These have never been on my radar until yesterday; [url=http://www.amazon.com/Oetiker-18500060-Stepless-stainless-standard/dp/B008L4874S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1374523641&sr=8-3&keywords=oetiker+clamps]Oetiker Clamps

Tend to be used on fuel hose, attaching rubber boots etc. Superior to your standard hose clamp in clamping strength; but each clamp is a single use; you gotta cut them off.

I have no idea if Honda uses them or if they are on the CB (had an issue with a very large one on the Griso yesterday, mechanic had not sinched it down) but according to the old guy that brought me up to speed they are very popular in the auto/motorcycle industry and I've seen many references to sprinklers.

I'll be using them on my Honda XR650L dirt bike fuel lines when the kit arrives.

Wednesday we get up, enjoy the continental breakfast at the hotel and get ready for a full day. First stop was Fontana Dam. The dam was built in the 30s by the TVA. It is HUGE! Wen they open the gates, they can flow 2 million gallons a minute. We walked up and viewed it then rode across the top of it and back

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Then we headed over to the Dragon. The Dragon is a curvy stretch of road, a Federal highway actually, US 129, that is shared by North Carolina and Tennessee. The section called the Dragon is 11 miles long and has 318 curves. A destination gathering area for sports cars, and motorcyclists with a store/restaurant on one end, and an overlook to a dam on the other end, that is just called "the overlook". Being a Federal Highway, cars and sometimes semis use the highway even tho trucks are discouraged from doing so due to the sharp bends. It is impossible for a semi to stay in his lane on this highway and many get stuck.

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several photographers set up on the road to capture action shots to sell, Killboy.com and US129.com primarily . I already posted one from US129 in another thread.

After running the Dragon to the overlook, Jim and I ran into Robbinsville to the Huddle house for lunch..yes I had a salad, then we headed over to run the Cherahola Skyway just outside of Robbinsville. The Skyway is much like the BRP, lots of curves, up and down thru the mountains, clean, free of traffic, 45 mph speed limit, only. Little more open, more big sweepers than tight little curves. Its about 70 miles long, with many pull over observation points. We ran it both directions. Here's Jim running the Cherahola.

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Near the end of the Cherahola there is a little side road. 6 miles back this winding tree lined road that follows a creek is a falls call Bald River Falls. Pretty falls and good photo op.


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Here we are stopped at one of the overlooks with a terrific view and a set of rest rooms.

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Day 3 was only about 230 miles, but they were quality roads. After getting back to the hotel, Jim decided not to eat, so I went to a local sportsbar and got a big ol cheeseburger and fries for dinner. Oh and today we ran out of luck on the rain. On the way back to the motel from the Cherahola, the skies darkened the wind picked up and down it came. For 30 mins it rained hard. Of course I had left my rain gear in the room, but my cordura jacket and pants kept out the bulk of it, but my gloves were soaked. Luckily I had brought a back up pair which I used on the rest of the trip.

Day 4 we planned to spend part of the day at the Wheels Thru Time Museum in Maggie Valley. We got there shortly after they opened at 9 and spent the next several hours walking around looking at all the old motorcycles and cars. This is an American Museum so it was primarily old Harleys and Indians, dating back into the 19 teens, but for the true enthusiast the smattering of Rudges, Aces, Reading Standards, Pierces, and Traubs made it an enthusiasts paradise.... And supposedly they all run.

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When we came out of the museum I found a note on my seat. It was from Kathi V, the owner of the CB 1100 in the Comfort Inn parking lot. She has since joined the forum I am pleased to say.

After leaving the museum we headed down thru Cherokee and into the Smoky Mtns National Park on Highway 441 which runs up over the mountain from Cherokee NC to Gatlinberg Tenn. We only planned to ride up to the overlook at Newfound Gap due to traffic. Unlike the Cherahola or BRP the National Park is choked with tourists. It's a great ride if you go early or late before tourists wake up and after they go to dinner. Unfortunately we were there mid day, and there was too much traffic to suit us. We rode to Newfound Gap, looked at the view took a couple of pics and headed back the way we had came.

