Having trouble re-adjusting to my 1100F

Hawk Joined: Aug 29, 2004 Posts: 324 Location: Memphis, TN

At the first of this year, I sent my carbs to Mike Nixon for a complete rebuild. I had just got fed up with gas overflowing, along with oil leaks, etc. While the carbs were off the bike, I replaced everything intake related...............insulators, both sides intake boots, clamps, and a new air filter. I also installed CBR coils and replaced the valve cover gasket as well as both tach seals.
In early January I bought a 2001 Blackbird and was able to put a lot of miles on it because we had no winter here in my area. At first I thought that I had made a mistake because of the riding position of the 'bird, not to mention the ball-busting horsepower the bike possesses. Shocked

I eventually got used to the riding position and have learned how to manage the hp to make XX a fine everyday rider.
Fast forward to last weekend...................................I installed the rebuilt carbs and gave the bike a good cleaning. I even took the rear wheel off so that I could clean off the excessive chain wax from it and the swingarm. Of course I also cleaned the chain as well.
I was so excited to have the F road-ready again. However, I found myself missing the precision and handling of the Blackbird. It was like driving a Porsche and then getting in an old Ford truck.
Last weekend, I put about 100 miles on the F and it felt like a tank compared to the 'bird. Even though I have superbike-style bars on the F, it still felt like it had apehangers on it. Sad

I knew that eventually the 1100F would feel normal again, but after having put another 100 or so miles on it today, I still haven't got used to the higher handlebars; not to mention the twitchy front end and the "adequate" brakes.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the old-school cool factor the blue F exudes. But while riding back home today, I was thinking what about a CBR front-end and wheel swap. Would that make me want to ride the F more????? I really need to sell either the F or the Blackbird for financial reasons, mostly due to the "surprise" I got when filing my taxes this year. I'm having a difficult time recovering from that shock. I lose sleep when I don't have some cushion in my bank account.
Thanks for listening..................... I just wanted to share my dilemma.
Jim

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:43 pm

The Fs are wonderful machines in their own right. In their day they were it. Today they are a bit dated. They can be a bit quirky. Depending on what yours has been though in its life it could/may be a pain in the ass until you get her dialed in.

They don't have to be for everybody. But there are many of us who are infatuated with them.

I had a new '81 Silver 900F. Loved it, bonded with it and went all over with it. The top down view from the seat while riding is like art. The motor noise is unmistakable.

Some years ago when I was able to find my 11s it was a dream true. Always wanted one back in the day but could not afford one new. And when I could they were hard to find. At least ones that hadn't been neglected or had the snot run out of them.

If you can only have one your tone sounds like the Bird is your preference. Nothing wrong with that. Like I said the F doesn't have to be for everybody. Mine just happen to take me back to some very wonderful memories every time I ride them.

From the economic perspective you may get more for the Bird. And that may make your decision for you?

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:45 pm

If you want to compare the 1100f to a Blackbird.....that is like me comparing my 66' Sting Ray to a 12' Corvette Grand Sport....
The new one does everything better.....but which one you think anybody is going to remember seeing on the road? Wink

The noise my old Vette makes trumps a Harley....what does a Blackbird sound like? What does an 1100f sound like!? Very Happy

"Nothing rhymes with you said the Apple to the Orange" Razz

Peace,
Jebby

Hawk Joined: Dec 19, 2007 Posts: 356 Location: New Zealand

Jim - I know where your comin from.

I wanted a CB1300 for so long went & rode a few just to make sure & then bought a very nice one.
Now I have exactly the same thoughts as you, I actualy think there is something wrong with my 1100 just seems so slow & rough
& the brakes Shocked

you certainly must remind yourself which bike you are on.
Im going to give the 11 a good going over soon just to make sure everything is alright.

My advice is keep the 1100 - simply because if you do decide to part with it you will regret it!

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 12:11 pm

I got my 1100 from it's former owner after he bought a Blackbird...

I remember him saying him saying something about a "truck" in his description of the 1100 too.

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 2:53 pm

1100s are way over rated imho. I sold all of mine and bought a modern bike. i have 3 Fs left and will probably keep one or two but have gradually slid up the scale to more and more modern bikes( Jenny is starting to notice, gotta be careful now). I'm gonna sell my cafe and buy a dual sport next so i can reach back to the roots of all this.

