Ride opinion for potential CB1100 owners

[Cormanus]

Thanks for posting your thoughts, Paul. Even though they've probably achieved your goal of irritating CB1100 aficionados, they are, nonetheless, welcome. This is a forum that values diversity of opinion and, if you have read extensively here, you will know, 'we like people who like bikes'.

Having put 137,000 + kilometres (85,000 + miles) on a 2011 CB1100, I clearly like the bike a lot. I agree with you that the seat is hideously uncomfortable after an hour. I'd add that, after the on set of the first agony of the seat, the benefits of a stretch are lucky to last 15 minutes before the seat becomes hideously uncomfortable again. Luckily, an inexpensive Air Hawk cushion largely solved that problem for me and I have regularly ridden days of 700 kms.

I agree, too, that at low speed it's top heavy and awkward, but once moving it's a delight.

Unlike most members here, I haven't owned or ridden large numbers of the motorcycles ever produced during my lifetime*, so I'm not in a position to offer a comparative review. However, given the truth that one size never, ever fits all, the CB1100 will do me just fine. Your experience was clearly not the same.

Just for fun, why not head down to the [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=8]Other Bikes section of the forum and tell us about some of the bikes you've owned or still own that you really like and why?

*The reasons some riders own a procession of different motorcycles may well be an interesting topic to be explored during the winter months. Or not. Just saying'.

A note to all members

I don’t agree with the OP’s opinion, but that’s fine. One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor. In my experience, some of the most popular bikes you see on the road are poorly engineered, loathsome, and simply suck, but their owners would likely disagree. That’s fine too.

Anyone buying the CB for its performance or touring capabilities would likely be disappointed if comparing it to a more focused sport or touring bike, though personally I thought my DLX was brilliant.

I would like to solve the puzzle.

What is a Harley Davidson?

Please do not pursue this conversation if your intent is to deride Harley Davidson motorcycles and their riders. This tedious topic has been done to death on this forum and generally results in the sort of posts that the Ferret and I feel obliged to modify or delete.

Feel free to comment on individual models.

Interesting Corm, I do feel awful on many chairs, wooden - plastic - you name it. But on the CB (EX) never, ever had a problem. Sure, I need to stretch my legs after a while ... but in buttocksville, no problems what soever. With such disparate options (all justified), it is clear that no manufacturer can ever make us all happy. Seems like the problem of the "perfect mattress" to me

A few members have written about the "heavy weight" of the CB1100.

I personally thought the weight was normal and within expected range of a classic-based full size CB. I changed over to an Africa Twin, which is similar in weight to the CB, if not maybe a bit lighter. However, when it came to push and shove, the CB1100 is easier.

So, everything is relative. Once I thought the CB1100 was heavy when not moving. Truth is, it feels not so bad in retrospect.

Totally agree with you GO. And ... my guess, the AfricT has a much higher CoG, that's what makes "walking her" difficult.

I think that’s right, j3gq: it’s probably impossible for any motorcycle manufacturer to make a seat that works for everyone.