I've mentioned before that I picked up the used RS3 off a member more as an aesthetic experiment than the need for a more pronounced sound signature out of an exhaust.

When this one came up for $115 or $125 I decided to jump on it and see how the pipe, the red side covers, the RC2 and brown café seat would look together. A bonus was that that a sound baffle came with the purchase that, if I liked the look but found the can to be too loud, could be inserted to quiet it down some.

I was extremely surprised that I had to search high and low on the internet to get an accurate weight on the can. Near as I can tell the Yoshimura RS3 CARBON can alone weighs between 9.85-10 pounds even.

Once the pipe arrived I went to install it. When you remove the OEM can there is a center stand stop welded to it.

OEM Pipe with welded Tab:



There is a small heavy duty rubber disc cushion on a tab on the center stand that rests against it. This prevents the center stand from going further up and eventually hitting the chain.

Rubber washer bumper (NOTE: once the Yosh bracket is installed this bumper becomes redundant and is no longer in use)



Once I realized I didn't have the center stand stop from Yoshimura I called their Customer Service department and ordered the required parts for $78. Tech on the other end was top notch and very technically astute.

Once the parts arrived I was surprised to see how HEAVY this center stand stop bracket was. I'm guessing the entire thing weighs at or on around 2 pounds +/-. It's nothing if not heavy duty.

Here's the bracket and parts



Here's the bracket and all associated parts correctly oriented and put together for FYI. Imagine sitting on the bike and looking down and that would be how it would be oriented/installed.



Installing this bracket is best done with FOUR HANDS. Without the extra set you're just setting yourself up from some prolonged frustration.

Start by removing the original OEM muffler by loosening the clamp at the front and removing the mounting bolt at the rear. That gives you access to the area you will be installing the bracket in.

Here is the trick to the whole install off the bracket. In the pic above on the right side of the bracket is a thick sliver washer. That washer goes between the bike and the bracket and it's difficult to align it just right if you have to worry about also aligning the other side. That's where the 4 hands come in handy.

After removing the OEM muffler remove this screw from the right hand side. It's NOT reused. You use the screw shown on the bracket on the right side.



Install the bracket. I used heavy grease to hold the washer in place on the right side as my daughter worked the smaller washer in place on the left. I used a rubber mallet to tap the bracket into alignment and then placed the screws and tightened them down.

Bracket installed.



Slide the extension pipe that comes with the RS3 in place snuggly and tighten down the clamp at the proximal motor end.

Slide the muffler into the hanger and loosely mount it to the bike with the rear bolt. Then put the 2 springs into place.

Springs.



Snug down the rear bolt to ensure the muffler hanger is tight (don't forget the rubber liner for the hanger).



The RS3 comes with a baffle



Exhaust end without baffle, basically straight through exhaust channel. Notice the screw. There are 2 in place so I have them available should I want to put in the baffle.



With baffle inserted for demo (no screws tightened down)

.

My Opinions on the look and sound.

Opinions are like elbows. most people have at least one or two.

The look: It's growing on me. It's a full sized can, not a stubby and somewhat traditionally shaped. It doesn't add to the classic retro look of the bike but offsets it.

The sound: Definitely gives it a low end bass GROWL. Not oppressively loud at all, just more throaty. At 75+ mph it's noticeable and if I was doing an 3-4 day extended weekend ride I'd more than likely insert the baffle.

For sure the motor now lets me know if I'm asking it abruptly to do more work I find myself frequently blipping the throttle somewhat uncontrollably to get that response.

NOTES:

1) Yoshimura customer service is top notch

2) Revzilla no longer stocks the RS3 Carbon. not sure if that means that Yoshimura is eliminating it from their line up.

3) The can is supposed to be repacked at about 7K miles. After watching a video on it I'd rather pay the nominal fee Yoshimura charges for this process as its a mess to do at home. Repacking supposedly brings sound signature down by 2-3 DB's.

4). My seat of the pants dyno can’t tell if there has been any performance improvement.

5) There is absolutely no popping on deceleration whatsoever.

Glamor shot from today after a storm had just passed heading towards the east.

No, I did not get rid of my beloved 1100. I've been commuting on her every day. However, I walked into the dealer the other day and the rest is history...

