7 month report

[the Ferret]

Just noticed the date, and realized I picked up my CB 7 months ago yesterday (3/29/13)

My odometer is reading 6557 which is just under 1,000 miles a month. That includes a trip down the BRP/Dragon and another trip to W Va and Va. (Not too shabby considering I also put 4355 miles on my ST, 1022 on my Majesty and 467 on my wife's Majesty)

The bike has run like the proverbial Swiss watch, that's to say like every Honda I've ever owned, bike or automotive. Nothing has broken or fallen off. Never a hiccup while riding. Averaging over 50 mpg since the third tank, as high as 57 mpg.

My only complaints would be what I consider a sub par rear brake which the Honda Service Rep thinks is inexperience on my part (had to laugh at that one)...ok sonny... I'll take care of it myself! a fuel gauge that drops too quickly, and a seat that gets uncomfortable after 6 or 7 hours in the saddle. I'll be due for tires next season... think I'll try the Bridgestone next time for comparison.

Really enjoying this motorcycle. It's beautiful, fit and finish is superb, the motor satisfies me. Transmission is slick as long as the chain is adjusted. Front brakes are great. Handles better than it should. It is easy to service (except for those pesky valves). It gets lots of attention from strangers wondering what year it is (2 more yesterday). Sure am glad Honda brought it to this country

I'm giving it

Also enjoying this forum a bunch...I see in Guth's signature this forum was founded on April 13, about 2 weeks after I got my bike, and I joined the forum the next day April 14th. Thanks again Guth...and everyone else that participates too ... It's been a hoot

[rboe]

My bum tires of my seats within 2-3 hours or less. More of a bum issue than seat issue. No rear brake problem for me so I hope all the folks with rear brake problems are a small minority. Fuel gauge is certainly affected by gravity too much.

Now that I can ride again (a wee bit over 500 miles so far) so I can get the first service over with and ride her like you guys!

[Lord Popgun]

Those of us with rear brake problems may be a small minority. One member posted that his dealer flushed and bled his brakes and fixed his problem. My dealer would not, so I bled it myself and a lot of air came out. Mine works very well now.

[sanoke_imp]

Thanks for the report! Makes me feel even better about buying one. I wasn't aware of the rear brake problem so obviously, it's not affecting me. Picked mine up 6 days ago and I've already got 750 miles on it. Kind of scooted past the 600 mile oil change so I'm doing that today. Great bike! Definately a keeper.

[Lord Popgun]

ferret has a "how to" for the 600 mile checkup in the How to section

[Tommy's 11_imp]

Glad to hear all these positive reports.I've also been very pleased with this machine's performance . Only have 297 miles on it , not a single time have I ridden to work or to town on errands has someone not complimented me on it. I really have enjoyed this forum having learned many things about bike and folks who own them. Bought this bike on my birthday and joined this forum same day. Possibly one of my best days ever!

[flynrider]

I'll have had mine 7 months next Wed. So far, everything has been smooth as glass. As expected, it runs like a swiss watch.

Since I heard about the rear braking issues, I'd been wondering about mine. I tend to use the front brakes pretty heavily, so I was wondering if I'd even notice it. For the past week I've been trying an experiment. I've been using only the rear brake while riding around town. I don't think I have the problem because I was actually surprised at how well the bike stopped using only the rear brake.

[Lord Popgun]

Flyn,

I'd say your rear brake is good. For those of us with the problem, the rear brake was more of just an ankle exerciser than a brake. Mines actually does stop the bike now. We had a thread going about this somewhere, but I forgot where...

[the Ferret]

Yea, mine is an ankle excerciser. Yesterday I had to make a 90 degree turn going from a main street to a narrow side street, not the kind you can swing, the kind you actually have to turn. A car was coming out of the side street not leaving me much room...slightly less than a narrow country lane. Throttle modulation was critical and at the slow turn speed, pulling on the front brake even slightly will lock the front wheel, so in this case a rear brake comes in handy for controlling speed. I stabbed mine and nothing..or nearly nothing. I made the turn, but cussed the rear brake. I really need to bleed that mother.

[rboe]

Ya, there are times when the rear brake is extremely useful so you need to get working. Or you'll end up with, at best, an unplanned test of your lifting skills; a discussion we're having else where here. (we could use a poking in the ribs graemlin ).

Due to a dealer error by rear pads got saturated with oil on my Griso. Even after a good dousing with brake cleaner they still don't work right so I'll be replacing them. I'm not all that comfortable riding it without the rear brakes even though I rarely use them. To be fair, if I had been able to remove them promptly when they got wet it might not be the issue it is now but it takes two good arms to untorque the bolts and I had just one good arm. Up to 1.4 now.