which bike would you get?

Eddie · Post by **Eddie** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 10:52 am

ok, I have a chance to get a really well taken care of 2008 concours with 45,000 miles for 6 grand, or wait till next year and get either the cb1100 or a Bonneville? I don't really do long distance travel , but maybe if I had a bike like the concourse I would, but I like naked bikes, old bikes, so im not sure what to do, the cb1100 keeps tempting me and I know the horsepower is not there but it would be a good commuter bike in town, then the concourse would be a great all around bike for about 4 grnd cheaper than a new cb1100, just wondering what you guys think , also im still riding the gt750 and I tnink I know what my problem has been, I had put the newtronics kit on and it still ran weird, then I was using a timing light and noticed the light would not come on when timing the middle cylinder, then I touched the spark plug wire and I was shocked ! there must be a short , the middle plug seems to be firing once in a while , so I found new coils on hvc cycle, they are 4ohm coils and are direct replacements according to the guy I talked to, but they haven't come in yet so I wont know until I replace them , they are coils , wires , and caps they are $38.00 a coil just for you guys to know, also I wanted a newer bike because I just have the gt750 and I have actually been raking up the miles on it, (which is fine) but I don't want to have to depend on that bike only, and I really want to rebuild the motor in the future and this way I will have another bike to ride while working on the gt750... so concourse , cb1100 , or Bonneville? I cant decide, but I got a decent price on the connie so far...

johnakay · Post by **johnakay** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:45 am

have you considered a W650?
Bonnie is a heavy bike and probaby the cb to.

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:38 pm

I know a lot of people think of the bike they like and just go for it, but you also need to think about your self, physically I mean.
If you are short, a heavy bike of 500 lbs and up is a handful to move around when parking or putting it in confined spaces such as storage etc. If you are tall its a lot easier to shift around and park a heavier bike as you can maneuver it easier.
The Connie might encourage you to take long distance touring trips, and if this is part of the plan, then go for it.
The Triumph isn't a bad choice either, you can do a bit of everything on it, tour, commute or just cruise along.
The CB1100 really is in a sad way, probably the worse attempt at a retro styled bike. The tanks too small, the seats too thin, the engine has a low hp to cc ratio, and if you look carefully you can see where they cut cost a lot, all the while having a high price tag.

Eddie · Post by **Eddie** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:51 pm

We'll I know the cb1100 is under powered but I still gravitate towards it, probably because I have had old Hondas and it reminds of one , kinda sorta, but your right about the price tag it's a lot, but between the cb and the triumph the triumph looks better but I think the cb has more power? Not sure though, but I like the triumph looks, but I think I would rather have a four cylinder than the twin although both are fine, I never really thought about the Connie until my friend went and bought a new one and offered me his 2008 model, and it has new rotors, pads, valve adjust was just done, and it looks new very well taken care of, so I can't decide plus all bikes have shim under bucket so all have the same pain in the but valve adjust which I don't like , iam used to tappets !, or no valves !

jabcb · Post by **jabcb** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 3:46 am

Have an 09 Bonneville SE.
Its is a popular retro & available in several variations. SE has a tach & cast wheels.
Stock seat was awful (for me) but Triumph sells several nice alternatives.
Lots of aftermarket accessories to customize the bike whatever way you want.
Low seat so its a good choice if you are short.
Good low end power but not a lot of power but modern sport bike standards.
Early model years have carbs & more recent models have FI & fake carbs (looks like it has carbs but it doesn't). Mine has FI.
Reliable like you would expect a modern bike to be.
A good, all around fun bike to own.

Have not ridden a new CB1100. Have seen it local Honda shop & have read reviews.
More power & faster than Bonneville.
Limited aftermarket accessories.
Available with & without ABS.

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 3:47 am

Ok then, so you are looking for a naked possibly semi naked inline four, no less than ten years old, hopefully with conventional valve adjusters.
Seems your logical choice for such a bike falls into the following two models from Japan.
If you look at the Suzuki GSF series or the Kawasaki ZRX series of sports tourers, both can be had for a steal in the market these days and both are very competent bikes.

