1982 Honda CB1100RC Motorcycle

Description

Essentially hand-made in limited numbers between 1981 and 1983, Honda’s CB1100R road racer was a purpose-built homologation special designed to compete in production class competition around the world.  Powered by an air-cooled in-line four featuring DOHC and 16-valve technology, the mighty four-stroke unit was rated at 115 horsepower at 9000 rpm, matched to a five-speed transmission.  The CB1100R was the first Honda to benefit from twin piston calipers, the twin front discs enhanced by anti-dive technology, while the duplex steel cradle frame was essentially a development of the CB900FZ with fully adjustable front and rear forks.  The fastest thing on two wheels in 1980, the big Honda proved immediately successful, winning on debut in the 1980 Castrol Six Hour when future 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner scored an impressive flag-to-flag victory, while the Australian pair of Malcolm Campbell and Mick Cole also won the 1981 Castrol Six Hour race in New Zealand.  The original CB1100R was updated to become the RC for 1982, the revised styling adding a dual seat and passenger footrests and a clip-on tail piece to convert the bike to solo configuration, full fairing and new colour scheme.  Revised Comstar wheels, brakes, front-end set-up and rear shocks also set the RC apart from its predecessor, along with additional instrumentation mounted in the fairing.  Wayne Gardner teamed up with Wayne Clark to win the 1982 Castrol Six Hour event at Amaroo Park, Hondas filling the first three places.  Total production of just over 4,000 units included just 1,500 CB1100RCs in 1982, of which only a small percentage went to Australian customers.  Described as “the last of the air-cooled giants” by Classic Bikes website, the Honda CB1100RC represents the end of an era and remains one of the most collectible Japanese motorcycles of the period.