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Newfound Gap

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Due to the museum visit we only got in 150 miles today before heading back to the motel, but tomorrow we would leave for home and some rest would be nice, plus I wanted an especially nice meal for my last. About 4 pm we headed down to the fanciest restaurant in town and I ordered a half rack of ribs, a baked potatoe, a side salad and hot tea. it was great. I asked if theybhad peach cobbler for dessert, but alas they did not. So we skipped dessert and headed for the room.

While laying there relaxing (watching Big Bang Theory actually) I looked out the window and spotted a CB 1100 on a trailer in the parking lot. I grabbed my camera and ran outside. There I met Mike and his son who had come down to ride some of the roads we had been riding all week. Mike was already a forum member although he only lurks. Nice guy.

It rained all night, but had quit by morning. We packed up our bikes and I snapped this pic of mine and Mikes in the parking lot. seemed strange to see so many CBs in one area, between mine, Mikes, Kathis and another we saw riding on highway 80, the detour we took off the BRP.

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Snapped this pic of Jim as we slabbed it home thru NC, Tenn, Ky and Ohio. 371 miles worth of nothing below 70 mph lol.

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The CB ran like what you'd expect the CB to run like. Flawless, smooth, perfect...it never even required a chain adjustment, just one lube after riding in the rain on Wednesday. Jim's Harley didn't give any trouble either. Oh, the times they are a changing lol.

Good trip!

Hello everyone...What do you guys think of this seat cowl combo?..I was interested in getting the Triumph Thruxton because of the cafe racer look..But I really think adding this along with the Mugen parts is much more hotter than the Thruxton...Anyone else think so?

Gentlemen and ladies here is my report from my recent trip south/ east on my CB 1100. The ride took 5 days, encompassed 6 states, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tenneessee and Kentucky, and covered 1565 miles. Since the website will only let me post 9 or 10 pics at a time this report will be in 2 parts. I took about 300 photos ( which is actually about 1/2 of what I normally take on a trip) but I am going to post about 20 which should give you the flavor of the trip.

The plan was to meet Jim, a good riding buddy from Columbus Ohio over near the West Virginia border about 10:30 the first morning. Since I live in the extreme south west part of Ohio, that meant I had to be on the road by 7 a.m. I already had the CB gassed up and packed. Here she is warming up in the drive. I would be using my larger tank bag and tail pack for this trip, a setfrom Nelson Rigg. They hold more than I would need for 5 days on the road.

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A little over 3 hours later I met up with Jim. He would be riding an 08 Harley Davidson 1200 that he had modified into a standard bike with smaller front wheel, longer rear shocks and mid mount pegs. He also installed a small windshield.

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Our plan was to ride the curvy back roads of W. VA with a stop at Hawks Nest State Park and the Gauley Bridge overlook then continue on into Va with our first nights stop at Facy Gap, Va near an entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP). We had to run slab for the last 80 miles into Fancy Gap. Mileage for day one was 473 miles which took 10 hours the way we went.

Hawks Nest State Park

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After getting to the hotel we unpacked and rode down to a family style restaurant for dinner. I usually eat oatmeal, fruit, yogurt and hot tea for breakfast, and a salad and water for lunch, and have a nice meal for dinner. I had pork chops, mashed potatoes and candied apples and my usual hot tea with creme and sugar.

About 5 mins from the hotel is an entrance to the BRP. The further you go south from here, the better the views. I always recommend people run the BRP north to south. Anyhow the road is 460 miles long, very scenic, very curvy, with lots of overlooks to stop at and see the mountains. It is spotlessly clean, with very little traffic, but watch your spped. The limit is 45. You can run 50 without hassle, but take your time, no since rushing thru such beautiful country.

