02-23-2015, 05:21 AM
Gentlemen,
What is it that makes the CB1100 work so well for so many of us? What is the most important component?
We have a wildly diverse group of owners, though almost exclusively male, with ages ranging from early 20s to mid 80s. Riding interests vary from touring to cruising to sport riding. Short and tall riders with different levels of physical ability and aggressiveness. No two riders are alike, but the bikes come off the assembly line identical to one another. These motorcycles are inanimate objects but in the hands of their owners and with the help of the aftermarket they can morph and evolve in Darwinian fashion into something much more fit for the needs and desires of the rider.
Evolution in nature is random and most genetic mutations result in something that is less fit, less able to survive, and will be quickly eliminated from the gene pool. In rare cases a mutation is beneficial and it's survival benefits ensure that that characteristic will be passed down so that successive generations may benefit from it.
Random and/or untested modifications to motorcycles are a lot like that. The result is most often something less beneficial at best and disastrous at worst. But the right modifications, installed and adjusted the right way, can be a huge benefit and make our riding more enjoyable and our bikes better looking. With the benefit of the knowledge learned, good and bad, by a collective owner/rider group, we may pick and choose our modifications in a precise fashion and install them with the confidence that they have worked well for others in the past and so they will almost certainly work well for us.
As I look at my CB1100 today and think about how much I enjoy riding it and how much pleasure it gives me to look at it in its current guise, I realize there is one component that has made all the difference. That component is the knowledge gained here on this Forum. Every single modification on my bike was discovered here. I would've had no idea that these components even existed nor would I have ever found them had I not been able to take advantage of the collective wisdom and discoveries of fellow CB1100 owners. But this is only possible if individuals want to be here, want to contribute, and enjoy the experience because the atmosphere is welcoming, friendly, and respectful. Those three components are absent in a huge number of Forums which drives many prospective participants away, taking their knowledge and experience with them.
A Forum doesn't happen by accident. It must be founded, build, and nurtured by an owner whose character is reflected in that forum's management. A Forum's tone is established and maintained by its moderator. If those two individuals do a good job a Forum will flourish, membership will grow, and participation will generate information akin to that of a supercomputer.
To distill it all down, the most essential component that makes the CB1100 work so well for so many of us, is the CB1100 Forum. Guth (Il Duce) concieved of, and built this site, and Mickey (the Enforcer) sets the tone that makes this such a plesant place to be. Thank you both a ton for your efforts, you have my sincere appreciation.
Every other modifying component is secondary as they have all flowed from the collective knowledge of this Forum. That's my take on it.
Chip
What is it that makes the CB1100 work so well for so many of us? What is the most important component?
We have a wildly diverse group of owners, though almost exclusively male, with ages ranging from early 20s to mid 80s. Riding interests vary from touring to cruising to sport riding. Short and tall riders with different levels of physical ability and aggressiveness. No two riders are alike, but the bikes come off the assembly line identical to one another. These motorcycles are inanimate objects but in the hands of their owners and with the help of the aftermarket they can morph and evolve in Darwinian fashion into something much more fit for the needs and desires of the rider.
Evolution in nature is random and most genetic mutations result in something that is less fit, less able to survive, and will be quickly eliminated from the gene pool. In rare cases a mutation is beneficial and it's survival benefits ensure that that characteristic will be passed down so that successive generations may benefit from it.
Random and/or untested modifications to motorcycles are a lot like that. The result is most often something less beneficial at best and disastrous at worst. But the right modifications, installed and adjusted the right way, can be a huge benefit and make our riding more enjoyable and our bikes better looking. With the benefit of the knowledge learned, good and bad, by a collective owner/rider group, we may pick and choose our modifications in a precise fashion and install them with the confidence that they have worked well for others in the past and so they will almost certainly work well for us.
As I look at my CB1100 today and think about how much I enjoy riding it and how much pleasure it gives me to look at it in its current guise, I realize there is one component that has made all the difference. That component is the knowledge gained here on this Forum. Every single modification on my bike was discovered here. I would've had no idea that these components even existed nor would I have ever found them had I not been able to take advantage of the collective wisdom and discoveries of fellow CB1100 owners. But this is only possible if individuals want to be here, want to contribute, and enjoy the experience because the atmosphere is welcoming, friendly, and respectful. Those three components are absent in a huge number of Forums which drives many prospective participants away, taking their knowledge and experience with them.
A Forum doesn't happen by accident. It must be founded, build, and nurtured by an owner whose character is reflected in that forum's management. A Forum's tone is established and maintained by its moderator. If those two individuals do a good job a Forum will flourish, membership will grow, and participation will generate information akin to that of a supercomputer.
To distill it all down, the most essential component that makes the CB1100 work so well for so many of us, is the CB1100 Forum. Guth (Il Duce) concieved of, and built this site, and Mickey (the Enforcer) sets the tone that makes this such a plesant place to be. Thank you both a ton for your efforts, you have my sincere appreciation.
Every other modifying component is secondary as they have all flowed from the collective knowledge of this Forum. That's my take on it.
Chip