Is the CB1100 no more?

[GoldOxide_imp]

Your V7 is nice Dave.

[the Ferret]

I understand how you guys feel. I really do. Some people find a Honda CB300 or Ninja 300 or R3 Yamaha has enough power. I don't. Heck some people think a Grom has plenty of power...I really don't. lol

Among the bikes I thought I would be happy with over the last 15 years Nighthawk 750 75 hp 65 ft lbs (not enough horsepower or brakes for me) Triumph Bonneville T-100 ...865cc... 61HP 45 ft lbs (Not enough horsepower or brakes for me) I just got no thrill out of riding them. I have a CB 500X in the garage. I have to force myself to take it out and ride it cause it just doesn't have enough horsepower and brakes for me.

I also had bike with too much HP for me

Yamaha FZ-1... 126 HP 66 FT lbs Honda ST 1300.. 125 HP 85 ft lbs.. Yamaha FJR 146 HP 99 ft lbs ..... all with too much hp plenty of brakes.

These numbers combined with the experience of riding them says for ME, a motorcycle should have 100 hp and 75 ft lbs of torque.

So I have bikes with 50 hp , 89 hp and 146 hp in the garage, and if I could only keep one it would be the 89 hp CB 1100

[Gone in 60]

That is a pretty bike, Dave. Your V7 sounds like my Bonneville... the one bike I just never get tired of. I've bought and sold other bikes in my stable, the most recent going from a BMW to my CB, but I have never considered selling the Bonneville. It's not fast, it doesn't do any one thing particularly well, but it's comfortable and has never had a mechanical hiccup whatsoever. It just takes me to work and back, humming away.

On paper, the V7 sounds like my dream bike - shaft drive, easy access to engine maintenance, looks great. My Bonneville is at the minimum threshold of what I'd consider adequate for power - sure, it will go 80 all day, but it's happier at 65, but in traffic, I'm not thinking of how fast I can go. I've just never considered a Guzzi. Anything I ever read about it said it didn't have enough power, and until just recently, there wasn't a dealer near me. And frankly, the new showroom in town looks pretty, but I don't give it long, especially if the market turns just the least bit sour.

All this talking about V7s got me searching Craig's this morning as I was waking up. Seems there are just as many recent, sub-2000 mile Guzzis out there as there are Bonnevilles. I think it might be because both bikes are pretty, and conjure up images of cruising up to a coffee house on one, and standing back as people admire it. It's the image that sells, and it becomes a passionate impulse buy, rather than a logical purchase to perform a task, like touring or commuting. "I've always wanted a motorcycle, and this one looks really cool."

Two years later, when it's taking up room in the garage, and the wife complains that he never rides it, off it goes, to the next owner who scores a deal. A guy like me, who bought my two year old Bonneville with 800 miles on it, while the guys wife stood behind us, arms crossed, hoping I'd buy this useless object that was taking up space.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Well said Gin60. Pretty close to reality.

[Dave Swanson]

My love for the V7 is aided by the fact that I am a big fan of the marquee.

My current Guzzi stable
2016 Griso
2015 Norge
2015 V7
2004 V11S
1993 1000S
1977 Convert
1977 Lemans 1.2
1974 Eldorado
1973 V7 Sport
1968 V700

[GoldOxide_imp]

My love for the V7 is aided by the fact that I am a big fan of the marquee.

My current Guzzi stable
2016 Griso
2015 Norge
2015 V7
2004 V11S
1993 1000S
1977 Convert
1977 Lemans 1.2
1974 Eldorado
1973 V7 Sport
1968 V700

Mmmm, Griso. Great lookin' bike.

[the Ferret]

ferret, its not just the HP but how its delivered. I have a few sub 50hp bikes that will curl your toes, and trust me, ive seen it happen with my friends that ride them that are used to 100+ hp bikes.

HP is nice, but its how its delivered thats more important i think.

I'm aware hence the need for 75 ft lbs. A bike with high hp and no torque is no more fun for me than a bike with low hp and no torque.

For ME (my requirement to enjoy the bike) has to be able to pull top gear down to 30 mph and take off again without protest, and it has to have enough acceleration to put a big ol smile on my face. I have basically been riding 4 cyl liter bikes since 1977. To me there is nothing as satisfying. I've owned Aermacchi, Harley, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki,Kawasaki and BSA's..singles, twins V & P, triples, fours I and V (and have ridden sixes...also ridden BMW's Ducati's and KTMs) Autos, 3 speeds, 4 speeds, 5 speeds and 6 speeds, air cooled and water cooled, 2 strokes and 4 strokes,(I think 31 street bikes, maybe 32 at last count I've owned since 1965) and at this time have pretty much narrowed down what floats my boat. Sub 75 hp bikes with less than 60 ft lbs of torque don't float my boat.

Your mileage may vary (and probably does)

[Gone in 60]

Man, Dave, that's quite a collection, and a dedicated one at that. You need to get out to L.A. and check out the Italian bike display at the Petersen. When I was shopping for a bike to replace my last R1200R, I was giving the Griso in the new local dealership a hard look, especially when they said it had been there a while, and they'd make me a great deal. But, I had just soured on a German bike, so Italian didn't seem like a step in the right direction at the time.

[Dave Swanson]

As I said I love the V7 but the Griso is a very special bike! Once the stock fueling is sorted with a good map (there is an excellent source) the engine is like nothing else. Turbine smooth with plenty of power!

[url=https://postimg.cc/CZV5bRSk]

[url=https://postimg.cc/k60wb5d6]

Don't get me wrong though. I still love my CB1100


[url=https://postimg.cc/s1qk5QgN]

[Gone in 60]

Yeah, somehow I don't think I'd be able to sully the lines of the Griso with my Givi work trunk. The CB doesn't mind it so much.