Random thoughts

[Stichill_imp]

Rotor, stimulating topic. Ferret, thoughtful post.

[Cormanus]

I'm thinking about whether to use my moderator's powers to remove that offensive image Stichill.

However, it occurs to me that those who want a 'like' button already have one.

[Nortoon_imp]

Back in the 80s Penny rode on the back of my Goldwing, the Cadillac of Motorcycles as she called it. We were 35 years younger then and went everywhere on the Goldwing and enjoyed it. But after 7 years I sold it, as we both had found other pastimes that we enjoyed more.

After a 25 year hiatus, I bought a CB500XA and returned to motorcycling in May 2014. Penny is no longer interested in motorcycling, so I ride solo and enjoy it. So much so I traded in the CB500XA for a 2017 CB1100 EX. All my riding is 400 to 500 kilometer day trips on the back roads during week days as there is less traffic.

While I still enjoy my day trips, there are a number of things about motorcycling that are beginning to wear on me.

The heavy gear: helmet, ear plugs, leather jacket, gloves, boots. In cool weather flannel lined jeans and a down-filled long sleeve vest under my jacket to keep the wind out. In cold weather long underwear under the flannel lined jeans and a heavier microfiber long sleeved vest under my jacket. Every time I stop for food or gas everyone else is walking around in T-shirt and shorts, while I feel like a dumb kid in a snowsuit.

Picking the best day of the week for a ride with a weather forecast for a sunny day with a 10 to 20% chance of a "trace of rain". Then coming home soaked to the skin and cold.

My butt hurts by mid-afternoon. I can stand on the pegs while riding or stop for a coffee and donut for some temporary relief, but it is only temporary.

Lying on a mat on my garage floor after every second ride to lube the chain. Knowing that after the next ride I will have to clean the rear wheel and everyone one of those **** retro spokes. Replacing chains and sprockets every third year. I really miss my Goldwing with its windscreen, shaft drive and comfy seat. No greasy side on those machines. But a GOLDwing now costs as much as a Jeep.

Replacing motorcycle tires every year or so, if you don't run over a nail first. I can get 100,000 kilometers out of my car tires. And they don't cost much more than bike tires.

Motorcycle insurance that cost as much as my car insurance, even though I have 27 accident free years of riding and only ride half the year one day a week.

[Bheezy27403_imp]

I can help with all these chain struggles...clean and lube it once a year, twice if you're feeling froggy. The fact that folks think they have to clean and lube after every 3rd ride is ridiculous. I got 30k (maybe 28k, can't remember) out of mine on the Bonnie following this very rigorous cleaning schedule. I'm just fine with that.

Flame on.

[emptysea]

I got 32,000 miles from my chain and sprockets on my 2013 CB (probably more, but I traded it in) and lubed the chain no more than 3 times per year. usually once in the middle of the season and at the end, but occasionally after riding in rain or if I wanted to kill time after a day ride. Don't obsess -- unless you want to obsess.

[Houtman_imp]

Just move down south , some where in the USA !

[CA200_imp]

I agree with ferret , one should always be looking for better tech.
I also love sport touring and touring bikes and in the 80s and 90s
did a lot of touring. My wife also rode her own bike. When I was getting ready to retire I had thought about a sport touring bike but
two things kept me away from one. Money for one but also could I still
handle it.
When I was in my early 60s I had moved my biss. into a larger store
were I could sell bikes besides Acc. . I bought a pristine ST1100 form
a good customer to replace my last ride. I had always wanted one, when I worked for a dealer I always took the demo home. Even though
I am about the same age as the ferret it proved to be a bit to much.
Just pushing the712lb. bike out of the garage in the morning for a 3
mile ride to work was a bit much. Taking the store scooter demo was a lot easier. Sunday was the only day I could get out for a ride and at times the thing that I loved in the 90s scared me. I bought the CB1100 not because it was retro ( When I had my store I used to make fun of the retro bikes) but because it was the right size and weight for me.

[the Ferret]

The CB 1100 comes with one of two types of chain. DID or RK (mine is an RK) Here's what the mfg of the chain suggests for maintenance

http://global.rk-japan.co.jp/products/te...intenance/

Here is what DID advises

http://www.didchain.com/chainMaintenance.html

I believe these recommendations are echoed by Honda in your owners manual only I believe I read Honda suggests 80 wt gear oil as a lubricant (been 4 years since I opened my owners manual so that could be wrong)

My personal maintenance was a bit less than what they all recommend. When it looks dry or gets noisy or after I've ridden in the rain, I lube it. I currently have 35,469 miles on my chain, but have a new RK chain and sprockets on hand ready to install or have installed one of these days. (Can't believe what a chain and sprockets costs these days)

[Wisedrum]

After 42.000km the chain and sprockes still work well, but I recently ordered a new set for 106€ via the internet, their time will come.
It's a good offer for a 530 VX DID chain together with the sprockets and not so expensive. So how is the price in the USA? Is it that cheap?

https://www.mymoto24.de/home/Artikel-DID...56367.html

Wisedrum

[the Ferret]

I bought OEM replacements and it was about $ 335.00

I could have probably bought them cheaper over the net, but this dealer gives me a discount on labor. IF I bought my parts somewhere else I'd probably lose the labor discount so it all evens out in the wash. This way too, the dealer sees me as a loyal customer, and I am hoping my business will help him stay open.