Meet my new 2018 Honda CB1000R Neo-Sports Cafe.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RobertB755/media/20181101_192946_zpsgs1yixuk.jpg.html]

If I recall correctly, the U.S. market has "hand-finished" brushed aluminum side covers, while some other markets get a silver painted version. Are our U.S.-spec side covers finished in a clear coat, or are they raw aluminum?

The reason I ask is I just picked up my bike today after getting new tires and front brake pads installed (during the ride home there was literally zero brake squeal, so fingers crossed that the new EBC HH sintered metal pads and CRC Brake Disc Quiet treatment have permanently eliminated this issue), and I noticed what looked like an enormous number of brand-new scratches on my left-side cover. The right-side cover is still perfect. Looking it over closely with the mechanic, we discovered that the scratches didn't feel like actual scratches. We couldn't feel any surface irregularities with our fingernails, which led him to wonder whether there is a clear coat over the aluminum, and perhaps the clear coat is cracking.

Sound plausible? If so, I assume this would be covered under warranty, right?

How do you feel about this new scrambler craze? I realize that they use to be all the rage, and that “old is cool” will always have a place in contemporary motorcycle culture, but, they had their time. IMO. Technology has progressed. Long travel suspension is a thing now. Has been, for a long time. If you want a big, ungangly street bike to take off road, it already exists. It’s called an adventure bike now. And it’s far more capable than any scrambler being produced currently. Just seems like a regression, or fad. Where’s the utility? Is anyone actually taking these things off road?

All legitimate questions, curious of y’alls opinions.

hi

I see that the part numbers are different for the OEM bars on 13 and 14 bikes.

I have a 13 and might buy a set of 14 bars. They look this same but does anyone know the difference?

Thanks

[url=https://www.cycleworld.com/magni-750s-tributo-is-red-white-and-blue-masterpiece?fbclid=IwAR1Df4pefkNVGXFlHmf5qHuSet08b8Xkug9mxEMOo8boYkQBGuhJeHtsIAQ​#page-2]https://www.cycleworld.com/magni-750s-tr...IAQ#page-2

As winter settles over the northern hemisphere, many of you are moth-balling your CB1100s. I know from previous years that means a sort of cabin fever will set in and forum members will need something to occupy them while they twiddle their thumbs waiting for autumn/fall.

With that in mind, it's good to have issues or questions or thoughts to throw out for general discussion. This exchange seemed to me a good starting point for a conversation for anyone interested:


LR you might be disappointed considering the roads you have to ride on ...

The question for discussion: Do you get bored riding your CB1100 on the same roads over and over again, or is being on the bike enough satisfaction on its own?

They are calling for rain..a lot of rain..up to 5 inches over the next 2 days starting about noon today so I knew I had to ride early today to get a ride in. Got up at the crack of dawn, got dressed, rolled the CB out and fired it up. When on limited time I like to ride "The Loop" a 36 mile loop of roads by my house made up of 186 curves with many elevation changes that runs the first ridge back from the Ohio River. I can add extensions by taking side roads that circle back to "The Loop" to make it longer and add more curves, and today I took a short extension that adds another 30 curves. The sun came up, the temperature was 60 degrees, just perfect. Using the torque of the CB to accelerate thru the curves, loving the stellar handling with the Michelin tires, the supple suspension, enjoying the comfortable ergos, and the strong and progressive brakes when needed, riding was pure bliss this morning. The absolute lack of traffic, and the color change of the trees in autumn, just added to the joy. I love this motorcycle... and it's darn good looking. Even dirty.

When I got to the point to take the little "tail" back home, I said to myself " man, that was too much fun, let's run it backwards". So I pulled a U turn and ripped it back the other direction. 80 miles, over 400 curves...all before breakfast. It just doesn't get much better than this on the last day of October.

some pics from this morning

Carlos and Oscar have put together some of the most epic and stunning motorcycle travel videos you'll ever watch. The drone footage will take your breath away.

I recommend starting with their 4-episode Pyrennees ride in Spain and France, and then check out their 16-episode Trans America Trail - TAT ride. Most of the episodes are about 15 minutes long so it's easy to watch one or two when you have a spare moment and want to indulge in some motorcycle riding awesomeness.

[url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm2kwJB1baEqtlQ-fqk_cuw/videos?sort=da&view=0&flow=grid]MotoTrek Adventures

I was recently pointed to the” Adventure Bicycling” website as a source for backroad routes for any of us who prefer to take the longer and slower journey.

https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-...ica-trail/