[Ravenous]

Due to reason beyond my control I may have to leave the Superbike world, I was thinking of getting an 2009 M1100s and was wondering how it compares to fuel economy, cornering capability and just overall ownership? My 1st bike was a 1998 M750, just wondering how drasticly they have changed since then, I remember my 750 had a top speed of 116mph and would get handlebar shakes over almost any bump due to no steering dampner lol

 

[Thirdway]

Fuel economy around 50mpg, but of course you don't hold the high speeds of a bike with a fairing. Top speed is probably around 135mph although you would be brave to hold on for long at that speed. I did a 3 hr motorway run in France rarely dropping below 115 mph and it nearly snapped my neck, fuel consumption then drops to around 30mpg.

Handling is great, although different to most bikes due to the riding position. You soon adapt. It doesn't shake or wobble really, it turns fast, holds a line well and is neutral through the turn. The suspension is very firm but pretty good. If you are lighter than 11 stone the rear spring might be a touch hard.

Its dead reliable. The plastic tank apparently cannot take green fuel, although in the UK there is no issue.

The original seat isn't very nice, the alternative DP seat stops nads to tank interfaces. Would have liked a fuel gauge and the instruments can be hard to read in the rain.

You might think about he standard model and buy a good shock and have the forks revolved and sprung if its the Ohlins that's making the S model interesting.


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[Ravenous]

Thats why I was looking at the S model due to the goodies that come with it. Was looking at the tech specs and didnt see anything about a steering dampner either, so do they come with one? I tend to use my bike for commuting to and from work with the occasional ride on some twisty country roads.

 

[Thirdway]

No damper. I've never needed one and I do ride reasonably quickly. I've never felt the need for a damper, but then I don't do knee down riding.


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[Full_Spectrum]

I have both.

For the street, I cant imagine wanting to ride the 1198. It simply is not suitable to reasonable speeds, imo.

I fitted a Storz side mount damper to my M1100 as well as a Penske shock and fork kit. I think the damper is important on any bike. Again, just my opinion.
The Monster is really fun, reliable, reasonably comfortable, and not too expensive.

Enjoy!

 

[Thirdway]

I have both.

For the street, I cant imagine wanting to ride the 1198. It simply is not suitable to reasonable speeds, imo.

I fitted a Storz side mount damper to my M1100 as well as a Penske shock and fork kit. I think the damper is important on any bike. Again, just my opinion.
The Monster is really fun, reliable, reasonably comfortable, and not too expensive.

Enjoy!

This seems to be a common thing at the moment. When do you find you need a damper ? At what speeds and what roads ? I do like the bars to wiggle as I always consider its just the bike sorting itself out.


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[Full_Spectrum]

This seems to be a common thing at the moment. When do you find you need a damper ? At what speeds and what roads ? I do like the bars to wiggle as I always consider its just the bike sorting itself out.
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Ok, so here is my opinion on dampers generally. All of my bikes have them.

That oscillation through the bars is not "the bike sorting itself out". That is the bike trying to disperse energy that the suspension couldnt deal with. It can happen under a bunch of different circumstances, too numerous to contemplate here.

I dont find that I "need" a damper under any specific conditions, at least on this bike, which I only ride on the street.

I find that a damper is a really great insurance policy against the one time that the "bike doesnt sort itself out" properly.

Imagine that you take your left hand off the bars to raise your shield, at exactly the same moment that you hit a small bump in tarmac...and you get a tankslapper. Bound to happen sooner or later, so I figure better to have a damper than not.
It is really meant for those moments, and is not meant to help me ride faster. This is after all, a street bike and I dont ride this bike fast (comparatively).

YMMV, of course.

 

[mszilves]

I've read that in most cases tankslappers happen because of improperly setup suspension and not using proper throttle control.

I've had my 796 for two seasons now, including track days (I'd consider myself fast intermediate), and have never had a single issue running without a steering damper. Then again, the 796 doesn't have quite as much torque as the 1100.

I think it's easy enough to put one on if needed, and if it gives you the peace of mind of having it there, that's all that counts. So while I don't see it as a necessity, it can't hurt, and as is the case with most things, your mileage may vary.

 

[Thirdway]

Ok, so here is my opinion on dampers generally. All of my bikes have them.

That oscillation through the bars is not "the bike sorting itself out". That is the bike trying to disperse energy that the suspension couldnt deal with. It can happen under a bunch of different circumstances, too numerous to contemplate here.

I dont find that I "need" a damper under any specific conditions, at least on this bike, which I only ride on the street.

I find that a damper is a really great insurance policy against the one time that the "bike doesnt sort itself out" properly.

Imagine that you take your left hand off the bars to raise your shield, at exactly the same moment that you hit a small bump in tarmac...and you get a tankslapper. Bound to happen sooner or later, so I figure better to have a damper than not.
It is really meant for those moments, and is not meant to help me ride faster. This is after all, a street bike and I dont ride this bike fast (comparatively).

