2014 CB1100 Standard ride review/XSR900 comparo

[clearviewx]

I would say no since Samurider has them listed differently.

[Banned_imp]

In my early twenties I bought a one year old 1966 BSA Lightning for $700. Then spent 2 or 3 times that importing accessories from Britain to make it into a café racer. Seemed like the right thing to do at that time.

In my early thirties I did the exact opposite. Bought a 1971 BSA Lightning for $700 that had been made into a quasi-chopper. Spent the entire winter searching for original parts, taking the motorcycle all apart, and rebuilding to it original condition, except the paint. The paint schemes on the BSAs for that year were UGH-LY. I used the ever popular black paint scheme instead. Turned out very well and was a pleasure to ride.

The next three new bikes I bought (Yamaha XS1100G, Goldwing Aspencade, CB500XA) had lots of accessories added to haul stuff and make the ride more comfortable.

My 2017 CB1100 EX is a dilemma. I like the retro look of the motorcycle, but would really appreciate an effective windscreen, rear carrier and comfortable seat. All but the tall seat would take away from the bike's retro looks. The rack and seat are also expensive to import. However given my history, I am sure they will all be added.

Does anyone know if a stock carrier for a 2014 will fit a 2017? If it does I will have one for sale in about a week...have a Givi 55L topcase to fit it also...windscreen...Daytona seat...

Does anyone know if a stock carrier for a 2014 will fit a 2017? If it does I will have one for sale in about a week...have a Givi 55L topcase to fit it also...windscreen...Daytona seat...
PM sent.

[Nortoon_imp]

Nortoon, you want to swap the '17 EX's seat for a "comfortable seat"? All the reviews say the stock seat is amazingly comfortable!

Dude!

The reviewers may say the seat is comfortable because their test rides are short and they are more concerned with speed, suspension and cornering.

I am 71 years old, 6'2" tall and weigh 225 pounds. I found the seats on both my CB500XA and CB1100 EX uncomfortable after 1 1/2 hours of riding. So I plan my day rides with stops every 90 minutes.

I can extend that to 2 hours by adding my Coleman MadDog seat pad. It looked alright on the CB500XA, but takes away from the looks of the CB1100 EX.


There are a number of posts about riders here buying expensive custom seats for comfort. Some found them more comfortable, some found it was not worth the money and they end up in the For Sale Section.

Because of my height, I looked at buying the tall K and H double seat. Too me this what the CB750 seats looked like in the 70s. But it would cost about $900 Canadian with shipping, currency exchange, and sales taxes.

At my age 2 hours is all I can ride before becoming fatigued if I am riding enthusiastically. So not only would I become uncomfortable, my riding skills would deteriorate and become unsafe.

So my choices are:
1. Stop every 90 minutes.
2. Add the $25 MadDog seat pad and sacrifice beauty for comfort.
3. Spend a lot of money on a seat that MIGHT BE more comfortable.

In the cold spring and fall weather choice 1 will happen anyway.
Being a old tight wad, choice 3 is the least likely.
So I will probably leave the MadDog pad on the seat.
It's paid for and adds comfort no matter how long I ride.

[VLJ_imp]

I'm wondering how you'd manage then on a sportbike seat, or even my XSR's seat. I do eight-hour rides on it, broken up by gas/food stops, of course, and when I need a break I just stand on the pegs and do twenty knee-bending squats before settling back into the seat. The longer the ride, the more frequently I need to do those peg-standing squats.

[Nortoon_imp]

I'm wondering how you'd manage then on a sportbike seat, or even my XSR's seat. I do eight-hour rides on it, broken up by gas/food stops, of course, and when I need a break I just stand on the pegs and do twenty knee-bending squats before settling back into the seat. The longer the ride, the more frequently I need to do those peg-standing squats.

When I rode sportier bikes I was in my 20s and weighed 163 pounds.
That was in the late 60s and early 70s. Things have changed.

For my 68th birthday I was going to buy a CBR500R. Loved the looks and tri-colour paint scheme of that bike.

The sales person smiled and said nothing while pulling it out so I could sit on. Did not take very long before I realized I did not fit a sport bike anymore.

I bought the CB500XA because it had a straight up riding position and tall suspension. It actually had better ergonomics for me than the CB1100 EX. But it sure is not as pretty.


My day rides in the summer are from 8AM to 5PM (9 hours) and I average between 250 and 300 miles. I stop for breakfast, lunch, gas, iced coffee and a maple-dip donut mid-afternoon.

As I ride twisty and hilly back roads in cottage country, a lot of my riding is sweeping through corners. The only straight roads I ride are getting to my jumping off points and returning home.

