Touring: CB1100 vs. F800GT

[Stichill_imp]

Your CBR250R is an excellent machine. I would be proud to have one myself.

Regarding your decision between a CB1100 and an F 800 GT, I don't understand being limited to those two choices.

I have considerable familiarity with the roads of Kentucky and Kentucky-like places. I would also be considering the Honda NC700X and the BMW F 700 GS.

I like my CB1100 a lot, but it lacks the rough road capability that I swore my next bike would have. (Umm. I hope a certain rider named Pterodactyl doesn't read this line...)

I do understand your need to go bigger than your 250. Good luck finding the bike that's right for you. There are so many good choices out there these days. (Did I mention the Ducati Scrambler...)

Thank you. Few are so enlightened.

Your CBR250R is an excellent machine. I would be proud to have one myself.

Regarding your decision between a CB1100 and an F 800 GT, I don't understand being limited to those two choices.

I have considerable familiarity with the roads of Kentucky and Kentucky-like places. I would also be considering the Honda NC700X and the BMW F 700 GS.

I like my CB1100 a lot, but it lacks the rough road capability that I swore my next bike would have. (Umm. I hope a certain rider named Pterodactyl doesn't read this line...)

I do understand your need to go bigger than your 250. Good luck finding the bike that's right for you. There are so many good choices out there these days. (Did I mention the Ducati Scrambler...)

These are my leading contenders. There are others, e.g. Moto Guzzi Norge.

Your CBR250R is an excellent machine. I would be proud to have one myself.

Regarding your decision between a CB1100 and an F 800 GT, I don't understand being limited to those two choices.

I have considerable familiarity with the roads of Kentucky and Kentucky-like places. I would also be considering the Honda NC700X and the BMW F 700 GS.

I like my CB1100 a lot, but it lacks the rough road capability that I swore my next bike would have. (Umm. I hope a certain rider named Pterodactyl doesn't read this line...)

I do understand your need to go bigger than your 250. Good luck finding the bike that's right for you. There are so many good choices out there these days. (Did I mention the Ducati Scrambler...)

I rode an NC750S in Germany and Switzerland...it was soulless...appliance-like...like a little tractor. I did enjoy the front trunk however, since I only brought one drybag in my airline luggage. The gas filler under the pillion was...terrible. I had to remove my pack to fill up. The F700GS has crossed my mind. I will take a closer look...it seems to be marketed a little toward women but as a 250 rider I am secure in my manhood.

Your CBR250R is an excellent machine. I would be proud to have one myself.

Regarding your decision between a CB1100 and an F 800 GT, I don't understand being limited to those two choices.

I have considerable familiarity with the roads of Kentucky and Kentucky-like places. I would also be considering the Honda NC700X and the BMW F 700 GS.

I like my CB1100 a lot, but it lacks the rough road capability that I swore my next bike would have. (Umm. I hope a certain rider named Pterodactyl doesn't read this line...)

I do understand your need to go bigger than your 250. Good luck finding the bike that's right for you. There are so many good choices out there these days. (Did I mention the Ducati Scrambler...)

I saw the Scrambler in Germany last month. Cool bike but not a touring machine in any way.

Whenever I wonder about another motorcycle, I google " issues with X bike" and usually an owners forum pops up, like ours. They are the ones living with a bike day in and day out. I just did it for the BMW F800 GT. being a man made machine of course there will be some issues ( we see a few as well). I have to assume you have done the same as research. There is an F800 riders forum

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=bmw...es&start=0

I have taken 2 multi day, multi state trips on my Cb1100s ( and I am about to take another one in a couple weeks) and they did great. Chain was not an issue. Never needed adjustment, just a lube mid week. Shields are available as are hard and soft luggage. Since I have a dedicated touring bike, I prefer to set up my CB as more a sport tourer with soft luggage, easily removed when not on a trip.However excellent hard luggage is available for it.

Btw have you read any of the reports of the Belgian couple traveling the world on a pair of CB1100s?

Here are a couple of my ride reports

[url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=4083]http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=4083


http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=1312


http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=836


http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=839


And might I suggest Reading ANY of the awesome ride reports By Empty Sea, Cormanus or Pterodactyl in the seat time section of the forum.

I can't tell you how good of a middle weight tourer the BMW F800 GT , but I can tell you the CB1100 will do the job day after day, mile after mile, year after year, without even breathing hard.

My biggest fear with BMW. Also: I am not really interested in being associated with a pre-defined biking culture ala HD or BMW.

Whenever I wonder about another motorcycle, I google " issues with X bike" and usually an owners forum pops up, like ours. They are the ones living with a bike day in and day out. I just did it for the BMW F800 GT. being a man made machine of course there will be some issues ( we see a few as well). I have to assume you have done the same as research. There is an F800 riders forum

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=bmw...es&start=0

I have taken 2 multi day, multi state trips on my Cb1100s ( and I am about to take another one in a couple weeks) and they did great. Chain was not an issue. Never needed adjustment, just a lube mid week. Shields are available as are hard and soft luggage. Since I have a dedicated touring bike, I prefer to set up my CB as more a sport tourer with soft luggage, easily removed when not on a trip.However excellent hard luggage is available for it.

