Hi all,

Had a great “shake it off” ride today. After I dropped my bike the other day, I wanted to get back on right away. Alright, not right away. After my scraped leg and sore thigh felt better.

Beautiful ride this morning—‘Cept one problem. How do I change the clock?

Now it’s an hour off and driving me nuts!

I’ve got a ‘13, not sure if that makes a difference for what’s on the instruments.

Yesterday the weather was cooperative enough to hold my annual "Ride each bike to the gas station for its pre-winter top-off" event.

As such, I took each bike on an identical 8.2-mile loop to get gas and add some Stabil before putting them down for the winter. I've not ridden for a month and came away with some interesting impressions of each:

Engine:
1998 K1200RS *****
2014 CB1100 *****
2013 F800GT ***
2015 R1200RT **

• I've always loved the K1200RS. Its engine is electric-smooth, offers bottomless torque at any rpm, and just plain works. The engine has great drivability around town and has perfect manners. And this thing has 134,000 miles on it, so it's no spring chicken.
• The CB1100 was a very close second. The engine is a tad more vibey than the big yellow Beemer, but it's luscious and has perfect fueling and great power. Perfect.
• The F800GT is a bit down on torque compared to the above two bikes, plus, as a twin, it's a bit busier. Still, it runs clean, revs easily, has plenty of guts for real-world riding, and is extremely fuel-efficient (70 mpg).
• Despite the glowing reviews, the boxer engine in my R1200RT feels archaic, vibey, lurchy, and it's annoyingly noisy as well. Will my K1200RS engine fit into this chassis?

Gearbox:
CB1100 *****
F800GT *****
K1200RS *****
R1200RT *

• The CB, K-RS, and F800 all have wonderfully light, precise, and quiet shifting. I'd say the CB is the best of the three but they're all outstanding.
• The gearbox on the R1200 is a fail, at least on my bike. It's impossible to engage any gear without a lurching, embarrassing clunk, plus the 2-3 upshift isn't always there. My bike may have an issue but I can't imagine this rock-box will ever match the other bikes in terms of shifting excellence. Very sad.

Suspension:
R1200RT *****
K1200RS ****
CB1100 ****
F800GT ****

• All of these bikes are pretty good. By virtue of its multi-mode, electronically-controlled suspension, the RT is a dream. Adjustments are simple and can actually be felt.
• The K1200RS, even with its mileage, is good too, though it doesn't offer electronic adjustment, which is fine by me. I'm jaded by BMW's Telelever front suspension, and on this beast, I think it's a great application.
• The CB1100 works fine for where and how I ride the bike. I'm sure I could throw some money at it to improve the suspension, but for me, it wouldn't be a good use of funds.
• Similarly, the F800 has good suspension too, though they feel like budget items (the non-Telelever front forks especially). Still, the setup works fine and I have no complaints. The on-the-fly ESA adjustment for the rear shock (damping only) is a gimmicky touch. Adjustments are barely discernable except on the roughest roads.

Brakes:
CB1100 *****
R1200RT *****
K1200RS *****
F800GT *****

• All good. Each bike has ABS and each has the ability to stop harder and with more control than my ability to ride the bike, so that's a good thing. I think good braking is one thing most manufacturers have nailed.

Ergonomics and Comfort:
R1200RT *****
CB1100 ****
F800GT ***
K1200RS *

• Okay, full disclosure. I'm 6'6", 220 lbs. I have the R1200RT set up for long-distance comfort, which means lowered pegs and a raised Comfort seat. This thing's a Barcalounger on wheels. Plus, the electronically-adjustable windscreen and cruise control provide comfort in spades. That's why I bought the bike.
• The CB is a bit cramped but I've had no complaints with the stock ergos and find the seat to be fine. This is a 300-400 mile/day bike for me. The engine smoothness is a big reason why. I have no desire to change anything.
• The F800 is similarly cramped for me, and the windscreen creates some buffeting, but it's a really fun bike to ride and I usually overlook the slight discomfort because I have so much fun on it. I've done several 12-hour, 600+ mile days on it with only minor complaint. As long as I remember it's not supposed to be a touring bike, I'm fine.
• I'm getting older by the day. I've owned the K-RS since new (21 years now) and no longer comfortably fit on it. The pegs are high, the bars are low and quite far forward. This bike, for decades, was my all-time favorite motorcycle but yesterday's short ride left me wondering how much longer I'd be able to enjoy it. Especially when any of the other three bikes are considerably more comfortable.

Weight and Handling:
F800GT *****
CB1100 ****
R1200RT ***
K1200RS **

I've combined these categories because I think they go hand in hand.

• The F800 is a feather at 450+ lbs., and its superior on-road handling and agility make it a no-brainer when twisty roads are on the day's itinerary. It's an effortless ride.
• Not far behind, I find the CB to be a wonderfully capable bike on fun roads, mostly by virtue of its narrow tires. Despite its heft, the bike is well balanced and easy to ride, especially when twisting hard on the go-handle. I like it.
• The R1200RT is a heavy boat but actually feels pretty good once you've left the driveway. I think it's one of those bikes that you can ride faster than you expect. That being said, on the few occasions where I've had it on the narrow and winding, it's held its own, but it is a bit top heavy and the huge fairing is a visual distraction when you really want to haul the mail.
• The K1200RS has a mile-long wheelbase, plus it's heavy. That, combined with the racer-boy ergos, translates to huge fun on high-speed sweepers where the bike's stability is unsurpassed, but it's not as pleasant when you're just riding around town or heading to the gas station, especially compared with these other bikes.

