Don Vesco fairing from 1980 custom-mounted on my CB1100

Saw this while browsing through ebay.. it looks good.



[url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/RACING-COLLECTORS-STAINLESS-STEEL-ARROW-HONDA-CB-1100-2013-13-/181333984009?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a38590309&vxp=mtr]http://www.ebay.com/itm/RACING-COLLECTOR...09&vxp=mtr

A few years back I saw a write up on the Ryca Cafe Racer in Cycle World. The idea of turning a little "sow's ear" like the Suzuki Savage into a "silk purse" cafe racer was intriguing. Reading over their website I learned that no welding was involved (a good thing since I have no skill at such) and that the kit contained all the basics to complete the project, including new motor mount bolts to rear sets, new rear wheel and tire, modification of the tank and Youtube videos describing the whole process. I was able to buy a 2002 Suzuki Savage for $1500 OTD from a Honda dealer in SC and got started.

The finished bike




The conversion was easy and required no special tools although having an angle grinder is a must. The paint work was done by Eddie Bedgood of Alma, GA. The front mini turn signals, bar end mirrors and braided brake line were not part of the standard kit but I added them. I sold the bike a few months after completing it as the riding position did not agree well with my Arthritis. It was great fun to ride and was nimble and fairly quick given how much weight was lost in the conversion. All the pics from the build can be viewed at https://redbirdacres.shutterfly.com/pictures/475 ....

I ask, has there ever been a better looking "scrambler" than the Honda CL450? The proportions. The pipes. The paint. The chrome. The sound!
This happens to be a 1972 model but pick any year you want ('69 through '74 I believe). It seemed so big and fast when I was 18. Now it is somewhat toylike compared to the other bikes in my herd. It doesn't matter though because even if I do nothing more than park it in the driveway and look at it, it's still a keeper.
Scramble on.

...because you're lazy and/or gullible.

I scratched the new-bike-bug by visiting the showrooms of 3 local dealerships after work today. Every single one of them charges an additional "delivery" or "assembly" or "PDI" fee.
Why does every one of them do this? Because I live on Camp Pendleton's doorstep. Young servicemen return from Afghanistan or Iraq or elsewhere with money saved, (very hard-earned money) wanting and deserving a new motorcycle, so the demand is naturally high.
And surely these motorcycle dealerships wouldn't screw-over America's fighting men, just because there are so many of them with unspent hazardous duty pay. Heck, most of them have "We Support Our Troops" painted on their windows.
But America is a free-market economy, not a moralocracy, and that's exactly what the dealerships here do. They brazenly charge an additional 500-700 dollars in the name of "delivery", "inspection", "PDI".

So I treat these showrooms as 3D websites. I inspect & admire the bikes, sit on them, am careful not to leave scuffs or fingerprints, and when they say the additional fees are non-negotiable and that my expecting to pay MSRP plus TTL is unreasonable, I smile, leave, and search on the internet for dealerships within a weekend's ride that have that model in stock.

I traveled 150 miles up to Santa Barbara for my most recent new bike purchase. They looked me in the face when they shook my hand at the deal's close, and I got to enjoy a relaxing ride home on my new Ninja 500R. Win-win. It was mildly inconvenient to spent $39 and a morning riding the train up there, explaining my carrying a helmet to my interested fellow train passengers; but at the end, I saved enough money for a 4-star hotelroom with a hot-tub and two high-dollar classy call-girls.

I think it's pretty shameful that local dealerships charge our young servicemen the additional fee, with "We Support Our Troops" painted on their building. I'll be dipped in diarrhea and called stinky before I'll pay that fee myself. I'd really rather spend that money on the classy callgirls for our returning heroes.

Ha--there's an artillery range on Pendleton right now. Despite being 25-30 miles away, the windows are shaking in their frames. Kaboom!

By the way, I didn't spend that money on the 4-star room, hot-tub and call-girls when I bought my Ninja 500R for MSRP plus TTL, but I most likely will when I buy my Bonneville or CB11 far, far away from Camp Pendleton. So thanks in advance for a memorable night, local dealerships.

If your dealership expects you to pay more than MSRP plus TTL (tax, title, & license) walk out of the dealership and find another. MSRP already grants them plenty for the freight & assembly.

This question must have been asked before, but I wasn't able to find it. Does anyone know if the larger 2014 Deluxe side covers will fit on the 2013 bike--both in terms of physical fit and color match? I keep thinking the '14 looks like a slightly darker red, but I'm not sure.

I just photoshopped it together (had to adjust the color slightly), and if they fit/match I think I'd be tempted to go that direction....

[url=http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pechorin75/media/14seatsidecovers_zpsb058cc8d.jpg.html]

I notice that the ferret has been rather absent from conversation this morning and remains elusive as I type this.

Could it be that he will be peppering us with photos of his new CB1100 later today?

Fingers crossed.

Guth

I just got the call... my new 2014 CB1100 DLX has arrived!!
Unfortunately, I'm in Colorado and won't able to pick it up until
April 5th. . I wonder if my wife would mind going back early??
This is going to be a rough week or so...

HP bags and mounts due to arrive tomorrow. Can't wait! Pics coming as soon as I can.

[url=http://s1077.photobucket.com/user/vfrpaul98/media/img002_zps3c91bef8.jpg.html]
Paul