Just rode my Sportster then Honda

[Oboro_imp]

I have an XR1200X which is about the best overall bike Harley ever produced in terms of performance, stopping and handling and it feels like a top heavy tank compared to the CB.

[rboe]

A buddy in Slovina bought a XR over a Guzzi (to be fair, the local Guzzi dealer was a tool) and he loves that bike. I hear a lot of good press on that bike.

[Oboro_imp]

I've got an engine kit in mine so it's barely a Harley anymore. Still prefer the CB though. Gonna try to sell the XR for a Super Duke R or keep it and pick up an FZ09. Or sell it and pick up an FZ09 haha

[pechorin75_imp]

I always ask them if they got the Magnet option, when they ask what that is, I tell them to catch the parts that fall off.

My best friend's little brother literally had a heat shield fly off of his heritage nostalgia on the freeway last year. Cost him about $150 to replace it.

My best friend has an 01 sportster that he let me ride a few times before I bought my CB. I enjoyed it for what it was, but damn did it vibrate. Plus he lowered it, so anything bigger than an expansion joint made me feel like I needed a kidney belt.

I test rode several Harleys. I really wanted to like the fat bob, but there was just too much vibration. The night rod was a decent bike, but I'd like my wife to be able to be pillion once in a while. She wouldn't have put up with the v-rod envelope that they try to pass as a pillion. In the end, the CB was a good place for me to start getting back into riding, but with all the miles I do, I'll want something with a fairing sometime soon.

That's interesting. I own a 2010 Fat Bob, and while the engine really shakes at idle (which takes a little getting used to, coming from non-Harleys), I've found that anything about 2,500 rpm is totally smooth. I've never had a hand go tingly/numb on it, even on long rides, which is something I (unfortunately) can't say about the CB.

So far, so good on reliability....but I've only had it for a year and 2,000 miles, so we'll see.

[Andor_imp]

Hi,

I bought my CB1100 EX 2014 a month ago after having HD for like 7 years. Got used to it on my daily city routes. Today I rode my Sportster just to see the difference and then Honda. My God! what a huge difference. I thought something is wrong with HD. It doesn't turn nor brake. It shakes and makes a lot of noise. Now I'm sure I'll get rid of it.

Just sharing my experience since I'm just overwhelmed with CB. Love it.
What was your experince old vs new bike?

Voitus - Warsaw, Poland.

Hi Voitus ,Just yesterday I made a trip of 250 km with my sportster 1200 c 2003 version of the centenary, my wife and I went back very tired, maybe the warm weather, with little excursion shock, vibration, and wind in our faces, when we travel cb 1100 with the comfort is much better except for the wind, because we love our xl 1200 we will not sell it ever ..... I think that will set the spring and shock absorber will buy a nice windshield as I have done for the cb 1100 , because even as gasoline consumption not see any difference between both the bikes, with the sportster I-23 between i20 km per liter of petrol, with cb 1100 I can get up to 26 km a liter (with the one that costs the gasoline in Italy, consumption is very important), the sportster in fourteen years he never had any problems, I still have the original battery, only oil, candles engine, filters, tires, brake pads and see if gasoline ....... the honda with a lot of electronics if you behave well ......

Hi Voitus ,Just yesterday I made a trip of 250 km with my sportster 1200 c 2003 version of the centenary, my wife and I went back very tired, maybe the warm weather, with little excursion shock, vibration, and wind in our faces, when we travel cb 1100 with the comfort is much better except for the wind, because we love our xl 1200 we will not sell it ever ..... I think that will set the spring and shock absorber will buy a nice windshield as I have done for the cb 1100 , because even as gasoline consumption not see any difference between both the bikes, with the sportster I-23 between i20 km per liter of petrol, with cb 1100 I can get up to 26 km a liter (with the one that costs the gasoline in Italy, consumption is very important), the sportster in fourteen years he never had any problems, I still have the original battery, only oil, candles engine, filters, tires, brake pads and see if gasoline ....... the honda with a lot of electronics if you behave well ...... Sorry guys, I made a mistake, my sportster is 11 years old and not 14 as well and the battery ...

[CTrider_imp]

I too went from a (2011) 883 Superlow to a 2014 DLX and the difference is mind boggling. The CB is such a pleasure to ride, it literally feels like it is on rails. My HD was nice to have but the CB is a million more times enjoyable. I couldn't even make a turn with a light lean on the HD without the pegs rubbing the ground. The CB will be in my garage for the rest of my riding life.

[bubblerboy64_imp]

The newest sportsters the customs with the big tire and rubber mounted engines are really pretty nice bikes. BUT you're missing the point. It's a Harley and there is no reason to justify it. PLUS you can buy any number of farkels to make it the way you want it. They sit nice and low the 1200 have pretty of power (as long as you are in the right gear) You can make them loud and entirely obnoxious. I had a 2006 and then a 2012 and there is a very significant improved difference between those two bikes. The 883 is just way under power but the 1200 is not.

I am not suggesting the Harley sportster is a better bike in any way over the CB1100 but it's not as it once was. Put a new CB1100 in a show room and a new Sportster 1200 and see which one gets the attention.

Lets face it sex sells and in some camps Harley's are sexy. (You can over think this stuff)

[shysue2_imp]

Re: Harley loyalists. A few years back I had a trucker at a truck stop look at my Honda VTX 1300, call it a "Harley wannabe," and tell me that maybe one day I could afford a real bike. LOL, how arrogant is that? I test rode several HD's at AMA's Women's Motorcycle conference in Keystone, CO several years ago and liked a couple of them (I think the Night Rod (?) was one and also some version of the Fat Boy), but the others just felt so heavy and vibrated so much I was happy to get off of them. They were a lot of work to ride. I just don't get the willingness to pay so much money for those bikes. I don't think they're worth it, but, hey, I guess if you want it, you like it, and you can afford it, do whatever floats your boat. I'm keeping my CB1100.

[Oboro_imp]

Harley's just aren't worth the money for my needs. I could get a pair of FZ09s that will rock any Harley for less than the price of a Street Bob. Why would I need two FZs you ask? I like the graphite and the orange haha!

[Todd_K_imp]

It's been said already, but HD has done an incredible job of reinventing themselves. I went with a buddy to the local Harley palace to pick up some parts, and the selection of aftermarket parts and farkles is just astonishing. Not to mention the HD branded boots (made in China), jackets (combination of China and Pakistan mfg.), t-shirts, belts, buckles, gloves, do-rags, pre-ripped denim vests, yadda yadda yadda. Oh, and more skulls than a fleet of pirate ships. They are selling an image, and clearly it resonates with a good 75-80% of riders in NE IL.

Just for fun while waiting, i tried counting the number of "Harley Davidson", "HD", or shield logos I could find on my buddy's ride (2013 sportster 1200--yes, it does look like a nicely made bike, good attention to detail in most places). Stopped at 43 (tank, guages, analog clock, mirrors, windscreen, headlight, seat, foot pegs, engine cases, license plate bolts, shock absorber bolt covers, and little shield logos in the rubber of the tires, every 5" or so for the circumference of both front and back.