YMMV, of course.

Still, its sorting itself out as I call it. I've only ever had one and that was on a pedal cycle. I have to say I'm not convinced. You might well hide a problem by fitting one and might well get away with out incident, but if it is going to slap, then one day, I suspect, it will do so regardless of any damper being fitted. Its still just levering against the headstock. I suppose I tend to like to know if its misbehaving and ride at a speed and style that copes with those issues instead of perhaps riding a bit harder thinking I'm secure and then finding out the hard way that I'm not.

I suspect on a track it would be useful. At any rate you are trying to ride fast and safety is sort of secondary. I'm not saying you want to crash, but you certainly aren't riding to just safely negotiate the track when competing. If you can save 99.9 % of wobbles that might never turn serious then it allows for concentrating on the riding.

As for them being insurance, I certainly wouldn't bet on it. I had a friend with an old 750 triple kwack. It was very mean bike and he installed two dampers to try and control the vicious head shake. One day he crashed on a back road. The bike ended up in a tree and he ended up in a field. It was a straight road. The slap was hard enough to break both the dampers and his wrists. Luckily the field he landed in was nice and soft so he walked away from it.


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[Full_Spectrum]

Still, its sorting itself out as I call it. I've only ever had one and that was on a pedal cycle. I have to say I'm not convinced. You might well hide a problem by fitting one and might well get away with out incident, but if it is going to slap, then one day, I suspect, it will do so regardless of any damper being fitted. Its still just levering against the headstock. I suppose I tend to like to know if its misbehaving and ride at a speed and style that copes with those issues instead of perhaps riding a bit harder thinking I'm secure and then finding out the hard way that I'm not.

I suspect on a track it would be useful. At any rate you are trying to ride fast and safety is sort of secondary. I'm not saying you want to crash, but you certainly aren't riding to just safely negotiate the track when competing. If you can save 99.9 % of wobbles that might never turn serious then it allows for concentrating on the riding.

As for them being insurance, I certainly wouldn't bet on it. I had a friend with an old 750 triple kwack. It was very mean bike and he installed two dampers to try and control the vicious head shake. One day he crashed on a back road. The bike ended up in a tree and he ended up in a field. It was a straight road. The slap was hard enough to break both the dampers and his wrists. Luckily the field he landed in was nice and soft so he walked away from it.


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Well as I said, YMMV. Hopefully you will never have to test this theory.

 

[mindfulness]

I have an 1100s and the only thing I will say is that I haven't quite gotten used to the riding position and high speed handling and lean angle feel yet. When I added the dp comfort seat it gave me some more leg room because it's taller but that also makes me feel more like I'm on top of the bike. I'm feeling like the seat change may have thrown me off but compared to other bikes I have and have had with clip ons, the m1100s still feels a bit odd.

As for steering dampers, some bikes are more prone to head shakes, I had one on my paul smart and upgraded it to an ohlins unit but haven't felt the need for it at all on the m1100s.

cheers

 

[hunduc]

I have an 1100s and the only thing I will say is that I haven't quite gotten used to the riding position and high speed handling and lean angle feel yet. When I added the dp comfort seat it gave me some more leg room because it's taller but that also makes me feel more like I'm on top of the bike. I'm feeling like the seat change may have thrown me off but compared to other bikes I have and have had with clip ons, the m1100s still feels a bit odd.

As for steering dampers, some bikes are more prone to head shakes, I had one on my paul smart and upgraded it to an ohlins unit but haven't felt the need for it at all on the m1100s.

cheers

For me comparing to a sport bike the one thing that bothers me on my 1100 is getting my arrrss off the seat. I like the narrow seat especially on the Ducs and the 1100's are too wide and fat. I'm vertically challenged at 5'6" so getting my leg over is a personally issue I guess

I think the Monsters are fun from your driveway to your destination. A liter bike or a sport bike for me is fun when your ripping it but in between can be a pita

 

[blaugranamd]

For me comparing to a sport bike the one thing that bothers me on my 1100 is getting my arrrss off the seat. I like the narrow seat especially on the Ducs and the 1100's are too wide and fat. I'm vertically challenged at 5'6" so getting my leg over is a personally issue I guess

I think the Monsters are fun from your driveway to your destination. A liter bike or a sport bike for me is fun when your ripping it but in between can be a pita

I really like the seat change from the sportbike world.

 

[Thirdway]

For me comparing to a sport bike the one thing that bothers me on my 1100 is getting my arrrss off the seat. I like the narrow seat especially on the Ducs and the 1100's are too wide and fat. I'm vertically challenged at 5'6" so getting my leg over is a personally issue I guess

I think the Monsters are fun from your driveway to your destination. A liter bike or a sport bike for me is fun when your ripping it but in between can be a pita

Get the low performance seat, its brilliant, nice shape, very comfortable and at 5'8" I'm flat footing it.


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