Who is still waiting for thier 2014 deluxe to come in. I ordered mine feb 6th, dont have it yet

In the real world of "distracted drivers" one needs a horn with a lot more "authority" than stock.

Has anyone considered installing a Stebel air horn on their CB1100?
I have this horn on every street bike I own.
The trick is to find a place to stash the horn that won't ruin the classic looks of the CB1100.

Anyone installed other aftermarket horn(s)? Hella, for example.

Suzuki V-Strom installation:

Long time lurker, first time poster here. If this is in the wrong section, mods can feel free to move it.
For the past few months, I have been considering selling off some toys and picking up a CB1100, and thanks to this forum I have been able to answer most of my own questions. However, at the risk of beating a dead horse, there are a couple performance related "worries" about getting one.

I have ridden older bikes (and Hondas) quite a bit, from a couple early 80s small dirtbikes, to my first street bike which was a 72 CL350 Scrambler, a few older Suzukis, and spent quite a bit of time around some 70s era Honda 4's in the 350, 550, and 750 flavors, and currently own an 81 XL500S. As is such, I am no stranger to old bikes, and this is a driving factor for wanting a CB1100 as it just looks right, and the one I sat on at a dealer felt right as well.

My current street-only ride is an 02 Suzuki Bandit 1200N with the normal pipe, jet kit, aircleaner/gutted airbox, racetech fork springs, busa shock, sprocket change, and some other little bits. I personally find this bike to be very well off in the power department with 122rwhp, and handles well with michelin pilot powers. This bike would have to leave to make room for the CB.

What is drawing me to the CB is the wonderful styling, its simplicity, big aircooled motor, and more utility than my current bike, which is something I really miss from my old scrambler. It would be used as a UJM, from commuting to riding in the twisties to 2-up day/weekend trips, and from the things I have read it would be very good at these things. However, I am somewhat worried about the handling and power. The bandit in some ways has too much power (if that's possible) in that it can't be rung out without getting into the triple digits. I know the CB won't accelerate as hard, and that's fine by me, but the torque is what I am afraid I will miss a lot. So, what would a basic pipe/power commander CB be like on usable power?

On handling, I have read the CB feels nimble for its size, can anyone add to this? I'm not expecting SuperSport handling, but I don't want to feel like I've bought the wrong bike every time the road bends. Also, though the Bandit is no lightweight, I am slightly concerned about the weight for low speed maneuvering and poor roads.

Since everyone likes pictures, here are a couple of the current bikes as a reward for making it through this long post.

[url=http://s231.photobucket.com/user/zeevo110/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014042095130549.jpg.html]

[url=http://s231.photobucket.com/user/zeevo110/media/219-1.jpg.html]

Did my first oil change last night at 240 miles. The manual says 4 quarts without removing the filter, which I didn't. I checked the oil cold on the center stand before draining. It was exactly at the full mark in the sight glass. Took her for a ride for about 30 minutes. Put it up on the center stand and drained the oil. The oil was very "thin", I usually put rotella 15w-40 in my bikes so I am used to the soupy stuff. This, comparatively, was like water.

I ended up putting the maxima break in 10w-30 in it which had a very similar viscosity to what I took out after it cooled down. The oil that came out looked good with a little bit of sheen swirled in there as expected.

Filling
As the engine cooled the oil dropped in the sight glass a bit so I topped it off. Filling the oil on the center stand and watching the sight glass I got 3.8 quarts back in before it reached the same mark as before once the engine was cool.

Something I noticed, there wasn't a crush washer on the bike from the factory. That is a first for me.

This is not intended to start another oil debate, just sharing my oil change for those out there that want to do it themselves but are nervous about levels. It not rocket science and as stated on the forum before, be consistent.




If this does start another oil debate. Sorry Ferret

Ok I have the 2014 deluxe. I was looking at the comet at samurider with clear winsheild painted to match with stripe total cost shipped $600. Has anyone put one on the 14 model ? I'm 5 ft8 I like the looks of it but does it help much with wind? $600 to me is high without stripe $440 I know lots have ask all this before but I really need to know if the comet is more for looks (show ) please let me know of a good type of good looking sheild I want sport look not bulky.
Thanks Michael


