In the US, we pause from our day-to-day lives for a day of giving thanks. Of course, we all should take time each and every day to be thankful for the blessings in our lives, but Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful holiday to celebrate these gifts.

A few years ago, very few compared to most of you reading this, I took up the hobby of motorcycling. It has become more than a hobby to me and to my wife. We look forward to riding together, riding with friends, and riding to new and interesting destinations.

The CB1100 Forum has been instrumental in transforming motorcycling from my hobby to my preoccupation. The Forum has provided me with vital information on improving my bike, my riding, my entire biking experience. It has introduced me to a few great people who I now count among my friends. It has also provided an outlet for me to explore and hopefully expand my limited, but enthusiastic writing skills.

I want to blame....err...thank ...each and every member here for contributing to my obsession.

Be thankful today and every day. It will change your life.

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

...as far as riding the CB in cold weather. Went for my daily ride this morning. Chose to ride the CB as it hadn't been getting much love lately since the snow last week. Temperature was a damp 28 degrees, overcast with light snow flurries coming down. Thought I was dressing warm enough. Donned the snowmobile outfit, my thickest cold weather gloves and heavy balaclava with the neoprene face mask.

At 9 miles my finger tips were starting to get cold. At 11 miles they were really cold, at 13 miles they were starting to hurt, and at a stop sign I reached down and grabbed the cylinder fins on each side of the motor to warm them up some. I circled around back towards the house. At 18 miles my finger tips were aching. At 21 miles I was back in the garage, thankful to be out of this stinking cold.

I rode the ST 108 miles yesterday, but it has a full fairing/windshield, and I had my electric jacket liner and glove liners plugged in. What a difference.

Poor CB may be doing more sitting than being ridden in the next few months unless the temps moderate some

I did order 2 new tires for it yesterday

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Thanksgivingday2014009_zpsc69e7ecd.jpg.html]

Apparently Ducati's only air cooled bike in 2015:




http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/11/26/201...s-in-2015/

For your viewing pleasure, the 2015 CB1100 http://hondareleasedate.com/2015-honda-cb1100/

My wife's ex husband lives not far from us and we're all on good terms. In his little community there are a few chaps who ride and one evening much earlier this year he introduced me to one of them with a view that I could go riding with them sometime. A couple of weeks ago this bloke, whose name was Ken, rang and said a couple of them were off on a morning ride next day, did I want to come. As I'd just arrived home from having two BCCs out of my back, I opted for a rest.

On Tuesday Ken rang again with the same offer. I accepted and we agreed to meet at the local service station.

For once I was there first and waited until a couple of bikes pulled in. One pulled up next to me and we introduced ourselves.

"Who were you talking to?" he asked.

"Ken."

"There's three Ken's in this group," he said.

"Um, he talked a bit," I said.

"Aaaaah. That'd be Ken $%^&*," he said turning to one of his mates, "I asked him who which Ken he was talking to and he said one who talks a bit."

They laughed. More bikes pulled in and soon there were 11 of them, including mine. I was surprised as I'd expected only three maybe four bikes. A few of them seemed surprised that so many of them had turned up.

Anyway, we took the scenic route to the Bellbird Creek Tea House where we had coffee and a yabber before riding home. It was a lovely warm day.

I forgot my camera but managed to take some photos with my phone. Who'd have thought, forty years ago, outside Get Smart, you could say "took photos with my phone" and not immediately be locked up?

[url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zwzS5Q1Lo7Yk.kb2PU3jVXwzM]Map of a pleasant 98 km ride


This Harley had been picked up by its new owner (the only woman rider in the group) brand new the day before. This was its first outing. Turned out she'd just ridden in a group from LA to Mexico. Her old bike, now being ridden by her partner is below




This Hornet used to belong to the rider of the VFR1200 below








I like this one a lot


This BMW 800 belonged to the Ken who had asked me on the ride


The gem belongs to my mate, Tim, who is able to ride it very well indeed. He's done a lovely job on it.





This guy wasn't with us, but he was a good bloke and it was a nice bike, so I thought I'd throw in the photo

A good way to spend a Wednesday morning. I hope they'll ask me again.

I know this has been talked about before and im sorry but is it for sure that a 2013 seat will fit perfect on my 14 deluxe? thanks in advance.l

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/art...motorcycle

Does anyone have this exhaust and if so do you like it ?

As Takashi says........FINALLY!

Available in January. Chrome or titanium, more details to follow from Mr T.

The reason for this post is that KiwiKevin, would you believe a member from New Zealand, notified me the other day that his bike was actually manufactured in 2012. That makes him alone on this forum as having a 2012 manufactured bike. It also means the Registry now lists bikes manufactured in each year from 2010-2014.

It makes me wonder where other bikes manufactured in 2012 were sent and how one ended up in NZ, particularly when the only other one on the register is a 2011 model.

There are currently 258 bikes from 11 countries registered with the forum.