Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127792
1997 CBR1100XX Super Blackbird - (Right) The all-new CBR11 OOXX features a very narrow fairing design to aid top speed. (Below) The twin-spar aluminum frame uses the solidly mounted, 164 hp In-line four as a stressed member. The rear subframe Is steel. (Bottom) The CBR1100XX gets an updated version of Honda's linked braking system first used on the '93 CBR1000F. " WOrld'S fastest production motorcycle." Only one manufacturer can make such a claim and since 1990 that manufacturer has been Kawasaki with its allconquering ZX11. All we can say is, "Don't look back." A Honda is coming. Rumors have been flying recently about a bike called the CBRllOOXX "Super Blackbird," a machine purportedly designed to dethrone the ZX11 and put Honda at the top of the top-speed heap. No more rumors. The all-new CBR1100XX was introduced in Germany last week - and it's coming to America to rule the open-class roost. To quote Honda press material: "The time has finally come for Honda to redefine the standards of the 'big-bike' performance class with a brand-new champion." Sounds like a claim of total superiority to 'us. 'Besides, would the Red Giant introduce such a machine without being absolutely sure that they could make the claim of building the world's fastest production motorcycle? Not bloody likely. In a manner typical of Honda, the new CBRllOO is engineered to the teeth and sports a number of significant features that should not only make it the fastest production motorcycle ever, but perhaps one of the most refined sportbikes in the world. Clean aerodynamics are an integral element in the pursuit of high top-speed numbers and the CBRllOOXX's fairing was designed with the singular goal of having the slickest shape possible. You see, the faster you go, the harder it is to go faster. More and more power is used simply to overcome an ever-increasing degree of drag. To combat this phenomenon th.e fairing was designed with a very small frontal area, partially achieved by stacking the flush-mounted dual headlights, but also by tapering the fairing sharply as it comes to a point behind the front wheel. Honda claims the frontal area is not only smaller than most machines in the 250cc class, such as their own NSR250, but is effectively equal to that of the average 50cc motorcycle. To further aid in the reduction of drag, the fairing's nose juts out sharply in both the horizontal· and vertical axes, the turn signals were integrated into the rearview mirror housings and the front fender mimics the wind-tunnel-designed unit seen on' both the CBR1000F and the new CBR900RR. The end result of all this is the lowest claimed drag coefficient in its class without a sacrifice in rider comfort. The biggest news of all, however, is the all-new 1137cc, 16-valve, in-line fourcylinder powerplant with twin-balance shafts. While not a new technique for quelling the high-frequency vibes associated with in-line fours, it is the first time that they have been utilized on a machine in this class. What the twin shafts allow Honda to do is to mount the engine solidly in the twin-spar aluminum frame and use the unit as a stressed member without incurring any penalty in rider comfort from excessive vibration. The cylinder block is canted forward 22 degrees further than the 998(c engine in the CBRI000F, and in this respect it resembles more closely the engine design of the CBR600F and the CBR900RR. The twincam cylinder head features bucket tappets and right-side chain cam drive. Care was taken to ensure that the powerplant is both compact and lightweight. Keeping the engine as narrow as possible .is the ul tra-narrow cylindersleeve placing and bore pitch. So despite being 140cc larger than the CBR1000's engine, the new powerplant appears to retain basically the same external dimensions while weighing a whopping 22 pounds less, despite the twin balance shafts. The air/fuel mixture is delivered by a quartet of 42mm semi-downdraft CV-type carburetors and ignited by a 3-D mapped computer-controlled electronic ignition similar to the one found on the CBR600F3. Honda claims the all-new powerplant produces 164 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 91.5 ft.-lbs. of torque at 72.50 rpm. One of the design goals for the CBRllOO was that the machine handle like a middleweight sportbike, yet retain the stability one expects (and needs) from an open-class bike that is presumably capable of exceeding 175 mph. To this end, the new CBR'gets a twin-spar, boxsection extruded aluminum frame with a cast steering head and swingarm pivot plates designed to centralize the mass to aid quick cornering transitions. The stout, 43mm cartridge-type fork is set in forged aluminum triple clamps and features no external adjustments. At the rear, the XX gets a new 40 x 90mm triple-box-section The CBRllOOXX has all appearances of being the new king of top speed and we can't wait to get our hands on one. Of course, as sportbike enthusiasts we can . only hope that Kawasaki retaliates. ZX12 anyone? t:N CBR1100XX SpecilicaIions Engl_ extruded-aluminum Pro-Link swingarm said to offer exceptional rigidity without excessive size or weight. The rear damper has a 40mm internal piston with stepless adjustable rebound damping. The XX gets the Dual Combined Brake System first introduced on the 1993 CBR1000F and later applied to the STllOO ABS-TCS, though it has been reengineered to better suit the requirements of the XX, which includes being simplified and lightened. The dual 310mm floating front discs are squeezed by three-piston calipers that are partially activated by use of the rear brake pedal. In a similar manner, the rear brake is partially activated by the front brake lever, as well as a servo mechanism that uses the rotational torque exerted on the front calipers to actuate a secondary master cylinder that increases the rear brake pressure a corresponding amount. The system features a delay valve that may help reduce the low-speed touchiness we found on the linked system on the CBR1ooo. As of press time, release dates and retail pricing were unavailable, though the machine will be introduced as 1997 model. Uquid-cooled. 16-vaJve DOHC in·line four·cyIinder Bore • stroke 79 x 58mm Di.p ,. 1137cc Compreuion retIo 11.0: 1 c.~ (4) 44mm flat· slide CV·type Claimed power .... 164 hp @ 10000 rpm/ 91.5 ft..lbs. @ 7250 rpm ignition Computer.controlled digital transistorized wi electronic advance ... Tran_I_1on six-speed CIulIch Fln81 cIrIve __ ........._ " _ Seat height Ground ell. _ F _pnlty nr- __ F_ multiplate wet O·ring chain 58.66 in. 31.9 in. 5.1 in. _.. 5.8 gal. 120/70ZR17 180/55ZR17 ....r Su.penslon F_ .43mm cartridge-type fork. 4.7 ·in. travel ....r .Pro·Link with stepless reboundadjustable, single gas·charged shock, 4.7-in. travel. Bnlh.. F_ Dua131Omm hydrauliC discs with • Dual combined - three·piston calipers ....r Single 256mm hydrauliC disc with • Dual combined- three-piston caliper a.1 rd 491 pounds dry...... .