The Cone of Silence
28th June 2018, 09:50 AM
2011 Honda CT110
After 35,000kms of loyal service in the name of Australia Post, the bike went up for auction, a chap in South Sydney purchased it, serviced it and flogged it to me, so I could ride to the train station and back each morning and evening.
His name is Bernard (the bike not the chap who sold it to me).
After two years of wonderful service in Umina Beach and a year doing it much tougher out on a property in North Richmond, I moved to Richmond and no longer required Bernard to take me to and from the train station each day. As the polo season closed and my free time for the next three months was suddenly all mine (no g/f either), I decided to strip him down and give him a bit of a makeover. A man needs a project...and I figured I'd learn a thing or two along the way into the bargain.
Strip down was a LOT of fun although I should have labelled more bits which I later ended up guessing when it came to the re-construction. Once I'd degreased and sanded everything down and cleaned off all dust and paint residue, I set up a 'paint booth' in my tiny garage and went to town with etch primer, enamel and then clearcoat, then a wet n dry and polish. Very happy with the black.
Ape hangers installed, new cables, carby cleaned, new saddle (I fabricated a suitable bracket to achieve the desired angle) and putting the bike back together was such an enjoyable process. I can see why 'James May - The Reassembler' is a popular show.
Ride is bumpier through the buttocks thanks to the saddle springs being harder but it's SUCH fun to ride, especially cruising at 80 with the feet out on the highway pegs...and now I get nods from the Harley boys which was most unexpected!
Next year I'm thinking of treating myself to either a BMW GSA or Triumph Tiger and I suppose I shall have to sell Bernard...but I'll be sad to see him go. Such fun little bikes, the CT110s.
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After 35,000kms of loyal service in the name of Australia Post, the bike went up for auction, a chap in South Sydney purchased it, serviced it and flogged it to me, so I could ride to the train station and back each morning and evening.
His name is Bernard (the bike not the chap who sold it to me).
After two years of wonderful service in Umina Beach and a year doing it much tougher out on a property in North Richmond, I moved to Richmond and no longer required Bernard to take me to and from the train station each day. As the polo season closed and my free time for the next three months was suddenly all mine (no g/f either), I decided to strip him down and give him a bit of a makeover. A man needs a project...and I figured I'd learn a thing or two along the way into the bargain.
Strip down was a LOT of fun although I should have labelled more bits which I later ended up guessing when it came to the re-construction. Once I'd degreased and sanded everything down and cleaned off all dust and paint residue, I set up a 'paint booth' in my tiny garage and went to town with etch primer, enamel and then clearcoat, then a wet n dry and polish. Very happy with the black.
Ape hangers installed, new cables, carby cleaned, new saddle (I fabricated a suitable bracket to achieve the desired angle) and putting the bike back together was such an enjoyable process. I can see why 'James May - The Reassembler' is a popular show.
Ride is bumpier through the buttocks thanks to the saddle springs being harder but it's SUCH fun to ride, especially cruising at 80 with the feet out on the highway pegs...and now I get nods from the Harley boys which was most unexpected!
Next year I'm thinking of treating myself to either a BMW GSA or Triumph Tiger and I suppose I shall have to sell Bernard...but I'll be sad to see him go. Such fun little bikes, the CT110s.
141686141687141688 141690