2017 Honda CB1100RS
Honda’s retro CB1100 has never been the rampant
success story they’d hoped for. Now, the Big H are
trying remedy with this new model, the CB1100RS.
The explosion in modern classics is a bandwagon no
manufacturer can ignore, and this RS version is jumping all over the café racer
resurgence, with its uprated 43 mm Showa Dual Bending Valve two-piece front fork
and remote reservoir rear shocks, 17in cast aluminium wheels and dual radial
Tokico calipers. The massive engine also now breathes through revised inlet and
exhaust systems and gets a slip/assist clutch.
The RS’s chassis uses sharper geometry than its more
traditional EX sibling, with firmer Showa suspension, and a lower, more compact
riding position to move the rider’s weight forward into a marginally more
sporty position.
The revised air-cooled four-cylinder engine breathes
more easily thanks to a new inlet tract and its smaller, lighter 4-2-2 exhaust
system (now 70 mm shorter at the mufflers), while that assist slipper clutch
makes for a lighter action at the lever, plus more positive engagement when
pulling away, and full slipper action on aggressive downshifts.
The rake and trail of 26°/99 mm and wheelbase of
1485 mm (as opposed to 27°/114 mm/1490 mm for the EX model) means faster steering
and more responsive handling. The seat height is a middling 795 mm, while the
kerb weight of 252 kg is still remarkably lardy for such an uncluttered modern
classic – that’s steel chassis for you.
The chunky fork bottoms – note this is a RWU fork,
not inverted – hold a set of equally beefy radial Tokico calipers gripping
310 mm floating discs, and ABS is standard – so the RS should have no problems
hauling its mass to a stop.
The only odd part of the CB’s dressing up box is the
modern styling of the new cast wheels, which look ever so slightly out of place
in this retro homage. Some fake Lesters would have been more endearing. But at
least they wear 120/70 ZR17 and 180/55 ZR17 front and rear tyres – allowing the
fitment of something more sticky than the sport-touring Bridgestone T30s fitted
at the factory. The biggest disappointment of all though, is that there’s no
Imola-style half-faired version like the original R concept. Come on Honda,
sort it out.
The big-looking tank actually only accepts 16.8L of
petrol via its aircraft-style filler cap, while the side panels are genuine
pressed aluminium, the sidestand is longer than was, and the footrests sleeker.
Lighting is LED all-round, including the indicators. The CB1100RS will be
available in Candy Prominence Red and Graphite Black.