Getting older and buying a new CB1100

[pdedse]

Hi Forum Folks..I could not find where to make this post, but after reading several of the replies, I think this was the best place.....
I just returned to work last week! After being an educator for 34 years, Covid scared me out last year and I retired... Got both vaccinations this Spring, and my doctor said I looked like I needed to go back to work. The kids in our nation got a terrible year of so-called teaching and learning last year with the distance learning, packets and not much else.
Got a call two weeks ago from a larger High School with a good reputation for college-prep. They called me up, woke me up, and asked if I would be willing to go back and help kids. I had this feeling for a week already I was missing something. Working on the DLX and GS1100 has been a little slower than I planned, but the heat has been horrendous in South Texas.
I thought about it for about 30 seconds, and said yes.
Then the man said there was a $7500 sign on Bonus too! I am so glad I did not know about the Bonus because I know it was not a factor, but hey, who is going to turn down money.
So all of you guys say a prayer for me and the kids that we stay healthy and have a successful and normal school year so they can go to college with an excellent background in Chemistry that I am going to try my best to give them this year!

Good for you! I've been teaching languages since 1992. After nearly 30 years, I still love what I do, but that abrupt, "you have two weeks" covid induced switch from a traditional format to entirely on-line using zoom did take a toll. Zoom is an amazing tool, but I do think the experience for many students is lessened. We partially return to the classroom in September. Of the four classes I teach, three will remain competely on-line, and one will be back in the classroom--the latter has the highest enrollment so far, double the numbers of the on-line courses.

 

[Charlie Bravo_imp]

Well, I'll chime in. I'll be 73 this summer. Started riding in 1969, got married in 1977, mostly stopped riding when the kids came along. Got into sailing and had several boats, then my sister remarried, and her new husband rode. We were talking, and he asked me if I'd like to take a ride on one of his bikes. He had a really sweet Yamaha 400 thumper, and I said Yeah, I would. Before long, a neighbor was selling his H-D Sportster. The kids were pretty much grown, and on a whim I bought it, and it took off from there. I've had the CB for, oh, four years now, and recently bought a Suzi V-Strom 1000. It had some miles and I got it cheap, had a mech go thru it and do some long-deferred maintenance. It runs great. You don't stop riding 'cause you get old....you know the rest!

 

[misterprofessionality]

Well, I'll chime in. I'll be 73 this summer. Started riding in 1969, got married in 1977, mostly stopped riding when the kids came along. Got into sailing and had several boats, then my sister remarried, and her new husband rode. We were talking, and he asked me if I'd like to take a ride on one of his bikes. He had a really sweet Yamaha 400 thumper, and I said Yeah, I would. Before long, a neighbor was selling his H-D Sportster. The kids were pretty much grown, and on a whim I bought it, and it took off from there. I've had the CB for, oh, four years now, and recently bought a Suzi V-Strom 1000. It had some miles and I got it cheap, had a mech go thru it and do some long-deferred maintenance. It runs great. You don't stop riding 'cause you get old....you know the rest!

I'm 37....did i get that backwards?

I took up motorcycling as a permanent solution to the problem of the american roadway and left four-wheeled vehicles behind forever. One day when that age is flipped around backwards like yours I will still be riding. If my hips fail me I will buy warp-coil-powered self-balancing HoverBike and ride that instead. When I'm dead they'll have to bury me with my CB, but they better change the oil first because i'm still gonna be putting miles on it.

I"ll be danged if i ever take out one of them Can-am thingies though. :biker:

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Well, I'll chime in. I'll be 73 this summer. Started riding in 1969, got married in 1977, mostly stopped riding when the kids came along. Got into sailing and had several boats, then my sister remarried, and her new husband rode. We were talking, and he asked me if I'd like to take a ride on one of his bikes. He had a really sweet Yamaha 400 thumper, and I said Yeah, I would. Before long, a neighbor was selling his H-D Sportster. The kids were pretty much grown, and on a whim I bought it, and it took off from there. I've had the CB for, oh, four years now, and recently bought a Suzi V-Strom 1000. It had some miles and I got it cheap, had a mech go thru it and do some long-deferred maintenance. It runs great. You don't stop riding 'cause you get old....you know the rest!