Here is a pic of Jim riding my CB. Notice the sign indicating a motorcyclist could be thrown from his bike if he took the turn too fast lol. After riding my CB Jim said the only thing it had in common with his Harley is they are both motorcycles. the CB was superior in nearly every aspect. I must admit though his Harley did have great ergos. His mid mount foot pegs were very much in the right spot. He was also suprised when I told him what the CB weighed as he mentioned it was so light. Actually the CB and his HD weighed virtually the same.
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The BRP provides magical views if you like mountains

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Along the BRP is Mount Mitchell State Park, the elevation there is about 500 feet higher than the peak of the parkway, and it provides spectacular views..well worth the detour
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After a detour due to road closure on the BRP we again enter the BRP at Ashville and continued our ride southward stopping at the highest peak of the parkway for a photo op

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By the way that detour was onto one of the gnarliest roads I've been on in a long time. As another riding buddy who has ridden it commented..it makes the Dragon look like the kiddy pool lol

High in the mountains, when the days get hot, meeting the cold mountain air can get the atmosphere all fired up in an instant to produce rain. We got lucky and made the rest of the run to Maggie Valley without getting wet on this day. We would not be so lucky the next day.

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We arrived at our hotel in Maggie Valley after another long glorious day on our motorcycles. 341 miles today. Another 10 hours with stops and at the reduced BRP speed limit. After checking in, we went to another nice restauarant and had another excellent meal. On our way to the restaurant we had to turn around in the Comfort Inn parking lot ( we were at the Microtel) and I spotted another CB 1100 parked in the lot with a small dark shield. I thought it might be forum member GCarper's who mentioned he would be in the area at that time. I checked at the front desk but no G Carper was registered so I left a note on the seat and continued on. Big day planned for tomorrow, so we adjourned for the night fat and happy.

Stay tuned for part 2

Not really 1100 related but those of you that know me, know I need to feed the hoarding habit. What better place?

While there got to hang out with my local Louisville community "Louisville Vintage Motorworks" as they were the featured club this year and showed so well, they were ask back for next year!

Anyway hope you enjoy!

On Craigslist there are lots of trailers priced $500-$900. What features are important to haul a CB1100 long-distance? Wondering about tire size, weight capacity and stability. Would the trailer's that fold to fit in a garage be an option? Thx for any advice.

Stopped for my 2nd fill this morning ~2 miles after the last bar started flashing. Filled 2.906 G up to ~2 inches from the top on center stand and the mileage was a bit over 48 m/G.

A biker walked over and said 'nice bike... stock?.. what year?" he didn't believe it was a 2013 and said something like 'get outta here..'. Felt like saying that it was an 86 that I only bring out for fills. Thought better of it, just in case he didn't appreciate my humor.

back to the bike.. The engine's a lot smoother but the bike feels less stiff. I noticed a slight rear wobble on straight well paved roads during down shifts and deceleration. Checked the tire pressure (36F, 42R), chain tension, clutch action, shocks and everything seems fine. Not sure what to make of it and hope it's just in my head.

So I am serious thinking of ditching the rear fender. has anyone done this? I would love to hear thoughts? Also I am looking for a rear fender elimination kit complete with tail light and plate holder.

I was looking at this for a triumph and figured I could fabricate an adapter to fit the bike.

[url=http://www.british-customs.com/triumph-motorcycle-cat-eye-fender-eliminator-kit.html]British Customs Fender Elimination Kit

From our recent trip ..man this bike looks so good!

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Our American Legion Riders Post held a Run & Pig Roast today and hosted another chapter and The Leather Neck Nation M/C (a GREAT bunch of folks!) and the CB was alone in a sea of V-Twins.
I had circles of guy around the CB at different stops complimenting my on the outstanding restoration and asking what year she was.

At one point I actually had to point a guy to the manufacturer's build label and show him the registration!

Everyone was impressed with the design and liked the old school look. All were surprised at the existence of a general purpose bike in today's market.