Test Rides

[Sorg67_imp]

It has been forty years since I have ridden an inline four. I remember my old 550 Four as being very smooth. But I was 18 at the time and had very limited experience.

I am now 58, have more experience and am more sensitive to comfort. The dealer that has the 2013 with 12,000 miles on it does not allow test rides. I have not asked the other dealers.

My Harley is pretty smooth by Harley softail standards. At cruising speed it is very smooth and quite. It does not handle bumps well. But it is very smooth and comfortable cruising smooth roads. I like the engine vibe. It is a soothing low frequency vibe.

My Versys has much better suspension. Handles bumps much better. And is probably technically smoother than the Harley, especially over 70 mph. Versys is pretty smooth up to 80 mph. However, I rarely go that fast. I do not go on highways much. And when I do, I am usually in the high 60's, low 70's.

What vibration my Versys does have is a higher frequency, more buzzy vibe. Less pleasing than the Harley vibe.

I have read some places that inline fours are smooth as silk and in other places that they are buzzy. I have particularly read that the BMW inline fours are buzzy.

From all I have read, the CB1100 is a smooth inline four. So I am thinking that I do not need to worry too much if I am not able to test ride one before I buy.

Any thoughts on this? What is everybody's experience about dealers allowing test rides? We have a CB500X. That is almost creepy smooth under 60 mph, but it gets a bit buzzy when you start pushing 70 and above.

Obviously that is a parallel twin, much smaller and a completely different animal. I am guessing the CB1100 is barely breaking a sweat at 75 mph.

[Lord Popgun]

I’m not sure of my dealers policy on test rides. They allow all of the used bikes to be test ridden, but I think on new bikes you have to be a serious buyer and maybe not a new rider.

I didn’t test ride my CB. It was on the show room floor but serviced. I bought it and rode it home a week or so later.

[Sorg67_imp]

Anybody want to take a shot at describing the CB1100 "vibe".

Some of the reviews of the earlier bikes describe them as perhaps too smooth. And said that part of the engine tuning changes for the newer bikes was to give them a little more vibe and a little more character. Anybody care to comment on that?

[LongRanger_imp]

I think you'd find the CB to be very smooth at the speeds you prefer to ride. It's a low-revving engine at speed and not frantic. I'm like you -- I avoid freeways and rarely see speeds above 70-75 mph. For this type of riding, the CB is smooth, solid, composed, and completely within its element. I call my '14 the "velvet hammer."

I must offer a different opinion about 4-cylinder BMW's. The earliest K-bikes (from the late-80's) were indeed quite buzzy. And hot. My '98 K1200RS, also a 4-cylinder, is by far the smoothest motorcycle I've ever ridden. Unless you watch the tachometer, you won't know if you're at 3,000 rpm or 6,000 rpm. It's electric-smooth. The CB is a paint-shaker by comparison (though it's absolutely not a paint-shaker!). I haven't ridden the more recent transverse 4-cylinder K1200S or K1300S, but from what I've read, they don't have vibration issues either.

[the Ferret]

some people are bothered by vibes more than others. This has been discussed ere before. Some people find the CB vibey in certain ranges. Personally I have had 2 CB 1100's and find them smooth as can be, but then I rarely ride the expressway on mine, preferring to stick to back roads at 45-60 mph at which point you are turning under 3500 rpms.(although I have done as much as 698 miles in 12 hours mostly freeway and did not find the CB objectionable in vibes, ergos or stock seat discomfort). I think it's a great all around motorcycle.

[Bigskyorbust_imp]

Coming off a smaller displacement bike that had to continually have it’s neck wrung ... the CB is almost creepy smooth and quiet . Very refined and enjoyable ride


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

2014 Honda CB 1100 Standard Hooligan

“ Wherever you go , there you are “

[Houtman_imp]

For me they are very smooth bikes , I never feel buzzing / vibrations

[gmike_imp]

It has been forty years since I have ridden an inline four. I remember my old 550 Four as being very smooth. But I was 18 at the time and had very limited experience.

