CB1100R buying advice in the UK.

Hawk Joined: Aug 17, 2013 Posts: 302 Location: Devon. UK

Hi all.

I'm hoping someone here can offer some advice on finding and buying an 1100R C or D in the UK.

Now that I've finished my 1100F I'm looking to complete my ideal garage by adding an as near perfect 1100R as possible. I have another 1100F to restore so want an R that needs nothing doing to it.

I will finally be in a position to start seriously looking for one in the next month or so and would like to get one before the prices go too silly.
I know of some differences between the two models, paint scheme, exhaust system, swing arm etc but that's about the limit of my knowledge, so any knowledge and advice will be very gratefully received.

Is there any significant difference between the C and D?

If anyone has one for sale, or knows of any that are for sale, or one that could be for sale then I'd be very interested to hear about them please?

All help and advice very gratefully received.

Cheers Stu.

CB1100F Joined: Jun 18, 2006 Posts: 2529 Location: UK

Hi Stu

not many about for sale these days

here is a link to a very nice RD

Keith

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C611084

Hawk Joined: Aug 17, 2013 Posts: 302 Location: Devon. UK

Hi Keith.

Thanks muchly for the link, funnily enough I'd just found it myself and have emailed the seller. I await a reply!

I've noticed there's not a lot about, the only other one I have found is the RC on eBay at £14,995 but given the faults it has the price seems a bit bloody ridiculous to me.

Cheers Stu

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 7:42 pm

Stu,

Some differences:

D is Pearlescent paint work, slightly different (darker shades) than C
D has a different top half fairing and frame, slightly shorter to bring the nose line behind the front axle (for racing ...)
D has darker Gold alternator and ignition covers than C
D has Silver 1100F style steel rectangular section swingarm (slightly different to the F), C has round steel swingarm (thicker than the 900) in Red
D has the 1100F style clutch cover
Wheels are the same
Brakes are the same
Clocks are the same (electronic tacho)
Exhaust is Black Chrome
RC has a more extensive racing heritage (here in the UK and Oz) than the RD, I believe

Hope that helps a bit. If you want a nice one requiring no work, then expect to have to pay north of at least £8,000 (my view), if you can find one.

Regards,

Max

CB1100F Joined: Jun 18, 2006 Posts: 2529 Location: UK

Hi Stu

I met up with Wout the other day and he mentioned he has restored R's for sale,

Yes that one for £14995 is well overpriced..thats the problem when a dealer gets hold of one,

if you look at this thread there is a photo of Wout's there

http://www.cb1100f.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=78488

Keith

Hawk Joined: Aug 17, 2013 Posts: 302 Location: Devon. UK

Max.

Many thanks for the info, there's a few more differences than I knew about.

I had already figured on a budget of around £10,000 for an excellent one, that's if I can find one.

Are there any opinions on whether the C or D is better or worse, or is it just down to personal preference?

Cheers Stu

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 8:21 pm

Stu,

Basically they are the same bike. My personal preference is for the B and C, since I think with the D they effectively transitioned from being a homologated production racer to a super expensive touring machine. Your view may be different. Either model would be excellent.

Regards,

Max

Hawk Joined: Aug 17, 2013 Posts: 302 Location: Devon. UK

Thanks Max.

I think which model will probably come down to what's available and in the right condition.

Cheers Stu

Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 11:23 am

Hondamax wrote:

Hope that helps a bit. If you want a nice one requiring no work, then expect to have to pay north of at least £8,000 (my view), if you can find one.

Regards,

Max

Its quite a way bit north of that now unfortunately Max… I haven't seen a good one for less than £9500 in ages.

Stuey, if I were you, I would hire yourself a van and get over to Sweden or Germany. Their valuation of the R seems a few grand less than over here.

Or if you hang on for a while, I may have one for sale, but we are talking towards the end of this year… and it would be in the UK price range of course. Unless I win the lottery in the meantime – then I could afford to drop the price by quite a bit.

Regards

Andy

Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 12:34 pm

Hondamax wrote:

Stu,

Some differences:
[*]Exhaust is Black Chrome
Regards,

Max

Only the RD has a black "chrome" exhaust. RC exhaust is matte. Don't know if this qualifies as "chrome".

Also, the RD is the only version that was available in 120hp in some countries. RC had 115hp max.

One minor detail, which falls into the color differences, the RC had a gold wing on the Honda tank decal, RD was silver.

Finally, I think it is next to impossible to find an excellent, no-work-required, original example of an "R". For one thing, the exhaust is in 99.9% of all cases in very poor condition or not original.

Hawk Joined: Aug 17, 2013 Posts: 302 Location: Devon. UK

Andylarkin wrote:

Its quite a way bit north of that now unfortunately Max… I haven't seen a good one for less than £9500 in ages.

Stuey, if I were you, I would hire yourself a van and get over to Sweden or Germany. Their valuation of the R seems a few grand less than over here.

Or if you hang on for a while, I may have one for sale, but we are talking towards the end of this year… and it would be in the UK price range of course. Unless I win the lottery in the meantime – then I could afford to drop the price by quite a bit.

Regards

Andy

Hi Andy.

I've already concluded that £10,000 plus is needed to secure what I'm after, but I'm quite keen to avoid spending £15,000 if possible!!!

If I could find something suitable in any european country I wouldn't mind heading out with a van to get it, but I haven't seen anything at the moment.

