Touring: CB1100 vs. F800GT

[Stichill]

Django is probably correct that the BMW might be the better bike for pure touring. I like the F800GT a lot (I've tried to convince my wife to look at it, but she likes her cruiser-tourer hybrid CTX700 for now). It's just that the CB is such a great all around bike, you're already used to nudging your bike beyond its intended purpose (if there even is such a thing as " intended purpose" for this bike), plus it sounds like you'll physically fit on the CB better. One thing, though, when you mentioned "touring alone" did you mean that in contrast to two-up touring or in contrast to riding in a group?

I don't recognize your handle/nickname from the 250 forum, but it has been a couple of years. I so wanted to ride my CBR250 on the Dragon, but it was still tons of fun on the CB. When are you traveling to the Ozarks?
Oh and one final thought from me, and kind of a silly one at that -- When I was much younger, the guys that I knew that toured on motorcycles did so on bikes that looked and felt like the CB1100 and I get a certain feeling of connection to those guys when I ride this bike, especially when I tour on it.

Definitely. Where there's a will, there's a way

Django is probably correct that the BMW might be the better bike for pure touring. I like the F800GT a lot (I've tried to convince my wife to look at it, but she likes her cruiser-tourer hybrid CTX700 for now). It's just that the CB is such a great all around bike, you're already used to nudging your bike beyond its intended purpose (if there even is such a thing as " intended purpose" for this bike), plus it sounds like you'll physically fit on the CB better. One thing, though, when you mentioned "touring alone" did you mean that in contrast to two-up touring or in contrast to riding in a group?

I don't recognize your handle/nickname from the 250 forum, but it has been a couple of years. I so wanted to ride my CBR250 on the Dragon, but it was still tons of fun on the CB. When are you traveling to the Ozarks?
Oh and one final thought from me, and kind of a silly one at that -- When I was much younger, the guys that I knew that toured on motorcycles did so on bikes that looked and felt like the CB1100 and I get a certain feeling of connection to those guys when I ride this bike, especially when I tour on it.

The latter, either solo or in a group. Doubtful that my better half would ever throw a leg over!

Django is probably correct that the BMW might be the better bike for pure touring. I like the F800GT a lot (I've tried to convince my wife to look at it, but she likes her cruiser-tourer hybrid CTX700 for now). It's just that the CB is such a great all around bike, you're already used to nudging your bike beyond its intended purpose (if there even is such a thing as " intended purpose" for this bike), plus it sounds like you'll physically fit on the CB better. One thing, though, when you mentioned "touring alone" did you mean that in contrast to two-up touring or in contrast to riding in a group?

I don't recognize your handle/nickname from the 250 forum, but it has been a couple of years. I so wanted to ride my CBR250 on the Dragon, but it was still tons of fun on the CB. When are you traveling to the Ozarks?
Oh and one final thought from me, and kind of a silly one at that -- When I was much younger, the guys that I knew that toured on motorcycles did so on bikes that looked and felt like the CB1100 and I get a certain feeling of connection to those guys when I ride this bike, especially when I tour on it.

I changed it over there a while back.

Django is probably correct that the BMW might be the better bike for pure touring. I like the F800GT a lot (I've tried to convince my wife to look at it, but she likes her cruiser-tourer hybrid CTX700 for now). It's just that the CB is such a great all around bike, you're already used to nudging your bike beyond its intended purpose (if there even is such a thing as " intended purpose" for this bike), plus it sounds like you'll physically fit on the CB better. One thing, though, when you mentioned "touring alone" did you mean that in contrast to two-up touring or in contrast to riding in a group?

I don't recognize your handle/nickname from the 250 forum, but it has been a couple of years. I so wanted to ride my CBR250 on the Dragon, but it was still tons of fun on the CB. When are you traveling to the Ozarks?
Oh and one final thought from me, and kind of a silly one at that -- When I was much younger, the guys that I knew that toured on motorcycles did so on bikes that looked and felt like the CB1100 and I get a certain feeling of connection to those guys when I ride this bike, especially when I tour on it.

The Dragon was awesome on the 250, as well as The Snake, The Devil's Whip, The Python, and Back of the Dragon. Cherohala Skyway was not bad but the Blue Ridge Parkway was a little tame and the scenery became monotonous. We're going to Arkansas the week of June 15.

First, welcome to the site. I'm also 5'6" and seat height is a large part of the decision when i buy a bike. You should have a good feel of the CB1100 having spent hours on one in Europe. The bikes you are considering are for the most part light weight with a more than manageable seat height.

check out here for comparisons
http://cycle-ergo.com/

Motorcycle aerodynamics plays a big part in comfort on the highway. Certain bikes are setup for highway travel regardless of whether there sport-bike oriented or sport tourers. I traded in a CBR1000RR for the CB1100, except for the rear sets being a bit cramped the bike was a much better tourer than the CB1100 at speeds your buddies may be traveling on there bikes, keep in mind the CBR comes in at about the same weight as the BMW.

The CB1100 has a sweet spot around 60-70MPH on the highway. Traveling at higher speeds for long periods of time is uncomfortable, but remember everyone tolerance is different. Wind protection I find necessary and than only low screens because anything high creates buffeting and pushing with wind and lane changes.

If you want to keep up with your buddies who are traveling at higher speeds consider a bike with proven wind tunnel results in a stock package.

Thanks, glad to be here! I'm very impressed with the crew so far. I think your comments about aerodynamics and wind are well worth considering. It would be kind of silly for me to trade one bike that beats me up at 80-85 for another one that does similarly. So I have to keep that in mind.