Just wondering if anyone local is going to the Mecum motorcycle auctions running in Las Vegas Jan 25 - 28 ?

I would so love to be there

Gasoline engines without spark plugs!

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/01/16/mazda...hcci-2018/

These are some pictures from the Queensland Vintage Motor Cycle Club meet yesterday. Thanks for the invite Tezza.

A lot of people talk about buying and riding a motorcycle to save some money over driving a car. I bought (2) new 2006 Hondas. An ST 1300 motorcycle and a Civic 2 door coupe. Both were about the same price retail, about $16,000. Both had 4 cyl engines with similar horsepower (around 120 hp). Both had manual 5 speed transmissions. Both revved to about the same rpm redline (8.5K) and actually both got very similar mileages ...38 for the car and 45 for the bike.

I sold the Civic after putting 205,000 miles on it to a friend who wanted it, for $3500. Still riding the ST. (wonder what a motorcycle with 205,000 miles on it would be worth, or if you could even sell it lol)

During the years I owned the Civic I had 52 oil and filter changes, put 2 sets of tires on it (Michelins), 1 set of front brakes, 2 air filters, 1 cabin filter, 1 set of spark plugs and 3 sets of wiper blades, and had the A.C. refrigerant added to once. No mechanical issues at all, it was a great car. Still on the original clutch, rear brakes, exhaust and battery when I sold it. My friend traded it in on a new Honda SUV after 2 years. He told me he hadn't had any issues, and that it had been a great car for him as well, although he did replace the rear brakes.

The other day I picked up the ST from yet another service at the dealership. At 83,000 miles it has had 21 oil and filter changes (I do the oil and filter changes and rear end oil, dealers do the rest), I'm on my 4th air cleaner, my 4th set of spark plugs, had 1 valve inspection, on 5th set of front brakes, 5th set of rear brakes, 8th front tire (Michelins), 10th rear tire (Michelins), 4th set of fluids in the clutch and brakes, on my 4th coolant change and my 3rd battery. The only mechanical problem I have had is a stuck thermostat at 34,000 miles (requiring one of the coolant changes) and a mechanical seal in the water pump that was leaking at around 60,000 miles (requiring another of the coolant changes). It has always brought me home. I'm hoping to ride it to 100,000 miles and that's going to require another set of front and rear brakes, one more front tire and 2 more rear tires. It's been a great bike.

But economical? Not hardly ..at least compared to the Civic. Plus in the Civic I had air bags and crash protection, a heater in winter, an air conditioner in summer, didn't get wet when it rained, could go in the snow, could take 3 people with me and had a lot more storage. Maybe that's why a motorcycle is such a hard sell to people who are not born motorcyclists. For a young guy with a wife and small kids and a limited income, a motorcycle is not a necessity but an extravagance, and certainly not economical. They just need too much repair, too often. Maybe buying a small used bike would be fairly economical? Say an air cooled 250 cc with single disc brakes? But riding one of those loses it's appeal quickly especially if you have any freeway commute. I think this is what manufacturers are dealing with. How do they sell motorcycles to millennials who don't want to endure cold or wet or hot or inconvenience? Would millennials rather have a motorcycle or a Kia Soul?

BTW I didn't buy the ST for economy or the convenience, I bought it because it's fun to ride. I bought the Civic for the economy and convenience.

For some time now I've been trying to catch up with forum member Tezza. It never quite works out. After yet another failed attempt last week, he sent me a text saying he was going to an event organised by the Queensland Vintage Motor Cycle Club at the Red Cedar Park. The Red Cedar Park is on the other side of Mounts Nebo and Glorious which means there's a most enjoyable ride to be had to get there.

Tezza told me where he'd be at 0630 and I inscribed it in my diary and invited GrahamT as well. He had domestic responsibilities and was unable to make it, so [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=10132]I made a sacrifice for him the day before and braved the heat to go for a ride with him.


[url=https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Si2o-mCIfdNhfKqzZJQxLfpuOVE&usp=sharing]Link to Map. I rode anti-clockwise around the route

Even before 0630 I was at the nominated meeting place. There was a school of squid and another older bloke on a Bonneville, but no Tezza. Because he has a collection of bikes and because it was a Vintage Motor Cycle Club shindig, I wasn't expecting the CB1100, but there were no old bikes either until a chap arrived on one of those 500cc V-Twin Hondas.


