The CB1100RS: Can it Really Outperform the Standard?

[Capo]

And it still weighs over 550 lbs, close to 100 lbs more than most of the sporty retro competition. It will be a pleasant performer that looks great. That's enough for many people, hope it lights the market up.


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[Ulvetanna_imp]

And it still weighs over 550 lbs, close to 100 lbs more than most of the sporty retro competition. It will be a pleasant performer that looks great. That's enough for many people, hope it lights the market up.


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Yep, that heft really tends to soften up the power delivery. But it's odd to think the 1983 VF750F Interceptor, the reigning superbike of its day, had practically the identical weight and slightly less horsepower.

"A pleasant performer that looks great."

An accurate alliteration! Could not agree more.

[LongRanger_imp]

That's really good perspective. And to think the CB750F2 SuperSport, with it's 58 rwhp and 540 lbs. wet weight, was rated as one of the sportiest bikes in 1978. I certainly thought mine was!

[url=http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/ericlevy/media/001_zps5fasjv9q.jpg.html]

[rmack_imp]

Interesting comments in regard to the rs having 17s , I have just now finished a major conversion 17s {180/55/17 rear} and 320 mill discs, andreani cartridge inserts etc etc and i have to say having owned a lot of twin shock 4cyl bikes with various major mods this bike is now the best of its type ever ridden the handling and turn in and ability to hold a decent line through the twisties is impecable

By the way you only loose 1/2 inch in height and with any decent adjustable shock this is easy to combat any loss of clearance

[Capo]

And it still weighs over 550 lbs, close to 100 lbs more than most of the sporty retro competition. It will be a pleasant performer that looks great. That's enough for many people, hope it lights the market up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep, that heft really tends to soften up the power delivery. But it's odd to think the 1983 VF750F Interceptor, the reigning superbike of its day, had practically the identical weight and slightly less horsepower.

"A pleasant performer that looks great."

An accurate alliteration! Could not agree more.

Yep, that heft really tends to soften up the power delivery. But it's odd to think the 1983 VF750F Interceptor, the reigning superbike of its day, had practically the identical weight and slightly less horsepower.

"A pleasant performer that looks great."

An accurate alliteration! Could not agree more.
Probably should have said 'looks luscious' for alliterative consistency.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

And it still weighs over 550 lbs, close to 100 lbs more than most of the sporty retro competition. It will be a pleasant performer that looks great. That's enough for many people, hope it lights the market up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep, that heft really tends to soften up the power delivery. But it's odd to think the 1983 VF750F Interceptor, the reigning superbike of its day, had practically the identical weight and slightly less horsepower.

"A pleasant performer that looks great."

An accurate alliteration! Could not agree more.

Yep, that heft really tends to soften up the power delivery. But it's odd to think the 1983 VF750F Interceptor, the reigning superbike of its day, had practically the identical weight and slightly less horsepower.

"A pleasant performer that looks great."

An accurate alliteration! Could not agree more.
Probably should have said 'looks luscious' for alliterative consistency.

Yep, that heft really tends to soften up the power delivery. But it's odd to think the 1983 VF750F Interceptor, the reigning superbike of its day, had practically the identical weight and slightly less horsepower.

"A pleasant performer that looks great."

An accurate alliteration! Could not agree more.
Probably should have said 'looks luscious' for alliterative consistency. I know. And I know that you knew. Lol! But then again there is such a thing as being too clever by half.

[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.
[attachment=5479]

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.

[feralchimp_imp]

Thanks for "showing the work" behind the original set of points, Ulv, and I mostly agree with your conclusions. The fundamentals of the '13 and '14 are very good, and it can be made to handle just as well (or better) than a stock '17 RS with very few (if pricey) mods.

I'm still hoping the RS rear shocks will bolt up to a '14 std despite the swingarm change.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Thanks for "showing the work" behind the original set of points, Ulv, and I mostly agree with your conclusions. The fundamentals of the '13 and '14 are very good, and it can be made to handle just as well (or better) than a stock '17 RS with very few (if pricey) mods.

I'm still hoping the RS rear shocks will bolt up to a '14 std despite the swingarm change.

I am just about ready to buy the Ohlins HO 239 shocks; the Ikons helped quite a lot but I just can't get them precisely adjusted. I figure the Ohlins are a lot less than buying an entirely new motorcycle which itself will still need a whole bunch of fine-tuning and mods.

[Sam Mac_imp]

Thanks for "showing the work" behind the original set of points, Ulv, and I mostly agree with your conclusions. The fundamentals of the '13 and '14 are very good, and it can be made to handle just as well (or better) than a stock '17 RS with very few (if pricey) mods.

I'm still hoping the RS rear shocks will bolt up to a '14 std despite the swingarm change.

I am just about ready to buy the Ohlins HO 239 shocks; the Ikons helped quite a lot but I just can't get them precisely adjusted. I figure the Ohlins are a lot less than buying an entirely new motorcycle which itself will still need a whole bunch of fine-tuning and mods.

I am just about ready to buy the Ohlins HO 239 shocks; the Ikons helped quite a lot but I just can't get them precisely adjusted. I figure the Ohlins are a lot less than buying an entirely new motorcycle which itself will still need a whole bunch of fine-tuning and mods.
Great thread. For what ever it's worth when I had my Harley Night Rod I had Penske build a set of shocks and replace the cartridges in the forks, made a world of difference. Harley's from the factory are probably the worst POS when it comes to suspension. Now as far as the CB1100 STD goes, it handles just fine for me so I'm just going to leave it alone. I'm not a good enough rider that I need any more than what Honda has provided from the factory. You may want to check out Penske before you buy the Ohlins.