Channeling my inner Dude, or Duder, or El Dudarino (if you’re not into the brevity thing) “It’s a bummer, man. Just... a bummer”.

The House of Machines in Downtown L.A. has closed due to the virus. It was a bar and moto-centric hangout. I had been there not too long ago for the Golden Bolt competition and had tipped a glass or two after shifts at my weekend museum gig.

Located in the Arts District, it was a little hipster perhaps, but it was great to see a venue cater to motorcycle enthusiasts that didn’t require a ride all the way to Malibu, and the freeway home was just over a nearby bridge.

Concurrently, The Bike Shed has been working on a location in the same neighborhood that is supposed to open in the fall, but who knows if that will pan out.

Got a Corbin seat for us and we’ve been loving it. She really likes the feeling of security that comes with the backrest. I hadn’t been back to my alma mater Appalachian State for nearly 30 years. The parkway is as beautiful as I remembered it. So much more fun on the CB1100 with my wife on back. We recently installed Cardo 1+ intercoms and they’re fantastic! This was the first time we hauled the bike anywhere as we live in South Carolina and April is not good with a 4-hour ride (especially with afternoon showers forecasted). I just can’t relate how grateful I am to be riding this amazing motorcycle right now. Livin’ the dream is an understatement.

I'll take a better pic of the flyscreen on the bike outside whenever I'm able to get it back outside, but here are some pics showing what the Dart Marlin flyscreen looks like on the 2017 EX model.

Relatively easy install. Required:
1. Removing front of headlight
2. Disconnecting turn signal plugs (R=blue, L=orange)
3. Removing both headlight side brackets
4. Removing both turn signals

Removing the headlight brackets was a little tricky--not much room to fit the allen wrench up there--at least on the right side due to the brake line.

The new headlight mounting brackets push the entire headlight unit forward about an inch, maybe inch and a quarter. I don't really notice it.

I think the longest ride I've done is maybe 2.5 hours round trip leaving the house and returning same day. Tomorrow I'm riding to the coast (3ish hours one way) and staying there for a week. Do you guys have any tips for safety, comfort, etc? Just want to make sure I'm the most prepared. I will be riding alongside my father-in-law. Thanks!

Didn't ride today. Big green X on the calendar. Boooo! Rode every day in Feb, every day March, every day in April, every day in May, and every day in June.... 27 of them in January and 21 of them in July. 199 out of 204 days

Laid around all day in sweats with my left foot elevated and an ice pack on it every couple of hours.

Gout flare started coming on 2 nights ago. Last night my left big toe and ankle started throbbing. If you never have had gout, let me tell you, you can't stand to even have a sheet on the affected area, much less a sock and boot. No way could I shift, I could BARELY walk on that left foot. Started taking what little medicine I had left over from the last flare (one day's worth) and called doc this morning for more. Mrs Ferret picked up script this afternoon and I'm happy to report I am on the mend. Throbbing has subsided. Walking pretty good tonight. Will see what it feels like in the morning and make a decision about riding tomorrow. Hate missing a day of riding, but won't if I don't feel safe doing it.

Oh and it also rained 1 1/2" today, so it was a good day to miss eh? otherwise I'd have also gotten wet lol.

First I would like to say this is the best forum with awesome members and I follow it consistently!

Now on to the topic,

About the end of January I traded the beloved CB in for a 2019 CBR1000RR SP. I really hated to do it, but I wanted a "sport" bike again and there was no way I was going to get two bikes by the other half ("where are you going to put both bikes" "we can't afford insurance for two bikes" etc.)

I went with Honda because of the build quality and because of reviews that it is one of the most street friendly "superbikes". I went with the SP for the Brembo and Ohlins bling, but it really had me with the titanium fuel tank. I'm certain the standard stuff would be more than adequate for anything I would do on it, but I really wanted to own something, at least once, with the big name performance parts on it, and this was a great opportunity to own a non-european bike with them.

I've got about 1000 miles on it so far and it has been phenomenal!

Many of you, I'm sure, have a lot more experience with sportbikes or racing than I do, but I'll still share my impressions as a basic street rider.

It's very rideable! One can actually ride it conservatively and it's fun! You don't have to go "squidding" around to enjoy it. The riding position is very nice. Clearly it's more extreme than the CB, but not bad at all and it rides better than the CB on the freeway with the little fairing helping out quite a bit.

The up and down quick shifter took a little while to get used to. It's really great, but it took a couple weeks for me to stop rolling off the throttle on up shifts without thinking about it.

The engine is definitely rougher than the CB's, but it feels "hungrier". A guy at the Iron Pony store asked me if it was fast, how does one answer that? If you're M.M. or Rossi, then no, but if your a mortal riding on the streets...it's a 1000cc sportbike for crying out loud. A better question would be, is it overkill? In second gear each 1K rpm translates to about 10MPH with a redline at about 13K (But the US ECU kinda kills linear power above 10K so it's diminishing returns). So your at or above triple digits with four more gears to go without touching the redline. This could be considered overkill for the streets. However, I really enjoy having the power, even if I never use it all. Which brings me to the HP topic.

Most conservative estimates state the CBR puts out 149 HP. Often the conversation leans toward 200+ HP (BMW S1K, Ducati V4, etc.). That might be overkill, not that one shouldn't have it, but that really seems like a lot. I have to wonder after riding the CBR how many owners of 200+ HP bikes actually get anywhere near using it, maybe on a track, but likely not on the street. Who knows, maybe they do, but running the CBR up makes me wonder.

Hopefully I haven't bored anyone to death, be safe, bye for now.

I had puncture yesterday, lucky me, so out came the rear wheel and wow how heavy is this wheel!!, I had to weigh it 50lb!!!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1982-h...-custom-2/

I noticed that airbox side covers on 2019 models is aluminium, where 2017 model has plastic airbox side covers. See pictures.

Out for curiosity:
- Does 2019 models have plastic side covers? (not airbox, another one with fuses)
- Can an aluminium airbox side covers be installed to 2017 models? To make fully aluminium version.

Does anyone know if the SW-Motech SLC carriers mount correctly if I have an OEM Honda rack installed?

Thanks!