The Finished Chip Beck Spec CB1100-PHOTOS

Thread starter
Gentlemen,

After viewing the great photo in the "Dragging parts is fun" thread I remembered a 22nd mod on my finished CB11. Following Mick's lead I removed the peg feelers and replaced them with stainless round allen head bolts.

Chip

 
And I can't stop looking at those CB500 mirrors. Would this be the first step on the primrose path to perdition, or farkling as it's sometimes known? Maybe I should get help, you know, talk to someone, before I press "Confirm your Purchase".

Cheers
 
Chip... we all have great looking CB's, but yours is really special. I'm generally not a fan of modified bikes, preferring the stock look because I've found that when one modifies their bike, they often only do it half way. When that happens, it ends up looking out of balance and not as the designers intended. But yours looks really good... it's easy to look at, the lines are clean, and the visual cues are very smooth. Very, very nice! And even though it gets ridden, it's 'clean' too. I like that!
 
Thread starter
ride4now_imp said:
Chip... we all have great looking CB's, but yours is really special. I'm generally not a fan of modified bikes, preferring the stock look because I've found that when one modifies their bike, they often only do it half way. When that happens, it ends up looking out of balance and not as the designers intended. But yours looks really good... it's easy to look at, the lines are clean, and the visual cues are very smooth. Very, very nice! And even though it gets ridden, it's 'clean' too. I like that!
Click to expand...
Ride,

Thanks for your comments. Like you I like my bikes and cars to look stock, even when I make some changes. Some elements of all modern vehicles are driven by regulatory requirements that can be unattractive. I remember how ugly the automobile 5 mph crash bumpers were when they first appeared in 1974. Today auto makers have them hidden well and they are no longer ugly. The recent addition of catalytic converters to motorcycles is a similar visual blight and Honda did a great job of hiding it on the CB1100 Delux. The Delux looked much better with that converter out of sight so I hid it on my CB11 as well. It seems like just about every bike has at least one wart that cries out to be removed. In the late 1970's I lusted after a Honda CB400 Super Sport. To this day I think it's one of the best looking motorcycles ever made. The single sided 4 into 1 exhaust was a work of art and the tank shape was perfect. This is the bike that the '13 CB1100 reminded me of and as I made subtle changes to my bike I tried to take it in that direction. The CB400 exhaust was chrome and it would not have been as pretty if it was bronze stainless steel. But the one CB400 feature that I thought was just awful was its ridiculous taillight. The rear of the passenger seat is a bit heavy too. The photo below displays that jumbo lamp. So if I ever get my hands on a pristine CB400 I'm going to change a couple things on it too. Cheers bro!

Chip



[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Honda%20CB400F%2075.jpg.html]
 
Very nice. I too often just look at the art of the motorcycle. Do the handlebars offer any more pull back than stock? I think an extra inch or so would work for me. I also like the stock look you've maintained with the addition of so many tastefully done parts. I know that eventually I will need to add more efficient intake filters, now that I have an Arrow slip on as well as a new map, the flood gates will soon open, but like yours, and the Thruxton I owned previously, just enough to allow the engine to function the way it should without the EPA mandated constrictions.

Now the hard part for you, can you call it done?
 
Thread starter
southwend_imp said:
Very nice. I too often just look at the art of the motorcycle. Do the handlebars offer any more pull back than stock? I think an extra inch or so would work for me. I also like the stock look you've maintained with the addition of so many tastefully done parts. I know that eventually I will need to add more efficient intake filters, now that I have an Arrow slip on as well as a new map, the flood gates will soon open, but like yours, and the Thruxton I owned previously, just enough to allow the engine to function the way it should without the EPA mandated constrictions.

Now the hard part for you, can you call it done?
Click to expand...
South,

The CB500 bars have slightly less pullback and they are about 2 inches lower so probably not what you are looking for. The stock bars had me sitting too upright and the wind blast at 75 mph was very tiring. These bars are very close to the lower Type 2 bars that Honda puts on CB11's sold in Japan. The combination of those bars and the Road Comet make my CB much more comfortable on the highway.

Chip
Duffy_imp said:
Nice...So is the silver Road Comet fairing a custom paint job, or available in silver from Samurider?
Click to expand...
Duffy,

All Road Comet fairings are custom painted and the color match is exact. Just tell them what part of your bike you want them to match and Samurider will make it happen. They'll make it any color you like. A silver one is the same price as a red one. Cheers.

Chip
 
I am a new forum member and soon (this Thursday) to be owner of a 2013 CB1100. Your bike is an inspiration to me on the personalization changes I have planed fort mine. It's forum members like you who help us all learn from your experiences that make owning one more fun. You have beautiful CB1100 and I hope mine turns out as good as yours!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Ron in MO_imp said:
I am a new forum member and soon (this Thursday) to be owner of a 2013 CB1100. Your bike is an inspiration to me on the personalization changes I have planed fort mine. It's forum members like you who help us all learn from your experiences that make owning one more fun. You have beautiful CB1100 and I hope mine turns out as good as yours!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Yep...my wallet is gonna be "Chip Beck Spec'd" before I'm done.
 
