Rode my other bike after first time riding my st1100

[karuzo]

Hi all,
So I’m a new rider and bought about a month ago my first bike, a 2022 Royal Enfield INT650. This past weekend I bought a 1993 st1100, and rode it 3 times that weekend around the area. Today, I took my Royal Enfield to work, first time rode after riding the st1100. All of the sudden, it felt so light and like handling a toy comparing to the st1100. What I considered heavy and hard to maneuver before became the lightest to ride. felt so easy on it, and became just fun. So interesting. I have designated it my weekday ride, and the st1100 the weekend ride.
Thanks for reading, just had the express this somewhere.

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

You'll find after a while the big sport tourers eat up the miles effortlessly if you go out on multi day trips. The half liter bikes are a blast local. Welcome and have fun, post some picts of the bikes.

 

[Larry Fine]

All of the sudden, it felt so light and like handling a toy comparing to the st1100.

Of course, a lighter, one-year-old bike will ride more easily than a heavier, 30-year-old bike will.

However . . .

If you raise the rear suspension a bit, you may find the 1100's handling to be more responsive.

 

[ST1100Y]

... it felt so light and like handling a toy comparing to the st1100.

Proper inflation pressure, type and wear pattern of tires, as well as (rear) suspension settings are influences...
And use counter steering more actively; whilst lighter motorcycles often already react to (unconscious) leaning of torso or putting weight on a foot peg, is the ST1100 pretty immune to such and responds almost exclusively to steering inputs...

 

[dduelin]

I understand your sentiment. While I have at times owned two similar bikes I have settled on bikes that are different in weight, handling, and power so contrast is part of the attraction.

 

[karuzo]

I understand your sentiment. While I have at times owned two similar bikes I have settled on bikes that are different in weight, handling, and power so contrast is part of the attraction.

Right. I think owning different bikes is fun.

 

[karuzo]

You'll find after a while the big sport tourers eat up the miles effortlessly if you go out on multi day trips. The half liter bikes are a blast local. Welcome and have fun, post some picts of the bikes.

Here are my 2 bikes.

Thanks.

 

[Upt' North]

Here are my 2 bikes.

Thanks.

So why the sudden interest in bikes fella. Not one but TWO!
The RE looks very nice.
I was running an 11 when I bought the STrom, the first time I put it on the centre stand I almost threw it through the garage wall. After buying the STrom I started to notice the 11 was actually quite cramped in comparison which was a surprise. It was running standard ergonomics other than a gel seat but it felt like my hands were on my knees in comparison with the STroms relaxed sit up and beg position.
But anyway, why the sudden leaning towards bikes?
Upt.

 

[Larry Fine]

Talk about retro. It reminds me of the old CB350, or maybe an older Rebel.

 

[STFlips]

I did a test ride on the RE this summer, was very impressed, FI was excellent, smooth engine and gear box, light and easy to ride. Would be a great commuter bike, if I actually worked somewhere, and had room in the garage for a 3rd

 

[rjs987]

I had the same feeling for the first time when I bought my Gold Wing GL1500 after riding a Vulcan 750 for a few years. I thought the 750 was SOOO heavy and big for me but after less than a week of riding the GW to work I hopped on the 750 to give it some love and it felt like a toy. Have known that feeling since then every time I replace a bike... but after the GW the new bikes were always lighter and felt like toys by comparison to what I owned just previous. That GW was nearly 900 lbs but I'm now down to just under 500 lbs.

 

[karuzo]

So why the sudden interest in bikes fella. Not one but TWO!
The RE looks very nice.
I was running an 11 when I bought the STrom, the first time I put it on the centre stand I almost threw it through the garage wall. After buying the STrom I started to notice the 11 was actually quite cramped in comparison which was a surprise. It was running standard ergonomics other than a gel seat but it felt like my hands were on my knees in comparison with the STroms relaxed sit up and beg position.
But anyway, why the sudden leaning towards bikes?
Upt.

It all happened very fast. My daughter was actually the one interested in bikes, showed me one, and to my surprise it was quite affordable. Always wanted to ride. In a matter of one month I obtained my license and bought the Royal Enfield bike. Very quickly I realized I wanted to try a different style of ride. Took a bit of convincing my wife, saw an opportunity and bought the st1100. I enjoy the Royal Enfield as well, so for the time being it stays with me.

 

[karuzo]

Talk about retro. It reminds me of the old CB350, or maybe an older Rebel.

Retro is why I got this bike.

 

[dduelin]

It all happened very fast. My daughter was actually the one interested in bikes, showed me one, and to my surprise it was quite affordable. Always wanted to ride. In a matter of one month I obtained my license and bought the Royal Enfield bike. Very quickly I realized I wanted to try a different style of ride. Took a bit of convincing my wife, saw an opportunity and bought the st1100. I enjoy the Royal Enfield as well, so for the time being it stays with me.

I understand the ‘convincing’ wife thing. I went through several styles of bikes very quickly after I came back to riding 17 years ago. In fact one bike I bought I was never able to bring home. In making the deal a new set of tires was added but the tires had to be ordered so the dealer said to come back in a few days and the bike will be ready. When I mentioned to her I was thinking of another bike without telling the whole truth she went through the roof. “Don’t even THINK about another bike!!!!!!!!!!!” I had to rent a 5 by 10 storage space across town for 3 months but fortunately a guy at work had a brother looking for a nice VFR800 and I was able to sell it and get most of my money out of it.

 

[karuzo]

I understand the ‘convincing’ wife thing. I went through several styles of bikes very quickly after I came back to riding 17 years ago. In fact one bike I bought I was never able to bring home. In making the deal a new set of tires was added but the tires had to be ordered so the dealer said to come back in a few days and the bike will be ready. When I mentioned to her I was thinking of another bike without telling the whole truth she went through the roof. “Don’t even THINK about another bike!!!!!!!!!!!” I had to rent a 5 by 10 storage space across town for 3 months but fortunately a guy at work had a brother looking for a nice VFR800 and I was able to sell it and get most of my money out of it.

Lol. I just showed my wife and daughter your response, made their day. I’m already daydreaming of other bikes…

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

I’m already daydreaming of other bikes…

Careful, it can be quite consuming.

 

[karuzo]

Careful, it can be quite consuming.

I know. Been there with musical instruments and cameras. Funny enough, I’m selling my cameras and instruments to fund the st1100 I just bought.

 

[Hound]

Talk about retro. It reminds me of the old CB350.

I hankered after a CB350 back in the days when I had a comparatively weedy CD175.

There's a nice one one inside the bike café I often go to. At least that's what I thought it was but the badge actually says CB360. (The 360 was the 350's replacement in 1974 but was only produced for two years.)

 

[karuzo]

I hankered after a CB350 back in the days when I had a comparatively weedy CD175.

There's a nice one one inside the bike café I often go to. At least that's what I thought it was but the badge actually says CB360. (The 360 was the 350's replacement in 1974 but was only produced for two years.)

Looks much like my bike. A beauty.

 

[TerryS]

The right number of motorcycles to own is N+1, where N = the number you currently own...

I also ride a 2017 Yamaha MT-10 and 1999 VFR800. Both feel so much more manageable than the ST, even though the MT has a "comfort" seat which leaves me on my tippy-toes at a stop. It is amusing to hear riders moving up to a VFR or MT-10 and complaining about the bulk and weight...I keep my amusement to myself as once upon a time, I was that new rider worrying about not being able to lift a CX500 off the sidestand...