Just when you thought it was safe to go on the internet... somebody digs up these patent renderings:

http://www.motorcycle.com/mini-features/...tered.html

All I can say is wow. If they build it I'm not sure I could resist it. I suspect a lot you might feel the same way.

Beginning of this month I made a very nice two days ride, across French Alps. The goal was to climb the highest road in France, around "Cime de la Bonette": 2802 meters height. As far as I know, there is only one higher asphalt road in Alps Mountains, the Ötztal Glacier Road (2829 meters), in Austria - too far away from my home!

Started early in the morning from Grenoble area. First noticeable spot for photography : La Grave, under La Meije rocks and glaciers.


Then we climbed a first high pass, Le Lautaret (2058 m). Nice place, but we didn't stop, as we had been there previous week! Our next pause was a little bit downer in the valley toward Briançon : Le Casset, nice small village besides Guisane River:


We spent some time in Briancon city, impressive citadel built beginning of 18th century with Vauban advise. I have no valuable picture of this town, that's a place worth to visit but it was too much crowdy this day, with the yearly medieval festival!
Actually the better part of our first day ride was just after Briancon : Izoard pass road is just beautiful. First, a typical high village not far from Briancon: Cerviere


Arriving at higher point of Izoard pass : a strong column set there in 1934, reminding "la Route des Alpes" was a military project, before becoming a touristic and sporting road...


One kilometer south of Izoard pass, we arrive in the "Casse Deserte", a famous place for the cycling Tour de France legends...


Here is a memorial to cyclists Louison Bobbet and Fausto Coppi, both crossed Izoard pass ahead of the race, the Italian Fausto Coppi twice in 1949 and 1951, and French Louison Bobet in 1951, 1953 and 1954:


South of the Casse Deserte, view toward Izoard pass


Next high pass of our first day, Vars pass, not so mineral as Izoard pass, being lower (2109 m)


And we arrive at our rest house : we rent a room in the "Chateau des Magnans", Jausiers. It is one of the "Mexican villas" of the Ubaye valley, built by emigrants from Jausiers and Barcelonnette who made their fortunes in Mexico in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, then came back in the area. The Magnans Castle, built between 1903 and 1913, has a Gothic architecture of fantasy, inspired by that of the Neuschwanstein Castle, built in Bavaria by Louis II.


The second day, we just had to take the road heading to La Bonette, 25 km from Jausiers... We were not alone, all along the morning we were surrounded by various motorcycles, many of them joining Nice, departure of the rallye "Transalpes AMV Legende" (http://transalpes-amv-legende.com). I didn't met any CB1100, although it was possible, as it enters the "replicas" category of this event. I saw a few CB750, Triumph, Norton Commando, etc.... Funny as the smell of ancient bikes can help identify if you ride behind a real old bike, or a replica! I was surprised also to see a so large number of Royal Enfield (500 cc single, made in India).


From the top of the road, it is worth walking 10 or 15 minutes for accessing the "Cime de la Bonette", as long as clouds are not too much present yet. 2862 meters, that's 60 m above the road.


So here is the highest point reached by the bike:


We returned back home by south of Massif des Ecrins (Barcelonnette, Serre-Ponçon lake, Gap, La Croix-Haute pass). This makes a great loop and a nice ride, but clearly the higher roads, north of Ecrins, are more interesting for moderate speed touring. We'll come back there in a short while!

Some more pictures in this album, with map: http://img.gg/LqNn9b7

I am preparing for new tires at 10,400 miles.
The originals may last for another month or two, but I want to be prepared.

I intend to use scrambler type tires:

Pirelli MT60 RS 110/80-18 mfg # 2402500 List $221.95, $141.88 from Dennis Kirk or $149.91 from Bike Bandit or $168.19 from Cycle Gear.

MT90 150/70-18 mfg # 1421900 List 228.95, $128.88 from Dennis Kirk, or $152.71 from Bike Bandit or $174.15 from Cycle Gear.

I do not ride much in the dirt, but oft pull off the asphalt for photos, etc., onto dirt, gravel, sand, etc.

Plan is to remove wheels and bring to nearest Honda dealer or independent shop or Cycle Gear for mount and balance. Cycle Gear did a poor job of balancing on my Triumph...so that is questionable

The question is concerning tire removal. The owner's manual advises removing the calipers. Is that essential?

