Dotetcher

Was out for a bit of a ride yesterday and well into it stopped for fuel. Bit of a blue cloud and the smell of burning oil. Not good. Right side of rear tire has film of oil. Also not good. Checked oil. Was a bit low so added some and took it very easy the rest of the way home, stopping frequently, checking oil level. Removed plastics and went to carwash 1/2 mile from house) to spray engine off to find where the issue was. Pulled back in the driveway to more smoke and and a nice little jet of oil spitting from the right oil cooler pipe. Looks like an easy enough job so I figured I'd do both. Around $115 each. In doing a little research I've been hearing about the mounting bolts having a tendency to shear. Not liking the sound of that. Any recommendations on how to prevent this? Some of the stuff I've been reading has guys soaking bolts with penetrating oil for an extended period and still shearing the bolts. Obviously dont want that to happen. TIA for any suggestions. Skip

Tried using brake clean. Visually did little. Just pushing pistons back in and install new pads has done the trick.

Plastics are pretty hosed. Took a quick look at this a week ago. What makes it appealing to me is price and 100000 less miles than mine.

If they're still available I'm interested. 6'2" 200lbs 35" waist 34" inseam. Think they'd fit?

Rear brake caliper on my '97 xx is dragging a bit more than usual. Has been for a while. I'm changing tires now and putting new pads in while i'm at it. What the easiest/best method for cleaning the pistons in the caliper. Hard to get at.

Found out the adapter they were talking about was a spacer that goes between the base of the bulb and the wire piece that holds everything in place when closed. I had a rubber washer that I used in my last install so just used that. Electrical connection was a bit different so used wires with spade connectors off old set for new. Everythings back together and looks good. Changed air filter while I was at it. Last one had quite a few miles on it and was pretty beat. Bike was running rich. Think this cured it.

Update. Was contacted by seller telling me the adapter needs an adapter for an extra $10. Trying to cancel order now.

MotorcycleHIDlights.com. The ones I ordered. 1 x Digital Dual HID Kit Slim Ballasts (Digital Slim) = $89.99. $30 more than some of the other ones I was looking at but got sick and tired of trying to make a decision.

Ordered HIDs. Gonna replace both.

Had the low beam go recently on my xx (HID installed a number of years ago). Started to do some research and saw LED being offered at a reasonable price. So question is who's had both, how do they compare brightness wise and which brand do you recommend? TIA

Thanks Joe. Facing the left side of the bike (obvioulsy) it would be the lower left bolt which is actually the longest one. Wouldn't also happen to have a chailn adjuster bolt? Just let me know how much you want. Still have my address?

Trying to find the cover for the front sprocket in the Honda parts fiche and not having much luck. Any one aware what heading this falls under. Looking to replace a bolt. 1997 blackbird. TIA Skip

Used the shovel remounting the rear wheel today Joe. There were a few less motherfuckers uttered. Thanks for the suggestion.

Hey Hank. Met you a year or so ago where 30 and 23 intersect in the Catskills. Our mutual aquaintance Tom from Jersey had mentioned he knew someone with a Turbo XX and we run into you a week or so later. Small world.

Tnx all. Been using the piece of wood under the tire idea. I like the shovel suggestion Joe. Leg putting pressure on the shovel to lift leaves both hands free. Got to spoon on some new tires soon. I'll give it a try. On another note. Been through 7-10 sets of Michelin PR 2's. Looks like I'm going to have to move on to something else. Anyone try the PR 4's?

In 140000 miles of BB riding/ownership I've done numerous brake jobs, tire changes, sprocket-chain changes etc. Since I'm getting older and a little less prideful I've got a question. More often than not I have some struggles remounting the rear wheel. LIning up brake pads on rotor, keeping spacers in place and everything else just seems to be more of a pain than it should be. So my question. Anyone have suggestions on how to make this process easier other than paying someone else to do it. TIA.

Calcxx first choice. i'll check back later.

Think its an 8900E but not sure. Came with my present xx I bought from RedFury a few years back (JCRich's old xx). Ride was too stiff for the ex pillion so put a stock shock back on the bike. The Penske been sitting with other spare parts for the last couple of years. JC said he paid around $500 for it new a few years back. Think they're going for a bit over $600 now. I'm thinking $250 is a fair price.

That is a huge +1 Hell my 97 has 62,000+ miles on it and not a mins problems. I would not hesitate to take it cross country or put it on the track. The only reason in my eyes for a new bike would be a major engine failure or wreck. Some people just like to have new and shiny which is nice if you can afford it by all mean go for it. In this economy most people can't . I have not owned a new vehicle for myself ever . My wife had always gotten the new car. I always have a used set of wheels. Hell my Chevy Silverado had almost 200k on it and I love that fuckin truck. Honda will come back once the economy turns around if it ever does. Until then they will just lay low and save their money . Can't blame them really. :icon_think: I'm on my second '97. Bought my first one from John Perez with 70000 + miles on it and rode it till it met its demise in the side of a minivan. It had 139000 miles on it. Rode it all over the country. Bought my second one a month and a half later (picked it up while my arm was still in a cast) with a little over 40000 miles on it. That was 3 years ago. I'm 250 miles short of the 100000 mile mark. I've ridden it all over the country. Would not hesitate to ride it anywhere.

Tnx for the suggestions guys. I'll check locally.

Anyone ever have a corbin re-covered? Got a gunfighter and lady that the leather has split where it wraps around the bottom of the seat. Also looking to replace the steering head bearings with tapered ones on my '97. When I did it on my last '97 I borrowed a tool from AirborneXX that he made. Does anyone know if there's another one of those floating around on the board somewhere. Tnx. Skip

Hey John. Joe came up and carted it away. Don't remember what he did with it.

I bought John's (JJP) bird from him with around 75,000 miles on it and rode it for 3 years till I ended up embedding it in the side of some asshole who ran a stop sign. It had just under 140,000 miles. I'd still be riding it today if not for the accident.

Just to follow up. D.I.D. 530ZVMX Super Street X'ring Chain & Steel Sprocket Kit - HONDA CBR 1100XX 97-04 -Chain Color: Gold Plated ($0.00) -Front Sprocket Size: 17 ($0.00) -Rear Sprocket Material: Steel ($0.00) -Rear Sprocket Size: 45 ($0.00) Total with shipping $229.90 Thanks for the suggestion Testrider. The Sprocket Center was the cheapest place I could find.

Just tried to find website for White Buffalo and can't come up with it. Where's the best/cheapest place for chain and sprockets. TIA. Skip