Thread starter
dirt road_imp said:
Ron in MO_imp said:
I am a new forum member and soon (this Thursday) to be owner of a 2013 CB1100. Your bike is an inspiration to me on the personalization changes I have planed fort mine. It's forum members like you who help us all learn from your experiences that make owning one more fun. You have beautiful CB1100 and I hope mine turns out as good as yours!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Yep...my wallet is gonna be "Chip Beck Spec'd" before I'm done.
Click to expand...
Dirt,

You made me laugh out loud this morning bro. Merry Christmas!

Chip
 
I just HAD to nab your turn signals and tail light mods. I already ordered the signals from Lockhart Phillips. They were VERY helpful. I asked about running lights/turnsignals for the front and got a FAST reply from David.
The old style Lucas tail light....I remember using those in the 60's. Had to go for that too. Other stuff is and will be different on mine. I'm still HOPING for a reply from 7th Gear Designs .
Yours is the best build I've seen so far. Subtle and slick. The '13 RULES !
 
Did you have any problem removing the stickers? Did you use any special remover , was there a residue?
Thx Steve
ChipBeck' pid='112599' dateline='1448249040 said:
Gentlemen,

It has now been over two and half years since I acquired my 2013 CB1100. The day I purchased it I had a vision in my mind of what I wanted it to look like when I was finished. I didn’t think it would take this long but some of the mods were more difficult than I anticipated and my work schedule limited the amount of time I was able to work on it. It would have taken twice as long and not turned out as well without the collective knowledge garnered from this forum. I had multiple goals that occasionally conflicted with one another. Visual aesthetics, function, and rider comfort all needed to be combined in a package that did not change the basic early 1970’s character of the bike. The finished product needed to look as stock as possible after eliminating some elements that I found visually or functionally objectionable. I considered starting over with a '14 six speed bike but many of the visual details I find most appealing on the CB11 disappear on the blacked out 2014 standard and I don’t like the shape of the gas tank or the single tone engine and wheels on the 2014 deluxe. I don’t object to the five-speed transmission per se but I think top gear is way too low on the 2013 bikes. After changing the gearing I am much happier with the ‘13 CB11. Many of my mods are detailed in the “how to” section of this forum if any member wishes to duplicate some of them. Some of my mods are simple, quick, and easy and some of them required a considerable amount of work.

I am interested in member’s comments, both good and bad, and I’m not thin-skinned so please fire away with what you think. All modifications are the personal preference of the rider and there is certainly no right or wrong. Below are listed the 21 modifications that made the final cut on my CB1100. I made many more but some of them were reversed and others were changed and revised. So here ya go……

1. Removed all stickers from the fuel tank.

2. Removed front fork slider reflectors.

3. Removed stock handlebars and replaced them with genuine Honda CB-500F flat black handlebars that retained the stock bar-end weights and dampening system.

4. Removed stock chrome rear view mirrors and replaced them with genuine Honda CB-500F flat black rear view mirrors that are lower and slightly wider.

5. Removed the huge stock plastic taillight and the stock license plate bracket with all of its reflectors that obscured most of the chrome rear fender and replaced them with a Lucas type hooded chrome metal taillight with an integral license plate bracket that is smaller and lies flush with the rear fender.

6. Removed all 4 of the jumbo plastic turn signals and replaced them with Lockhart Phillips polished aluminum turn signals that have a similar shape but are much smaller. These signals use the same bulb as the stock turn signals and are just as bright.

7. Removed the stock seat that I thought was visually perfect but functionally unacceptable as it had me constantly sliding forward into the gas tank and uncomfortable for multi-hour rides. Had a Corbin seat made to my personal specifications (Chip Beck Spec) that looked as stock as possible and is comfortable all day. I also purchased a K&H seat but much preferred the Corbin.

8. Attached battery tender cables to the stock battery to facilitate battery tender use without removing the seat.

9. Installed a flat black license plate frame with stainless steel hardware to match other flat black elements on the bike such as my mirrors, handlebars, fuel injector covers, and engine.

10. Installed a 7th Gear Design 19 tooth steel front sprocket which raised final gearing 5%.

11. Installed a 7th Gear design 37 tooth steel rear sprocket which raised final gearing an additional 5.5%. The combination of those two sprockets raised my final gearing 10.5% and lowered RPM at 70 mph from 4000 to 3600 RPM.

12. Removed the charcoal colored, plastic left hand rear engine side case and replaced it with the polished aluminum
Click to expand...
 
Steve, most of us have removed the stickers. For some they come right off. Some use a hair dryer to heat them up some. I used the sun. Using your thumbnail or another finger, you can get the edge to lift up and slowly peal them off.

Any residue can easily be cleaned off with WD-40, or I think some used goo b gone or whatever it is called. I used WD. Then, some of your favorite wax or polish, and you are done. :)
 
Thread starter
Gentlemen,

I love my '13 CB1100. Every time I get off my new Sportster 48 and get on the CB1100 it's a revelation all over again.

Chip
 
Since you mentioned it, what do think of your Sportster 48, particularly in light of the CB?
 
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