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If you notice the maple tree laying down in the background in my front yard..... It's from the ice storm we had last week.... Still cleaning up from the destruction ...

[url=http://s725.photobucket.com/user/johnbarnwell22/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-03/16870ABE-2EFB-4C8D-85B0-71C19D20A76E_zps6n4qvznk.jpg.html] I really appreciate Cormanus ,EmptySea ,and everyone involved in teaching this old country boy how to post a picture on here .... I think I have finally figured it out .. Lol ... This is another test pic

We have been having some spectacular weather up here in the northwest, sorry east coast... and the wife has been dropping hints that she is getting a little annoyed with the 1975 CB360 being on the lift more than under her butt. It is getting quite long in the tooth and I admit I have not kept up on things like wheel bearings and bushings like I should.

So she let me think that I had made a decision, we were going to get her a new bike! She is a petite lady at 5' 3.4352" and doesn't have a whole lot of confidence yet. So she started looking at the Yamaha SR400, great looking bike. So I went to test ride it with her, did you know these are kick start only while being EFI? Well did you also know they they aren't easy to kick start, meaning she couldn't do it. In fact the salesman had a hard time and it took me two kicks. Not acceptable imo for a 2014 model bike. So we moved on, she isn't a huge fan of the styling most street bikes have these days, so it took a while but we came back around to a 2015 CB300F. It ticked all the boxes but the old school standard look she likes. We rode most of the day today and the smile that seems to be a permanent fixture to her face tells me that we made the right choice.

I was in the garage this morning trying out some engine cleaner that got decent reviews from some of my Harley friends. Okay, who am I kidding? I don't have any Harley friends. Still, while searching for engine cleaner for blacked out engines, I came across reviews for something called Pig Spit that some members on various v-twin forums recommended and I ordered a can. As I was admiring my handiwork (the stuff works well enough I suppose), my wife came outside and said she was off to do some shopping and wouldn't be back for at least a couple of hours. As she was getting into her car she said, "You should go for a ride or something."

She is such a beautiful, intelligent and wise woman.

Within 30 minutes I was winding through the two-lane roads of our local canyons. Traffic was light and the sun was shining. Highway 94 is one of my favorite local roads. Plenty of turns but nothing too technical. The road weaves through low mountains and across pastures filled with cattle. There was an unusually high police presence today, parked on the side of the road, radar guns at the ready. I was alerted as to their location by riders going in the opposite direction with the familiar tapping on top of the helmet; a warning I was grateful to receive and one I passed along to others.

I turned north at Buckman Springs Road which eventually leads to Old Highway 80 which runs parallel to the interstate. West on Highway 80 takes me along a faded concrete road with mountains on either side. Being so close to the Mexican border, I passed through a border checkpoint then continued west to Sunrise Highway. At this point, I had been riding for about an hour, maybe more. I decided to take Sunrise Highway up and over Mount Laguna.

Again, I was blessed with empty roads. The temperature continued to dip as I climbed higher up the mountain. Soon, snow appeared on either side of the road. It was a pleasant surprise. Bright white patches of snow nestled among the oak trees. Fortunately, the roads were dry and free of debris. The CB, as always, performed flawlessly. On the other side of the mountain I had the option of turning right and heading towards Julian or turning left and heading towards Lake Cuyamaca. Nine times out of ten I turn right. Today, I chose the lake.

Lake Cuyamaca is not particularly large. But it certainly is scenic. Mountains capped with snow surround the lake and small boats with fishermen floated on its surface. Here, the traffic increased but still flowed nicely. The slower pace allowed me to take everything in and wonderful memories soon filled my head. Lake Cuyamaca was where I took my boys for their first attempt at fishing. We had a great time until they learned this lake did not practice catch and release and we had to keep the tiny trout they had caught. Both boys started crying at the thought of the fish dying. It's funny now but at the time, I felt horrible for them and didn't know what to say or do to make it better. Hot chocolate and pie at a nearby restaurant went pretty far in making things right.

Just past the lake was a sign for a school campground. The very campground I had stayed at in eighth grade. I couldn't help but smile inside my helmet at the memory of banana pancakes and singing "Come Back to Cuyamaca" with Sherry Freddie in front of the entire class. That took some guts. And we pulled it off nicely. Afterwards, classmates would come up to me and say, "Man, I didn't know you could sing!" I would honestly reply, "Me either!"

