The GFC has forced all motorcycle manufacturers to withdraw into the realm of “safe” design and product development (and even then, for some, it hasn’t been enough to save their bottom line). Nowhere is this more evident than with the market leader, Honda who, despite diversifying its model base to suit individual markets like never before, have stuck with what are now outdated designs for their market-leading products. The 1000RR is now nearly 5 years old and the 600RR is coming up to TEN years old, yes, that’s right, it was first released in current form in 2003. Progressive updating has merely nibbled away at the edges with styling and minor engineering updates while the market marks time and waits for things to pick up.
And it’s not just Honda who have been caught. The other Japanese manufacturers as well as their European counterparts have been playing their cards close for years with each of them issuing a major upgrade of probably just one model per calendar year rather than the plethora that used to greet us at the shiny-shiny shows late each year.
So it is frustrating in the extreme that some of the more interesting suggestions seem to be slow making it from the drawing board to the showroom floor. Nowhere is this dilemma more evident than in the much-promised, but not delivered, Honda CB1100R.
Designed after a long, hard look backwards at the iconic bike of the same name from the late 70’s…
…the idea of a retro superbike with modern engineering is SO appealing, so it is a considerable frustration to a lot of people that Honda has been sitting on this design and failing to act on world-wide fascination with the project. To see some more dramatic pictures, follow the link below which will also provide some tech specs.
Honda CB1100R; A potential modern classic.
To my mind this bike has everything. I’d make a few changes if it were me. The RC30-inspired headlights are way too small; If they’re going to stay with twin headlights, at least make them bigger (I’d prefer a single light, however). The ugly airbox should be covered with a sidecover that also extends the physical size and appearance of the rear seat unit. I know that a tiny tailpiece is all the go in sportsbikes right now, but this isn’t a sportsbike so why have one? Integrating a functional and colour-coded sidecover with the tailpiece would solve the problem. And, finally, I’d complete the retro look by ditching the cast wheels for proper spoke wheels. Other manufacturers are running spoked wheels with modern tubeless tyres so the technology must be there to enable them to do it, so why not here?
As my title says, if Honda were to build this thing, the world would beat a path to their door, of that I am absolutely sure.
sanoptic says
On looks alone the 70’s version wins hands down , i used to dream of owning the full fairing model when it first came out.
But then again i’ve always liked the big bikes from the 70’s & 80’s !!!
Phil Hall says
Me too. I couldn’t afford one then and I still can’t. Ain’t life unfair?
teza51 says
My choice would be the old styling with the modern technology think they have ruined a classic looking bike.
Phil Hall says
To each his own. As someone who remember the old bike when it was new, I know what you mean.