All my life, I have worn Levi 501, button-fly jeans. They fit me in all ways, including a silly delight I have buttoning them up as opposed to using a zipper like a grown-ass man should.

For all their virtues, abrasion protection during a motorcycle accident is minimal with Levi’s. The challenge for me was to find a pair of motorcycle jeans that were equally comfortable, gave me the same quirky delight when I put them on, allowed me to be comfortable entering a coffee house wearing them, and would protect me from nasty road rash. If I could also score some impact protection for my hips and knees, that would be great bonus. Finally, I did not want to be turned into a walking billboard because of excessive branding.

Roadskin was the answer for me. From their website:

“A UK family ran company, selling CE approved single layer and fully lined amoured motorcycle jeans with Kevlar. Our award-winning, classic biker gear is comfortable enough to be worn throughout the day but engineered to save your skin.”

https://roadskin.co.uk/

I purchased a pair of Taranis jeans:

https://roadskin.co.uk/products/taranis-...s-in-black

They are everything I had hoped for and more. The woven material has the feel of a traditional jean but has the strength and protection of Kevlar. The SATRA Technology Centre rated them AAA, which to the best of my knowledge is the highest rating.

They have a mesh lining which helps with ventilation as well as providing a buffer so that skin does not tear when a slide begins. There are sizing instructions on the website which are easy to follow. In my case, my Levi 501 jean size is also the size for my Taranis Motorcycle jeans.

I have tremendous respect for family owned businesses and often find they take a great deal of pride in what they do. Roadskin definitely reflects that commitment. Because I am a motorcycle-jean-knucklehead, I had a lot of questions. They were patient and even seemed delighted I was interested in the details. Customer service was outstanding when I managed to screw up my first order, too.

Their packaging created a moment, harkening back to the early days of cruisers:



In my entire life, I have held only two garments which had Kevlar. Both were stiff and rough. The Taranis Jean is soft. The stitching is outstanding. The weight is “right.”





The weave contains

* 48% Cotton
* 26.8% Kevlar
* 19.4% PE
* 3.2% Cordura
* 2.6% Lycra

The lining is equally well done:



The jeans ship with Level 2 hip and knee armour. It is traditional armour which is a little stiff However, I upgraded to RHEON armour which is equally strong but much more flexible. When I rode to work, it was easy to get on and off the CB1100. Very comfortable. I wore the jeans in the office for the day. I completely forgot about the armour. It moves and bends with you but can be counted on to protect when something strikes you. Here are a few pictures with both armour types:





I have not researched the materials and manufacturing process for the “Smurf” inspired armour yet, but I did find this test impressive:

https://youtu.be/5hAxqSsE72U?si=ZyloAIaWVeVWG2oH

The jeans “work” with the rest of my gear:





I hope these jeans will be pristine for the next 20-30 years and never, ever touch the asphalt. Time will tell.

I have tremendous respect for everyone who has joined the CB1100 Forum and shared their riding experiences. It has inspired me to ride more. My recent purchases give me the comfort I need to feel like I have managed the risks well.

As always, I welcome your feedback and insights. Thanks for sharing.

May 2025 be good for you and those you love. Be safe.

Hello,

With the advent of a new year and looking forward...

If you've been here for any length of time, you've read threads that bring up the question of this site's longevity. Please, not the time to re-hash reasons why, but rather to offer an alternative, just in case. It's the "original" CB1100 thread from which this site was born, if I'm not mistaken.

https://advrider.com/f/threads/2013-hond...9/page-287

I've been on ADV since 2007, and at the time it wasn't a pay site. Now I think it is if you want to avoid seeing ads, or maybe it's necessary to access all areas. I've never paid anything and I can access all areas and post / view photos.

May we all have a wonderful 2025!

Waddaya know? It’s 2025 in Australia. So … Very best wishes for a happy and safe year to all forum members.

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I have become more sensitive to safety while riding my CB1100. Although I have been fortunate and lucky to have remained upright during my 45 years on a motorcycle, stuff happens.

Old nerd that I am, I reviewed reports from government agencies, equipment manufacturers, insurance companies, and crusading law firms to make a more informed decision where to start. The consensus was there: the most common injury sustained by motorcyclists are to the lower extremities. As I reviewed my protective gear, I clearly had two deficits: I did not own proper motorcycle boots or jeans.

So with great enthusiasm, I went on a quest to purchase both. However, I did have some boundaries. Because I already purchased a fantastic set of crash bars (http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=19305) and had no desire to look like an elderly power ranger, I focused on finding “low” boots that (1) had an overall Level 2 safety rating, (2) were comfortable to wear, (3) would last a lifetime with proper care, and (4) could be worn with motorcycle jeans at a coffee shop and not make me look like a movie extra from a Mad Max movie.

