Does anyone have one of these? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HTV2N4E?psc=1
14mm drain plug, I like the easy access versions.

Next week I'm going to be getting a '14 base model and noticed the service interval for the oil changes is 2x what I'm used to, so I thought I'd throw a Fumoto valve on there to make it go a little quicker/cleaner. Does anyone have one on their bike? If so, was it a PITA to install? It seems like there's a little ridge near the drain bolt that may prevent it from fitting, but since I don't have the bike yet I can't say for sure.

I was so looking forward to having Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday off from work to get some seat time since I put new rubber on her. I thought with having 3 days off, at least I would get to ride on one of those days. Well, so far that hasn't been the case. Yesterday morning had a bunch of running around to do, and then the weather started getting bad later in the day. So here it is on Wed. and still no chance due to weather (the weather reminds me of being in England). Maybe, just maybe there will be some hope for tomorrow. So far I have only been able to test the new tires out on my way to work, and so far, so good. They definitely feel better going over the road joints on the highway. I don't get jarred around. Hopefully the rain will end (drizzle, drizzle, drizzle) by tomorrow and I can take the ol' girl out for a ride.

I don't want to start a panic so I'll start off by saying that my levers were fine and worked as expected with no problems. I was doing some more research on the levers and was watching a ton of video's and started comming across several ones with people having their front brakes locking up and some crashing due to this. Some riders from different bikes on different forums and YouTube videos were complaining about the brake lever ever so slightly depressing the brake plunger and causing the brake to be slightly engaged which caused a build up in pressure then locking the front brake unexpectedly resulting in a crash. If the machining is ever so slightly off even by a couple of mm this could happen or if the spring fails. Being that our brake plunger does not use a pin with an indent in the handle like on the clutch side it may not be as much of an issue but after hearing about this potential problem I decided to put the stock levers back on for now. I know some have been using the Chinese levers for some time now and wanted to get some more advice and opinions before I use them again. The end result could be hundreds of dollars if not thousands in damages and even death if this happens. I don't know if I'm now willing to risk the cheap levers after aquiring this new knowledge.

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Let me also add that the riders with the problems stated that they installed the levers correctly and that the brake light was not engaged giving no warning that the brake was ever so slightly engaged. They experienced what they initially thought was a loss of power due to the bike being restricted with the unexpected building up of front brake pressure as the rotors and fluid got hotter and hotter. Some had suggester that they either were sent the wrong levers by the company and installed them or incorrectly installed them. The riders stated the install was correct and the levers did not appear to be deceftive to the naked eye. Also this happend mainly on sport bikes.
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Using public roads like a personal race track has it's down side. Save it for a track day.

https://www.facebook.com/scooter.street/...6/?fref=nf

Gentlemen,

I thought I'd let you all know that Bridgestone T30 tyres have just become available with a 140/70 R18 size for the rear, for the first time in my country. There are not many members here in Hungary, but this could be relevant for all European owners, and perhaps in the US too? Might be worth a try to check it out with your local suppliers.

My local tyre shop has first heard a couple months ago from Bridgestone that this new rear size is coming in April. They called me this morning to tell me it is now available. I've ordered a set and will have it fitted next week, I will report my impressions back here once I have them.

I am hoping Bridgestone will be making this available worldwide, it would be nice to have another good alternative for our bikes in stock sizes.

I've been helped through a drab, wet and cold Winter by the writings of Peter Egan. I've read his trilogy of 'Leanings' books and enjoyed every word. I wondered if anyone could recommend authors and titles of a similar nature.

I'd like to get some feedback from my CB1100 Forum Compadres. First, my experience: When I ride my bike, I tend to shift around 2,500-2,800 RPM's...Meaning, for example when I shift from 3rd to 4th I'm generally at around there. I tend to do it by feel...I sort of sense the bike wants the relief it gets by upshifting, plus I'm generally moving faster so it all seems to make sense and feel right. So why am I asking? It's because I'm always hearing about red-line this and high RPM's that, yet I rarely get my RPM's above about 3,300. I do not mean to sound naïve, but am I doing something wrong? Should I be running 6,000 RPM's in 5th gear? Educate me!

Wish I had one of these years ago....

Uniburr Tool Bit, Deburring External Chamfer Tool: http://youtu.be/UW_kF85Q-lY

Sent from me......

I’ve been riding for over 50 years. A while back I decided to estimate how many miles I’ve ridden and realized that it was more miles than the distance from here to the Moon and back. That got me to thinking about where all I’d been. I’ve ridden to a lot of places and I’ve seen a lot of things but what I now realize is that it’s the experience of riding and not the places that stick with me. Riding allows me to connect with the world around me. I get to experience the joy and frustrations of the people I share the road with. I get to watch the circle of life of the people and critters I see along the road. I’m awed and humbled by the tremendous power and calmness of the weather that embraces me as I ride. I enjoy the changing of the seasons as each new year brings new life and the year end brings peaceful closure just to start all over again.

So at the end of the day, it’s not the miles on the odometer but the unique experience of the days ride that adds a new dimension to who I am. Whether in your life time you’ve only ridden 100 miles or 100,000 miles, each day’s ride is special and enjoyable for just what it was.

Riding like life is about the journey, not the destination.

Happy Trails!
sanoke

Got the chance to compare my CB on the track against a Bonneville 800 and a Kawa Z800 (pity it wasn't the W800, a much better matched machine to the others).





The Triumph was interesting; it was faster around the track due to what felt like an easier / quicker turn in - a bit more nimble then. This may have something to do will the expensive Ohlins he's had fitted to the machine. The single front disk couldn't match the CB however, so braking needed to be started earlier. Also, it didn't feel as fast on the straights, despite some other modifications the owner has done (mostly to improve the now excellent low end torque). I'm not a big fan of the Bonneville look, so have no designs on swapping my CB this way.

The Z800 is more of a sit up and beg (which suits me) naked street racer. The owner, a slip of a Vietnamese lad, told me he wasn't impressed with the big mileage comfort - though for the few laps I did on it it was certainly comfy. It felt marginally faster than the CB, though not the 45% or that it has on the CB11. The Z800 has 112BHP I think he said. It didn't feel that must faster, but then I have a pretty loud exhaust on mine which probably makes me _think_ it's going faster. The handling was superior to the CB, at least for zipping around cones and that, with a lovely silky, zippy, sportyness to it. But then that's because it's not a tourer like the other two - the pillion seat is for very small buttocked women (or men), it seems to me.

If you've read this far, then consider answering this question: would Olins (or YPV or one of the other suspension kits) be a waste of money. The Bonny certainly handled better but that may be because it's a Bonny, rather than because of the Olins.