Honda CB1100R

Honda CB1100R

There’s something strangely compelling about 1980s superbikes. The French have a phrase for it: jolie laide, meaning both pretty and ugly at the same time. To my eyes, Honda’s CB1100R is a classic example of this. It’s a ‘homologation special’, produced in small numbers so that the bike qualified for production-class racing in Europe, South Africa and Australia. (As far as I can tell, this model never made it Stateside.) The bike was based on the CB900F Bol d’Or, with a similar but higher-quality steel frame and a solo seat. According to the CB1100R Owners’ Club, the air-cooled motor was bored out to 1062cc; it was also fitted with aggressive camshafts, forged pistons, a wider primary chain and an upgraded gearbox. Output, according to whom you believe, was between 100 and 115 bhp. There are little race touches everywhere, with a lightened alternator and, on some Rs, a lightened starter clutch gear too. The tank is aluminum and holds 24 liters (6.3 US gallons), perfect for longer races. This particular machine is a late-model CB1100R from Japan, and it’s got to be one of the most pristine examples still on the road. Hopefully it’s still ridden in anger. [Via Bike Bros.]