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I've admired the CB1100 and lately been considering getting one, but I have some concerns about the suspension. I worry that with such limited rear wheel travel, the bike will be unable to cope comfortably with less than perfect (frost heaves, potholes, etc.) roads.
My current ride is a Triumph Street Triple R and it beats the heck out of me. Yes, it has a very sporty suspension but it also has much more rear suspension travel. And one of the things I would want from the CB1100 is a comfortable ride, much more comfortable than the Triumph.
Reviews that mention the suspension at all comment on how it is comfy but gets overwhelmed at speed. They don't say what the roads are like or compare the ride quality to other bikes, so the info isn't actually all that helpful. Can anyone elaborate on the ride quality and characteristics of the CB1100?
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(07-25-2013, 09:21 AM)Billtannica_imp Wrote: I've admired the CB1100 and lately been considering getting one, but I have some concerns about the suspension. I worry that with such limited rear wheel travel, the bike will be unable to cope comfortably with less than perfect (frost heaves, potholes, etc.) roads.
My current ride is a Triumph Street Triple R and it beats the heck out of me. Yes, it has a very sporty suspension but it also has much more rear suspension travel. And one of the things I would want from the CB1100 is a comfortable ride, much more comfortable than the Triumph.
Reviews that mention the suspension at all comment on how it is comfy but gets overwhelmed at speed. They don't say what the roads are like or compare the ride quality to other bikes, so the info isn't actually all that helpful. Can anyone elaborate on the ride quality and characteristics of the CB1100?
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Thanks.
I'm in Illinois, USA. So yeah, as you surmised, I'm familiar with roads damaged by winter. Frost heaves in particular are brutal on my Street Triple -- like throw me out of the seat bad. And that's with more than an inch more suspension travel than the CB1100. Hence my concern.
But I'm please to hear from an owner who's familiar with mediocre pavement and who likes the ride quality.
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Ive never ridden a bike that could" float " over frost heaves, expansion joints etc. The CB won't either. Sharp edged bumps still overwork the suspension, front and rear. I have changed fork springs, fork oil, installed spacers, repaced rear shocks with custom shocks, installed fork braces, on many bikes, and nothing has ever been able to isolate me from road irregularities to my expectations or satisfaction. None are perfect...Some are better, some are worse, the CB is in the middle.
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Hey Billtannica, welcome to the forum. My other bike is a Honda Hawk GT and I have a Penske shock mounted on the back. The Hawk has a fair amount more travel in the back than the CB, but it is also a fair bit stiffer (both front and back as I've put stiffer springs and emulators in the forks). For all around general use, over rough and uneven pavement, the CB is a much more comfortable ride. While the stock seat on the CB draws mixed emotions, I myself am very happy with it and find that it too assists with absorbing some of the impact over potholes, etc.. It appears to constructed of good quality latex foam. All in all, I've found the CB to be very comfortable given that it actually handles surprisingly well. By the way, I weigh around 170 pounds, so you might take that into consideration.
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I'm about 160lbs and the CB is nice. Not as firm as my Guzzi. Not as plush as my 650L (which does swallow frost heaves  ). I hope to take a longer ride a few weeks (dang monsoon season!) and really test the seat. Vastly superior to the Griso seat (torture device and the Quota was not any better with a 98 EV the worst). My 6650L seat feels good too but somewhere between 2 and 3 hours it's no longer any fun. I'm optimistic though.
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(07-25-2013, 09:21 AM)Billtannica_imp Wrote: I've admired the CB1100 and lately been considering getting one, but I have some concerns about the suspension. I worry that with such limited rear wheel travel, the bike will be unable to cope comfortably with less than perfect (frost heaves, potholes, etc.) roads.
My current ride is a Triumph Street Triple R and it beats the heck out of me. Yes, it has a very sporty suspension but it also has much more rear suspension travel. And one of the things I would want from the CB1100 is a comfortable ride, much more comfortable than the Triumph.
Reviews that mention the suspension at all comment on how it is comfy but gets overwhelmed at speed. They don't say what the roads are like or compare the ride quality to other bikes, so the info isn't actually all that helpful. Can anyone elaborate on the ride quality and characteristics of the CB1100?
You should just go and test ride one, you won't be disappointed.
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(07-26-2013, 03:55 AM)mininsx_imp Wrote: (07-25-2013, 09:21 AM)Billtannica_imp Wrote: I've admired the CB1100 and lately been considering getting one, but I have some concerns about the suspension. I worry that with such limited rear wheel travel, the bike will be unable to cope comfortably with less than perfect (frost heaves, potholes, etc.) roads.
My current ride is a Triumph Street Triple R and it beats the heck out of me. Yes, it has a very sporty suspension but it also has much more rear suspension travel. And one of the things I would want from the CB1100 is a comfortable ride, much more comfortable than the Triumph.
Reviews that mention the suspension at all comment on how it is comfy but gets overwhelmed at speed. They don't say what the roads are like or compare the ride quality to other bikes, so the info isn't actually all that helpful. Can anyone elaborate on the ride quality and characteristics of the CB1100?
You should just go and test ride one, you won't be disappointed.
Test rides are unheard of around here.
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(07-25-2013, 09:21 AM)Billtannica_imp Wrote: I've admired the CB1100 and lately been considering getting one, but I have some concerns about the suspension. I worry that with such limited rear wheel travel, the bike will be unable to cope comfortably with less than perfect (frost heaves, potholes, etc.) roads.
My current ride is a Triumph Street Triple R and it beats the heck out of me. Yes, it has a very sporty suspension but it also has much more rear suspension travel. And one of the things I would want from the CB1100 is a comfortable ride, much more comfortable than the Triumph.
Reviews that mention the suspension at all comment on how it is comfy but gets overwhelmed at speed. They don't say what the roads are like or compare the ride quality to other bikes, so the info isn't actually all that helpful. Can anyone elaborate on the ride quality and characteristics of the CB1100?
Hi Billtannica,
I too had a Triumph Street Triple R, great bike but the suspension on the CB is definitely more compliant. Add an aftermarket pair of shocks to improve it but give it a few thousand miles to bed in before you make the change would be my advise.
Oh and as much fun as the Triumph is to ride I am enjoying the CB just as much, especially now with the staintune fitted. It is also much more relaxed you don't feel like you need to wring its neck all the time!
Cheers 
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(07-26-2013, 07:25 AM)Billtannica_imp Wrote: (07-26-2013, 03:55 AM)mininsx_imp Wrote: (07-25-2013, 09:21 AM)Billtannica_imp Wrote: I've admired the CB1100 and lately been considering getting one, but I have some concerns about the suspension. I worry that with such limited rear wheel travel, the bike will be unable to cope comfortably with less than perfect (frost heaves, potholes, etc.) roads.
My current ride is a Triumph Street Triple R and it beats the heck out of me. Yes, it has a very sporty suspension but it also has much more rear suspension travel. And one of the things I would want from the CB1100 is a comfortable ride, much more comfortable than the Triumph.
Reviews that mention the suspension at all comment on how it is comfy but gets overwhelmed at speed. They don't say what the roads are like or compare the ride quality to other bikes, so the info isn't actually all that helpful. Can anyone elaborate on the ride quality and characteristics of the CB1100?
You should just go and test ride one, you won't be disappointed.
Test rides are unheard of around here.
Billtannica, where in Illinois do you live? Des Plaines Honda lets you do test rides on the CB1100. I know-I did one before buying mine two weeks ago. 
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