Btw have you read any of the reports of the Belgian couple traveling the world on a pair of CB1100s?

Here are a couple of my ride reports

[url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=4083]http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=4083


http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=1312


http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=836


http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=839


And might I suggest Reading ANY of the awesome ride reports By Empty Sea, Cormanus or Pterodactyl in the seat time section of the forum.

I can't tell you how good of a middle weight tourer the BMW F800 GT , but I can tell you the CB1100 will do the job day after day, mile after mile, year after year, without even breathing hard.

A man after my own heart! This is very inspiring testimony! I will absolutely check out your RRs and those of others.

Whenever I wonder about another motorcycle, I google " issues with X bike" and usually an owners forum pops up, like ours. They are the ones living with a bike day in and day out. I just did it for the BMW F800 GT. being a man made machine of course there will be some issues ( we see a few as well). I have to assume you have done the same as research. There is an F800 riders forum

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=bmw...es&start=0

I have taken 2 multi day, multi state trips on my Cb1100s ( and I am about to take another one in a couple weeks) and they did great. Chain was not an issue. Never needed adjustment, just a lube mid week. Shields are available as are hard and soft luggage. Since I have a dedicated touring bike, I prefer to set up my CB as more a sport tourer with soft luggage, easily removed when not on a trip.However excellent hard luggage is available for it.

Btw have you read any of the reports of the Belgian couple traveling the world on a pair of CB1100s?

Here are a couple of my ride reports

[url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=4083]http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=4083


http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=1312


http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=836


http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=839


And might I suggest Reading ANY of the awesome ride reports By Empty Sea, Cormanus or Pterodactyl in the seat time section of the forum.

I can't tell you how good of a middle weight tourer the BMW F800 GT , but I can tell you the CB1100 will do the job day after day, mile after mile, year after year, without even breathing hard.

I believe you! I spent eight hours on one in Europe and other than the smallish fuel tank it really floated my boat!

It says a lot, but the person who said it has owned his CB1100 for a little over a month. Read Ferret's comments and the ride reports from those of us who actually tour on this bike before you think you have to make extreme change and compromises to use this bike in the manner in which you would like.

EmptySea, I respect your opinion tremendously. I very much recall your participation in the 250 forum and always trusted your perspectives.

First off..BS on the 250 not being a highway machine. It's not without drawbacks as noted, but it works just fine on the highway. I rode mine all over the place before I got my CB. While we're at it, BS on screens, fairings, saddlebags, as requirements to tour on the CB. Oh, and one more thing, never noticed buzzing over 65, never felt like I was being blown off it, and I got used to the seat. I have 15,000 miles on mine with no windscreen. Two week long trips to NC/Tenn, Two weekend trips to Wisconsin, and another week planned to the Ozarks. Most folks like a screen for touring, but it's fine without it. I'll let someone else comment on the ergos, the chain, and the maintence, but none of them have been a barrier to my travels.

I'm not trying to talk you into it, but it's a wonderfully versatile bike. Strap a good sized waterproof duffle on the back and take off for a week. There are better touring bikes and you may already be riding a better around-town bike right now. Someone said of this bike that it's not great at anything (except turning heads), but it's very good at almost everything and isn't bad at whatever's left.

I hope you're keeping the CBR. Love that bike.

Exactly the kind of comment I'm looking for! I am in no way a lightweight when it comes to physical adversity in the saddle, nor do I shirk from chain maintenance. I don't need to be ensconced in a $26,000 rolling La-Z-Boy to be happy on a bike; in fact that is what I do not want.

And yes, I am definitely keeping the CBR250R. It is simply too good to ever let go. I have added about $2000 in functional accessories and most would not believe just how capable this bike is. When touring alone...I would choose it first. It truly lacks nothing for my individual purposes.

BTW, my gang went to the Southern Appalachians (TN/NC) in 2013, to western Virginia (Blue Ridge Highlands) in 2014, and are bound for the Ozarks in 2015!

My CB1100 works great on long haul trips. I may be somewhat biased since all my bikes have always been UJM types. Never really had anything that would be considered a proper touring bike.

I like being able to pop a big windshield on the CB11, toss some soft bags over the rear seat and hit the road. It's got excellent road manners and the inline 4 makes for a smooth ride as fast as you care to go on the slab.

I've got a 30" inseam and I can flatfoot it easily. In addition to the lower Japanese seat there are also low aftermarket seats available.

Don't worry about air cooling. I've spent 30 yrs. riding air cooled bikes in the blistering AZ heat and it's not a problem as long as you keep moving.

Excellent comments, Flynrider - thank you.