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 3:14 pm

The only "modern" bike that I ride is my 2001 Vulcan 1500. It's a heavy cruiser and as such, it handles like a brick on two wheels. When I got my 750 SOHC, that seemed like a huge improvement in handling. Then I got the 900F and it seemed like a gigantic improvement over the 750. Then I got the 1100F and it felt like the 900F with an injection of testosterone. The bottom line is that I don't know what a more modern sport-like bike feels like and I'm not sure I want to know. If I ride one, I'll probably feel the same way you do and will have trouble going back to the older bikes. I absolutely love my F's and enjoy riding them immensely. I want to have that feeling for as long as possible.

Think it over carefully and do what's best for you.

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 3:32 pm

Hi, my name is Michael and I am an addict!

For what it is worth, I have a more or less stock 1100 with some brake and suspension upgrades, a full tilt SuperF with an 1123 motor, FCRs and the full out F2/F2 conversion and I have a 2007 FJR with an Ohlins suspension.

The FJR will do everything the others will do and much more. It will do it with my wife on the back and with a 100lbs of stuff in the waterproof hard cases. It runs like a top every time I hit the button and will do almost 300 miles on a tank if I behave Smile

. I ride it to Daytona every year for bike week. I also ride the stock 1100 a lot and more than I ride the SuperF. I ride them for different reasons and in different ways. The SuperSports live almost exclusively in the mountains, but so does the FJR most of the time.

The bottom line is why do you ride. If it is low hassle effortless corner carving, keep the Blackbird. If it is a love of tinkering and the vintage look/sound/life, keep the F. I love all of the above but can't beat the satisfaction of riding the snot out of a beautiful F that I know I dragged out of a barn with flat tires, locked brakes and carbs full of 10 year old varnish.

If I absolutely had to choose I would keep the FJR for the raw practicality of it, but it would leave a very large hole in my life satisfaction level. Many guys have sold off everything and left this site for a year or two only to come back looking for parts a while later for the latest project. In the end vintage bikes are an addiction, we may be able to keep it in remission for a while, but there is no permanent cure. There are a lot of other things I would sell off or give up before I would part with my "fix".

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:17 pm

Here's an idea, Take all the BB parts and put them on the F. Your almost done.

Peace, JJAM

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:14 pm

Its a tough decision to make but I think if you want to narrow it down to just one bike then it sounds like the Blackbird is your best bet. The cool factor and what people remember as you pass them on the road doesnt matter at all when YOU are the one in the saddle trying to just enjoy the ride. As far as modding one of these things, it sure is done a lot but I think these old bikes just are what they are.

Good luck with your decision,
David

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:06 pm

I think it comes down to why you bought the 1100 to begin with. Most of us are guys who grew up wanting to have an F. The first time I saw one in 1979, I was sold. Fast forward to 2006, and I finally was able to get the 9. Now you can see the contents of my garage in the sig below. For me it's not about "ultimate performance", I know that any decently prepared/ridden modern bike (500cc or above) is far superior in many ways to my F bikes. Don't care. They put a smile on my face when I carve a corner at 50, while the rockets go by... I'll catch up to them when they stop, or I won't. Don't care. In the long run, you need to do what's right for you, keep the F, or keep the BB. Whatever you decide, be happy with your decision! If you sell the F, maybe in the future you'll come to a point in your life when the F will appeal to you again, if not, ride safely on the BB, and if you pass me on the road, wave as you go by. I'll see you at the bar, up ahead...

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:21 pm

Though call for sure..

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:27 am

I'm in a similar situation after buying my own '01 XX last year. I've loved my 900F for 6 years but the XX was always my dream bike. I planned to keep the 900F around because of how much it has meant to me but each day that I can ride I go to the garage and the choice is a no brainer, I get on the XX. I'm now weighing the potential of selling the 900F. While it may hurt to see it go it hurts a bit anyway watching it sit (and paying registration and insurance on it). Bottom line, there's simply no way a bike from the '80s can hold a candle to a bike 20 years it's junior.

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:13 am

I'm in a different dilemma. I started riding the HD's to work and on the charity rides with all the other HD crowd.
The GF loves it and I do appreciate the comfort. Embarassed

Hope to always have an "F" in the stable though.

