Who else is taking notes on the length of the cam chain?

When i got the hornet 900 i figured i might as well take a note on the status of the cam chain tensioner, very easy to do and an indication of how the chain is wearing or not.
Simply checking how much turns out i could rotate the screw inside and writing that down would provide some indication of it's condition, it turned out it was 2,5 turns in out of five possible turns, so i wrote that down with the kilometers at the time.

Just done the same thing with the cb1100, it measured 3,3 turns in from when it came to a stop when untensioned all the way as is recommended when checking the valves.
and wrote it down on the sheet with the valve clearances with the km's on the dashboard.
Undid the m6 bolt with the alu washer with an 8mm spanner and turned the inner screw with my copper special tool i made to mount the tensioner if required.

Late last year I bought a blue 2020 Monkey Z125 from my local dealer. I had a deposit down months in advance, and during that time I had an idea in my head as to what I wanted to do in terms of personalizing it. As with all of my bikes, whatever I do to my machines, has to be clean, not overdone, and completely reversible at anytime in the future should I need or want to. Consequently all the OEM parts I replaced have been carefully stored away.

The stock exhaust was replaced with a Takegawa original look sports exhaust. Pictures below were taken before I replaced the OEM exhaust. I found fit and finish to be excellent, and the sound was much more pleasant without being obnoxiously loud. The stock catalytic converter under the engine was eliminated by the Takegawa system, which cleans up the look, results in nothing to get splashed during an oil change, and increases ground clearance. Stock mounting points and heat shields are used with this system. Here is a video of this system being installed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5jxIgNzhcQ . Samurider carries this system, and it can be purchased from Webike as well: https://japan.webike.net/products/23878206.html

I wanted to be able to work on the Monkey and do oil changes with it upright ( as opposed to on the side stand ) so I bought a Pitbull rear lift stand, and Kitaco spools. The spools were screwed onto the lower rear shock studs. The system worked properly, but the Kitaco spools were aluminum, and I did not like the idea of the weight of the bike being supported by that material. Then I found this Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdS2n4rX...ex=89&t=0s The Ridea spools have an aluminum outer cap, but the body of the spool that screws onto the shock stud and supports the weight of the bike, is all stainless steel. I found fit, finish, and function of the Ridea spools to be excellent. Ridea spools can be found here: [url=https://japan.webike.net/products/24098966.html]https://japan.webike.net/products/24098966.html . I recently bought a Pitbull front fork stand, so now using front and rear stands, I can work on and/or store the Monkey with both wheels off the ground.

I never did like the look of the "lobster tail" plastic rear fender extension. After researching several different rear fender elimination kits, I decided that Yoshimura had the best design and look for me. There only drawbacks to the Youshimura were: 1.) The connector and a length of wire from the original license plate light harness had to be cut off and spliced onto the pigtail coming off the Yoshimura LP light. 2.) The included license plate frame was covered with shameless advertising that I did not like. A Kitaco harness adapter allowed the OEM LP lamp and harness to remain intact for storage, and it can be found here: https://japan.webike.net/products/24065874.html . The Yoshimura fender eliminator kit can be found numerous places, but I got mine here: https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/yosh...onkey-2019 . Other than that, it took some hunting to find a plain license plate frame skinny enough to work with the rest of the Yoshimura assembly.

A Kitaco stainless grab bar was also added to the Monkey. It has an OEM look, fit, and provides a solid grab point to move the bike around by hand with. No, I had no thought of it being for a passenger. I looked at several different designs, but liked the design and stainless aspects. Fit and finish were excellent. Mr. T at Samurider got it for me, but it can also be purchased from Webike: https://japan.webike.net/products/23875453.html

Lastly, the white "Monkey" sticker on the left side panel was really not to my liking. So, I had a vinyl graphics and sign shop called Fast Signs, make the Z125 side panel sticker for me. I could have gone all white just like the OEM Monkey sticker, but felt that making the Z red, tied in nicely with the red & white Honda wing tank emblems. A couple of OEM "Monkey" stickers were carefully packed away with all the other stock parts I removed and replaced.

