04-18-2015, 07:11 AM
I've had many inlines. Among them, my 2002 YAM FZ1 did not have noticable vibration. It had vibration but it was smooth for the most part, and would just howl til the speedo said 90 mph. Also my 2006 Honda 919 was smooth and would hold 70-75 mph all day long. - Along comes a Honda engineer, says, "Hey the 1300 water cooled motor, (which the 1100 is partially based upon), is too smooth. This CB1100 needs some vibration to give it character." So he offsets the valve timing to make it rumble at low rpms, which at higher rpms becomes somewhat annoying. The engineers all get together in a big meeting room afterwards, having taken some test rides. Someone says, "Soandso-san, with all due respect, this bike vibrate my hands and butt on highway." - "Hey, you," says Soandso-san, "This bike supposed to shake like old one from '69." And so, with offset valve timing, it vibrates. - The first test ride I took, it vibrated my hands and seat on the highway. I was annoyed but enjoying my ride. I was thinking perhaps one could add rubber washers to the engine mounts, but the decision by the engineers was to slow down the ride and enjoy the torque at sub highway speeds, which I, being older, in fact found enjoyable. The new CBR650 is plagued by vibration as well. Were I that vibration seeking engineer, I would have balanced the timing and made it smooth, character be darned. That being said, many people are not annoyed by it or don't notice it on their bikes, so some may be smoother than others. THE answer is, it was timed into the valve train in the motor. - Contrast: My Harley Nightster vibrated my pinky finger asleep. An old 80s twin Yamaha 650 vibrated like crazy when I rode it.