Life on a Honda 2008 CBF1000A purhcased on Facebook Marketplace. A Flog's Blog

[facthunter]

 How many Miles is on that Honda all up?  Not you. The Bike. Nev

[Jerry_Atrick]

Sorry, Nev. I missed your post.

 

I bought it with 40,200+ miles on the clock. Today, it sits 3 miles short of 45,000 miles. When you think I had the bike for about a month before I did my first ride to London (from memory), it has clicked up 3.700+ miles in 3 months. The original tyres were at about 1/2 life, so they lasted as expected. 

 

I expected a few bits to be needed to be done. And sure enough, they do. I don't have all the tools and the space to DIY, and even if I did, it would take me 3 or 4 times longer than if I got someone good to do it. 

 

The latest mechanics were OK, but I noticed a few minor things they didn't get right. The new tyres are excellent. But, they didn't inflate them to the correct pressures. I had since corrected that, and it rides really well. The rear brake/wheel still has a squeak, but I have checked and there seems to be an issue with the piston - somethign I would have hoped they picked up when changing the disc. So, they are going to look at next week. I gave it a good dose of brake cleaner and it seems to have quietened it down a but. 

 

The heated grips no longer work. They wired them into the fuse box, and I guess the fuse has blown. I am thinking there is a short somewhere, but I don't have the space to take the fuel tank off to trace the wiring. Since they were playing up before I took them in to be rewired, I am guessing it was the previous mechanic who has probably cut into the insulation or something. 

 

At the end of the day, these are minor things. The electrical system initially worried me, but it seems to be functioning well (touch wood). The engine purrs like a kitten, and the clutch and gearbox seem in good shape, if a little notchy at times. For an 18 year old bike, it is still hanging together well. 

 

Well, this weekend, it was great riding weather, if a little chilly in the morning. Yesterday was nice and sunny and we hit abour 17 degrees. Today was more on the grey side, with the odd ray if sunshing getting through and it was 16. My son and I went for a ride both days and covered around 130 miles between the two days. We found some nice twisties with excellent rolling countryside views as well as views to the Bristol Channel. We stopped at the local Harley/Indian dealer, and then the Triumph dealer, where a bunch of young fellas made a bee line to the son's bike and they all spun a good yarn. 

 

We pootled/bimbled around a bit more and then all of a sudden, on a country road (we aren't short of them around here) he decided to open up the throttle and got the little beast to 70mph, I did ask him to read back his speedo (we have intercoms). 

 

Today it was back to the twisties and some riding in town for practice, where he did stuff up navigating a roundabout. He was very disappointed with himself, but as I point out, even the most experienced riders make mistakes, that he wasn't dangerous, and as long as he learns from them, he is in the black. 

 

The Biffa (nickname for CBF1000's here) is an absolute joy to ride. Smooth and very positive acceleration, respectable handling int he twistes (knee didn't quite get down - and I don't have sliders, anyway). Only real complaint is that over the potholes it is a bit stiff. Maybe I should take a look at the rear shock. 

 

Bikers were out in force both days, and the convention here is a tilt of the head to the middle of the road, with a slight nod at the same time. Most people do it, and some quite pronounced. The alternative is a wave of the left hand with an extended arm.  

 

All in all a good day.. Next week, the Halse Angels will head to a beach on the Bristol Channel - most likely Minehead, which is only 14 or so miles away. 

 

Then the real test for the lad - a ride into London.. to the Aussie High Coommission for an appointment for his Aussie passport renewal (his old passport isn't one fo the new tech ones, so it is like a new passport application. Looking at doing it Wednesday week. 

 

 

Edited 16 hours ago by Jerry_Atrick

[Jerry_Atrick]

I did neglect to mention that I have changed my London days to Thursday and Friday. 

 

Thursday morning, it was bloody cold, starting off at 4am at 2 degrees. Those heated gloves worked well, except for the index finger on the right hand.. there seems to be a cold spot there, but on testing in the comfort of my room in the pub, it seemed OK. 

 

I am gettng more confident filtering through traffic with the big lump it is, but I am still no way hear as aggressive as others on bigger bikes. But, I am also older now, so a little more mindful of the possible consequences. Plus I can;t be botehred with the insurance faff if I damage someone else's vehicle or person. 

 

I left early on Friday - 4:30pm. The sun was shining, but I had to stop by the pub to pay, as I fell asleep on first going to my room on Thursday night and didn't awake until well after closing time (no dinner either). I then navigated peak hour traffic to get on the M4 motorway, which was moving well all they way and queues. COVID has had a benefit of bringing forward hybrid working and few people like to go to the office on a Friday. 

 

Once out of the vaiable speed limit area past reading (about 30 miles from the start of the motorway), with the weather still nice and the longer evening twilight, I did most of the ride at aorund 87mph - about 140kph. The limit is 70, but I had plenty of people overtaking me, and I was mainly overtaking trucks. The police are far more reasonable in the UK; although at that speed, you are likely to get done. Unless it is dangerous, they are usually tolerant to 80mph (130kph).

 

With one stop for dinner and the diversion to Richmond, I was home a little after 8:30, which was not bad going at all. 

 

If I had taken the car, it would have added an hour to the journey I reckon. The train to North Sheen (next stop from Richmonnd and basically same route to M4) would have taken an hour; It would have been longer to the pub and a lot longer to the motorway as one can't filter in a car... Once on the motorway though, I probably would have been doing around 80mph all the way, so it wouldn't have taken that much longer for that part of the drive.