The boss dragged me over to Costco to buy a new BBQ. While I was there I bought a Paradox down-filled jacket. Actually its a long sleeve vest. It feels very flimsy, but the staff claimed it could stuffed into the small polyester bag that comes with it.

The zippers on my leather jacket let the windblast in when riding in cold weather. So I thought this might solve the problem by wearing it under the jacket. I bought it to fit snug.

Yesterday it was 57F when I started out at 8AM. With the vest under my jacket I was completely comfortable and warm. It has a priest's collar, so it kept my neck warm. Because it fits snug, it also keeps the small of my back warm at speed. It does not feel heavy or bulky like my microfiber filled vest does.

Three hours later when things warmed up, I removed it and was able to stuff it into the small polyester bag that comes with it. Because it is slippery, it was like trying to stuff a marshmallow into a piggy bank. But it took up a small space in my tail bag instead of filling it like my microfiber vest did.

Overall I am very happy with it. A good piece of gear for only $49. Costco had it in standard motorcycle black. But don't try to find it on their website, just visit the store. If they no longer have it, just Google Paradox down filled jacket. It's available on Amazon and other stores.

I am unable to find a helmet I want. The specifications are quite simple:

1) Full face
2) As low mass (weight) as possible
3) White, with no graphics and lettering on it
4) Reasonable cost

The specifications are listed in order of importance. Please note that I do not believe any one particular helmet make/model will offer significantly better protection than another in case of a crash. I do not need any formal "certification" as I have yet to observe it be examined on the road by an agent of the government in any jurisdiction I have been riding in.

Specifically, if you own a full-face helmet and weighting scale, and if your helmet weights less than 1250 grams (2.75 pounds) please post the make/model and mass in either metric or imperial measure.

TIA

Craigslist, Durham NC. Wrecked black 2014 CB1100 at salvage prices if anybody needs a parts bike.

I'm beginning to put some miles on the CB1100 now that I have installed the Ikon shocks, and I have a question unrelated to suspension.

Question is ..... is there a way to measure drive line lash (free play,) such as selecting a gear and manually pushing the bike back and forth until it 'clunks? Then measuring that distance? I'm curious if mine is like most of the CB1100s in this regard.

If mine is normal, I'll just consider it the nature of the beast. The feeling is much like riding a shaft drive bike like my older BMW or the Moto Guzzi, but not like I remember my 2003 T100 (chain drive) responding to throttle inputs.

My fuel injection feels dialed in nicely from the factory, so don't think the FI is abrupt.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Bob

In the dawn of this Saturday I will start my yearly expedition, this time to explore Transylvania and finally meet with some iron butts at the IBA Germany R2E event in Konstanza at the Black Sea:
https://forum.ironbutt.org/index.php?thr...2017.1006/

Well, thinking about, how to do a ride report, let me create a Blog at wordpress.com, to collect my thoughts, pictures and adventures: https://djangotours.wordpress.com/

Feel invited to follow me for about 5,500 km in 9 days.

For the last few months I developed the following pattern. Retired, I ride almost everyday. If I'm going to ride 100 miles or less, here in my local area, on the roads I grew up on, I take the CB.

I don't even take the sport touring bikes out of the garage for anything less than 100 miles. When I do its closer to 200. That is what they are good at. The CB is just a fun bike to ride after all those years exclusively on sport tourers.

I'm leaving in 5 weeks, for a two week, 5000 mile trip out west. I'll be riding the RT. I can ride the RT for as long and as far as I want, it is that comfortable on a long ride. And it handles very well.

I was on the CB today, and went into a Mcdonald's for coke and french fries. It was cool here, and a nice late afternoon ride was calling me. A man (40s?) saw me ride and up and I could feel him watching me. A few minutes later he walked over and spoke to me. He asked "what year is your bike?" "2017, its just styled like a retro." "Great looking bike."

I get that often when I ride the CB 1100. I think alot has to do with it being different. You don't see them often. I could not be happier with this bike.

Installed IKON shocks (7610-1507-SP17) with lighter (Code 215) springs. To date, I've ridden approx. 150 miles with the new shocks. Rear end feels much more compliant. Preload and rebound damping on lightest settings at this time, but think I'll need to dial in a bit more damping. Still to do ..... the Traxxion Dynamics fork kit. A bit more work than simply changing the rear shocks, but I'll get it done.

I find the oil level sight glass on my '14 CB a frustration. I've had several other bikes with sight glasses about the size of a quarter, and quite easy to read. A dipstick would have been nice. Has Honda changed this on models newer than my 2014?

I thought you all might enjoy some of this report. I traded in a black '14 1100 for a '16 CB1000R and am offering a report of the differences between the two. First let me say that I put 2100 miles on the 'R' in about 5 days. I had not been in the saddle of the 1100 for that many miles at one time.

A friend and myself set out to Nebraska to view the Great American Eclipse in totality. He rode a newer SV650 and I had the new to me 1000R. On the backroads of Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska, the 1100 would have been great. Big, heavier and longer, would have made a nice combo on the highways. We have some really nice wide two lane highways in those states. I then proceeded to Arkansas for some, um, scenic and twisty terrain.

1st. I like the 1100 better. I don't think the 1100 could have handled some of the corners that I threw at the 1000R in Arkansas between Hwy 7 and Hwy 23, but it's not that kind of bike. The 1100 isn't meant to turn with one of your knees slightly off of the ground and it may have been a bit scary coaxing the 1100 through some of the canyon switchbacks. The R was right at home with this and just begged for more. With better tires, maybe. I've noticed a front end push on the 1100, so I wouldn't push it too hard in that respect. Also the 1000R has a very cool list of details, single-sided swingarm, great suspension, great seat (actually all day comfortable), big power at 6K (and I mean big) and cool looks. But still...

2nd. The long two lane highways filled with corn fields on both sides...the 1100 would have been right at home...all day, and more fun. There's just something about riding that big, nice sounding bike in a long straight line that appeals to me and the older I get the slower I go through the mountains. i'll probably, in a couple of years trade the 1000R in on a newer 1100 and keep it.

I know some of you will say that the 1100 handles just fine in the mountains and I would agree but I tend to lay it on a bit thick when I get to very twisty roads. I carried a CMRA roadracing license for 2 years so I do understand what a bike is trying to do underneath me. I'm not pointing that out to be a richard, it's just part of my riding history and I've been riding motorcycles since I was 7 (I'm 58 now).

I just like the 1100 better. There, are ya happy? Oh and the eclipse was very inspiring. No, it was life changing. Weirdest thing I've ever experienced.

So, Honda blows a potential podium with a mechanical? Blown engine no less. Soichiro is probably spinning in his grave. With all the miles Honda engines put down in GP racing this year in all three classes - to have Marquez blow an engine while in the hunt for the win is incredibly bad luck.

BTW:
1 - Dovi
2 - Vinales
3 - Rossi

Of interest elsewhere is Crutchlow at 5 and Pedrosa at 7. The rest is posted on the 'net. Felt kind of silly posting "spoiler alert" for a race that ended almost half a day ago. Not much chatter on this race on the forum.

Marc is now 9 points behind Dovi and just 4 ahead of Vinales. Have we had 4 different leaders so far?

As before, it's wide open!