I'm 37....did i get that backwards?

I took up motorcycling as a permanent solution to the problem of the american roadway and left four-wheeled vehicles behind forever. One day when that age is flipped around backwards like yours I will still be riding. If my hips fail me I will buy warp-coil-powered self-balancing HoverBike and ride that instead. When I'm dead they'll have to bury me with my CB, but they better change the oil first because i'm still gonna be putting miles on it.

I"ll be danged if i ever take out one of them Can-am thingies though. :biker:

I'm 37....did i get that backwards?

I took up motorcycling as a permanent solution to the problem of the american roadway and left four-wheeled vehicles behind forever. One day when that age is flipped around backwards like yours I will still be riding. If my hips fail me I will buy warp-coil-powered self-balancing HoverBike and ride that instead. When I'm dead they'll have to bury me with my CB, but they better change the oil first because i'm still gonna be putting miles on it.

I"ll be danged if i ever take out one of them Can-am thingies though. :biker:
Be grateful that yer jusha 'bout 'alfway dare, ... shunny.

 

[Lord Popgun]

Get a job in the space yard and Capt. Kirk might give you a bike!

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

 

[MrBob_imp]

Very enjoyable thread. We love our motorcycles.
I bought my CB about 5 months ago, and I'll be 72 in three months with about 53 years of riding experience.
The CB, to me, is a bike to enjoy after a lifetime of riding everything else. It's extremely well designed and executed, and it's a joy to own and ride. My airheads were a joy to ride, like the CB, but required tons more maintenance to stay that way.
I still work part time as a carpenter, after retiring from a career in Nursing, and I can testify that these bodies were designed for movement.

 

[michael1954]

Well, I'll chime in. I'll be 73 this summer. Started riding in 1969, got married in 1977, mostly stopped riding when the kids came along. Got into sailing and had several boats, then my sister remarried, and her new husband rode. We were talking, and he asked me if I'd like to take a ride on one of his bikes. He had a really sweet Yamaha 400 thumper, and I said Yeah, I would. Before long, a neighbor was selling his H-D Sportster. The kids were pretty much grown, and on a whim I bought it, and it took off from there. I've had the CB for, oh, four years now, and recently bought a Suzi V-Strom 1000. It had some miles and I got it cheap, had a mech go thru it and do some long-deferred maintenance. It runs great. You don't stop riding 'cause you get old....you know the rest!

Funny, I started riding in 69' as well when I turned 15 that September.....Never have looked back.

All the best Michael, I wish I had teachers who were so enthusiastic and determined

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed

Thank you! And thanks to all of you!

 

[furious_blue_imp]

I'll toss my getting older guy story into the mix:

I turned 67 this year.
At the end of last year I got an inkling that things ain't what they used to be when I dropped my Harley Softail on the front lawn (thank goodness it wasn't on to concrete !). To my dismay I found that I could not pick it up by myself and had to enlist the help of a neighbor to get it back upright. I knew it was time to say goodbye to my beloved prize after that. I ended up selling it to a young former co-worker and riding buddy for a 'give away' price. Earlier this year, it became clear that my pristine ZX14R was getting to be a bit much for me to push around. At 600 lbs it was 100 lbs less than the Softail but was still getting a bit unsettling for me to manage. It was time for it to go and I sold it to that same ex-coworker for a 'give away' price. I was happy that the 'King and Queen' of my garage are now his to enjoy.
I got my trusty CB1100 out of mothballs and am having a great time riding it and just parking it and gazing at it. I'll miss the thrill of the ZX14R which was like riding a firecracker that one could put a match to in any gear at any rpm and feel a tremendous surge, but the CB1100 more than makes up for the difference with it's 70s-80s inspired character packaged in a modern bike.
At some point I imagine that my Blue Honda Fury (where the furious_blue handle comes from) will be next to go but I hope that day is a ways off. My trusty CBR250R will someday probably be the last bike that I have because it's the most manageable. In way it's fitting because it's like a modern version of my first bike, a '73 CB350. Someone around here had a purple 1973 CB350 that was the spitting image of my first bike. It was tempting, very tempting but then I remembered what the brakes, suspension and vibration were like and knew that some things are probably better left as fond memories.

