I bought the CB1100 with the intent to use it primarily to carry me and my gear to favorite fly-fishing destinations in south western Wyoming for extended weekends. The closest fishing areas are approximately 120-170 miles and the furthest about 370 miles one way. For that purpose it's replacing a 2009 KLR (Kawasaki Long Range 
) 650. A bike that performed this task in admirable fashion with little maint. requirements but had some weaknesses in that role as most of my time traveling is on well maintained and paved secondary back roads (with at times prolonged and steep ascents). The KLR is subject to a lot of buffeting from crosswinds as it's profile and fairing provide a lot of surface for resistance. As you'd expect from a carbed one-lunger 650 it struggles if you want to pass at speeds above 65 mph (exasperated at altitudes above 6,000 feet). So the KLR went to a good friend who owned one previously and is willing to tolerate those perceived shortcomings.
Rboe saw my thread on another website asking about the CB1100 and he replied along with a link to ADV on the Belgian couple that's riding their 2014 DLX's from California to Argentina. After seeing their adventures on south American roads (dirt/gravel/washboards/river-crossings etc.) I was sold.
Link to the thread http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthrea...856&page=2
The CB will not be used in an aggressive ADV role but will be run at upper legal speeds :blush: to get me to where I want to fish and then knock out the last 2-5 miles of fairly well maintained gravel roads.
I've ridden the bike standing on the foot pegs across some rudded stuff and it does just fine at low speeds paying attention to the angles of approach while remembering the whole time that the exhaust runs under the motor.
The pic below shows all the gear/food I normally hauled on the KLR (minus raingear which is strapped on the top-bag for easy access). That's enough to keep me provisioned and dry for 4 days and 3 nights in the backcountry.
The second pic shows everything on the bike(minus rain gear) with the tank bag still fairly empty.
The third pic are the bags loaded and off the bike. Once I have the Honda OEM rear rack installed The Watershed bag to the far left is an option if needed for extended trips. It will then carry all of the food, fuel/stove and cooking gear that's in the panniers (freeing them up for additional MSR fuel bottles or whatever). I also usually wear a small backpack with a water bladder and room for smaller items
Is it the "ideal" sport tourer? Probably not, but for what I'm using it for it should be able to meet my needs. Next up is a Dart Fly Screen. I'm 6 foot, 240 pounds
and on the Guzzi the screen size seems more than adequate to reduce the chest pressure from winds above 75 mph.
) 650. A bike that performed this task in admirable fashion with little maint. requirements but had some weaknesses in that role as most of my time traveling is on well maintained and paved secondary back roads (with at times prolonged and steep ascents). The KLR is subject to a lot of buffeting from crosswinds as it's profile and fairing provide a lot of surface for resistance. As you'd expect from a carbed one-lunger 650 it struggles if you want to pass at speeds above 65 mph (exasperated at altitudes above 6,000 feet). So the KLR went to a good friend who owned one previously and is willing to tolerate those perceived shortcomings. Rboe saw my thread on another website asking about the CB1100 and he replied along with a link to ADV on the Belgian couple that's riding their 2014 DLX's from California to Argentina. After seeing their adventures on south American roads (dirt/gravel/washboards/river-crossings etc.) I was sold.
Link to the thread http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthrea...856&page=2
The CB will not be used in an aggressive ADV role but will be run at upper legal speeds :blush: to get me to where I want to fish and then knock out the last 2-5 miles of fairly well maintained gravel roads.
I've ridden the bike standing on the foot pegs across some rudded stuff and it does just fine at low speeds paying attention to the angles of approach while remembering the whole time that the exhaust runs under the motor.
The pic below shows all the gear/food I normally hauled on the KLR (minus raingear which is strapped on the top-bag for easy access). That's enough to keep me provisioned and dry for 4 days and 3 nights in the backcountry.
The second pic shows everything on the bike(minus rain gear) with the tank bag still fairly empty.
The third pic are the bags loaded and off the bike. Once I have the Honda OEM rear rack installed The Watershed bag to the far left is an option if needed for extended trips. It will then carry all of the food, fuel/stove and cooking gear that's in the panniers (freeing them up for additional MSR fuel bottles or whatever). I also usually wear a small backpack with a water bladder and room for smaller items
Is it the "ideal" sport tourer? Probably not, but for what I'm using it for it should be able to meet my needs. Next up is a Dart Fly Screen. I'm 6 foot, 240 pounds
and on the Guzzi the screen size seems more than adequate to reduce the chest pressure from winds above 75 mph.
