Love the oil changes on these bikes

[Houtman_imp]

You should be a writer , great story!

[GoldOxide_imp]

I mean no disrespect to anyone here, and I get the point that changing the oil on the CB1100 is an easy task, but how on earth anyone can describe having anything to do with engine oil as fun defies my understanding.

Maybe some people are retired and really bored. Little things start to matter - like watching a dairy cow watching the empty field.

Some people really enjoy ironing - I don't get that, but they walk among us.

[redbirds_imp]

Oil changes are relaxing when you can put the bike on a lift and do the job comfortably seated on a stool like I do. Bike lift and dock from Harbor Freight make it a pleasure.

[Cormanus]

Great story, Nortoon. Thanks for sharing it.

[Paris_imp]

Hey guys, been doing some end of the season maintenance on my bikes and the CB is so easy to do i love it!

2007 Roadliner
3 drain plugs, none in really good spots. The 2 on the bottom of the engine are right between the frame and the engine so its tight to deal with. The kickstand leans it over so i usually put a 2x4 or something under the stand to give me some more room with the wrench. The 3rd one is for the oil tank and the easiest of the three but still in an awkward spot. The oil filter is in the same spot as the CB but there is an oil line right in front of it so its a pain to slip over one of those formed filter wrenches that slide over the filter ridges. 5+ quarts for that one.

2007 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, old school iron barrel engine.
Holds about 1.5 quarts and has 3 plugs lol! One is the main drain, the other 2 drain very little oil but have screens on them that i clean and inspect each time. Im proud to say in the 7k miles of use ive never seen metal fragments or anything, kind of rare for these lol. The filter is an element type but is more than just removing a cap with an O-ring. Its got a cap with a seal, then multiple washers, cup, fiber washer and a spring. In other words hold on good when taking off cuz if you are unsuspecting that cap with fly off with all the parts in there! The filter has a slight tight fit so i usually get 2 little screwdrivers and walk it out because you really cant just grab and pull out. its wrapped in cloth so once its loaded with oil it just kinda fattens itself up and is sitting in the cavity snug, Fun!

2014 Cb 1100
As you all know, stupid easy! 1 plug, spin on oil filter right next to each other basically so i put my pan under and can remove it all and let drain. Replace parts, 4 quarts in and done! Usually dont even get a drop of oil on the floor. Great design Honda, wish they were all like that

That's one of the first things I noticed. In fact, I was awed by it: this CB1100 should be the simplest oil change I've ever encountered, I thought.

Once, we were living in an apartment complex many years ago. The resident manager had a motorcycle herself, so she bent the rules quite a bit and gave me parking stickers for my two bikes, allowing me to park them both in a single spot. They were quite a set, one a firecracker red '81 GPz 1100 with a chrome 4 into 1 Kirker, and the other an Eddie Lawson green '00 ZRX with a carbon Yoshimura exhaust. My wife called them the twin devils, the red devil and the green devil. When the time came to change oil, I knew that the first drop that landed on the concrete meant I was out of there. I met the challenge with a couple rolls of paper towels, a funnel, and two plastic wash tubs, one larger than the other. The used oil went back into the gallon container with the top on, and the oily paper towels went into a trash bag, which then went into the dumpster.

BTW, I am looking at getting a Classic Royal Enfield soon, maybe battle green. Any advice?

[Rocky_imp]

Interesting (even entertaining) comments about changing oil.
I can't say that I enjoy the task per se, but it's a job that needs doing and it's very easy on the 1100 in particular.
Considering the number of bikes I have, and in the 26 years I've been riding, I probably changed oil about 130 times or more depending how much I ride each one.
I don't love doing it, but I don't hate it either and consider it a necessary evil

[greekcb_imp]

Hey guys, been doing some end of the season maintenance on my bikes and the CB is so easy to do i love it!

2007 Roadliner
3 drain plugs, none in really good spots. The 2 on the bottom of the engine are right between the frame and the engine so its tight to deal with. The kickstand leans it over so i usually put a 2x4 or something under the stand to give me some more room with the wrench. The 3rd one is for the oil tank and the easiest of the three but still in an awkward spot. The oil filter is in the same spot as the CB but there is an oil line right in front of it so its a pain to slip over one of those formed filter wrenches that slide over the filter ridges. 5+ quarts for that one.

