1/12/07

Fitted new battery a couple of months ago. Delinked the brakes because I was annoyed by the behaviour of the rear (front was ok). I used a kit custom made by a member of the X11 OC. Also bought myself a Yoshimura carbon 4-1 for the beast, but not fitted that yet..

1/9/07

Nothing much to add. Fitted 1 new rear tyre, Conti Road Attack this time, the sport version just seemed to wear a bit quicker. I readjusted the carb synchronisation with a proper vacuum gauge and that has improved low speed running quite a bit, it was miles out.  Changed the oil/filter for full synthetic. Joy of X also needs a new battery, so one’s on order..

30/4/07

No updates lately, as nothing goes wrong with a Honda! Well, except when your neighbour backs into it with their car… damn.. Still, the insurance have paid for the parts so Joy of X is under minor repair this week. When it went over it fell on the kerb and went right through the ignition cover plus marking the clutch cover, so various new parts are on the way… I might just add a pair of slip-ons just for fun!

26/11/06

Well I’m pretty used to it now, having fallen off twice so far, once due to the silly steering lock turning round in the road, and once when I span the rear exiting a pub on a turn and it slid too far out of line…not much harm done but I had to get a new footrest plate as the footrest mount broke off (ebay is wonderful…).

However, I still think it’s a GREAT bike, and I’ve done quite a few miles now (about 6k I think) since I got it. Fixed quite a bit of the general engine noise by replacing the cam chain tensioner, people say that X11 ones (unlike ‘birds) don’t fail but it seems they’re wrong, X11 ones last longer but mine definitely made a clear difference.

01/09/06

Ok, first update! –I’ve adjusted and changed quite a few things on the “Joy of X” so far, namely, I’ve replaced the chain and sprockets, replaced a missing engine bolt plus both control cables (clutch/throttle) which made a BIG difference. Replaced the headlamp bulb with Xenon, which is also much better, the equal of a 100W normal one. Changed all the brake pads. Reset-up the rear brake pedal. Tweaked the rear brake stoplight switch which was ‘sticky’. Wore out both Bridgestone BT 014 new tyres it was fitted with and I have to say they are CRAP - (a) they wore out in no time and (b) their ‘feel’ in corners is useless, even though their actual grip is fine. I replaced them with a pair of Conti Sport Attacks and they are instantly much much nicer, and seem well suited to the X.  I also put two new (black not chrome) rear view mirrors on it.

Oh yeah, and I monstered a few of those pesky Scooby drivers too – hard luck guys.

To do: change the brake fluid maybe, find out where the rattle over slow bumps comes from, do better wheelies, is a stoppie possible on a linked brakes bike, that’s the question??? …. And … shut down a few more hot hatches and 4 wheel drive thingies…

01/05/06

Still getting used to this beast. As my kids said when I turned up on it…”Dad, that’s BEASTY!” and it is, believe me. Why they were panned by the press is a mystery to me, other than they did not/do not “fit” the current fashion streams for bikes, e.g. retro naked, or sportsbike, or supermoto, blah blah...  Usually people describe them as “naked Blackbirds” but in fact they are quite a lot different than the Blackbird. The X handles very well (for a big bike) and has a good riding position for a tall guy like me (you may be leaning too much if your arms are shorter). Suspension is good even though not very adjustable, and so far I’ve not been able to fault the linked brakes, which I’d assumed I’d hate!

Ongoing maintenance etc….

Honda X-11