The CB1100 Community Forum

You think our bikes know what’s going on? I do, and today proved it.

Today the weather was predicted to be clear in our area. The only rain-free day for the foreseeable forecast. It stopped raining around noon yesterday and the roads were dry.

I had some errands to run, so I loaded the box on the CB1100 and planned to head out, do my chores, and try to find a “26” along the way to grab a few pictures with.

She’s been on a battery tender for the past few weeks, albeit my least fancy and smallest tender. I unhooked the lead and tucked it away, thumbed the starter, and got click-click-click.

Hmm, perhaps my Amazon-grade battery was giving up the ghost after three years. For $40, not bad. I pulled out my charger, hooked it to the CB, then transferred the top box full of my day’s errands over to Super Bird (my NC), and headed off.

About 25 minutes and one chore later, some mist hit my windscreen. Meh, a little drizzle for a few minutes wasn’t going to be a problem. But two minutes later, I was in a downpour and turning around for home.

Hung up my soaking gear in the garage and figured well, I was going to clean and detail the NC soon anyway. Washed and detailed the bike, and then checked the charge on the CB. She’s holding a charge for now.

I’m convinced she didn’t want to be the one caught in the rain.

Clear evidence of motorcycle sentience, Gone.

(12-25-2025, 10:23 AM)Gone in 60 Wrote: [ -> ]muscling the return spring into position on the new center stand, I heard a huge BANG! 

The fact that the garage door spring waited for the moment you were muscling the center stand spring into place to explode itself makes the whole thing even more uncanny.  So glad you were unhurt, and the vehicles also.

Good pick, Lunchbag.

(01-02-2026, 07:48 PM)Lunchbag Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-25-2025, 10:23 AM)Gone in 60 Wrote: [ -> ]muscling the return spring into position on the new center stand, I heard a huge BANG! 

The fact that the garage door spring waited for the moment you were muscling the center stand spring into place to explode itself makes the whole thing even more uncanny.  So glad you were unhurt, and the vehicles also.

You know, I was just thinking of how ironic that is...

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(01-02-2026, 05:02 PM)Cormanus Wrote: [ -> ]Clear evidence of motorcycle sentience, Gone.

Irrefutable evidence, certainly.

(01-02-2026, 03:53 PM)Gone in 60 Wrote: [ -> ]then checked the charge on the CB. She’s holding a charge for now.

Yeah, me no trusty after clicky. That's your one warning that you are destined to be stranded.

(01-05-2026, 08:13 AM)Whoops Wrote: [ -> ]

(01-02-2026, 03:53 PM)Gone in 60 Wrote: [ -> ]then checked the charge on the CB. She’s holding a charge for now.

Yeah, me no trusty after clicky. That's your one warning that you are destined to be stranded.

So you're saying I shouldn't trust a three-year-old $39 Amazon battery? I'm going to get every penny out of this thing!

I checked both batteries in two bikes, DLX 12.7 V and RS 12.9 V = 

Beautiful winter day 62 degrees and sunny but a bit windy ahead of a cold front coming in tonight I guess. Anyhow took Blue Bird out for 41 miles. Hadn't been out since Nov 22nd I think. The amazing part was this cloud formation, a shelf of clouds that looked like mountains as far as the eye could see in both directions. Very cool! pic doesn't do it justice

First Blue Bird  ride in 2026??