What did you do on or to your CB 1100 today

[Gone in 60]

Hey Cooldrum, yes, please let me know next time you're in the neighborhood. That goes for the rest of you guys!

As for Honda's HQ, I have been there, but not for a show. I think they've moved their motorcycle operations to Marysville, OH, but when it was in Torrance, they used to host focus groups for local Honda owners. I participated a number of times. You'd get a letter in the mail inviting you to a focus group on a Saturday. You'd arrive and be escorted to a nice courtyard, where there'd be three or four prototype bikes on display, with cards indicating each as A B C D. You'd be asked to look at them all closely, then were handed a clipboard with a list of questions:

"Looking at bike A, do you like the style of the headlight? If an LED headlight were an accessory option, would you be willing to pay $200-$300 for it?"
"Look at the fuel tank on bike B. Based on its style, what kind of image do you think it projects?"

The last time I participated in one of the focus groups was probably about ten years ago, and the bikes we examined turned out to be the current line of Rebels.

I grew up in Torrance, not too far from the Honda campus, and moved to Orange County when I was 12. Nowdays, it's a bit far for me to get to on a weekday, so I'm really looking forward to the Cars and Coffee this Saturday. One of the new docents at the Petersen is a big Honda fan, even replicating the '60s-era delivery truck from a local Honda motorcyle dealership. We're meeting up there, and I think he's more excited about it than me!

---

I had a neat exchange on Saturday afternoon with a guy who walked up and said he was shopping for a CB1100. I had just left the museum, and was enjoying my typical lunch. Canter's is a bit of a splurge for me, so that's an occasional visit. My Pavlovian stop is at a Trader Joe's market a few blocks North on Fairfax to grab a wrap, a bag of their corn nuts (Inka Corn, I need these to keep me sane), and an apple. I usually use a trash can lid in the parking lot as my table, and munch away with my bike parked nearby. 

A guy leaving the market walked up and was admiring the CB. He started asking questions that made it very clear that he was looking for one and had done some homework. He knew that mine was a '13, and asked if I thought the 5-speed was ok, or if I wished I'd gotten a '14 or a '17. We chatted for quite a while, and I made sure to let him know about our community if he had more questions or wanted advice. Hopefully, we'll see him here soon!

[Cooldrum305]

Hey Cooldrum, yes, please let me know next time you're in the neighborhood. That goes for the rest of you guys!

As for Honda's HQ, I have been there, but not for a show. I think they've moved their motorcycle operations to Marysville, OH, but when it was in Torrance, they used to host focus groups for local Honda owners. I participated a number of times. You'd get a letter in the mail inviting you to a focus group on a Saturday. You'd arrive and be escorted to a nice courtyard, where there'd be three or four prototype bikes on display, with cards indicating each as A B C D. You'd be asked to look at them all closely, then were handed a clipboard with a list of questions:

"Looking at bike A, do you like the style of the headlight? If an LED headlight were an accessory option, would you be willing to pay $200-$300 for it?"
"Look at the fuel tank on bike B. Based on its style, what kind of image do you think it projects?"

The last time I participated in one of the focus groups was probably about ten years ago, and the bikes we examined turned out to be the current line of Rebels.

I grew up in Torrance, not too far from the Honda campus, and moved to Orange County when I was 12. Nowdays, it's a bit far for me to get to on a weekday, so I'm really looking forward to the Cars and Coffee this Saturday. One of the new docents at the Petersen is a big Honda fan, even replicating the '60s-era delivery truck from a local Honda motorcyle dealership. We're meeting up there, and I think he's more excited about it than me!

---

I had a neat exchange on Saturday afternoon with a guy who walked up and said he was shopping for a CB1100. I had just left the museum, and was enjoying my typical lunch. Canter's is a bit of a splurge for me, so that's an occasional visit. My Pavlovian stop is at a Trader Joe's market a few blocks North on Fairfax to grab a wrap, a bag of their corn nuts (Inka Corn, I need these to keep me sane), and an apple. I usually use a trash can lid in the parking lot as my table, and munch away with my bike parked nearby. 

A guy leaving the market walked up and was admiring the CB. He started asking questions that made it very clear that he was looking for one and had done some homework. He knew that mine was a '13, and asked if I thought the 5-speed was ok, or if I wished I'd gotten a '14 or a '17. We chatted for quite a while, and I made sure to let him know about our community if he had more questions or wanted advice. Hopefully, we'll see him here soon!

Hey Gone, My son lives in Rancho Park off West Pico.  I can literally walk to Apple Pan from his place. In fact I did that the last time I was staying there.  Quite dangerous when trying to eat healthy.  Pretty cool to be invited to the focus groups at the Honda HQ.  You'll enjoy the Collection hall.  There's a good mix of bikes, cars, outboard motors, mowers and generators!  They even have the replica pick truck with bikes in the truck bed when Honda was setting up dealers way back when. I also met Luis Zavala , a docent in the vault when I was at Petersen. A nice guy and car enthusiast.  I Suggest going as early as you can since there is a line of cars waiting to park at the Honda campus. They had music going outdoors and of course you can buy Honda merch at the store inside.  I found a "You meet the nicest people on a Honda " shirt! Ha!  My 305 Scrambler was my first bike and I just rode it this morning. I've ridden this bike down Highway 1 from the Cliff House in San Francisco Through Monterey, Big Sur and down PCH to Chula Vista. Fun Times! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87lRxhnil0c

Honda's just have great engineering.  Enjoy the story. (not my channel and not self promoting).

