About four months ago I posted a blog entry and photo gallery on the latest Honda concept bikes, and one of the flashiest of the bunch was the CB1100R. With its tube frame, twin headlights, and retro racer bodywork, the CB1100R lacks the nostalgic naïveté of the CB1100F, the boldness of the EVO6, and the futuristic technology of the DN-01... offering instead something unique, a distinctive personality you don't see all that often in modern bikes.
Koji Miwa, the bike's designer, recently told MCN that "If we send the CB1100R to the market as it is, the price will be very expensive, because we selected high-quality parts." While the CB1100R's future is about as uncertain as any concept bike's, Miwa's quote begs the question: should Honda take the high road and build the CB1100R, or should it focus on volume sellers like the simpler and less flashy CB1100F?
Share your thoughts by commenting.
Photo © Honda
Looks like Honda is copying the Ducati Monster now???
Honda hardly need copy the Monster…they pretty much invented the design.
I very fondly recall the original CB1100F in ‘83. (The 1100R never made it to North America….)
Like so many other sensational bikes – not just Honda’s – that are a huge hit in Europe, this probably wouldn’t sell here. Not fast enough and ‘too old’.
Pity.
I currently ride a VTR1000 and would buy the new CB1100R concept bike in a heartbeat! Bring it to the US at any price and it will sell…
Rick…I too have a VTR which I absolutely adore…I can see the 1100R parked next to it…but certinly not in lieu of it. Long live V-Twins!
The 1100r is the one they should build, not the boring “F” version. The euro’s get the CB 1300, which sells very well. The Ducati and Triumph “Classics” are also slow, but they sell very well here in the USA. Honda knows how to combine comfy + sporty ergos, so the old boomers won’t hurt their wrists and backs plus the screen would keep the wind off on the freeways.
Honda’s are expensive anyway, Buyers are willing to drop $20K+ on a retro Harley and I doubt the Honda would even come close to that. If anyone knows who to write at Honda to make this bike to push this bike to the showroom send it to me now!
Thanks
I’ve got a VTR1000 just like Rick C and Pete and just like Rick and Pete I’d buy the CB1100R in a flash. I personally think Honda should keep it special and build it as a quality bike rather than “water it down” by going for volume sales.
I totally agree with Andy P, I’d buy the CB1100R in a flash. Keep it special, and use high quality parts. What does very expensive mean? The 1098 Duc’s are $20k and up. The new BMW HP2 sport is $26K. Let me have the CB1100R for somewhere between $20K – $25K.
Hi, I live over in the UK, ride a VTR1000F and this bike would sell in truckloads. Sure it will never replace the VTR – but what a bike….. come on Honda
Well I own a classic CB1100F slightly moded . Original paint Red and White ..Seems like all the sport bikes are red , green blue or black..When we have are cruise night , they still flock over to see my old beauty !! And when we ride , it really comes down to the rider . She’s not the fastest ride but I still see a rainbow of colours in my mirrors. I’d have no problem dropping 20k for a new CB1100R ..Drag those knees , have a great summer !!!
Latest news here in the UK is that Honda are putting this bike into production with availability in 2010. No indication of price, which seems odd as initially the designer said the price would be high given the quality of parts used. Lets wait and see is Honda make it affordable…….
Hi from Luxembourg, Europe!
I own a CB1300 as well as a 1400GTR. If is going to produce that awsome CB1100R, be sure there will be again 2 Hondas next to each other in my garage! It looks so great!!
marc
Well, we still await news from Honda on when this beaut will be available. It’s our national bike show here in UK in November so lets hope they have the concept bike there and there is also some news on when we can place our deposits!!
I currently ride an ‘07 cbr600rr, and i love it, this cb1100r is pure beauty, i think Honda lovers will have no issues buying this one regardless of the price.
Well, The CB1100R concept bike was at the NEC Bike Show here in England and drew lots of peple on to the Honda stand, lots of keen interest and people wanting to place deposits but the Honda guys on the stand didn’t have any news on when (if!) it might be on sale. One senior Honda UK guy said he’s had more show enquiries about the CB1100R than any other Honda bike on the stand and and that Honda would be daft not to build it for sale. C’mon Honda get your finger out ! ! ! !
I owned a CB1100RD, It was the sadest day of my life when I sold it. I have pined and scoured the ads ever since 1990 looking to replace it. Now that I am getting divorced I have no reason not to buy this. Come on HONDA return my life to the glory that it was. give me back my youth, please. Cost is not an issue!!!!
I will not buy a Honda brand again until they produces this Motorcycle (CB1100R).Stop production of the GAY fury, make a bike your customers want.
The cb1100r is absolutely stunning,i ride a cb1300s and a buell xb12ss if they do a production run of the 1100r the buell is gone,you cant beat the honda quality.
This has to be one of the best-looking concepts Honda has shown us in many years. I owned one of the original CB1100R’s and I want one of these. Come on Honda, build it for us!
I own a 1982 CB1100RD, and i would buy one of these in a heartbeat, I live in Sydney, Australia, and my current one still draws a bigger crowd than all the new wizz bang stuff when out for a ride.
If it’s too expensive as it is why can’t it go into production with a smaller capacity engine and not so many top shelf components so as to bring the price down. you can always modify it later with aftermarket parts.
I have been holding off buying my next bike since I first saw a picture of the concept bike hoping that it would be put into production and then released in Australia. If Honda doesn’t pull there finger out soon Ducati’s sport classics are looking pretty good.
12 months ago i said….
(14) John Lindley says:
Well, The CB1100R concept bike was at the NEC Bike Show here in England and drew lots of peple on to the Honda stand, lots of keen interest and people wanting to place deposits but the Honda guys on the stand didn’t have any news on when (if!) it might be on sale. One senior Honda UK guy said he’s had more show enquiries about the CB1100R than any other Honda bike on the stand and and that Honda would be daft not to build it for sale. C’mon Honda get your finger out ! ! ! !
Well……. 12 months later and Honda didn’t have a presence at this years show, what chance now we’ll see this much loved bike in 2010, fingers crossed…………
At this years annual NEC UK bike show the new Norton Commando stand drew huge crowds proving that this style of bike is very popular. Triumph also had massive interst in similar bikes. Honda…… Wake Up!!!!! Get moving…….
given that most buyers will be 80’s boys like me, I dont think price is a problem. we are 40s now, and we have lots of money to spend on our passions. And I am certainly passionate about this CB1100R. it is so coool
Well, is it RIP for this bike? Stillborn never to make it to the showrooms? Honda isn’t the first company to miss a trick. Sure they like to showcase their undoubted engineering and design talents but this bike has so much interest it overshadows some of their more extreme creations…………. In a few weeks time we have our International bike show here in the UK, but hey – we’ve been here before (see previous posts)
I want one, its the best looking bike ive seen since the LC350.
I have a space in my garage waiting.
If anyone is interested, we have a Honda CB1100R C for sale, please send me a message to my email address nic849@yahoo.com. Thanks