 

[michael1954]

Hey guys, been at my new job about 4 weeks now, and I am glad I went back. The number or Covid cases is rising sharply here in Corpus Christi, but we are still teaching. I am vaccinated and wear an N-95 mask most of the time anyway. I have been riding either the Z900RS or 2017 EX CB on most days it is not raining.. It is only a 25 mile round trip, but the bike makes it seem nicer. I rode the Kawasaki a week then the Honda. Wow! Did I noticed the weight difference when I backed the Honda out of the garage. I turn 67 in September, and have yet to notice the weight of the CB. But after backing the Z900RS out, I did felt the difference. With the stock exhaust system gone, the Kawi weighs a whole lot less that the EX. I even had to watch how I rode the Honda, as the Kawasaki can be tossed side to side and cornered much steeper. Maybe it is my age, but I found my self riding the Z900RS much faster, but felt safer at speed. The brakes are good on both bikes, but the Honda stops quicker. So, I am going to ride the Honda for a couple weeks to get my comfort zone back, and then switch back to the Kawasaki. Funny, how I had not really noticed such a sharp comparison before.....Makes you think.......

 

[tod.branko_imp]

Hey guys, been at my new job about 4 weeks now, and I am glad I went back. The number or Covid cases is rising sharply here in Corpus Christi, but we are still teaching. I am vaccinated and wear an N-95 mask most of the time anyway. I have been riding either the Z900RS or 2017 EX CB on most days it is not raining.. It is only a 25 mile round trip, but the bike makes it seem nicer. I rode the Kawasaki a week then the Honda. Wow! Did I noticed the weight difference when I backed the Honda out of the garage. I turn 67 in September, and have yet to notice the weight of the CB. But after backing the Z900RS out, I did felt the difference. With the stock exhaust system gone, the Kawi weighs a whole lot less that the EX. I even had to watch how I rode the Honda, as the Kawasaki can be tossed side to side and cornered much steeper. Maybe it is my age, but I found my self riding the Z900RS much faster, but felt safer at speed. The brakes are good on both bikes, but the Honda stops quicker. So, I am going to ride the Honda for a couple weeks to get my comfort zone back, and then switch back to the Kawasaki. Funny, how I had not really noticed such a sharp comparison before.....Makes you think.......

Kawasaki is a lighter, more nimble machine, and has a significant edge on power over the CB, so undoubtedly you, too, feel the difference. It has the 17s and the wide tires as well, so that will also give a sense of confidence when cornering. Although these two bikes are styled similarly, they are very different.

Still happy to hear you are enjoying your return to teaching and using every available moment to ride, I can only wish to have that when I reach that age. Don't stop

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Hey guys, been at my new job about 4 weeks now, and I am glad I went back. The number or Covid cases is rising sharply here in Corpus Christi, but we are still teaching. I am vaccinated and wear an N-95 mask most of the time anyway. I have been riding either the Z900RS or 2017 EX CB on most days it is not raining.. It is only a 25 mile round trip, but the bike makes it seem nicer. I rode the Kawasaki a week then the Honda. Wow! Did I noticed the weight difference when I backed the Honda out of the garage. I turn 67 in September, and have yet to notice the weight of the CB. But after backing the Z900RS out, I did felt the difference. With the stock exhaust system gone, the Kawi weighs a whole lot less that the EX. I even had to watch how I rode the Honda, as the Kawasaki can be tossed side to side and cornered much steeper. Maybe it is my age, but I found my self riding the Z900RS much faster, but felt safer at speed. The brakes are good on both bikes, but the Honda stops quicker. So, I am going to ride the Honda for a couple weeks to get my comfort zone back, and then switch back to the Kawasaki. Funny, how I had not really noticed such a sharp comparison before.....Makes you think.......