I have 100 maps of different roads I like to ride. I shuffle them to make up my day rides. While I may ride some of the same roads during a summer, the routes are different each time so I don't get bored.

I am usually alright in the morning. But towards the end of the day, I also stand on the pegs to relieve any discomfort.

[Wisedrum]

I'm wondering how you'd manage then on a sportbike seat, or even my XSR's seat. I do eight-hour rides on it, broken up by gas/food stops, of course, and when I need a break I just stand on the pegs and do twenty knee-bending squats before settling back into the seat. The longer the ride, the more frequently I need to do those peg-standing squats.

When I rode sportier bikes I was in my 20s and weighed 163 pounds.
That was in the late 60s and early 70s. Things have changed.

For my 68th birthday I was going to buy a CBR500R. Loved the looks and tri-colour paint scheme of that bike.

The sales person smiled and said nothing while pulling it out so I could sit on. Did not take very long before I realized I did not fit a sport bike anymore.

I bought the CB500XA because it had a straight up riding position and tall suspension. It actually had better ergonomics for me than the CB1100 EX. But it sure is not as pretty.


My day rides in the summer are from 8AM to 5PM (9 hours) and I average between 250 and 300 miles. I stop for breakfast, lunch, gas, iced coffee and a maple-dip donut mid-afternoon.

As I ride twisty and hilly back roads in cottage country, a lot of my riding is sweeping through corners. The only straight roads I ride are getting to my jumping off points and returning home.

I have 100 maps of different roads I like to ride. I shuffle them to make up my day rides. While I may ride some of the same roads during a summer, the routes are different each time so I don't get bored.

I am usually alright in the morning. But towards the end of the day, I also stand on the pegs to relieve any discomfort.

It's easy to agree. Your last sentence is spot on.
But as long as you are happy....

Wisedrum

[pdedse]

Nortoon, you want to swap the '17 EX's seat for a "comfortable seat"? All the reviews say the stock seat is amazingly comfortable!

Dude!

The reviewers may say the seat is comfortable because their test rides are short and they are more concerned with speed, suspension and cornering.

I am 71 years old, 6'2" tall and weigh 225 pounds. I found the seats on both my CB500XA and CB1100 EX uncomfortable after 1 1/2 hours of riding. So I plan my day rides with stops every 90 minutes.

I can extend that to 2 hours by adding my Coleman MadDog seat pad. It looked alright on the CB500XA, but takes away from the looks of the CB1100 EX.


There are a number of posts about riders here buying expensive custom seats for comfort. Some found them more comfortable, some found it was not worth the money and they end up in the For Sale Section.

Because of my height, I looked at buying the tall K and H double seat. Too me this what the CB750 seats looked like in the 70s. But it would cost about $900 Canadian with shipping, currency exchange, and sales taxes.

At my age 2 hours is all I can ride before becoming fatigued if I am riding enthusiastically. So not only would I become uncomfortable, my riding skills would deteriorate and become unsafe.

So my choices are:
1. Stop every 90 minutes.
2. Add the $25 MadDog seat pad and sacrifice beauty for comfort.
3. Spend a lot of money on a seat that MIGHT BE more comfortable.

In the cold spring and fall weather choice 1 will happen anyway.
Being a old tight wad, choice 3 is the least likely.
So I will probably leave the MadDog pad on the seat.
It's paid for and adds comfort no matter how long I ride.

On my CB1100 I put a 3/4" bleacher pad and another kneeling pad under my "madog" seat--borrowed from my KLR650 where the pad actually makes that bike look better.


The maddog seat keeps it all strapped down...I did 6 or 7, 350-450 mile rides in a row on a trip, from 8-12 hours per day, plenty of stops...not going to lie and say I didn't feel it, but it made day 2, 3, 4, etc. rides tolerable. Bleacher pads are $7 at sporting goods stores...and I can use them on other bikes...and even for kneeling...or sitting in the bleachers to watch games.

Those of you who have owned a KLR650 can appreciate the frugality.

[Lord Popgun]

MTC, I believe this is the thread you wanted by Powerdubs: [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=11007&page=2]http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....007&page=2

[DaSwami_imp]

The K&H high seat is what I have and it is worth every penny. Takes about a month to set right and it's like riding on an air suspension seat. I would not own the CB1100 without it, the stock seat is horrible for a big fella.

[LongRanger_imp]

Seats are like windscreens and grips -- some people are fine with what comes from the factory, while others can't tolerate them. Every bike I've tried to "improve" with aftermarket parts has always ended up back with the stock pieces, with the aftermarket stuff on eBay for thirty cents on the dollar.