Is the CB1100 a Sportbike? Ask Freddie.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Ah the Freddie Spencer video.

I'm guessing that Mr. Spencer could make just about any bike look like a sportbike given his riding skills. But one of the things that I like about the CB1100 is that it is not a sportbike. I enjoy the fact that it's just a great motorcycle. My riding ability represents just a small fraction of the ability that someone like Freddie enjoys. But I'm okay with that, I still enjoy riding. Obviously you can ride a CB1100 in a more spirited manner if you choose, and that's fine by me. If I were Freddie Spencer, I might have a hard time not wanting to put all of that talent to the test every time out.

My favorite thing about the CB1100 is that it doesn't look like a sportbike. Instead it looks like a bike that I should be riding. It matches up with the way I view myself as someone who rides. No disrespect intended towards any of you older guys that don't feel the same as me (to each their own and all that), but as I get older I'm having a harder time envisioning myself on a bike without the upright riding position of the CB. Me being on a bike that requires me to hunch down would just look a bit too much like I'm trying to fit in with the cool kids, lol. (Burt Munro I am not.) Not to mention that I find the upright ergonomics much more comfortable. While I can live with the ergonomics of my Hawk GT which still has an upright riding position (even though it has clip-ons, they are riser clip-ons), I'm much more comfortable on my CB1100. Obviously I like the CB1100 for what it is.

Older guys? I'm looking forward to my 60th birthday this year. I ride in the "A" group at track days and just did 44 laps last Saturday at one of my favorite racetracks. Have another one scheduled later this month. The CB1100 has become a "top tier" street bike for me (most likely to be ridden from among the choices I have) along with the ZX-10R. It has a level of quality that puts it right up there with anything money can buy. I say that with full confidence, especially after looking at the valve train.

To you, it does not look like a sportbike. But it sure did in 1982, something Freddie remembers. When I ride mine I ride it like it was meant to be ridden, hard and fast. If it looks like a sedate relic to millenials and Gen-X'rs, they are welcome to that view of it as well. Many versions of the CB engine were produced, from tourers to the red-hot CB1100F.

I think there should be a separate category for high performance on this site so the few guys who want to can wade straight into it.

At least let us acknowledge the history and heritage of this amazing bike.
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another interesting capture from the video

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/freddie%205_zpsbjatitfe.jpg.html]

ball of the foot? don't think so

"Je suis Freddie Spencer"

That's Freddie's style. Maverick Vinales rides the same way. Only on the outside peg, though. Also he is preparing to upshift once he exits the turn; the bike has standard shifting, not GP shift, so he's got to get his toes under the lever to upshift.
At least this got a lot of folks interested! Three pages a'ready. Good deal. I love this bike. It can be all things to all people.