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:07 am

I've been having thoughts that my Hurrican' handles better than my XX.

Shocked

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:50 pm

min # of bikes is 4 near as i can tell. some Fs, a touring bike, a canyon bike and one optional choice maybe a motard. Should you prefer one type of riding to another you should double up in that one category or get cross over bikes,ie vfr canyon/tour, Fs of different sizes with motard/canyon/tour, etc. End of dillemma.

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:03 pm

I agree Grump..but he has to sell one..
What one would you pick?
You may be able to find another XX (maybe) but the chances of finding another nice 1100F is much harder..
Though call...

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:08 pm

There is no comparison to an F and the modern bikes. As people get older, they want the comfort, convenience and performance a newer bike provides.

There is no logical reason to own a 30 year old CBX or an F other than passion..

Personally, (my preference only) you could not entice me to buy any type, brand or style of newer bike. Take all the brand ID and decals off and the Kawi and it will looks like the Suzuki which looks like the Honda which looks like the Yamaha which looks like the Kawi, nothing but full coverage aero egg plastic body work. -- NO personality - NO passion..! Just my H.O.

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:51 pm

grump wrote:

min # of bikes is 4 near as i can tell. some Fs, a touring bike, a canyon bike and one optional choice maybe a motard. Should you prefer one type of riding to another you should double up in that one category or get cross over bikes,ie vfr canyon/tour, Fs of different sizes with motard/canyon/tour, etc. End of dillemma.

A couple of dedicated track bikes too. So, maybe 6 would be a good number?

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:23 pm

Six would be nice..but I really dont have the room.
I too sold my F's Crying or Very sad

shortly after buying my K1200S.
I also now have a 08 FZ6 which is fun but seems underpowered... Laughing

(its the wifes anyway)

I also have 2X 09 CBR125R's that are a TON of fun, totaly underpowered (12BHP) and can be ridden right onto the track.. Cool

They even have a class just for us old guys on them..WAY too much fun..

Though at times I do miss the F's..I just go for a quick ride, and I forget about them almost instantly.

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 10:51 pm

There is no right answer to this one. Up to you man.

I have an 11F with CR33's on it and I just can't get off it! The front brakes are stock with braided lines and good pads and work damn good. It's definitely not up to the standards of a modern bike - any modern 600 would run rings around it, but on the road, if you're keeping it quasi-legal, it's more than up to the task of making me smile.

I also have an '07 CB1300S red-framed model. Best bike I've ever owned. Torque city, smooth, easy to ride and reliable as hell. Also, an RZ350. Now, that is fun on two wheels, but bloody hard to keep under the speed limit when it hits the pipe.

There was a time when I was too conscious of what my 11F WASN'T. But that passed, and I sorted it to be as good as it can be, and now I love it for what it IS. Most days, the 11F is what gets the nod for the ride.

If I had to choose one, it would be bloody hard as those three are probably my favourite bikes in the whole world.

Maybe there's some way you could restructure things so that you could keep both? My favourite thing about having a stable is that when one bike is down for maintenance I'm not grounded!

Good luck with your decision.

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:58 pm

Sell the F if you can only retain the F or XX. Just my opine.

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:01 am

Went through a similar internal argument a few years ago. I'd built a flat barred roadster on a smashed up VFR750, and it was just so easy to ride, it handled, it sounded lovely (race pipe), it got to the point that I wasn't riding my 985 at all. I sat down and thought about what I was doing and what my priorities were.

My 985 is my first 900Fz, bought new in 1979 (its being buried with me). At the time I had 2 CB1100Rs and a US CB1100F as well (projects), I came to the conclusion that I am an F (and R) man, and that's what really gets me going.

I sold the VFR, not without a lot of angst, some of that was the money I had in it versus what I got for it, but as we all know, modifying cars and bikes is a faster way of eating money than anything else on the planet.

You need to decide why you are involved in bikes. Is it for the riding experience? In which case a modern bike ('bird or not) will give you more satisfaction. Is it because the F's do something to your brain? In which case keep your F, but improve the handling and brakes so that you get a better riding experience.

From a purely financial perspective, would the 'bird generate more cash than the F? You can get another 'bird anytime, but good F's are few and far between, that might be another approach.

Regards,

Max