NBT, The sub 5k commuter

[KungFooBob]

I had exactly the same problem on a similar vintage Varadero, you couldn't feel anything though the bars, but as soon as you let go it started to wag, I wasn't brave enough to leave it for more than a few seconds.

A nice new tyre at the correct pressure fixed it.

[The Spin Doctor]

It could be just the front tyre. Even in this enlightened day and age,some bikes still don't behave well with certain tyre patterns.

^ that...

It's often a brand that uses too-triangular profiles... Ok upright, great banged over on their sides, vague at part-lean.

[Taff]

The internet experts recon that it's to do with the head bearings, and changing them for some tapered ones cures it. The tyres are going to be worn out in a month or two anyway, and I'll probably change from the bt23's that are on there to a pair of Michelin's.
I had the same issue many years ago on a nearly new fjr1300, in the end the dealer took it back and refunded me the money. (After a lot of arguing)

[Taipan]

Since the end of may I've done about 5k miles, and I'm actually starting to like the bloody thing despite it being the dullest of dull Hondas.

For commuting the power delivery is just bloody perfect, top gear roll on from 40mph is plenty enough to nip past a car, giving it a fist full in second and banging it up through the gears makes for rapid enough progress. The brakes are a lot better than the Tigers, I think they're still on the oe pads.
The steering is not quite right though, leave go of the handlebars at 40 and it'll go straight into a head shaking tank slapper, I can't feel anything when riding but I know it's there waiting. This is a common problem with the CBF and I don't have the time / energy to worry about it too much.
It goes around bends well enough that the chicken strips are long gone and I've caught a toe on the tarmac a few times.

The plan was always to keep this bike for a year and swap it out for something that I really like, and there's loads that I've been looking into...890adv, 1090adv, f900xr, Africa twin, z1000sx etc etc. but in all honesty, having just commuted to work and back in the pissing rain, I think this could be here for quite a while longer

Has it got bridgestones on it? They are my tyre of choice but often found the front tyre "cups" and causes headshake when you take your hands off the bars.

[Lutin]

The steering is not quite right though, leave go of the handlebars at 40 and it'll go straight into a head shaking tank slapper, I can't feel anything when riding but I know it's there waiting. This is a common problem with the CBF and I don't have the time / energy to worry about it too much.

Do you habitually ride around with the top box? If so, have you tried it without it fitted? From the photos it's a large box and some way back on the bike.

Just a thought.

[gremlin]

infested with gremlins.

Oi....

[Bigyin]

The internet experts recon that it's to do with the head bearings, and changing them for some tapered ones cures it. The tyres are going to be worn out in a month or two anyway, and I'll probably change from the bt23's that are on there to a pair of Michelin's.
I had the same issue many years ago on a nearly new fjr1300, in the end the dealer took it back and refunded me the money. (After a lot of arguing)

The head bearings could be the culprit but I would be surprised at that low mileage as both my cases were on bikes over 45000 miles. Had it on a Zx6 years ago which was fine riding but hands off bars started a violent shake. My auld Fazer was doing it recently too so changed the bearings and it’s fine. Put bike on centre stand and get the weight off the front wheel so it’s free to turn lock to lock and feel for a notch normally when the bars are almost straight ….. will feel very mild but at speed with hands off bars it will look for the notch going side to side

[v8-powered]

The steering is not quite right though, leave go of the handlebars at 40 and it'll go straight into a head shaking tank slapper, I can't feel anything when riding but I know it's there waiting. This is a common problem with the CBF and I don't have the time / energy to worry about it too much.

Do you habitually ride around with the top box? If so, have you tried it without it fitted? From the photos it's a large box and some way back on the bike.

Just a thought.

I had the exact same on a ZZR-1100 I used to commute years ago. Was fine until your threw the box on the back, then liked a shake....

[The Spin Doctor]

I had the exact same on a ZZR-1100 I used to commute years ago. Was fine until your threw the box on the back, then liked a shake....

My XJ6 is the same. Starts to weave over 75 or so with the box on the back.

[Yorick]

I had the exact same on a ZZR-1100 I used to commute years ago. Was fine until your threw the box on the back, then liked a shake....

My XJ6 is the same. Starts to weave over 75 or so with the box on the back.

When do you go over 75 ?



*hides behind the sofa*

[G.P]

@Taff Apologies if I missed it, but what did you do with the Tiger?
I've got a 60,000 mile, Madstad screened Tiger which I'm considering off loading but not sure if there'a market for that mileage bike.

[Taff]

The steering is not quite right though, leave go of the handlebars at 40 and it'll go straight into a head shaking tank slapper, I can't feel anything when riding but I know it's there waiting. This is a common problem with the CBF and I don't have the time / energy to worry about it too much.