I can see that in the rear, as non-removal may be a support issue.
However, in the front, it appears that the wheel can be pulled forward, leaving calipers mounted.

Hello everyone,
I just bought a new 2017 CB1100EX this week and I cannot see where it says in the manual what octane gas to put in. I am assuming it is at least 89 but should I go all the way up?

What is everyone using on this bike?

I'd love to have an angled tapered go/no-go set but nobody makes them.

In fact I haven't seen a tapered set angled or a tapered set go/no-go, much less all 3..

For years I have used a Tecmate tester called TestMate mini.
Connect it to your batterie using a SAE connector and you can check the batterie voltage, cranking voltage and charging voltage.
They are cheap and well made by the Tecmate company , they also have many great chargers and make the Honda ones as well.
Some years ago I met the gentleman from South Africa at the AIMEXPO whom started the company and at that time still owned it.
Quality products they have: check their website.
The website is under Optimate name.

Hey Guys,
I saw that webbike Japan had only one oem red top case and it was on sale so I grabbed that and the mounting plate for $350 with shipping! I know I can buy the rack, bracket and case from samurai for about $800 so I think I got a deal. My question is will the mounting bracket work with something like the givi rack?

I recently had my bike serviced at a honda dealership and the oil is brand new. After the service, I put on about 50 miles or so. Then it was in the garage for 10 days. I tried to start the engine yesterday and it refused to do so. The high oil indicator light comes on and I get a whine.

I tried to start it multiple times but same result.

Can anyone suggest some troubleshooting tips please?

Thanks.

Just returned from a nice day ride in the Colorado Rockies: 289 miles and 8 passes totalling 83,000' of elevation, including two Continental Divide crossings. Traffic was reasonably light but there were many bikes on the road, mostly Harleys, mostly from out of state. Perfect weather: 80's and clear skies.

Passes
Guanella Pass: 11,669'
Kenosha Pass: 10,001'
Red Hill Pass: 10,051'
Trout Creek Pass: 9,346'
Tennessee Pass: 10,424' (Continental Divide)
Battle Mtn Pass: 9,267'
Vail Pass: 10,666'
Loveland Pass: 11,992' (Continental Divide)

I made it a point to stop at the 10th Mountain Division Monument atop Tennessee Pass. For those who are WWII buffs, you may recall the 10th was the elite army division who trained for winter combat (skiing, rock climbing, etc.) at nearby Camp Hale and overwhelmed the Nazis in the Italian theatre in the winter of 1945. Several returned to Colorado after the war and founded many of the ski resorts we enjoy today, including Vail, Aspen, Ski Cooper, and Arapahoe Basin. Thanks fellas. RIP.

– Saw combat in Cutigliano, Battle of Monte Castello, Monte Della Torraccia-Mount Belvedere, Canolle, Mongiorgio, Torbole and Nago
– 992 killed in action
– 4,154 wounded in action
– 114 days of combat



I took Ferret and Offroad over Tennessee Pass when they were visiting last summer. Ferret was leading on that leg, didn't know about the monument, and flew right past it. I guess he was having too good of a time to stop. Had I been leading, we would have stopped. Fifteen minutes later the skies opened up and the temperature collapsed and we had to tiptoe through slush and snow over Fremont Pass. Good times!

But then again, I don't blame him. This is a really scenic route and it's tough to stop when the curves keep coming at you. I got off the bike three times today: once for breakfast in Fairplay, once for gas in Leadville (63 mpg trip average) and once again to take the photos. The CB was faultless.

Today's route:



10th Mountain Division Memorial, US Hwy 24:





Looking up at the Red Cliff Bridge, US Hwy 24, which I crossed about a minute later:

I apologize if this has been touched upon before but I’m considering modifying my 13 CB1100 into a mild dual sport maybe even a scrambler like machine. I can’t seem to find dual sport tires for this bike or maybe I just don’t know where to look. I’ve been having a blast on this bike since I bought it used at 6600 miles over a year ago and it runs like a top. Had the valves inspected and they were kosher and I’m on top of the maintenance. I live in the desert and I just want to convert this machine into an all purpose (or close to it) work horse. Any advice or has anyone done something similar?


2013 CB 1100