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Got back from LA a couple of days ago. The weather finally broke around these parts and it was 75 today in downtown 'naptown (Annapolis, MD).
Finally had a chance to put some serious miles on my Speedmaster today since I did the mid-control mod a month ago.
Have to say that it turned a decent bike with lots to recommend it, but with some serious ergonomics issues, into something special. My CB1100 is always the ride of choice for me when doing something other than tooling 'round town, but moving the controls back on the Speedmaster makes such a difference that I may well take it farther afield. While the forward controls were cool from a nostalgic perspective, I really find it hard to believe that a majority of riders can prefer that.
It'll be raining tomorrow, but next week looks like a commuting rider's dream. The CB will get some lovin' soon...
![[Image: 797d09d88218c2d14725ba6edb48ae75.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201903/797d09d88218c2d14725ba6edb48ae75.jpg)
![[Image: fa48e41ae99558698785765df114a028.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201903/fa48e41ae99558698785765df114a028.jpg)
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Nice job tommymck. The looks are striking!
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Looks great, Tommymck! I really like the Speedmaster, but forward controls just don't work for me. I've had lower back issues since my 20s and forward controls end up sending every bump straight up my spine. That's one of the reasons I've always preferred the neutral riding position of the UJMs.
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How tall are you Tommy? I sat on a Speedmaster last week and didn’t mind the ergos with the feet forward. Seems like it would be cramped for me with mids particularly with that low seat. BTW, very good looking bike right there.
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Hi Frulk,
I'm 6' with a 33 inch inseam. You're right that the seat height is very low. I can flat-foot it, stand up, and have a few inches to spare between me and the seat. This makes muscling the bike around super easy. Oddly though, the mid-controls aren't cramped at all. It just sort of shifts how your body is oriented. My issue with the forward controls (and I had no trouble reaching them) was that it forces sort of a "lean back" position. For riding around town, this is absolutely fine. At highway speeds, specific to the ergos of the bike, I find myself wanting to be in a bit of a forward lean, and eventually if feels like you're struggling with some yoga pose (not that I've ever done yoga, and not that there's anything wrong with that
)
In any case, there isn't even the hint of feeling cramped with the mid controls though. For me at least...
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(03-15-2019, 07:08 AM)tommymck_imp Wrote: Hi Frulk,
I'm 6' with a 33 inch inseam. You're right that the seat height is very low. I can flat-foot it, stand up, and have a few inches to spare between me and the seat. This makes muscling the bike around super easy. Oddly though, the mid-controls aren't cramped at all. It just sort of shifts how your body is oriented. My issue with the forward controls (and I had no trouble reaching them) was that it forces sort of a "lean back" position. For riding around town, this is absolutely fine. At highway speeds, specific to the ergos of the bike, I find myself wanting to be in a bit of a forward lean, and eventually if feels like you're struggling with some yoga pose (not that I've ever done yoga, and not that there's anything wrong with that )
In any case, there isn't even the hint of feeling cramped with the mid controls though. For me at least...
A screen for suitable highway use will ease that angst so you can relax and look cool doing it. In downtown? Well, that is a different look I suppose. Choices, choices, choices.
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Very cool mod. Love that bike.
