Time to get personal
A few mods can turn a great bike into YOUR great bike
After living with the CB1000R★ for five months, I felt it was time to make some changes to address a couple of issues I have with the aesthetics of what is an otherwise attractivelooking bike. The standard exhaust and rear numberplate bracket are the biggest offenders; they’re just too big and bold, dragging my eyes away from the really nice design touches. There have been other tweaks, too. 1. New end-can
The standard can sounds ok, albeit a little quiet, but it’s physically massive and dominates the right side of the bike. I wanted something smaller, and to turn up the volume a little at the same time. Akrapovic have a titanium slip-on silencer (www.performanceparts-ltd.com for £657) that’s short, stubby, and really enhances the bike’s look.
It’s simple enough to fit as there’s only one bolt and clamp to negotiate, and although it needs a new gasket, it’s part of the kit. Fitted in a matter of minutes, it was time to hit the starter button... and to my relief it exuded a new deeper note. It’s not raucous or intrusive, just enough to make you smile. I was initially concerned it would make little if no difference as today’s big catalytic converters tend to make end-cans largely redundant, but it has been a pleasing transformation. 2. Repositioned number plate
A new fashion for fitting the rear number plate to a huge bracket which is then attached to the rear swingarm, rather than under the seat, seems to have taken over the retro scene and is one of my bugbears with the CB. To rectify this, I opted for an R&G Tail Tidy (www.rg-racing. com, for £124.99). Going by the instructions it looked like it could get a little complicated, but it also said it only required an hour to complete. How bad could it be?
I don’t mind getting stuck in and have most of the tools needed to make any job easier but it soon seemed like I had dismantled most of the rear of the bike just to gain access to the correct bolts, wires and clips. Two hours later I still had the rear number plate light wire to extricate. With patience wearing thin I eventually cut the light off (leaving enough wire to re-attach it at a later date) which proved a wise decision as I was now able to thread the wire up through the bodywork to the new rear number plate light.
Problems resolved, it had taken me nearer three hours to complete the job. I can’t fault the end result, though, as it transforms the bike. But it was a lot of faff. 3. Alcantara seat swap
Honda also offer an aftermarket Alcantara seat for the CB. It costs a rather salty £330 but it’s simple to fit (there’s only two bolts), looks fantastic, and, compared to the standard one, also feels a little firmer. The most noticeable thing is the extra bum grip it offers under braking and acceleration. My only worry is how well it will stand up to a good soaking on a rainy day. I may well have a soggy bottom throughout winter. 4. New MRA screen
The original Meter Visor which comes as standard on the X model is more decorative than any sort of useful screen. So I have replaced it with an MRA Sport screen (www. bikehps.com, for £89) to help deflect a little more icy wind blast through winter. Small, but perfectly formed, it doesn’t detract from the bike’s lines, but does its job really well. Amazing, really, for something so small.