Kawasaki is a lighter, more nimble machine, and has a significant edge on power over the CB, so undoubtedly you, too, feel the difference. It has the 17s and the wide tires as well, so that will also give a sense of confidence when cornering. Although these two bikes are styled similarly, they are very different.

Still happy to hear you are enjoying your return to teaching and using every available moment to ride, I can only wish to have that when I reach that age. Don't stop

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed

(+1) what Tod said Mike. Is good to read you are still active helping the minds of others and can enjoy a choice of ride. Really nice.

 

[peterbaron]

Hey guys, been at my new job about 4 weeks now, and I am glad I went back. The number or Covid cases is rising sharply here in Corpus Christi, but we are still teaching. I am vaccinated and wear an N-95 mask most of the time anyway. I have been riding either the Z900RS or 2017 EX CB on most days it is not raining.. It is only a 25 mile round trip, but the bike makes it seem nicer. I rode the Kawasaki a week then the Honda. Wow! Did I noticed the weight difference when I backed the Honda out of the garage. I turn 67 in September, and have yet to notice the weight of the CB. But after backing the Z900RS out, I did felt the difference. With the stock exhaust system gone, the Kawi weighs a whole lot less that the EX. I even had to watch how I rode the Honda, as the Kawasaki can be tossed side to side and cornered much steeper. Maybe it is my age, but I found my self riding the Z900RS much faster, but felt safer at speed. The brakes are good on both bikes, but the Honda stops quicker. So, I am going to ride the Honda for a couple weeks to get my comfort zone back, and then switch back to the Kawasaki. Funny, how I had not really noticed such a sharp comparison before.....Makes you think.......

Nice report Michael!
How is DLX's back to life restoration progressing???

 

[michael1954]

The DLX is coming along. It should look almost Brand New when I take her out. I even went so far as to replace the gas tank, it had a little ding in it. When I get there, I need to ask are there any special things I need to watch out for when replacing the tank, for one, what parts should I replace with it?
Working again, and waiting for the 100F days to cool off enough to tackle the continuing task.

 

[peterbaron]

To have the job done right and for piece of mind, replace big fuel pump ass-y base rubber gasket/#7, fuel line dumper/#3 & retainer/#11.
Torque M6 nuts to specs/9 ft-lb.
https://www.hondapartshouse.com/oemparts/a/hon/52f28c29f870021404ec5a79/fuel-tank-fuel-pump

Prior tank removal:
* while idling, disconnect 4 pin black fuel pump connector and let the engine die, crank 1-2 times, ignition OFF. This will remove fuel pressure from the fuel line
* M8 bolt out
* lift the gas tank up and disconnect its rubber breather hose, very sure it will be stuck, so spry WD40 or similar and crack it loose by twisting, then disconnect it
* insert 2x4 between your tank and frame to gain more room while disconnecting the fuel line

* after reassembling and reconnecting everything back, turn ignition ON/OFF a couple of times to prime the fuel system, then fire her up at the first shot. While idling, observe any fuel leaks.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

The DLX is coming along. It should look almost Brand New when I take her out. I even went so far as to replace the gas tank, it had a little ding in it. When I get there, I need to ask are there any special things I need to watch out for when replacing the tank, for one, what parts should I replace with it?
Working again, and waiting for the 100F days to cool off enough to tackle the continuing task.

Congratulations Michael. The itch to get on with the ride must be unbearable.

 

[tommymck]

To have the job done right and for piece of mind, replace big fuel pump ass-y base rubber gasket/#7, fuel line dumper/#3 & retainer/#11.
Torque M6 nuts to specs/9 ft-lb.
https://www.hondapartshouse.com/oemparts/a/hon/52f28c29f870021404ec5a79/fuel-tank-fuel-pump

Prior tank removal:
* while idling, disconnect 4 pin black fuel pump connector and let the engine die, crank 1-2 times, ignition OFF. This will remove fuel pressure from the fuel line
* M8 bolt out
* lift the gas tank up and disconnect its rubber breather hose, very sure it will be stuck, so spry WD40 or similar and crack it loose by twisting, then disconnect it
* insert 2x4 between your tank and frame to gain more room while disconnecting the fuel line

* after reassembling and reconnecting everything back, turn ignition ON/OFF a couple of times to prime the fuel system, then fire her up at the first shot. While idling, observe any fuel leaks.