I am now 58, have more experience and am more sensitive to comfort. The dealer that has the 2013 with 12,000 miles on it does not allow test rides. I have not asked the other dealers.

My Harley is pretty smooth by Harley softail standards. At cruising speed it is very smooth and quite. It does not handle bumps well. But it is very smooth and comfortable cruising smooth roads. I like the engine vibe. It is a soothing low frequency vibe.

My Versys has much better suspension. Handles bumps much better. And is probably technically smoother than the Harley, especially over 70 mph. Versys is pretty smooth up to 80 mph. However, I rarely go that fast. I do not go on highways much. And when I do, I am usually in the high 60's, low 70's.

What vibration my Versys does have is a higher frequency, more buzzy vibe. Less pleasing than the Harley vibe.

I have read some places that inline fours are smooth as silk and in other places that they are buzzy. I have particularly read that the BMW inline fours are buzzy.

From all I have read, the CB1100 is a smooth inline four. So I am thinking that I do not need to worry too much if I am not able to test ride one before I buy.

Any thoughts on this? What is everybody's experience about dealers allowing test rides? We have a CB500X. That is almost creepy smooth under 60 mph, but it gets a bit buzzy when you start pushing 70 and above.

Obviously that is a parallel twin, much smaller and a completely different animal. I am guessing the CB1100 is barely breaking a sweat at 75 mph.

I also have a CB500X, my CB1100 is a tad smoother at all speeds.

Maybe the dealer will allow you start it up and rev it a few times

[tommymck]

Regarding test rides, maybe it varies regionally. The Honda dealers here encouraged me to test ride new bikes I was looking at. They go along with though. The procedure is that they ask you to ride in front of them for a couple of blocks, at which point they move in front and you follow them on a route that has a little bit of everything in it. My guess is that they want you in front to start so that they can evaluate your riding before really heading out. They check your license, have you sign a waver, and away you go. When I was looking at the CB for the first time, the dealer asked if I wanted to ride it. I told him that I didn't want to put miles on his shiny new machine until I was sure that the CB was on my short list. He said that if I ride it, it'll be the only one on the list. Turns out he was right.

Regarding "buzzy", I don't think that the bike has a buzzy bone in it's body. I don't like riding a naked bike over 70, so maybe I just don't push it enough. It's as smooth as silk to me, even at highway speeds. I have the '17 six speed though, so if you're looking at an older 5 speed, that may be a little different. The 6 speed is turning just over 3000 at 65mph.

Maybe one reason for people perceiving the bike as buzzy is that, stock anyway, the sound doesn't have much grunt to it. More of a hum. Oddly, the sound seems higher pitched at 3Krpm than my other two bikes. You'd think that the pitch would just be a function of rpm. Maybe just an illusion, but that's the way it seems to me.

Other impressions are that the bike is sturdier and bigger than it appears by looking at it. It's a substantial bike. All in all, to me anyway, it's the perfect combination of low speed handling, high speed stability, and a super cool vibe.

[Sorg67_imp]

I think you'd find the CB to be very smooth at the speeds you prefer to ride. It's a low-revving engine at speed and not frantic. I'm like you -- I avoid freeways and rarely see speeds above 70-75 mph. For this type of riding, the CB is smooth, solid, composed, and completely within its element. I call my '14 the "velvet hammer."

I must offer a different opinion about 4-cylinder BMW's. The earliest K-bikes (from the late-80's) were indeed quite buzzy. And hot. My '98 K1200RS, also a 4-cylinder, is by far the smoothest motorcycle I've ever ridden. Unless you watch the tachometer, you won't know if you're at 3,000 rpm or 6,000 rpm. It's electric-smooth. The CB is a paint-shaker by comparison (though it's absolutely not a paint-shaker!). I haven't ridden the more recent transverse 4-cylinder K1200S or K1300S, but from what I've read, they don't have vibration issues either.

