We think the 2017 Honda CB1100RS looks utterly gorgeous. We love it!
For those who love retro-styled inline-four-powered Japanese motorcycles, Honda have unveiled the new-retro CB1100RS that pays homage to the legendary late-1960s Honda CB750. With hints of 1970s café racer, the CB1100RS is nice and curvy, without giving in to any short-lived design fads. It has timeless appeal, combined with high levels of build quality. Compared to the more laid-back CB1100EX, the RS gets sharper steering geometry, firmer suspension settings, radial-mount four-piston calipers for the front disc brakes, 17-inch cast-aluminium wheels and sportsbike-spec tyres. A lower, more compact riding position also moves the rider’s weight slightly forward, making for a proper sportsbike-spec riding position, but one that's not too hard on the wrists.
The Honda CB1100RS' air-cooled four-cylinder DOHC engine (Euro 4-compliant) produces 89bhp and 91Nm of torque – not exactly superbike-spec numbers, but probably enough to keep you entertained for hours on a Sunday morning. The gearbox is a 6-speed unit, with slipper clutch. With its steel-tube double-cradle chassis, the CB1100RS has a kerb weight of 252 kilos, which isn't too bad really. There's a 43mm conventional Showa fork up front, which is adjustable for spring preload, while the Showa twin shock setup at the back is also preload adjustable. The bike rolls on 10-spoke, 17-inch diecast aluminium wheels, sho with 120/70 (front) and 180/55 (rear) tyres. Two-channel ABS is standard, headlamp and taillamp are both LED units. Available colours include black and red, both of which look good – though we prefer red in this case!
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