Sorry for the hyperbole, but I didn't see it happen, but there was fairly obviously oil to the front/left front of the motorcycle. My initial guess was that my oil filter was damaged and leaking oil (that was 2 days ago) and I quite handily removed and threw away the naughty filter and prefilled and installed the new one.
Now the only reason for this thread is that usually when a rhing like this happens, either someone I know or somebody smarter can tell me WHY.
THAT is all, folks. I actually had 0 great guesses on this one.
Thank you and God bless!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNyDCCLz4yA

I am sure many of us cheat out on a winter Sunday afternoon because the sky looks clear. But then while riding - ah crap! - a white out. If you are lucky, it lasts only five minutes and if you more lucky, you are parked at a coffee shop.

But what about other times?

Once I was out on an '82 Yamaha Seca 550 and stayed out way tooooo long in January. It got dark (I blame this on my girlfriend). It snowed and accumulated and was porridge. Fortunately, cars tracks exposed some asphalt to get "some" predictable tracking ... until the dreaded traffic intersection. Fortunately I survived all the intersections, but my riding pals the next day (yeah, they went out the next day) dropped in the middle of a plowed intersection. I believe black ice had something to do with it.

Anyway, the night temperature was about -3C and the steering stock froze up. So I was riding in the snow with no hands. No hands? ... wha? Yeah, the throttle stuck too. The Seca controls did not like the cold.

Would I do that on the CB1100? Absolutely not. Why risk damaging such a beautiful piece of machinery? (crap, the wifey might have something to say about my well being and responsibilities too).

If winter riding, be safe. Pay attention to the forecast.

Talking gas pumps! How aggravating! I'm carefully filling the CB1100 today, being careful not to overfill. And in the background, is the talking gas pump, with a marketing message about the wonderful hot dogs for sale inside. Then the sport scores.

Man, give it a rest!

Bob

So, today was the day I opened the fuel tank caps on each of the 3 bikes, dumped in the appropriate amount of fuel stabilizer for each, replaced the caps, and while holding the front brake, rocked each bike back and forth to mix the stabilizer well.
Then it was off to the local gas station for a top off with 93 octane.

First the Guzzi, then the CB, finally the GS. Took each one after fueling for approx a 10 mile run, then home to repeat with the next bike.

The CB and GS both had their oil and filters changed within the past 200 miles. Good enough for sitting for 3-4 months until a warm day or two sneak in. The Guzzi will still need filter and oil change.

I was rushed, but it was fun going from bike to bike and getting the chance to feel the individual characteristics of each.

Battery Tenders now at the ready!

Bob

Bombing the Block

As a teenager with a new-to-him CB1100, one of the things to do in the evening was to ride into town to ‘bomb the block’. Literally it meant riding one or more (usually plenty more) laps of the main city block. It was a spectacularly futile thing to do.

The phrase, however, sticks, and now when I go for a ride over familiar roads, it feels to me like I’m ‘bombing the block’, albeit on a slightly grander scale. I’m also having much more fun.

There’s a number of blocks and variations on the theme of riding around them. This chronicle tells of one of the variations on one of my favourites.


[url=https://drive.google.com/open?id=1lJx0sK-hH6ooHDV78RsYFfQRzJFEFO6y&usp=sharing]Link to Map of the entire ride.


Because there was a bit of repetition, here’s the map of the outward ride …


… and the map of the return

First, head out against the traffic, enjoying the warm feeling not being stuck gives you.


The, after refuelling, it’s up the mountain behind this irritating car that raced across the flat before slowing at the first whiff of a bend.


At the top of the hill, turn right and climb gently into the leafy surrounds of Mt Glorious.


… and the final stretch to the Mt Glorious Café for breakfast.


It was good to be able to admire the CB from the table.


It was soon joined by one of these modern, high-tech, electric beasts.


There were other bikes too and a couple of their riders spent some time admiring the CB.




Then it was off into the beautiful bush on the ridge and then down the very steep descent on other side of Mt Glorious. Once on the flat, it’s fabulous riding.





The jacarandas were out as I rode into the hamlet of Somerset Dam.


I stopped on The Spit for a photo with the dam in the background.


After leaving The Spit, I rode north beside the dam with an unknown bike taking the lead.


Although the surface is sometimes rough, most of the road beside the dam is good and offers some excellent views.


At the foot of Mt Mee ...


… the speed limit is lowered to 60kph. At 80 kph, it would be a way better ride up the hill.


And it would be further improved if folk in utes could bear to waited for a bloke to ride past before pulling out and slowing proceedings even further.


The southern side of Mt Mee is similarly speed limited. It’s not such a good surface, but a good ride nevertheless.


A photo or two at Lees Crossing.




A quick climb up Clear Mountain …


… with one last stop to send a teasing photo to GrahamT, stuck in the office.


Then back up to Samford for a pie, coffee and fuel. Up Mt Glorious, along the ridge through Mt Nebo and home. A most agreeable 297 kms.

Announced in Milan, Kawasaki is bringing back two versions of the W800.

The standard:


And the café:





Very nice!!!

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2018...-unveiled/

this one will be the best of the CB##r bikes, i'm betting. the 300 is too small to be practical, the 1000 is cool, but cost prohibitive. this one could really sell, and have the most balanced power/weight of them all.

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if it is a good idea to replace the stock headlight unit with a sealed led light? Has anyone tried doing that? Any uissues like hyperflashing, flickering, etc?
Thanks.

Any recommendations on vintage type tires for the CB?
I’m looking for vintage style... think Firestone, Coker etc...

I’m fullly aware of the performance limitations of going with antique/vintage tires. I don’t use this bike for performance, I’m going for a look. Thanks