The CB1100RS: Can it Really Outperform the Standard?

[AzBob_imp]

You "never touch anything down"? Really? You did say you replaced the rear shocks, correct? I've got the preload on my stock shocks at the maximum setting and I touch my foot pegs down often. (I weigh 185 lbs). I have grounded-out the kickstand twice, but that was with my wife on the back, and it really scared me. I am not saying that I disagree with your comments about the CB1100RS, but I have learned the limits of my CB1100 dlx, and they are not very high.

Yep, that is exactly it. The limits of the CB1100 chassis are quite low, so 17" race-spec wheels and an aluminum swingarm, fancy forks and shocks, and radially-mounted brake calipers are not going to help that at all. Probably make it worse since the wheels are smaller, as the bike is going to be at least an inch lower.

I run my Ikons at the maximum preload and damping settings which turned out to be about right for me. I weigh about 160 pounds fully geared up, and I'm an "all the gear, all the time" type of rider.

I've scraped footpegs on the CB1100 maybe five or six times in the 9,500 miles I have on my CB1100. That was just learning the bike, in turns I knew, on clean, dry pavement, no oncoming traffic, at slower speeds (less than 50 mph).

I don't like touching metal down on the street, or track, or anywhere. It means something bad is likely to happen and there isn't any more cornering ability left. That's why you were scared. That's a natural reation. I don't push any school over any other, but Keith Code's characterization of the sensation of fear as a "survival reaction" comes to mind. The frame can lever the bike right off the ground and lowside you and your wife in a real quick hurry.

I like to always have at least five degrees of lean angle left for the unexpected. That is true on the racetrack as well; I've got my footpegs on the GSX-R 750 to the highest and rearmost position (they have three available settings) so they never come more than about five degrees from the pavement. Max lean on that bike is 51 degrees with the stock peg position, but I don't think I've gotten past 50 degrees, as I am running DOT street tires, where most of the guys and gals I ride with are running fully race-prepped bikes with slicks. Slicks have lots more edge grip and the rear tire can be run all the way down to 21 pounds, providing a huge contact patch.

There are quite few ways to keep that five-degree reserve, by body position, taking a different line, entering the turn differently, and so on. On the track especially, hanging off the bike is very helpful.
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You can't really say that. The wheels are smaller, but the suspension is completely different, and they may have made it such that it sits higher.