Ideally I want one sooner rather than later as I'm taking the whole of this summer off work and want to spend a lot of it riding (assuming this bloody rain stops at some stage!!), so I'd like one to ride then, but if I can't find one before then, then I could be interested in yours later in the year.
Unless I win the lottery, in which case I'll spend £15,000 now Laughing

Cheers Stu

Hawk Joined: Aug 17, 2013 Posts: 302 Location: Devon. UK

DOHCRob wrote:

Only the RD has a black "chrome" exhaust. RC exhaust is matte. Don't know if this qualifies as "chrome".

Also, the RD is the only version that was available in 120hp in some countries. RC had 115hp max.

One minor detail, which falls into the color differences, the RC had a gold wing on the Honda tank decal, RD was silver.

Finally, I think it is next to impossible to find an excellent, no-work-required, original example of an "R". For one thing, the exhaust is in 99.9% of all cases in very poor condition or not original.

Thanks for the info, I didn't know about the power differences, but I'm not planning on any track time so it probably doesn't make too much difference to me.

The exhausts are a problem, I've heard that the CB1100R UK owners club has had some success having them remade, but I'm waiting to hear on that.
If that fails I do have a NOS black chrome 1100F system I could fit, I know it's different and the end cones are the wrong way around, but it would be better than a 4 into 1 imo.
So if everything else was correct I'd consider a bike with a wrong exhaust.

Cheers Stu

Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 10:16 am

Stueecat wrote:

DOHCRob wrote:

Only the RD has a black "chrome" exhaust. RC exhaust is matte. Don't know if this qualifies as "chrome".

Also, the RD is the only version that was available in 120hp in some countries. RC had 115hp max.

One minor detail, which falls into the color differences, the RC had a gold wing on the Honda tank decal, RD was silver.

Finally, I think it is next to impossible to find an excellent, no-work-required, original example of an "R". For one thing, the exhaust is in 99.9% of all cases in very poor condition or not original.

Thanks for the info, I didn't know about the power differences, but I'm not planning on any track time so it probably doesn't make too much difference to me.

The exhausts are a problem, I've heard that the CB1100R UK owners club has had some success having them remade, but I'm waiting to hear on that.
If that fails I do have a NOS black chrome 1100F system I could fit, I know it's different and the end cones are the wrong way around, but it would be better than a 4 into 1 imo.
So if everything else was correct I'd consider a bike with a wrong exhaust.

Cheers Stu

There are two options for pipes:

1/ The O and S stainless system was developed by the Owners Club. There were some early fitment issues with the RC and RD lower fairings but this has since been resolved. I think you're looking at about £1500 UK for a full set.

2/ Mild steel silencers fabricated by Dave King, a renowned speedway pipe builder. Visually identical to original. Slip over 1100F or R downpipes after you've removed the old, rusty ones. I have had a local fabricator closer to me look at my set and he reckons he could do them to the same spec for about £600. Then add a couple of hundred to have them ceramic coated.

Other than finding the holy grail of an original set hidden away somewhere, these are the best options open to you.

Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 1:58 pm

Have you spoken to Padgetts in Bately. It wouldn't surprise me if they had a new one in a crate. They seem to have just about every desirable bike made.

Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 5:37 pm

coombehouse wrote:

a new one in a crate. .

Would probably be £ 25,000.-, or more.

Hawk Joined: Aug 17, 2013 Posts: 302 Location: Devon. UK

Hi Andy.

Thanks very much for the info.
Do you know if the 1100F down pipes and balance pipe are the good for an RC/D? I have a spare rusty set with rotten mufflers that could be blasted and ceramic coated if they are, then a set of the mufflers you referred to and jobs a good un!

I think a brand new crated 1100R would be well out of my price range, and I'd be too scared to use it anyway. Nice idea though Smile

Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 9:29 pm

Stueecat wrote:

Hi Andy.

Thanks very much for the info.
Do you know if the 1100F down pipes and balance pipe are the good for an RC/D? Smile

I would like to know that too. I have tried a Marving set of 4-2s and they are too wide around the collector, so the lower fairing will not go high enough to connect to the upper.
Somebody claimed that the 11F pipes fit even better than the original R pipes. I have a set of NOS European black chrome CB900F pipes that I may try out.

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 5:03 am

The stock honda cb900F or cb1100F down pipes are fine for the RC/RD.
You will not have any problems with the lower fairing.
A company in Holland makes nice replica,s for the F or R bikes.

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 12:01 pm

Cool (although they are not black chrome and would not look original on the RD). Contact details? Price?

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 12:10 pm

Quote:

Contact details? Price?

Hi Wout:

Let us know the availability and price please Exclamation

. Inquiring minds wish to know Laughing

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 4:01 pm

The company in Holland is:

http://www.london-exhaust.com/EN/

You have to sent the email to Mr. Marius Brouwer, and can always give him my name.
He can give you a price for the complete set with shipping.
It is also possible that you buy only the silencers and use your original down pipe set or a set that comes from a F.
I have a complete set on my RD and a silencer set with 1100F pipes on a RC.
The sound which comes out of the complete set is very nice.
This is how the complete set looks on my RD.

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 4:04 pm

and the down pipes.

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 5:57 pm

Wout:

Thanks, I sent Mr. Brouwer an email.