Well, I've been a member of this Forum for more than 2 1/2 years. And my post count as I write this is 997, soon to be 998. Not as high as Cormanus and others (Ferrets is high because he's a 'well paid' staffer and it's his job), but I guess it's pretty good. During my time here, I've purchased 2 CB1100's and bought a few things for them. I've supported a member or twos personal business; buying valve stem covers from one, a license plate bracket from anther, and tee shirts from two others . I even sold a couple of things... a rack to someone and a cover to someone else. I also attended the inaugural rally and suffered through the humiliation of having RLETS forcibly installed. So, even though my posts have been inconsistent of late (some of us still work...), I think I've been an upstanding member of this community. So here's my question and request. I'm about to cross over 1000 posts. Am I going to get a prize or something for this achievement? I mean really... can I at least go from being labeled 'High Mileage' to something like... 'Wow, he's the man!' Guth, Ferrett... what do you think? I think I'm worth it.

Haven't ridden with it yet, but here is my CB with an MRA VarioScreen model VNB installed. Snowed last night here, so just garage pics - sorry. Shown with the upper screen adjusted at its highest. I will give a highway report ASAP, supposed to be nice the rest of this week, but what do the weather forecasters know, eh? Really liked the MRA Vario Touring screen (the shorter type with the height and angle adjustable 'wing') but at its highest the wind (and grasshoppers!) would hit me in the face shield of my helmet at eye level.

[url=http://s174.photobucket.com/user/scottwally/media/IMG_2302_zpsuqmutufg.jpg.html]

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It can be lowered down approximately 2 inches which would just about make it as short as the Vario Touring. Adjustment is made with 2 'no tools needed' fasteners on the back of the screen. Must be at a stop to make the adjustment.

The MRA Vario Touring looks like this:

[url=http://s174.photobucket.com/user/scottwally/media/IMG_1916_zpsds9wqwj4.jpg.html]

For a while now I have been thinking about selling my 94 FLSTN and going to something both quieter and newer. The CTX1300 has caught my eye and the dealers are offering heavy discounts(4K to 5K), sorta like the CB1100 What can anyone tell me about them ? No, my DLX will not be for sale. I also like the ST1300, but hard to find with low milage.

This has been an another unusually cold winter here in northwest Nebraska with ice and snow covered ground since mid-November. I haven't had the CB out of the garage since then as our road to the highway has been ice-laden for two months.

Just for grins, I went out on a cold morning (below zero F outside), garage temp was about 5 degrees F and wanted to see if the CB would start. I hadn't put a charger on the battery all year and it had October fuel in the tank.

Anyway, the bike started right up as easily as it does in the summer...incredible! I let it idle for a few moments and then shut it down.

FWIW

Everyone has a dream bike that they would someday like to own. I'm very fortunate in that my ambitions are modest and therefore affordable. The bike of my dreams has always been a J.A.P. engined vintage speedway bike, this one dates from 1947. I bought this bike in April of last year and have just completed the engine rebuild and it is now ready for methanol and firing up. In England speedway is a race of four laps of a quarter mile oval cinder track. The bikes have no brakes and no gears, the only controls being a throttle and a clutch. Engines are 500cc single cylinder units with long stroke for plenty of torque. I'm not sure if you have speedway in the US, I suspect flat track is your equivalent. What you do have is one of the worlds best speedway riders in Greg Hancock who was world champion in 2014 and who shows no signs that his mature years are going to slow him down.

Does anyone know if the black finish on the rims of the 13 Standard is paint or powder coat? And, same question for the engine cases. I have some other bikes with comstars that are bare and I like their look.
Steve

Are the seats and the side covers interchangable between 2013 and 2014 deluxe?

modmaster

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/mcd/5408335207.html

I picked up my CB (Black 2014 Standard) this past Friday. I thought I'd share my initial impressions: The best word I can use to describe this bike is Refined. When I threw my leg over the bike it felt different, special, substantial. The salesman described the bike as a "Gentleman's Bike" and I think he really nailed it. You immediately feel the quality and substance of the bike. Once finished with all of the paperwork, etc. it was time for a ride (it was about 47-48 degrees on Friday...a treat here in Jersey for this time of year). I rode about 70 miles and loved every inch of it. Initial observations: Silky smooth ride, great weight distribution, great suspension, great handling for a larger bike, it is extremely nimble, plenty of power and nice power delivery (not a torquey pull out from under you)...Very even and deliberate power. So far my only criticism is that the pipes are already discoloring. I'm 51 years old, while riding it I felt 18! I think I will enjoy this bike for a long time!

Wasn't sure which forum category to put this in, but if you are in a situation like mine, where you are always riding off (sometimes for weeks at a time) and leaving your spouse wondering where the heck you are, or how far you are from home, there are solutions.

One is a product called Spot Tracker. Many long distance riders use these. You buy and carry a little gizmo that sends a signal to a satellite and your spouse can log on to a website and track where you are. The units are generally a couple hundred dollars and the fee is about $150 a year for the tracking service. My buddy Jnor used one of these when we rode out to Cali and his wife tracked us the whole way and always knew where we were and whether we were still moving or stopped for the night. When he turned onto his street on the way home from the trip his wife hit the garage door opener and it was open when he pulled in the drive.

I recently got an Iphone and my wife and I have Ipads. There is a feature on these devices that is called "Find My Friends". Using my cell phone signal my wife can track where I am when I am out riding. You have to agree to let yourself be tracked. Both my son and my wife have permission to track me. This was the prime motivator in getting my Iphone. Since I ride alone this is a safety thing. If I break down or heaven forbid run off a curve, plunge over a cliff and crash in a creek I want to be able for them to find the body lol..I mean find me and send emergency help. There is no extra fee for the tracking service.

The first time we tried the feature I stopped at a little roadside park for some tea and called my wife and asked where her Ipad said I was? She said "you are stopped at the intersection of St Rt 52 and St Rt 232, so you must be at that little roadside park by Grant's house."

Yep, Perfect!

I asked my wife to take a couple pics of her I pad while I was on yesterdays ride to show you guys

Here it shows I am on St RT 50 (just east of a great series of uphill back and forth curves that I just came thru) near Pattison Park on the west side of Owensville, Ohio

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/tracking%201_zpsw15svmxg.jpg.html]

In this one I am on ST RT 131 (I am about to turn left on St RT 727 and head north to the lake)

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/tracking%202_zpsvkephizn.jpg.html]

Real peace of mind for me...and for her now.

The problem with the Iphone tracker is it will only track where there is a cell phone signal which is not everywhere. I use Verizon. Great coverage, getting better every day, but it's not 100% of the country.

Hope this helps someone else who might be searching for a similar solution to keeping their spouse at ease with them being gone on their motorcycle.