What other bikes did you look at before buying your CB1100?

[the_undecider_imp]

I forgot about the XR1200. I thought about one of those, but prices were out of my cash budget at the time and I couldn't find any at a dealer to finance. Finally sat on one recently and was turned off by the ergos.

[JustPassinThru_imp]

Of course you could see by the j/ k that I was just kidding, although there is some truth in that most motorcycles that are considered to have " character" have the issues I described.

I wish a Moto Guzzi dealer was closer than 250 miles from me. I love Guzzis...much more than the other V twins that vibrate, have electrical issues, oil leaks, and are likely to break down on my next ride ....... again I keed! ( although that actually does describe my sons Ducati...but then again that's a 90 degree " L" twin har har har...sorry son)

Me, I wish Honda had built on the CX experience.

I like shaft drive. And I LOVED the V engine in my briefly-owned GL500. But Honda had orphaned it; closed the parts book; and I needed a complete brake overhaul.

In the end it was fatal issue - I gave the thing AWAY because there was no space to fix it or to store it. But if Honda or another reputable manufacturer (a small Eye-Talian company is not reputable, IMHO, just think Fiat) would focus on the transverse V engine...EXCELLENT.

[NightRider_imp]

Bolt, Kingpin, Fury, Sabre, Interstate, Softtail, Bonneville, Thunderbird, Guzzi V7, Guzzi California, America.

[redbirds_imp]

I tried the FZ-09 but did not like the seat or the snatchy throttle.

[rboe]

Chip; I or the other Griso owner here in town will be glad to let you take my Griso for a test ride. Best go for a long one as Moto Guzzi's tend to grow on one slowly.

JustPassin (I used to live in Broadus by the way), Moto Guzzi is owned, lock, stock and barrel by Piaggio; a HUGE Italian company. In many way, easier to get parts for older Guzzi's than Honda (Tupperware - forgetabouti!)

The Harley 48 is very attractive but my lanky frame makes choosing a H-D a mixed bag. If they still made the bikes with the old style tractor seat that stuck up in the air and the floor boards right under the feet it would be a slam dunk for me. But the low seaters ruin the ergo's for me. Still, that 48 is attractive. I really like the new off white Fat Bob too.

[Chapomis_imp]

When I started looking into a new bike my main intent was to replace my Sportster with something a little less top-heavy, quieter and mabe even smaller(engine wise). The first thing that caught my eye was the Yamaha SR400. I loved the retro UJM look, the strait seat, chrome fenders, very simple. What I didn't like was the kick start. I looked at the Triumphs and liked the looks, but something wasn't right(probably the spill I took on one 40 years ago). Not interested in any of the bikes with a lot of plastic. We travel on weekends a lot and every time I would stop at a dealer I would explain what I was looking for. Of the 3 Honda dealerships I stopped at over the winter none pushed the CB 1100. The first one I stopped at really pushed the CTX700 and I found out later he had a cb11, but I never saw it. The next dealer I went to did the same thing, really pushed the ctx. Near the ctx was a Shadow Phantom(that I totally fell in love with) and beyond that I noticed this red bike with 4 pipes. We were in a hurry so I never made it past the Shadow, which I thought was very cool, but to similar to my Heritage. When I got home I stared making a list of all the bikes that fit my parameters. Somehow the CB11 got on that list even though I had only seen one out the corner of my eye. The other top contenders were the Indian Scout, Shadow Phantom, Boulevard S40 and SR400 (both the later way to small for me at 5'11. The rest is history

[Firstfour_imp]

I vaguely thought about a Bonneville; or maybe a baby Monster, as I had really enjoyed my '96 M900. (I don't really like the look of the new ones as much, however.) But there wasn't a dealer for either brand within 50 miles, and didn't relish the repeated schlepp probably necessary to negotiate a decent deal.

The real competition was another vintage bike, as I don't like most of the modern ones. Like, say, maybe a CB750K. And then Honda brought the CB1100 to the states, and bingo! A proper looking bike, with modern reliability and performance. At a local dealer. Done.

[lola_imp]

First Choice was a 1976 Honda Goldwing GL1000 in red since my dad had one brand new back in the day, feeling a bit nostalgic at the time... then my second choice was Used green 2005 kawasaki ZRX1200 but most of them sold here locally are blue and modified.