To coincide with 50 years of the CB750, Honda UK – with a huge nod of respect to such long and storied history – has partnered with 5Four Motorcycles and commissioned a limited run of unique custom motorcycles, based on the CB1100 RS.
The strippedback and lean CB1100 RS already has the look of a goldenera race tool, with more than a hint of café racer and sporty steering geometry, matched to highquality Showa suspension, front radialmount fourpiston brakes and cast aluminium 17inch wheels.
But for Guy Willison, the creative force behind 5Four Motorcycles – a professional bike builder who has found twowheeled TV fame on The Motorbike Show but who has also been a despatch rider, mechanic and tuner in his time – the CB1100 RS holds the capacity to become something truly special, as he explains:
“5Four Motorcycles was created to move away from the onesizefitsall standard and to build thoroughbred machines with cool design, a statement of individualism, quality, performance and exclusivity. From the moment I first saw the CB1100 RS I knew it had the potential to be a thoroughbred, single seat, pointandsquirt A and B road blaster. So we’re making a strictly limited production run of 54 CB1100 RS 5Four motorcycles, each individually numbered. The number is etched subtly into the number 5 of the nickel plated 5Four badge which itself is inset into the tailpiece. And the paintwork had to hark back to the period in my youth when Honda dominated World Endurance Racing with their Red, White and Blue Works racers; there are no stickers or transfers – even the retro Honda logo and Wing are lovingly handpainted. We’re passionate about this motorcycle. We have just selfishly designed and built it and it stirs us when we walk up to it and we don’t want to leave it at the end of a day’s riding.” And why 5Four? Simple: “That was my despatch call number…”
Willison’s long perspective on motorcycling (and the details that elevate his work) are obvious on his exquisite creation. Every component on the CB1100 RS 5Four could be a work of art in its own right, easily displayed in a spotlit cabinet. And each detail has been chosen to enhance each sensory contact the owner has with their machine whether it be visual, auditory or actual physical contact.
The CB1100 RS 5Four’s riding position has been tailored using Renthal Ultra Low handlebars, Tomaselli racing grips, short racing brake levers and beautiful billet mirrors, all finished in black. The single seat is handstitched Alcantara and leather in a diamond stitch pattern. The footrest hangers are mirrorpolished aluminium.
There’s no plastic to be seen either; the windcheating handlebar fairing and single seat tail unit are both handcrafted from aluminium. A pair of titanium Urban Growler endcans from Racefit – the quintessentially British exhaust manufacturer – are beautifully welded and engineered to look stunning and provide a deeply distinctive, spine tingling sound.
The price of the new Honda CB1100 RS 5Four is set at £15,554 (∼ $19,300).