Do you habitually ride around with the top box? If so, have you tried it without it fitted? From the photos it's a large box and some way back on the bike.

Just a thought.

Yes, the top box is always on and used on every ride to carry work stuff. I do have the option to take it off and use a pannier instead, but y'know...filterin

@Taff Apologies if I missed it, but what did you do with the Tiger?
I've got a 60,000 mile, Madstad screened Tiger which I'm considering off loading but not sure if there'a market for that mileage bike.

I shoved it on eBay and Facebook marketplace, a few people were interested in FB until they found out that we live in 'the other Blakeney' (the other side of the country).
A bloke from North Wales bought it on eBay for about £3k

[Taff]

Since the end of may I've done about 5k miles, and I'm actually starting to like the bloody thing despite it being the dullest of dull Hondas.

For commuting the power delivery is just bloody perfect, top gear roll on from 40mph is plenty enough to nip past a car, giving it a fist full in second and banging it up through the gears makes for rapid enough progress. The brakes are a lot better than the Tigers, I think they're still on the oe pads.
The steering is not quite right though, leave go of the handlebars at 40 and it'll go straight into a head shaking tank slapper, I can't feel anything when riding but I know it's there waiting. This is a common problem with the CBF and I don't have the time / energy to worry about it too much.
It goes around bends well enough that the chicken strips are long gone and I've caught a toe on the tarmac a few times.

The plan was always to keep this bike for a year and swap it out for something that I really like, and there's loads that I've been looking into...890adv, 1090adv, f900xr, Africa twin, z1000sx etc etc. but in all honesty, having just commuted to work and back in the pissing rain, I think this could be here for quite a while longer

Has it got bridgestones on it? They are my tyre of choice but often found the front tyre "cups" and causes headshake when you take your hands off the bars.

It came with new 023s fitted sand it has done it all of the time

[The Spin Doctor]

When do you go over 75 ?



*hides behind the sofa*

Downhill with a following wind

[Yorick]

When do you go over 75 ?



*hides behind the sofa*

Downhill with a following wind

I heard you once got done for attempted speeding

[The Spin Doctor]

When do you go over 75 ?



*hides behind the sofa*

Downhill with a following wind

I heard you once got done for attempted speeding

LOL LOL

I got off on a technicality - the police speedo wasn't calibrated low enough

[Taff]

MOT test passed today @ 15k miles

I was a little bit worried about the fork seals, it looks like one is leaking but it's actually the dust seal is broken letting rain water get underneath it and then bit by bit it comes back up and looks like oil.

the only trouble with this bike so far is that the screen is so friggin noisy I'm going deaf, and that's with ear plugs in. I may have to try another different screen.

[Taff]

A brief update, 4 months on and about 4k miles. So we're getting towards 10k done in the past year and a bit.

The corrosion on the fork leg upper that I was worried about for the MOT got worse to the point that oil was dribbling down the leg, so I replaced the upper. As it's a 'right way up' fork replacing it was a doddle and I changed the oil in the other fork at the same time. I also raised the forks in the yoke by about 5mm and the front end now feels pretty secure where it was a bit vague before.

I've replaced the screen with an aftermarket one with one of those little spoilers at the top, which is better but still bloody noisy. It's bearable but could be better.

I gave it some fresh oil this weekend and on the next ride on Saturday the stator gave up and went to Honda stator heaven. This is the one known fault on this bike and it's a matter of time for it to go pop rather than an IF it will go. A new one is on order and I can't wait to find out if the reg rec is toast as well.

[Bustaspoke]

Does the Honda have a voltmeter?
On both my Street Triple & SV650 the charging system is known as one of the few weak points.Touchwood I've had no problems but I was told to keep the batteries on trickle charge & just to use the bike's charging system to top up the battery NEVER to use it to charge up the battery as it puts to much load on the system.I also fit a cheap LED that changes colour depending on the voltage,Green's 12 - 14 V,flashing Red below 12v,solid red above 14V,they're less than £20 Ebay & good for piece of mind.

[Taff]

No, no voltmeter but I do have an led one sat on the shelf just waiting to be fitted for the last year, I never quite found the time
Other people have reported the FI and abs light flashing when it had died, but I had nothing, it was riding normally until I stopped at a traffic light and it cut out. The battery was so flat at that point even the neutral light wouldn't come on.

As I ride at least 4 days a week the battery doesn't really have time to discharge so I never put a charger on it. I was sort of expecting the stator to go over last winter when I was riding with the heated grips on but it was fine.