CB1100 as first bike?

[Guth_imp]

Funny, I'm surprised at how many people are recommending the CB1100 as a first bike. Would those same people recommend the CBR600RR as a first bike? Probably not. Here's a fun statistic though:

2011 Honda CB600RR 0-60 mph - 3.4 seconds
2013 Honda CB1100 0-60 mph - 3.3 seconds

[url=http://www.zeroto60times.com/Motorcycle-0-60-mph-Times.html]Source

The CB1100 may be smoother and not a 13500RPM redline screamer, but it's a big heavy bike with a huge amount of torque. As a new rider, you will make mistakes, no different from the rest of us. You'll grab too much brake in a corner, or downshift without matching revs, or pin the throttle for fun and come into a corner too hot. Sure, you could learn on a CB1100 and not do any of these things, but when you do make one of these mistakes, smaller bikes are much less punishing.

For the record, I started off on a Honda CBR125R and then a Suzuki GS500. I've botched parking lot maneuvers on both those bikes and come close to dropping them, but was able to manhandle them upright before it was too late. The CB1100 would likely be a different story due to the weight. The GS500 is a very good first bike, along with the Honda 500's, or the Kawasaki Ninja 300. Enough power to keep up with traffic and keep you interested, but lighter and more forgiving.

You may have a point. I dropped my GS500 3 times in my yard and driveway.....BUT it was my first bike after 20 plus years. Still I find the CB1100 easier at 5 mph than the GS500F (2008 model).

This was my line of thinking as well. To me the CB1100 is extremely easy to ride smoothly, which is a huge benefit as a returning rider. My biggest concern, as I stated in my original post would be the weight of the CB1100 which comes into play when coming to a stop on uneven surfaces making footing more difficult. The taller/stronger you are, the less of an issue this becomes. I'm 5'8" and not exactly athletic, so that type of thing is at the top of mind for me.

I think that if Third Quarter were to take the MSF course, he would figure out pretty quickly just how comfortable he feels as a returning rider. Then he would have a better idea how he might feel about the CB1100. For me, the big thing to overcome wasn't riding a motorcycle again for the first time in over 25 years, but instead getting used to riding in traffic for the first time ever (which I will never become 100% totally comfortable with).