The road eventually led back to the interstate I had avoided earlier. Westward bound until I eventually reached home. The temperature rising back into the upper 70s, low 80s. Today felt good. Really good.

I didn't take many photos. It seemed most of what would truly be worth seeing could only be seen while in motion. I'm thinking I should invest in a GoPro. That could be fun. I did snap a few shots of the bike. I can only hope you share my inability to tire of seeing photos of the CB1100.

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The final package arrived today so I have finished the first phase.
I have installed: Honda luggage rack, Willie and Max Universal Hardcase bag guards, Honda engine crash guards, Puig Plus windscreen,Grab On foam grip covers a Go Cruise throttle control and some small bullet LED rear turn signals relocated to make room for my Nelson Riggs bags, Kuryakyn universal throttle rocker, 3M clear bra for the tank. I am impressed with how well the inexpensive Go Cruise works as a cruise control


I am still trying to understand the ergonomics-at 6'2" the Puig does not offer great protection. I may need to get some handlebar risers for longer trips. And my right knee seems to gravitate to the very hot engine.
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Cruise control and throttle rocker

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Here are some photos: This bike has the same feel as our CB1100
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He installed a little magnet to hold large bearing balls and he invented a spring loaded launcher to encourage drivers not to follow too closely.
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Here are a few of my fleet. 2013 CB100, 1972 yellow CB750 and a 1970 CB350.
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Hi all,

Just sharing some thoughts about riding a motorcycle. I’m enjoying riding very much. I still remember the first moment when i was about 10 and my father asked me to walk out of the house to show me something. It was a tiny 50ccm Polish Motorynka. Out of the blue. I was shocked, terrified when I sat on it. First hour was just testing on first gear, then riding up the street and back. I could hardly sleep that night. It was beginning of summer holidays so I spent two months just riding around small village where I was living. Oh boy how happy I was. No helmet, no glasses, just pure joy and feeling of freedom. Hanging out with other boys with similar machines, driving to the lake, to the woods, to climb the rocks. For us it didn’t matter that we were in communist country, one could’t buy anything without standing in a long cue for hours. As long as w had gas we were free.

Then I went to high school, my machine broke. I was to big for it anyway. Than I left to big town, focused on university then work. One day sitting in the car I saw a guy on a motorcycle with a smile on his face. I realized that some part of my life is missing. Since I had no driving license for the big motorcycle I drove next day to scooter shop and bought a 50ccm Gillera. Just to get on two wheels again. It didn’t matter for me that I was looking really funny being 192 cm high. But I felt the same freedom again. In following months made my license, bought a Sportster (no CB 1100 was available back then). It was a big change, dreams come true. Bike was bigger, faster, stronger. But being honest it wasn’t as mesmerizing as my first bike. So I tried different brands, styles (FJR 1300, BMW GS 1200 and many more). Still not there. I mean bikes were lovely but not even one came close to my first happy machine. Las year I continued my puruit for the holy grail. Spotted CB1100. Went for a test ride. By far best machine I’ve ever ridden. But still it was not my Motorynka, even with the windshield, then deflector, then new helmet.

Then one day I realized that I’m just riding too fast. Motorynka’s to speed was 40 km/h. So I slowed down. Looked around at beautiful forest. That was it. All the time I was going to fast!!!. That beautiful day I kept on riding slower. Cars and other motorcycles were passing by, but I didn’t care. I was free again!!!

I’m really stupid that it took so long to get it. I don’t need, shields, helmets, super seats. I just need to take it easy.

Sorry for my English.

Have a good ride

Wojtek

Will some one please direct me to the thread that describes how to upload photos ... I have downloaded photobucket and can't figure out how to use it .. Keeps telling me my file too large ... Thanks

With the large selection of top of the line bias belted, and dual compound,
non-radial tires, has anyone tried, "premium" non radials on the CB1100 ? and yes, I have read all the threads about larger tires being successfully used, but would prefer to stay closer to the stock size. Thanks everyone. been a long winter in SE Ma, like everywhere else.