You'll find several videos online that show the process. Beware though. They are all (that I found) pre-2017 EX models. Removal of the fuel line at the fuel pump is different on the 2017s. I had a post on it somewhere here. There is a white "clip" that looks like it is part of what is holding the line onto the pump, but it's actually a sort of tool that is used to expand the real clip. I'll see if I can find it. Knowing the trick turns a couple of miserable hours into a 5 minute process.

EDIT: Nevermind....I saw EX in your signature and didn't realize you were talking about your DLX. There are a couple of threads here and several videos that I "think" should cover the DLX.

 

[Rocky_imp]

I'm coming very late to the party with this thread. When I realized how old it was I tried to delete my post but couldn't so I let it stand. The moderators can remove it if they wish.
I read your post with interest, and I'm sorry that you have some physical issues that are slowing you down, but at age 55, (you would be 60 now?) you certainly should have a lot of riding years left. That said, you can only do what you can do if your body starts to let you down.
I'll be 84 in a few months and I enjoy uncommonly good heath, strength and stamina. That also said, the CB is the heaviest bike I have ever owned so I always have to be careful moving it around.
Nothing thrills me more than to get out on the road on the 1100. Just yesterday I did a coastal loop of 66 miles on the CB and loved every second of it. This province has many winding coastal roads and the CB and I live for those roads; the curves; the scenery and the smell of the Atlantic Ocean.
Everyone ages differently and either enjoys good or poor physical health, but don't talk yourself into old age. Be positive.
Good luck and stay safe.

 

[furious_blue_imp]

I'm coming very late to the party with this thread. When I realized how old it was I tried to delete my post but couldn't so I let it stand. The moderators can remove it if they wish.
I read your post with interest, and I'm sorry that you have some physical issues that are slowing you down, but at age 55, (you would be 60 now?) you certainly should have a lot of riding years left. That said, you can only do what you can do if your body starts to let you down.
I'll be 84 in a few months and I enjoy uncommonly good heath, strength and stamina. That also said, the CB is the heaviest bike I have ever owned so I always have to be careful moving it around.
Nothing thrills me more than to get out on the road on the 1100. Just yesterday I did a coastal loop of 66 miles on the CB and loved every second of it. This province has many winding coastal roads and the CB and I live for those roads; the curves; the scenery and the smell of the Atlantic Ocean.
Everyone ages differently and either enjoys good or poor physical health, but don't talk yourself into old age. Be positive.
Good luck and stay safe.

whoa ! 84 and still enjoying the ride that is great !
I figured that for me it would probably be over by the mid-70s, now I think *maybe* not...

 

[michael1954]

To have the job done right and for piece of mind, replace big fuel pump ass-y base rubber gasket/#7, fuel line dumper/#3 & retainer/#11.
Torque M6 nuts to specs/9 ft-lb.
https://www.hondapartshouse.com/oemparts/a/hon/52f28c29f870021404ec5a79/fuel-tank-fuel-pump

Prior tank removal:
* while idling, disconnect 4 pin black fuel pump connector and let the engine die, crank 1-2 times, ignition OFF. This will remove fuel pressure from the fuel line
* M8 bolt out
* lift the gas tank up and disconnect its rubber breather hose, very sure it will be stuck, so spry WD40 or similar and crack it loose by twisting, then disconnect it
* insert 2x4 between your tank and frame to gain more room while disconnecting the fuel line

* after reassembling and reconnecting everything back, turn ignition ON/OFF a couple of times to prime the fuel system, then fire her up at the first shot. While idling, observe any fuel leaks.

Congratulations Michael. The itch to get on with the ride must be unbearable.
You know it. I was thinking about taking it to work tomorrow, as is, because it still runs fine, but I get quite a few compliments on the EX, I do not anyone to see a less than perfect DLX. What bike vanity!