Time for my 4000 mile maintenance. Seems a lot like the 600 mile service, but the owners manual calls out two things I didn't really expect:

1. Inspect the spark plugs

2. No need to change the oil filter with this oil change

Pulling the plugs seems like overkill, doesn't it? Tank has to come off for valve inspection at 8,000, so it's a no-brainier to do it then. But at 4,000? Is everyone planning to do that (or have you already done it if you've cracked 4,000 mi.)?

Not changing the filter seems like a false economy. I guess I've never changed the oil in any vehicle w/o also changing the filter. OTOH, if the engineers at Honda aren't worried it'll be overly restrictive / clogged before 8k miles, maybe I shouldn't be? I'm inclined to spin a new one on, but is anyone else skipping it to save a couple $ or some space in the local landfill?

Normally, I'm not one to second guess the engineers, but I thought I'd ask y'all.

Curious in CA,

Rolls

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National Cycle Street Sheild EX, Tourmaster Select Series magnetic tank bag, Tourmaster Select Series soft saddlebags, Nelson Rigg tailbag

Thumbs up on Honda chain cleaner.



I live on a dirt road and my chain gets absolutely filthy in a hurry.

Using nothing but Honda chain cleaner and a garden hose, my chain when from this:





to this:





in 5 minutes!

Simply spray on the cleaner, wait a few minutes, and spray it off with a jet of water. It's amazing stuff.

Costs around $7 a can, and a can is probably good for 3 to 4 cleanings.

http://www.samurider.com/?p=15164/#itemImage

I have to admit. The spinning clutch is pretty cool to see.

I was working on the heated grips install today and ran into an issue with the end caps. The instructions have you reuse the screw from the original end caps. But, they are black (the new end caps are chrome), and appear too long.

Anyone else install these themselves? If you had the dealer install it are the screws black on your end caps?

Doing the throttle sleeve is a real PITA...

Alright boys and girls............We've been a community for a while now and we have enough members to design/sell some T-Shirts.
I don't have a clue as to how we go about this, BUT I would absolutely love to have some short and long sleeve t-shirts to wear out and about, even while riding our CBs!
These pics are from my remaining stock of cb1100f.net shirts. Unfortunately, I accidentally left my red one in a hotel last year while attending a MotoGP race at Laguna Seca, never to be found again.
Surely as a group we can come up with enough of an order to make them affordable. What say ya'll?
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Was cruising through webike and came across this pic. Through the years I've never been a fan or felt like I needed saddlebags, but having seen these I'm thinking they look pretty cool. They are small, unobtrusive and fit the lines of the bike perfectly.
Thanks guys.
Jim
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The mechanically or hand shaped exhausts should perform the same correct? It's just a matter of craftmanship and time I assume.

Thanks
Randall

Already 600 kms on this gem and I love it! Such a piece of wizardry. Mechanically it's virtually flawless and it has a surprising amount of acceleration given how it's been so downplayed. Fantastic bike!

Has anyone been caught in a good down pour, if so how does it handle?