2007 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, old school iron barrel engine.
Holds about 1.5 quarts and has 3 plugs lol! One is the main drain, the other 2 drain very little oil but have screens on them that i clean and inspect each time. Im proud to say in the 7k miles of use ive never seen metal fragments or anything, kind of rare for these lol. The filter is an element type but is more than just removing a cap with an O-ring. Its got a cap with a seal, then multiple washers, cup, fiber washer and a spring. In other words hold on good when taking off cuz if you are unsuspecting that cap with fly off with all the parts in there! The filter has a slight tight fit so i usually get 2 little screwdrivers and walk it out because you really cant just grab and pull out. its wrapped in cloth so once its loaded with oil it just kinda fattens itself up and is sitting in the cavity snug, Fun!

2014 Cb 1100
As you all know, stupid easy! 1 plug, spin on oil filter right next to each other basically so i put my pan under and can remove it all and let drain. Replace parts, 4 quarts in and done! Usually dont even get a drop of oil on the floor. Great design Honda, wish they were all like that

That's one of the first things I noticed. In fact, I was awed by it: this CB1100 should be the simplest oil change I've ever encountered, I thought.

Once, we were living in an apartment complex many years ago. The resident manager had a motorcycle herself, so she bent the rules quite a bit and gave me parking stickers for my two bikes, allowing me to park them both in a single spot. They were quite a set, one a firecracker red '81 GPz 1100 with a chrome 4 into 1 Kirker, and the other an Eddie Lawson green '00 ZRX with a carbon Yoshimura exhaust. My wife called them the twin devils, the red devil and the green devil. When the time came to change oil, I knew that the first drop that landed on the concrete meant I was out of there. I met the challenge with a couple rolls of paper towels, a funnel, and two plastic wash tubs, one larger than the other. The used oil went back into the gallon container with the top on, and the oily paper towels went into a trash bag, which then went into the dumpster.

BTW, I am looking at getting a Classic Royal Enfield soon, maybe battle green. Any advice?

That's one of the first things I noticed. In fact, I was awed by it: this CB1100 should be the simplest oil change I've ever encountered, I thought.

Once, we were living in an apartment complex many years ago. The resident manager had a motorcycle herself, so she bent the rules quite a bit and gave me parking stickers for my two bikes, allowing me to park them both in a single spot. They were quite a set, one a firecracker red '81 GPz 1100 with a chrome 4 into 1 Kirker, and the other an Eddie Lawson green '00 ZRX with a carbon Yoshimura exhaust. My wife called them the twin devils, the red devil and the green devil. When the time came to change oil, I knew that the first drop that landed on the concrete meant I was out of there. I met the challenge with a couple rolls of paper towels, a funnel, and two plastic wash tubs, one larger than the other. The used oil went back into the gallon container with the top on, and the oily paper towels went into a trash bag, which then went into the dumpster.

BTW, I am looking at getting a Classic Royal Enfield soon, maybe battle green. Any advice?
Hey, id say heck yes! Enfields are cool machines. Quirky is one of the words i can best describe it as lol. I have an iron barreled engine model so its one those real old school ones they don't make anymore. I've had alot of fun with it over the last ten years and have had to wrench on it but nothing major. Break in was actually crucial on mine(old style engine) and most Enfield owners will tell you that that is the key to successful ownership. In other words take care of it and it will take care of you, not the bike to just park in a corner and forget about and use occasionally.

Now if you are looking at a new one in that battle green it should be much easier to care for. Its got a newer alloy unit construction engine with EFI so its a totally diff machine mechanically. But that motor and setup has been looking to be very solid and people love them. I've actually thought about getting one of those myself in addition to mine. But yeah id say go for it.

One thing you'll notice is the stupid amount of attention they get. That thumper has a charm and look that just cant be beat. I've pulled next to insanely custom bikes at shows and steal their thunder right away lol. Once you go to kick start it its all over for any of them haha.

My only advice though is its a great bike assuming its a secondary bike. I wouldn't get one where i live for everyday riding. They are pretty under powered, small, and id say not the best for busy fast areas with high speed driving. Its a back road beauty and i don't know anything that is more fun doing 45-50 mph. Mine is a little more sensitive to the power thing as its the older model but a single cylinder 500 isn't gonna be e beast in general though.

Id say yep get one though! Oh and you'll forget what a gas station is because i think those new ones are getting around 80 mpg!