3 rights make a left

Here's the Hepco Becker Journey 42 Top Case on the HB Bonneville rear rack on my Bonneville. The Bonneville rear rack is obviously different from the rear rack available for the CB1100, but the top box is the same. The top box is a little larger than I wanted, but was the smallest size that was lockable to the rear rack without a separate adapter plate. The bike looks nice when I remove the top box.
My father painted the insert to match the bike with a Dupli-Color rattle-can paint. I haven't decided if I want to buff the insert to shine it up a bit.
[url=http://s89.photobucket.com/user/Alison_Rose/media/Top_Box/box_rear_zps35ae97c1.jpg.html]
[url=http://s89.photobucket.com/user/Alison_Rose/media/Top_Box/box_side_zps2aba2f29.jpg.html]

Since I had to tell my wife this is the last motorcycle I will need to buy, I was wondering with proper care how many miles the CB1100 should last?
My "86" 600 Ninja had 35K miles when I sold it
My "86 900 had 65K miles on it when I heard a knocking sound in it and swapped out the engine with one less than 700 miles on it.
The Ninja's had hundreds if not thousand of red line shifts.

So am thinking if I ride my CB1100 like a 50+ yr old gentleman that I can be, maybe it will go 75 to 100K miles?

On my way back from Tucson today I decided to pull into a rest area off the slab to stretch my legs and get a drink of water. I pulled into a spot next to a big white van that seemed to be loading a large group of Japanese tourists. I noticed a ruckus at the back of the van which resulted in a Japanese guy in his 50s pushing his way to the door and jumping out. He ran over to my bike and was yelling and gesturing towards a woman, whom I assume was his wife.

His English wasn't great, but I eventually figured out that he was a CB1100 owner from Osaka. He pulled out his wallet and showed me a pic of his 2010 dark blue CB1100. From what I gather, the CB1100 isn't a common sight in Japan and the guy was amazed to run across one in the middle of the American desert. We chatted for awhile and he was interested in knowing where I got my NC Deflector windshield and H & B Alurack. I told him that most of our accessories we get from Japan, but the windshield and rack were a few of the things I was able to get in the U.S. I ended up writing down the website info for Nat. Cycle and Motomachines for him.

Eventually the van driver, the other passengers and his wife harranged him into getting back into the van so they would go on their way, but not before the guy had snapped about a dozen pics of me and the bike to show his friends back home.

It was definitely an odd encounter, but I suppose if I was touring Japan, stuck in a van with a dozen people, I'd probably react the same way if I saw a CB11 at a rest stop.

I bent my key for my 2013 CB 1100. Honda wants $40 for a new blank. I tried a few key shops, but none of them had a generic blank that fits. Anybody know of any options other than the OEM Key blank from Honda?
Thanks,
Bernie

O.k, I just watched a whole load of crash compilation videos on YouTube.

Some were the funny type where old granny has a go on young Timmy's new 80cc dirt bike round the grade and wheelies off the back at 3 mph.

Some were the horrific Russian high speed jobs where the rider is flung spinning through the air like a rag doll as the bike somersaults and disintegrates down the road.

Some, are the sort of 'first person view' a helmet cam offers and we see our GoPro hero misjudge a corner, or get hit by a car on the wrong side of the road head on.

Sometimes it's their buddy in front that bites the dust.

Watching these videos always leaves me with a very real and quite sickening sense of my own mortality, particularly in respect to my 'choice' to ride a motorbike for 'pleasure'.

If I were an impoverished Chinese factory worker or lived in a slum in India, having a cheap crappy scooter would be life-enhancing, and a great alternative to walking or riding a water buffalo (in leathers).

The fact is, I'm a lucky swine who was born in the right part of the world, has a relatively easy job that pays reasonably well.

I have a nice top-of-the range car to swan about in and go shopping, Mrs. T (well GF. T) has one too, so we can see that the bike is a mere indulgence.

Now that's all good and well, but it's when I mentally analyse the risk and watch these wretched videos that I ponder such questions as

"Maybe if I sold my bike or never rode it I'll avoid a gruesome horrific early death, or becoming paralysed or an amputee?"

I don't want to become like that because then you would love a life devoid of risk, or excitement, which are essential parts of our being. (I think).

Be honest guys, does this ever bother you? Or am I just a big poof?

http://youtu.be/Nbhk2zqEuWM

This is the sort of video, for the uninitiated.
I don't expect any replies for 20 minutes, I mean you'll have to read the post, then watch the video, then have a stiff drink.

By the way Spaceman, I've already pre-empted your reply;

"You're right Tortuga, it's just you..you big fairy!"