There were many more small detail touches I added to the bike, but I have covered the major ones here. Hopefully other members who have Monkeys will find the info interesting, if not useful.

Just in case any of you have not before seen the documentary about John Britten titled "1 Man's Dream" I feel obligated to mention it here. (It's a shame that it appears to have been wiped from YouTube — apparently a video distributor bought the rights to it.)

If you enjoyed the video shared in the original post and have not seen 1 Man's Dream, know that you would likely find it beyond mesmerizing. Yet it explore facets of Britten's story that go well beyond his pure mechanical genius as the odds that John Britten overcame involved so much more than solving problems that were purely technical in nature.

When this documentary still existed out on YouTube it was spread out over four parts. I can't remember what exactly caught me eye (It has been many years since I saw it) but there was something in the first part that I thought my wife (who does not care about motorcycles let alone like them) would find interesting. I was right, she did. Then she had me start the video from the beginning as she wanted to see it. She ended up watching all four parts with me. I can't tell you just how rare it is for a film (or a story of any kind) to reach me at the deepest level as both a gearhead and a person. For a film to not only reach those depths inside of me, but to also stir interest deep inside of my wife who is the opposite of me in so many ways, is near miraculous. Not surprisingly, that's pretty much how I would describe the V1000 motorcycle that Britten created.

Watch this guys videos-

https://www.youtube.com/user/millyardviper/videos

An example-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhrLg6mZQIo

It seems like it might be appropriate to create a new poll. This time, I personally would be interested to know what ages make up our current, active member base. If you ride a CB1100, great! If not, and you still enjoy this forum then that's definitely cool too. I would still encourage your participation in this poll.

To clarify the poll question, please indicate what your age will be at the end of 2020.

As far as comments associated with the poll are concerned, maybe include a note regarding what motorcycle you are currently riding the most. How long you've been hanging around the forum, be it actively or lurking. Or anything else that you might care to add that seems like it might be relevant.

Finally, no one is being forced to do this. I am asking for your participation simply because I am curious about the demographic of those currently using this forum that the moderators and I work to keep up & running. If you are not comfortable with this, then no problem.

This poll is a "limited time offer" so to speak and will time out at the end of 2020.

Thanks,
Guth

Bored out of your mind? Try this time capsule from the '60s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NunNe-8MtXI

....and still world's biggest seller......

Hey guys, so i've ordered a couple upgrades... SW Motech bars, 13inch replacement shocks (for my short self), and I ordered a left replacement crankcase cover from

partsfish. Everything has arrived but the crankcase that i ordered from partsfish and the ordered was submitted and paid for on April 9th. Is this normal? I see they have

a 1-800 number but does anyone have an email address for contact?


Also, I'm not very handy, do you think I could handle installing a 7inch Led headlight without paying a shop to install?


Thanks a bunch.

Hi all,

Bit house bound because of the virus so entertaining myself on YouTube. Watched some good vlogs on 'how to true motorcycle spoked wheels'. I did attempt this many times as a kid when I buckled wheels on my racer pushbike with ok results so i have 'dabbled'.

Does anyone know what the actual specs are for our EX models?

Out of curiosity I went in the garage to spin up the front & rear wheels. Honda CB's are renowned for their quality, right?

Well. I am pleased to say I was impressed. Holding a pencil against the fork leg & then swing arm to spin the wheels I reckon there's no more than 1 to 2 mm movement either up or down or side to side at worst. Certainly I had no desire to 'meddle'.

I did the 'ping' test and twanged each spoke with a little ring spanner. I found one slightly dull sound so tightened that maybe 1/8th turn, 'ping' restored.

Anyone with severe OCD though, do this at your peril.

and you know never its tomorrow your last day.....or weeks