[Gone in 60]

Hey Gone, My son lives in Rancho Park off West Pico.  I can literally walk to Apple Pan from his place. In fact I did that the last time I was staying there.  Quite dangerous when trying to eat healthy.  Pretty cool to be invited to the focus groups at the Honda HQ.  You'll enjoy the Collection hall.  There's a good mix of bikes, cars, outboard motors, mowers and generators!  They even have the replica pick truck with bikes in the truck bed when Honda was setting up dealers way back when. I also met Luis Zavala , a docent in the vault when I was at Petersen. A nice guy and car enthusiast.  I Suggest going as early as you can since there is a line of cars waiting to park at the Honda campus. They had music going outdoors and of course you can buy Honda merch at the store inside.  I found a "You meet the nicest people on a Honda " shirt! Ha!  My 305 Scrambler was my first bike and I just rode it this morning. I've ridden this bike down Highway 1 from the Cliff House in San Francisco Through Monterey, Big Sur and down PCH to Chula Vista. Fun Times! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87lRxhnil0c

Honda's just have great engineering.  Enjoy the story. (not my channel and not self promoting).

Cool video! You're reminding me to get off my butt and finish editing my DGR video... You met Luis at the museum - he's a very good resource of information! I haven't been to the Honda campus since that last focus group, and thanks for the heads-up on arriving early. I'm going to scope out the area on the way home from my runs today and see where we might be able to park and walk in. I'm sure I'll buy some merch. But, we found out about the Honda Cars and Coffee events from a guy from the Heritage Center at the last Radwood event in L.A., and he took a shine to Mrs. G, particularly when she said "I've always driven Hondas". He loaded her up with a thermos, stickers, magnets, a shirt and a bunch of other stuff... I got squat. 

I saw that replica Honda delivery pickup a few years ago at the L.A. Auto Show when Honda was doing somewhat of a nostalgia kick. Funny thing, my fellow Petersen docent who built his own "replica truck" used a Ford... I mentioned that Honda's actual truck was a Chevy, and he replied "Yeah, but other dealers might have used Fords, and besides, vintage Ford trucks are cheaper now than Chevys."

Wow, you rode that 305 from San Fran to San Diego? That's awesome! I've never made that trip on anything less than a 750.

[the Ferret]

Day 171 of riding this year ... It's "CB Sunday" (the day I've chosen to ride my CB and not neglect it anymore lol). The meteorologist on the news last night said we'd see Canada smoke by this afternoon. They were right. The whole place looked kind of foggy and smells funny. Anyhow 56 miles @ 84 degrees and clear (except for the smoke)

[the Ferret]

Day 174 ....rode the CB over to a buddy's house, where we changed out the front brake pads and clutch and brake fluids. Think bike is all prepped for the rally now.

[suhawk305]

Day 174 ....rode the CB over to a buddy's house, where we changed out the front brake pads and clutch and brake fluids. Think bike is all prepped for the rally now.

I have to admit that when I have new tires installed, I have the dealer change my brake pads if the pads are more than 1/2 worn out. That would be at least a 5 bandaid job if I did it. I change the hydraulic fluids myself, with the help from my friend. That task is due this season.

[the Ferret]

Day 174 ....rode the CB over to a buddy's house, where we changed out the front brake pads and clutch and brake fluids. Think bike is all prepped for the rally now.

I have to admit that when I have new tires installed, I have the dealer change my brake pads if the pads are more than 1/2 worn out. That would be at least a 5 bandaid job if I did it. I change the hydraulic fluids myself, with the help from my friend. That task is due this season.

When I had the new rear tire and chain installed a week or so ago, the tech said I also needed new rear brake pads. I had a set of oem at home, but didn't realize they were due yet. They didn't have any oem pads in stock at the shop so they put in some after-market EBC pads. I knew it was (over) due to have the fluids replaced and I had a set of oem front brake pads at home. My buddy offered to replace them all for me, rather than wait weeks for another service appointment at the shop. I ordered some new Honda Dot 4 and we did it all today.

So now, it has new brake and clutch fluids, new brake pads front and rear, a new chain and a new rear tire. Front tire should last me until next year I think. All I have to do is engine oil and filter yet and I can do that myself. I have the oem filter and 4 qts of GN4 10W30 on hand.

[pdedse]

It's gotta feel good to have all that done. I'm at 33k miles and I think my chain still has some life to it. But getting close. I likely need to do fork oil change. I might have a leaky fork seal as well, but so far cleaning it with a fork seal cleaner / tool seems to work.

[the Ferret]

It's gotta feel good to have all that done.  I'm at 33k miles and I think my chain still has some life to it.  But getting close.  I likely need to do fork oil change.  I might have a leaky fork seal as well, but so far cleaning it with a fork seal cleaner / tool seems to work.

It does. 

 I changed original chain at 39,000 and 1st replacement chain at 79,000.

Ive never changed the fork oil. 

[Gone in 60]

I haven't touched my fork oil either. Or my valves...