Riding Impression:
CB1100 *****
F800GT *****
R1200RT ***
K1200RS *

• Just based on my 8.2-mile ride, the CB1100 is far and away the most satisfying bike of the group. The refinement of the engine and drivetrain, deep torque, good ergos, eye-pleasing bling, and easy handling all contribute to making this an effortless, fun bike to ride. I love it. Preaching to the choir, I know.
• The F800GT is super-satisfying too, though its engine characteristics are a bit quirkier than the civility of the Honda's smooth inline four. I chalk up the F800's good showing to its lightness and agility. It's a really fun bike to ride.
• Taking the R1200RT to the gas station is like flying a Boeing 737 to the airport in the next county. It's a lot to muscle around and totally out of its element. Coming off the CB and F800, it's a pig. On the open road, it's the clear winner among this group of bikes, but riding around town isn't fun. And don't even try to upshift into third gear -- it's not there. Something's wrong.
• My perennial favorite K1200RS was a huge letdown on this loop. Heavy, ponderous, slow-steering, and so cramped that I couldn't wait to get off. Oddly, I've completed five SaddleSore 1000's on this bike, but that was years ago when my joints were more flexible and tolerant. Now, riding this bike feels a bit unsafe. Hmmm.

Next month I'll have to buy gas for the snowblower. Too bad I can't ride it.

If anyone sources winglets for the cb1100 let me know.

http://canadamotoguide.com/2018/11/02/ne...-winglets/

I am thinking that down the road I would like to change my chains to a DID silver plated ZVM-X chains.
Does any one have any experience with their gold/silver plated chains : does the plating last for the life of the chain ?

I have almost been ran off the road a few times in the last 2 weeks. I would like to get a louder horn to get the attention! Not sure the DB on the factory one? Found these Hella Super Horns for 118 DB and look fairly decent as well. Interested if anyone has down this already?
Thanks!

Hey guys, been doing some end of the season maintenance on my bikes and the CB is so easy to do i love it!

2007 Roadliner
3 drain plugs, none in really good spots. The 2 on the bottom of the engine are right between the frame and the engine so its tight to deal with. The kickstand leans it over so i usually put a 2x4 or something under the stand to give me some more room with the wrench. The 3rd one is for the oil tank and the easiest of the three but still in an awkward spot. The oil filter is in the same spot as the CB but there is an oil line right in front of it so its a pain to slip over one of those formed filter wrenches that slide over the filter ridges. 5+ quarts for that one.

2007 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, old school iron barrel engine.
Holds about 1.5 quarts and has 3 plugs lol! One is the main drain, the other 2 drain very little oil but have screens on them that i clean and inspect each time. Im proud to say in the 7k miles of use ive never seen metal fragments or anything, kind of rare for these lol. The filter is an element type but is more than just removing a cap with an O-ring. Its got a cap with a seal, then multiple washers, cup, fiber washer and a spring. In other words hold on good when taking off cuz if you are unsuspecting that cap with fly off with all the parts in there! The filter has a slight tight fit so i usually get 2 little screwdrivers and walk it out because you really cant just grab and pull out. its wrapped in cloth so once its loaded with oil it just kinda fattens itself up and is sitting in the cavity snug, Fun!

2014 Cb 1100
As you all know, stupid easy! 1 plug, spin on oil filter right next to each other basically so i put my pan under and can remove it all and let drain. Replace parts, 4 quarts in and done! Usually dont even get a drop of oil on the floor. Great design Honda, wish they were all like that

If you asked me a year ago if I would ride in 37-degree weather I would say you were crazy... But here I am!

As typical with men if one says do it then we all do it so my group of riding Buddies heading out and I'm going with them... Wish me luck!

There's a private group called "Unusual, Interesting & Rare Motorcycles." on Facebook. A guy named Leon Green posted a picture of a 2017 EX and asked "Why didn't these sell?"

It generated a huge reaction by the standards of this FB group. The responses were 90% mercilessly negative. Most of the sentiment was centered around being too heavy, too boring, too Honda, too much of a styling throwback, and too underpowered.

I couldn't help but think these guys are completely missing the point.

I had intended to spend the last two weeks of October riding south to Phillip Island for the Australian MotoGP. Due to the untimely death of an old and dear friend, I had to abandon the plan so my wife and I could travel across the Tasman Sea (known fondly as 'The Ditch') to New Zealand for the memorial. We took the opportunity to go for a few days and catch up with other friends.

On the first morning we were there, we walked to Lyall Bay for breakfast and I spied this on the street.




Then, over the weekend, our friends took us to the [url=https://www.southwardcarmuseum.co.nz/]Southward Auto Museum at Paraparaumu which has an extraordinary collection of cars and more than a few bikes.

I'll start with a car as it's the first you see as you walk through the door.




This 1950 'Gangster Cadillac' features bullet holes, a bomb proof floor and glass the thickness of a matchbox. Here's the wrap sheet for it.


Sitting right next to Comrade Cohen's ride was this.






Although there were bikes scattered all over the floor amongst the cars, the majority was on a mezzanine along one side of the huge shed. On the way there, I came across this modest V8, built in NZ






Then it was up the stairs

After almost 10K miles I hadn't realized how worn down and blocky the center portion of the tire had become until I placed the new tire next to it Ordered a PR3 from Revzilla for $178.00 including shipping and it got here in 2.5 days.



I run the 160 width on the rear and you can see that there is very little room on the right hand side between the tire and center stand. No issue and no rubbing going on but think I might take out the grinder and make a little more room there.