyone's input but here's the simple truth - doesn't really matter that much to me. I am not a racer, I've never even seen a race track let alone been on one and I ride whatever bike I'm on within the limits of that bike not comparing it to something else.

I don't even know what "heavy" steering is, the extent of my critiquing knowledge is my Buell handles better than my CB which handles better than my Harley. I've never gotten too involved with the technical aspects of riding, I ride for enjoyment - nothing else.

Want to hear something that most of you would consider sacrilegious? I've never looked at a spec sheet prior to buying a bike. My criteria are: 1. Comfort 2. Versatility 3. Fuel range 4. Looks. I still don't know what the hp/tq was on any of the bikes I have owned except for the CB1100 and only because I joined here. I did dyno my Harley in Laconia one summer but that was just because everyone else did, I didn't really care.

The way I see it, any modern motorcycle over 1000cc is capable of carrying my wife and I so why get all wrapped around the axle about which one is more powerful?

Very good points. I also appreciate nhawk7504 commenting that "everything felt in the right place". That is a very succinct summary.

I did not buy to have the fastest bike on the block. I do review spec sheets, which seldom answer all my questions, such as lean angle and fuel capacity is important where I ride.

This extract from a 7 Mar 2010 Rideapart article is interesting. The CB is not the fastest, but it is well placed:

Power
Honda CB1100: 87bhp
Triumph Bonneville: 67bhp @ 7,250rpm
Triumph Scrambler: 58bhp @ 6,800rpm
Ducati GT1000: 92bhp @ 8,000rpm
Harley XR1200: 90bhp @ 7,000rpm
BMW R1200R: 109bhp @ 7,500rpm
Moto Guzzi V7: 48bhp @ 6,200rpm
Moto Guzzi Griso 1100: 87bhp @ 7,600rpm
Suzuki TU250: 20bhp @ 8,000rpm
1969 Honda CB750: 69bhp @ 8,000rpm

Torque
Honda CB1100: 68lb/ft
Triumph Bonneville: 51lb/ft@ 5,800rpm
Triumph Scrambler: 50lb/ft @ 4,750rpm
Ducati GT1000: 67lb/ft @ 6,000rpm
Harley XR1200: 74lb/ft @ 3,700rpm
BMW R1200R: 85lb/ft @ 6,000rpm
Moto Guzzi V7: 44lb/ft @ 3,200rpm
Moto Guzzi Griso 1100: 66lb/ft @ 6,400rpm
Suzuki TU250: 15lb/ft @ 5,500rpm
1969 Honda CB750: 44lb/ft @ 7,000rpm

Dry Weight
Honda CB1100: 223kg / 491lbs (est)
Triumph Bonneville: 205kg / 451lbs
Triumph Scrambler: 205kg / 451lbs
Ducati GT1000: 185kg / 407lb
Harley XR1200: 255kg / 562lbs
BMW R1200R: 198kg / 437lbs
Moto Guzzi V7: 182kg / 401lbs
Moto Guzzi Griso 1100: 227kg / 500lbs
Suzuki TU250: 123kg / 271lbs
1969 Honda CB750: 218kg / 481lbs

Power to Weight (bhp:kg)
Honda CB1100: .39:1
Triumph Bonneville: .33:1
Triumph Scrambler: .28:1
Ducati GT1000: .50:1
Harley XR1200: .35:1
BMW R1200R: .55:1
Moto Guzzi V7: .26:1
Moto Guzzi Griso 1100: .38:1
Suzuki TU250: .16:1
1969 Honda CB750: .32:1

Torque to Weight (lb/ft:kg)
Honda CB1100: .30:1
Triumph Bonneville: .25:1
Triumph Scrambler: .25:1
Ducati GT1000: .36:1
Harley XR1200: .29:1
BMW R1200R: .43:1
Moto Guzzi V7: .24:1
Moto Guzzi Griso 1100: .29:1
Suzuki TU250: .12:1
1969 Honda CB750: .20:1

Engine
Honda CB1100: 1,140cc, DOHC, air/oil-cooled, fuel injected inline-four
Triumph Bonneville: 865cc, DOHC, air/oil-cooled, fuel injected
parallel-twin
Triumph Scrambler: 865cc, DOHC, air/oil-cooled, fuel injected, 270°
parallel twin
Ducati GT1000: 992cc, Desmo, air/oil-cooled, fuel injected 90° twin
Harley XR1200: 1202cc, OHV, air/oil-cooled, fuel injected 45° twin
BMW R1200R: 1,170cc, SOHC, air/oil-cooled, fuel injected flat twin
Moto Guzzi V7: 744cc, SOHC, air-cooled, fuel injected, 90° twin
Moto Guzzi Griso 1100: 1064cc, SOHC, air/oil-cooled, fuel injected 90°
twin
Suzuki TU250: 249cc, SOHC, air/oil-cooled, fuel injected single-cylinder
1969 Honda CB750: 736cc, SOHC, Air-Cooled, carbureted inline-four

Tires
Honda CB1100: 18" front and rear, tubeless
Triumph Bonneville: 17" front and rear, tubeless
Triumph Scrambler: 19" front, 17" rear, tubed
Ducati GT1000: 17" front and rear, tubed
Harley XR1200: 18" front, 17" rear, tubeless
BMW R1200R: 17" front and rear, tubeless
Moto Guzzi V7: 18" front, 17" rear, tubed
Moto Guzzi Griso 1100: 17" front and rear, tubeless
Suzuki TU250: 19" front, 18" rear, tubed
1969 Honda CB750: 19" front, 18" rear, tubed

Price
Honda CB1100: $10,500 (est)
Triumph Bonneville: $7,699
Triumph Scrambler: $8,799
Ducati GT1000: $11,495
Harley XR1200: $10,799
BMW R1200R: $12,795
Moto Guzzi V7: $8,490
Moto Guzzi Griso 1100: $13,490
Suzuki TU250: $3,799
1969 Honda CB750: N/A