Email to a good riding buddy after today's CB ride

[ohiorider_imp]

Rather than rewrite it, here's a copy and paste I sent a good riding buddy after I got home today after a short 90 mile ride ...... You have to know, I totally disliked this bike when I first brought her home. We've now at 7500 miles and have made a lot of progress!
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I started to clean up the Honda today, but checked the chain for proper play, and one more thing I should have tried months ago. I threw a towel over the fuel tank, then loosened the bar clamps, and rotated them toward me so the switches cleared the tank by only 1/2" on right and left lock. Then decided to ride to Burton via my back roads. I was stunned with the results. I could handle the bike better, and the position was much more comfortable for me. Maybe yesterday was simply a bad day for me, because today, the ride couldn't have been better. I think the upcoming fork oil change (heavier as recommended by Race Tech) will do the trick to eliminate the slightly fluttery feel of the front end over ripply pavement.

That little bike surprises me with its punch. I normally shift out of 1st around 4000 rpm, then go thru the remaining gears at about 3500 - 4000rpm, or lower. Actually 4000 in 6th is well over the speed limit. Today I thought I'd shift out of 1st at 4500, let the bike settle into 2nd on steady throttle, then roll on the throttle. That little sob is damned quick! Not sport bike quick, but I'm certain it'd leave my Guzzi 1200 Sport in the dust.

I actually rode Diagonal Road on my way home, and though it is really beat up, the CB did just fine after all our fork work, and the installation of the Ikon shocks. I think the saddle is about all that's in the way of this bike being a good all around ride for me.

Made it home just as a few drops of rain hit my visor.

Later,

Bob

[Cormanus]

That's good news, Bob. There's something in the human psyche that makes us want other people to like the things we do, even though the rational part of our brains knows it's irrational. SO Im pleased that you're making friends with the CB1100 and it's gradually giving you the same experience that so many of the rest of us here have with it.

I rode Pterodactyl's CB1100 recently and found he had the bars further aft than I have mine. I found it more comfortable and will soon get around to shifting mine back a bit too.

[rboe]

I added lower bars, and rotated them too - but to make room for fingers when I installed the Rapid Transit fairing. Took the fairing off, kept the bars where they are. They do seem to work nicely. That said, the stock bars on the 2014 don't bother me (I rotated them a bit to flatten the covers on the oil resevoirs.

When I bought the Griso Steve said that I should keep it below 5K the first few hundred miles. But he added that 5K in top gear was 110mph.......

Ya, this bike has two personalities. Once you get above 5K rpm her hair is let down and she scoots. Unlike the Griso, she does not seem to insist upon wild behavior, just kinda makes it available. Wink wink.