All roads led to Steve at Indie Ridge, based in San Bernardino, CA. Although I have not met the man, his work and post-sale support have earned the respect of motorcyclists throughout North America and possibly across the pond. He works tirelessly to create great boots, gloves, and riding gear for motorcyclists. You can learn a little bit about Steve and a lot more about Indie Ridge products on his refreshingly focused website: https://www.indieridgeusa.com.

I purchased a pair of “The Crow” boots so named because they are black (https://www.indieridgeusa.com/collection...the-crow).

They were properly shipped in a two-box setup:





They were properly packed and had a wonderful registration twist:







They look, feel, and believe it or not smell fantastic:



Steve must own a motorcycle because the design, function, and materials scream let’s ride.

Here is the inside of the boot. Note the custom stitching and molded padding:



The best way to illustrate the ergonomics is to compare them to a non-motorcycle boot. I love my Timberlands for carpentry and gardening, but there is no comparison as a motorcycle boot:



The soles are not an afterthought. A tread design was created to help address the challenges we face stopping, starting, and walking in motorcycle boots:



When I received the boots, I put them on. I heard a swish as I inserted my foot. It is a snug but not too tight fit. I wore the boots for two days to break them in. No blisters; no discomfort. They loosened up with each step.





They fit nicely on a stock setup for a CB1100.



I rode with them for the first time today. It was perfect. Shifting gears was easy and my new motorcycle jeans fit over them nicely.



The materials and craftsmanship earned the safety rating:



If you are looking for a lifelong boot, I recommend you give Indie Ridge serious consideration.

I know this thread is too long but I felt I owed it to Indie Ridge to give a proper accounting. Forgive me if I let my enthusiasm get the better of me. I will create another thread for the motorcycle jeans I equally like. Good night.

Hello all, hope you are having a good holiday season. I have been wanting a smaller bike but nothing really jumped out at me till Kawasaki came along with the Ninja 500.
In Oct. I took it for a spin, and it was in my garage the next day. No buyers remorse here. The only one there was the anniversary edition. I have put 900 mi. on it so far. This is a great little bike. I did get the taller seat for it which made it much more comfy. I did a 150 mi. ride pretty much nonstop on it and I wasn't hurting. My biggest concern was will it do interstate speed, 85-95 mph. Traffic moves along here sometimes. It keeps up no problem. It does well into triple digit speed. I had it on open interstate sailing past trucks at 95mph with a 30-40mph cross wind. It was surprising stable in those conditions. Gas mileage is showing avg 62mpg. Seems a little low for a 450..... My Z900RS gets in low to mid 50s for mileage. Hey, if it's half the size it should get twice the mileage right? lol... I am tickled pink with this bike. A few things I don't care for are front suspension is a bit stiff. Not a big fan of the video game dash, I'm old school.. Even less of a fan of that key fob thing.... The old key and switch is so tried and true. And they didn't address the exhaust where your right boot keeps resting on the pipe. But no bike is perfect, but this bike is a blast to ride, like it wants you to ride the snot out of it. Didn't mean to write a novel here but wanted to give a perspective on it in case anyone here was thinking of one.

Found this vid of a Japanese race bike using our beloved CB with a different set of clothes on being raced in anger at some Japanese race circuit.
Disguised as an '83 CB1100R.

OR IS IT??

Could this be an original period cb from the early 80's??
I know it has carbs but the swing arm looks like the one on my RS.
Comments please....
Looks fantastic!! would love to see this live!

Enjoy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR3iLB1fb18

JT

“He built Suzuki Motor from a small company into a global powerhouse, entering the Indian market in the 1980s in one of his early successes.”

https://www.autonews.com/executives/an-o...mu-suzuki/

Walking around last night for excercise and to cram in a few more neighborhoods for Christmas decorations. This guy wins in my book!

I put magnesium wheels on my bike summer 2022 and have rode it pretty intermittently since then. Life as a UPS driver can be brutal. When I do ride it, there is a small front wheel shimmy with the front brake between 30 down to 15 mph. If I don’t apply front brake, there is no shimmy. I have a bunch of upgrades coming in from webike. While I’m at it, what’s the best way to attack this problem? Rotors? New pads? What’s the likely explanation.

Merry Christmas!

I hope 2025 is a wonderful year for you and your family. Thanks to the wonderful people in the Forum who have graciously shared their love of motorcycles and knowledge of CB1100s with me. I am very grateful and much the better for it.

And now, a special Christmas present for the RLET Police Squad. As I have tried to return back to the members the many benefits and joys I have received, please note that my posts involving RLETs are by far the most popular. Almost 6,000 views in six months which continue to increase each and every month:



The tireless work of the RLET Police Squad pays dividends and ensure that all CB1100s are properly adorned, just like a Christmas tree. Take care and Merry Christmas. David