[GoldOxide_imp]

I find changing the oil and filter on my CB1100 EX easy. But I was surprized to find the oil plug on my CB500XA pointed backwards. Time for a little humour. This is an account on my first oil change for my CB500XA. It's long, but I think you will enjoy it.

Keystone Kops Oil Change

I think I have everything I need:
A warm CB500X, check
1 four liter jug of Honda oil, check
1 Honda oil filter with gasket and filter wrench, check
1 Honda drain bolt washer, check
An official Honda shop manual and my riders manual, check
A 2 x 4 foot sheet of hardboard under the bike in case of spills
A 15 x 18 x 5 inch plastic (kitty litter) pan in front of the main stand to catch the oil, check
2 rolls of shop towels, check
A large cooling fan, check
23 years of experience changing the oil of 10 different motorcycles, check
OK, so off we go. Remove the plastic oil filler cap.

Crawling on the garage floor, I am trying to find where they hide the drain bolt? Where’s my flash light? OK, there’s the HORIZONTAL plug. Could they have made anymore inaccessible? After three tries, I find the proper metric socket. Grunt! Grunt! Ping! Finally!

Now I remember a previous post that says the oil does not fall straight downward. Turn the bolt out slowly and, OH MY GOD! (Not my actual words.) A gusher shooting straight out and splashing all over off the main stand. Quick put the drain bolt back in! Ow! Ow! This stuff is hot!

OK, how are we doing so far? Two litres of oil all over the main stand, the hard board, the garage floor, my hands and arms; but none in the pan. Hmmm? What are the Japanese words for MORONIC HONDA DESIGN ENGINEER? (Again not my actual words.)

Wipe my hands and arms off on numerous shop towels, and run to fetch an 18 kilogram box of clumping cat litter in the corner of the garage by the garbage cans. No time to find a scoop, I quickly dig the litter out with my hands and chuck over the split oil. I know what you are thinking. Was that clean litter? Well clean is a relative term right? After all we are greasy motorcyclists. All I can say is there were no lumps or buried treasures.

Whew! I hope I can get this cleaned up before the home boss finds out. The door to the house opens. “What’s going on out here? What’s all the cursing for?” Well so much for that idea. I had a little oil spill I explain meekly. One cold look and the boss turns and closes the door. Well that went better than I expected, as I didn’t have to listen to “I told you not to buy that motorcycle!”

OK! Time to regroup. I find a piece of 2x4 and prop up the back of the litter pan. After slowly removing the drain bolt, the oil now splashes into the pan. I pull the 2x4 and wait until the flow stops.

I pick up the drain bolt to remove the old washer, but it’s not there. So it’s either stuck to bike, covered with 18 kilograms of cat litter, or fallen in the hot oil. Crawling on the floor amidst the litter and used oil, I confirm it not stuck to the bike.

Hmmm? OK, I get my telescoping magnet and check the hot oil. Fished out some metal filings, but no washer. Check the new washer with the magnet and find it’s alloy. Tilt the pan and there it is. Well that’s better than digging through 18 kilograms of oil soaked kitty litter with my hands.

Put the new washer on the bolt and tightened it back on. Yah! I know, I should have a fancy slipping torch wrench and tighten it to 30 neutron bombs. But snug and a 1/8 turn has always worked before.

OK! The next step is the oil filter. I slip the litter pan under it. On cars they are hand tightened, but according to the Honda manual they are torqued on to 18 neutron bombs. Well I can use a boa I tell the service rep. A boa is a kitchen device with a rubber strap and plastic handle for removing stubborn lips from jars. The service rep rolls her eyes and suggests I buy the filter kit with the proper wrench. I find out its only $5 more, so I buy it.

OK! Slip the filter wrench on, and the proper box wrench has been found out a three I selected. The filter is right beside the hot and ugly discoloured exhaust pipes and surrounded by a plastic air dam with sharp edges. Hmmm? Having been burnt and bitten by many bikes I the past, I proceed with trepidation. Grunt! Grunt! Ping! Whew! The Thais must be using Japanese Sumo wrestlers to put these things on. Thank you Olivia for talking me into buying that filter wrench. I don’t think the boss would have appreciated me breaking her kitchen boa.

Now that the old filter has been removed, it’s time to put the new filter on. But first I have to pop the old one from the wrench. Grunt! Grunt! Hmmm? Stick the bottom of the wrench in the vise and tighten it down. I began pulling and twisting with both oily hands. Grunt! Grunt! Pop! Whew!