BTW, the 865cc Bonnevile is 67hp, while the 1140cc CB1100 is 82 hp.

jabcb · Post by **jabcb** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 6:51 am

The CB1100 is on Cycle World magazine's top ten list (September 2013 issue)

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 8:16 am

I'm sure the buying public will either like it or love to hate it, either way its all a buyers market and time will tell by sales figures and depreciation within a few years
In Canada the bike sells for approximately 13 grand, (the same price as a fully faired 1250 Bandit)
In the US its slightly less at around 10 grand, and in the UK its at around 9 grand Brit pounds. Either way you look at it, its not a cheap bike considering what you are paying for.
Every time a manufacturer has tried to silhouette a past best seller, something usually gets lost in the equation.

Heres some things I noticed that were not up to par for a modern bike in this price range.

Fuel tank is too small, very limited range with approx 3.9 gallons.
While the emphasis is on a broad torque band, 82hp is pathetic given its a fuel injected 1140cc engine hauling around a 500 plus pound bike.
Claimed figures are at 50 mpg, not outstanding for this type of engine in stock tune.
Exhaust pipe looks 'wrong' on the bike and its extremely quiet.
Skinny bodied cheapo looking rear shocks with no compression dampening, only spring preload.
41mm forks are also slightly undersized and only have preload as well.
No gear indicator.
Only five speeds.
Very thin seat thats also a bit too short for comfortable two up riding.
The left side engine chain cover is shrouded in flimsy black plastic.
Oil cooler and its mounting/plumbing looks like an afterthought.
Tyre widths used are a bit skinny for this size of bike.

I did like the mirrors though.

Eddie · Post by **Eddie** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 8:23 am

yep, I like naked bikes but , also I like the fuel injection aspet of the bonny, and cb1100, I can do valve adjust myself, iv helped my friend on his zrx1200, and his connie so I know pretty much what its all about, and 7 to 8 thousand miles would take me a while to put on so not really a big deal, I love the bonny and the cb1100 and the more I look at the connie its starting to really appeal to me, I have to let the guy know if I want the connie by next week so that's why I posted this, does anybody have a concourse on here? and if so how do you like it? the bonny and the cb1100 are a lot more expensive than the concourse that I can get so that's why im really considering it, although I don't ride long distance that much but I would think its an ok city bike?

jabcb · Post by **jabcb** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 9:24 am

2009 & later Bonnevilles are FI. There should be some nice used ones out there.

Big plus for the 2008 Concours is that you know the service history & condition of the bike.

Eddie · Post by **Eddie** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 9:24 pm

Thanks for the info on the cb1100, it does have a lot of bad aspects about it , and you just added some that I did not know about, but for some reason im kinda drawn to it? maybe its old age? not sure? i think it is the looks, im not to crazy about the tank but all in all it looks nice, i also love the bonnie, and i could find a good use one somewhere(there aren't to many around here) so i guess the smartes thing is the concourse just because i know the service history and it is cheaper than both the bonnie and the cb1100, most bonnies around here are 7 or 8 grand and who knows what the owner has done to them.... but i still keep thinking about the cb1100 even though its to expensive and like you said very under powered for an 1100cc it must just be the looks.....

fartymarty · Post by **fartymarty** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 11:43 pm

Eddie wrote:.....does anybody have a concourse on here? and if so how do you like it?

Well, I'm barely on here, but I'm here and I have a '10 Connie14 which is only a little different from the '08 you're considering.
I love my C14, but....If I knew I was mostly going to ride it around town, I'd get something else. It sounds like the touring bug
hasn't really hit you, only that you might try it once you had a sport tourer. The c14 (for me of less than large stature) is a pain in
stop and go traffic and is only happy on twisty country roads or long open highways. Still, I think it's a wonderful bike and I can't believe
that I'm being this negative about it. To me, it just doesn't seem happy until it's in a more rural environment, could be I'm projecting
my own feelings on the bike? You may want to do more research on the c14 on these two forums:

COG forum

ZGGTR Forum

Good Luck in your purchase!

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