1983 CB1100F

This '83 CB1100F was purchased by me about 10 years ago. The seller worked in an auto detail shop and was fanatical about maintaining it. He also was short of cash and sold it to me very cheap.  It already had the European Sport Kit set-backs and bars and Koni shocks installed, which convinced me to snap it up. It also had the Wolf 4-into-2 racing exhaust. This system pairs cylinders 1 and 4 & 2 and 3, which gives it a unique sound. It's quite different from a typical 4-into-1 or the stock system. The pipes were rusty so they got Jet-Hot coated and have stood up well ever since.

 

The only other engine changes are a carb jet kit to go with the pipes and a K&N filter element. I swapped the stock seat for a Corbin, which makes longer rides much more comfortable. Reliability has been great, overall. Fork seals had to be replaced and the Konis were swapped for new Progressive shocks and springs. The Konis will get rebuilt and remounted someday. I use quick-mount Honda soft saddle bags on trips.

 

Battery life had been a problem, with two seasons being about normal, so this year I went for a sealed "gel" battery which seems to spin the starter faster than the old Yuasas could manage. I'm hoping for much longer service life from it.

 

One other change was the switch from the recommended NGK DR8ES plugs to Denso XR-24ESR-U, which are hotter. The bike had always been a cold-blooded beast and would often foul the plugs when started cold. Warm-ups took a long time to get it running on all 4. The hotter Denso plugs cured this immediately. Now it lights up almost instantly cold or hot, and runs smooth right from the get-go. I can start from cold and 3 seconds later hit the street, and only need the choke for about half a minute. If you have cold-bloodedness in your 1100, try this.

 

I use a 16-tooth front sprocket which gives brutal acceleration, but still allows 42-45 MPG and great high-gear roll-on passing. I plan on having this bike for a long time. Last year I had to pull the motor to replace a bunch of leaky seals and gaskets (old age) and did a valve job on it. The bike gets lots of attention at "Bike Night" and I never tire of riding it.