I have a friend who has a S1000R and he describes it as buzzy. I have also read reviews that describe that motor as buzzy.

But I have no personal experience so I cannot say.

But from everything I have read, I suspect you are right about the CB1100.

Regarding test rides, maybe it varies regionally. The Honda dealers here encouraged me to test ride new bikes I was looking at. They go along with though. The procedure is that they ask you to ride in front of them for a couple of blocks, at which point they move in front and you follow them on a route that has a little bit of everything in it. My guess is that they want you in front to start so that they can evaluate your riding before really heading out. They check your license, have you sign a waver, and away you go. When I was looking at the CB for the first time, the dealer asked if I wanted to ride it. I told him that I didn't want to put miles on his shiny new machine until I was sure that the CB was on my short list. He said that if I ride it, it'll be the only one on the list. Turns out he was right.

Regarding "buzzy", I don't think that the bike has a buzzy bone in it's body. I don't like riding a naked bike over 70, so maybe I just don't push it enough. It's as smooth as silk to me, even at highway speeds. I have the '17 six speed though, so if you're looking at an older 5 speed, that may be a little different. The 6 speed is turning just over 3000 at 65mph.

Maybe one reason for people perceiving the bike as buzzy is that, stock anyway, the sound doesn't have much grunt to it. More of a hum. Oddly, the sound seems higher pitched at 3Krpm than my other two bikes. You'd think that the pitch would just be a function of rpm. Maybe just an illusion, but that's the way it seems to me.

Other impressions are that the bike is sturdier and bigger than it appears by looking at it. It's a substantial bike. All in all, to me anyway, it's the perfect combination of low speed handling, high speed stability, and a super cool vibe.

This may be a good description. My 1992 Harley has a very pleasing low frequency soft rumble at cruising speeds. Of course when you get on the gas, you feel like you are shooting a 50 cal machine gun out your A$$. But if you take it easy, it is a very comfortable cruise.

The Versys is a higher frequency. Probably more of a buzz than a hum. Not uncomfortable, but not as pleasing.

Regarding test rides, maybe it varies regionally. The Honda dealers here encouraged me to test ride new bikes I was looking at. They go along with though. The procedure is that they ask you to ride in front of them for a couple of blocks, at which point they move in front and you follow them on a route that has a little bit of everything in it. My guess is that they want you in front to start so that they can evaluate your riding before really heading out. They check your license, have you sign a waver, and away you go. When I was looking at the CB for the first time, the dealer asked if I wanted to ride it. I told him that I didn't want to put miles on his shiny new machine until I was sure that the CB was on my short list. He said that if I ride it, it'll be the only one on the list. Turns out he was right.

Regarding "buzzy", I don't think that the bike has a buzzy bone in it's body. I don't like riding a naked bike over 70, so maybe I just don't push it enough. It's as smooth as silk to me, even at highway speeds. I have the '17 six speed though, so if you're looking at an older 5 speed, that may be a little different. The 6 speed is turning just over 3000 at 65mph.

Maybe one reason for people perceiving the bike as buzzy is that, stock anyway, the sound doesn't have much grunt to it. More of a hum. Oddly, the sound seems higher pitched at 3Krpm than my other two bikes. You'd think that the pitch would just be a function of rpm. Maybe just an illusion, but that's the way it seems to me.

Other impressions are that the bike is sturdier and bigger than it appears by looking at it. It's a substantial bike. All in all, to me anyway, it's the perfect combination of low speed handling, high speed stability, and a super cool vibe.

Yes, I had this impression sitting on it. I guess about 75 to 100 lbs heavier than my Versys and 100 to 120 lbs lighter than my Harley. But in between for seat height. Versys at 33 inch seat height and high gas tank carries its weight high. The Harley does not feel 200 lbs heavier than the Versys since the seat height is so low.