Bummed by a test ride

[furious_blue_imp]

Maybe I am having an off day.
You’re not happy of other bikes needing to be revved high, yet you don’t like that the CB seems strained in higher rev’s. I interpret this as your tired of pulling higher RPM’s but then when you find a bike that doesn’t have to live on the high end, you fault it for not liking it ?? Why are you trying to ride around at max RPM’s anyways when you did say, you’re tired of bikes needing to be ran in its higher RPM range?

1)The CB changes over time as it goes through its break-in period.
2)The only time I hear a strain from my CB, (EXAMPLE imagine LOWER MPH) is when I think I’m in 2ND and rolling into the throttle and then realizing I’m still in 4th. Yeah, it doesn’t really like that so much, but it still does what I ask it to. My gut reaction to eliminating a strained CB motor sound, downshift, twist the throttle, and hang on.
3)Going from bike to bike, sometimes you have to change your riding style just a bit, to give the machine a chance to shine under its own parameters. If you’re not willing to do that, then you are going to have a hard time finding another bike that isn’t the first bike you ever liked and got used to.
4) The CB is not a Sport Bike and the comparisons to a Sporty or Sport bike – is always going to leave something to be desired. Just pick up any US Motorcycle magazine and you will get the same comments from them about the CB not being as sporty as (insert some other sporty bike). The CB is not a Sport Bike. The CB is not a drag bike. Why must everyone try to compare a CB1100 to a GSXR1000(insert any similar bike of your choice here), just because they are 4 cylinders and 1,000CC Bikes. The CB was never designed, or intended to be a Sport bike cruising around in its upper RPM band.

What I find really odd, is that you posted a link to Ashonbikes review of the CB. Even that review itself “Spin it into the red line above 9,000rpm and it feels flat, but that's not what the bike is about,” “This is very much a low and mid-range engine” confirming that the CB is not about high rev riding. If you look into more reviews, they all say the same thing. The CB was never designed, intended, or even seems to be happy about riding around at max RPM ranges …. So I find it odd that you would even question or look for yet even more confirmation that the CB doesn’t like every day riding at 9,000 RPM as you state “Thus i spent most of the ride at 3K RPM, out of the ~9K available on tach.” in your post.

The CB is a Retro Standard bike. You either accept it for what it is with all its unique characteristics(Not anything like a sport or sportier bike), and love it, or walk away from it. Those that have stuck with it, have found that the CB is a very capable bike, and unless your just doing drag race runs, is only limited by the riders capabilities.

I by no means am wanting any answers to these questions. Seriously. I rarely post replies, due to the fact I have a tendency to sound abrasive or even douchbaggish when I’m really not intending that. I just see you waffling on your posts about not liking high RPM bikes, yet don’t like the CB motor because its dislike of high RPM riding. I am just trying to point out what you yourself have said, in hopes that you sit and think - what do you really want from your motorcycle, and what can you live with? Ultimately it’s your money and your decision. I wish you luck.

I'm going back to my corner to be quiet

IMHO, this is why matters of taste are not science or technology and there are no clear metrics or boundaries. For me the CB1100 was a set of gives and takes that just happen to have more gives (especially the '14 Deluxe). I went around and around weighing my contradictory feelings about the bike and finally landed on 'buy'.

I general, this thread has shown wisdom of a lot of accumulated experience and I think that's great !

It's so tiring when forums get into a mode of:
1. I hate your bike
2. What do you mean, my bike is badazz
3. Well I think it's for morons
4. Your mama
5. Your daddy
6. Your sister
7.
..
9999. ...