Some clean oil was added to the new filter, the gasket oiled and on she goes. Snugged it down and gave it 1/8th of a turn. About 18 neutron bombs right? There’s a little oil on the inside of the air dam, but I wisely decide to ignore it for now. I know those hot exhaust pipes and sharp edges are just waiting to burn and bite me.

Last step, adding oil. Dig through all my garage funnels and finally find a large one that will fit in the hole. Unfortunately it’s at such an awkward angle, it’s not going to hold a lot of oil before it spills over the top. This is going to be a slow process. What’s the Japanese words for MORONIC HONDA DESIGN ENGINEER? (Again not my actual words.)

Poured a good amount of oil in SLOWLY and checked the container to see how much I have poured. Hmmm? Can’t really see how much is left in it in a shady garage. Where’s that flash light? After several tries there is a little over a liter left in the 4 liter container. Put the oil filler cap back on and started the bike to circulate the oil. Let the bike run a while and shut it off. The manual says to wait 3 to 5 minutes to see where the level is in the sight glass. Five minutes! Will this ordeal ever end? Well I guess I can use the time to clean the oil and kitty litter off my knees and elbows.

Five minutes later and the level is low. So much for the manual’s 2.7 liters for an oil and filter change. Good thing they didn’t sell me 3 liters. Added some more oil, put the oil filler cap back again, started the bike again, waited another 5 minutes. Hurray! At long last the ordeal is over! Well not quite.

I still have to find a container to put the used oil in. Fortunately I was able to empty the contents of a windshield washer jug into the car. I stick the funnel in the top and the jug falls over. Well better now than in the middle of a pour I think. There is a box of wine bottles waiting to be returned in the corner of the garage. I lift a few bottles out and stuff the jug into it. As I am pouring the last of the oil out of the kitty litter pan, I notice the metal shards in it. Now if I was panning for gold I would be happy, but this is somewhat unnerving. Good thing I did this oil change now.

OK! The oil change has been done, but now I have a motorcycle stuck in the middle of a large pile of oil soaked kitty litter. Good thing I have a spray washer handy. Roll the bike out of the way, and search for the broom and dust pan. Find a suitable sturdy plastic bag to line the kitty litter box and start cleaning up the oily kitty litter mess. The box weighs considerably more than when I started and is oil stained. I hope the garbage men don’t refuse it.

Now that the kitty litter is out of the way, I find the bottom of the hard board and the garage floor are covered with oil. Good thing I bought two rolls of shop towels. Mop up the oil and set the messy shop towels aside to be washed later, as it would be dangerous to stuff them in a garbage can in a hot garage.

Spray washed the garage and laneway with a degreasing cleaner. Filled a pail with a diluted solution of the degreaser and cleaned the oil out of the shop towels down at the curb. Fortunately the neighbourhood tree hugger across the street didn’t see me contaminating her environment. Cleaned the main stand and wheels of the bike. Now that the engine had cooled, I could also clean the inside of the air dam. Ouch! Just kidding! I did escape without being burnt or bitten, but I did smell of oil. Or is that kitty litter? Time for a nice hot bath and change of clothes.

Will I change the oil myself the next time? Not if the dealer doesn’t charge more than double the $60 I spent on supplies, not counting the used kitty litter. But anything much more than that and I may give it another try. Before I do, an empty windshield washer container from the local gas station may get cut up to make a splash guard funnel to direct the hot oil into the kitty litter pan. I’m thinking if I cut the front out of one and tape it in front of the main stand upside down, I may get lucky enough to avoid another Exxon Valdez oil spill. I certainly will be wearing insulated rubber gloves in case I have to refasten the drain plug however.

Yesterday I rode the bike for 5 1/2 hours and the drain bolt and oil filter did not leak. So I guess the old method of snugging it down and an extra 1/8 of turn may still work after all.

Quite the essay. I suppose we can't complain at all. Recall the first generation bikes were total loss lubrication systems. That is, spent oil would drip to the road. Mind you, the roads back then were typically gravel. But the upshot? - no oil or filters to change.

[ryanschillinger_imp]

Speaking of the Roadliner, I seriously miss my previous bike. A 2008 Roadliner. A real beast but yeah, maintenance was tougher.

[Rossi_imp]

I’m looking for advice on the oil brand and weight you guys are using and also filter brands. I must be wierd also since I enjoy changing my own oil on my bikes and truck. I appreciate all your input.