Old info XS1100 VS CBX

[mack]

back in

1979 when I bought my SF, most of us young guys had bikes. The parking outside the barracks was usually by make. We had the honda section, one for kawasaki's another for suzuki and of course the yamaha's. I remember a few of the CBX's at the time. They looked pretty cool, looked very powerful for sure, but what I really remember was that they were always being fiddled with. No one ever rode them for lomg before they were all back out in the parking lot scratching their heads. You never saw an XS 11 in the parking lot on a nice day. It was always, just throw your leg over, turn the key and ride the crap out of it. A friend of mine had the susi GS 1100. It was a nice bike and we raced a lot. He beat me consistently but again he spent hours maintaining it. When we rode out someplace he was always trying to get me to let him ride my bike home. I wouldn't swap. In fact I'm the only person to have ever rode my SF.

[Prisoner6]

I just wanted to revive this thread after seeing the Honda thread. I would love to own a CBX, always lover them. But, my ultimate goal is the GS1100ES.

Ian, here are some good pics of a 1983 GS1100ES (Ebay auction last year) ...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-Suzuki-...p2047675.l2557

... And here's a 1984 GS1150ES that's currently for sale on Ebay ...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-GS-SU...US_motorcycles

Suzuki restyled the bike for the '84 model year ... note the front wheel; the '84 received a 16" wheel, while the '83 model

had at least an 18" wheel (maybe a 19-incher, can't remember for sure). I had an '85 "E" model (this is what it looked like) ...

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/v...trekin_768.jpg

And here's a 1983 "E" model for comparison (harsh lighting in this pic, IMO these bikes were stunning in the flesh) ...

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/G...E_Ron3_800.jpg

16" front wheels were all the rage on sport bikes for a few years back then, but personally, having ridden both the '83 and '85 versions,

I prefer the handling of the bike with the larger front wheel. Styling is totally subjective, of course, but IMHO, the '83 looks better.


BUT I DIGRESS ... wait, what was the subject of this thread? Oh, yeah, "XS1100 VS CBX" ...

Ian, believe me, you would not be disappointed if you picked up a CBX down the road. I can't imagine ever selling the one I have now.

The XS definitely has more grunt down low ; the CBX likes to be wound up, and makes it's power higher in the rev range.

And I don't think one bike is better than the other, just different.

Having said that, now that I'm an Eleven owner, I can honestly say that I absolutely love my SF!!! What an awesome bike!

[IanDMacDonald]

Yup, I have a few GS bikes, so I'm a member of the GS forums. Beautiful bikes! Thanks Prisoner!

[ViperRon]

I think you are right on with my experience with the CBX Dan. I was in the Navy in Jacksonville when I got my 1980 XS1100 and in may the guy in the building across from mine got a CBX. Finally one hot August day we were stuck in line getting off the base move one car sit move one car sit and you had to role from one foot down to the other so your shoes would not stick to the rode. Off the base down the rode I left him so his story always was I don't know what happened its like my bike lost power. Yea sure it did