He filled up with fuel and, like me, stood about playing with his phone.

After a time, he said: "Are you waiting for the Vintage Motor Cycle people?"

"Yes. A bloke called Tezza."

We exchanged names.

"I know Tezza. I'll give hime a ring." He did so and got no answer. "Mmm. He's either asleep or in the shower or riding."

"I'm not sure," I said, "every time there's a vague plan to meet, it doesn't happen. I'm beginning to wonder whether he even exists."

He explained that 0630 at the meeting place meant people started shambling in about then and the group generally left 30 minutes or so afterwards.

So, just after 0700 and a couple of ancient looking bikes chugging past, we gave up and set out for Red Cedar.

As it turned out we followed two elderly bikes through the often dense mist and round all the corners all the way to White Cedar. Red Cedar was closed and White Cedar's about 100 metres back up the road, so it wasn't a problem. They made cracking good time and I would have been quite happy following them on any occasion.

When we arrived there were plenty of bikes.


I wondered around, got a cup of tea and was standing about the place looking for something to eat when my new friend came over to me and said, "Tezza's here. He came a different way."

He took me over and introduced me.

Tezza does indeed exist and had ridden his Yamaha 250.


There were many other excellent bikes to be seen and I have an enormous number of photos of them, but I'll post them in another thread some time.

After a good long chat with Tezza and a look at the bikes, I climbed about the CB and set out. It wasn't until I actually turned right out of the car park that I decided to go home a different way.

I followed some bloke I don't know along the Wivenhoe-Somerset Rd.





Ticked off another milestone.


I took scenic detours over Pine Mountain and Mount Crosby and made it home for late morning coffee.

And before the rain (of which there was not enough) started.

It was a miserably hot day on Saturday January 14 2017. So hot, I drove my car with the air conditioning on full blast to meet Graham T for a late breakfast.

After a while I went home and Graham T did some maintenance on his bike. Later in the afternoon he sent a text to say he was thinking about a ride. As the sea breeze was blowing strongly and there were tasks to be avoided, I said I'd meet him.


[url=https://drive.google.com/open?id=1afSZIQRzEygHk0BXAdFjQF5Zn3U&usp=sharing][i]Link to map[i]

We rode anti clockwise around the route above. The early part was on the motorway so we could get moving fast in the hope of the cooling air. Much of the route from Sandgate to Scarborough was along the water's edge so we could reap the benefit of the se breeze. It was bloody hot, but better than I expected.

We stopped for a bottle of water at Scarborough where the day's one photo was taken.


After that, we turned around and rode home.

Aside from the never-ending pleasure of riding, the outing can be judged successful by the fact that the chores still haven't been done.

For those interested in sales statistics, Australia had the best motorcycle sales in seven years in 2016 with Honda the leading manufacturer with 22.9% of the motorcycle and ATV market in Australia.

Harley Davidson was the biggest seller in the road bike category selling more than 10,000 motorcycles and claiming 21.5% of the market.

Of interest, the biggest selling Honda was the NBC110, or the postie. That's a scooter available only to postal contractors and not available to the general public.

Read all about it [url=http://www.fullnoise.com.au/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_full&news_id=23618&Ntitle=Industry%3A%20Best%20sales%20in%20seven%20years%20for%20Australian%20​motorcycle%20industry]here. The report includes tables of the top 10 sellers in various categories.

And above all else, if you are riding today, do it safely

You're welcome.

Please pardon my ignorance concerning computer related issues but I have a question for those on the forum who subscribe to Video Pass for the Motogp season. When I check the Video Pass site I'm confused about what is offered here. May I watch the race at any time other than live? Will I be able to watch on my "smart" TV's big screen? Will I be able to watch races from years past? Is the service easily accessed once you're subscribed? Most important, do you feel you are getting your money's worth for this service?

Thanks fellows for any advice you can offer.

I don't get it. This afternoon there were 2 members but 175 quests on line. Come on, just join up. It's not like you have to pay. The more members, the better for everyone, unless I'm missing something.