Ferrari-Inspired Honda CB1100F Is Neo-Retro Delight Done the Custom Way

Let’s go ahead and zoom in on this machine, as it does an excellent job at exemplifying what Noel and his accomplices are all about. One day back in 2022, they were contacted by a guy named Dan, who was calling all the way from Canberra and had a 1983 Honda CB1100F Bol d’Or in his possession. The old CB wasn’t exactly roadworthy at the time, having spent the past six years of its life as a non-running project.

At the dawn of 2023, Dan went about delivering his Honda to the Black Cycles garage himself, which also offered the chance to consult with Noel face to face. Once they had settled how the transformation would unfold, the donor was taken apart and placed on the workbench for a closer inspection. Then it came time for the customization process to hit the ground running.

The idea was to build something along the lines of a cafe racer with visual traces of Ferrari flavor, partly due to the involvement of Dan’s family in the custom car scene. As for the project’s starting point, the CB1100F is most certainly no slouch, extracting north of 100 ponies from its 1,062cc inline-four powerplant. It could really use some crash dieting from both a cosmetic and literal weight-saving standpoint.

First things first, Black Cycles did away with the bike’s factory bodywork and subframe. The latter made room for a bespoke loop-style alternative built from scratch, supported by twin aftermarket shock absorbers with piggyback reservoirs. Moreover, the new suspension hardware is hooked up to a high-grade aluminum swingarm from Metmachex Engineering.

At the front end, the classic Honda gained a Suzuki GSX-R750's inverted forks, together with Cognito Moto tiple clamps. The Gixxer’s repurposed suspension items were upgraded with Ohlins internals prior to installation, the same high-end brand we encountered at the back. Improved stopping power is made possible by wave discs and new calipers on both ends, as well as Brembo master cylinders and Hel brake hoses.

The motorcycle rolls on fresh aluminum hoops measuring 19 inches at the front and 18 inches at the opposite end. As for the rubber, Noel went with a mixture of Dunlop and Bridgestone paraphernalia. All these chassis-related mods are undeniably intriguing, but what’s equally delightful is the CB1100F’s updated attire. For starters, the custom subframe we’ve mentioned earlier is topped with a plain black leather saddle.

Further ahead, we come across an off-the-shelf fuel tank that’s been heavily modified by the guys at Black Cycles. Its aggressive lines are reminiscent of premium sports cars, and there are HRC logos protruding through the surface on the flanks. Up top, you’ll notice a tailor-made assembly housing both the filler cap and a digital multi-function dial from Koso.

Bringing the bodywork mods full circle is a well-proportioned front fender, but we’ve still got plenty of things to talk about here. The accessories located in and around the cockpit area are all top-notch, including the potent LED headlight, clip-on handlebars, and Motogadget bar-end turn signals. Small rear-view mirrors are mounted in close proximity to the blinkers, and all the other bits adorning the clip-ons are also modern.

To finish off the ergonomics, Noel added a pair of billet aluminum rearsets from Cognito Moto. Additionally, the rear lighting package is incredibly discreet, in the form of tiny multi-function LEDs placed down low on a swingarm-mounted license plate bracket. The GSX-R forks were lowered to bring about a slammed stance, and the clutch is now actuated hydraulically thanks to some carefully considered upgrades.

We can’t wrap this up without mentioning the work that took place in the powertrain sector, because it’s just as extensive as what we’ve discussed thus far. A large chunk of the engine overhaul came courtesy of Justin Holmes at PopBang Classics. Not only did he rebuild the retro four-banger, but he also installed a 1,250cc big bore kit to unleash a nice bit of extra grunt.

Air is drawn in via top-shelf aftermarket carburetors capped off with velocity stacks, and the exhaust system is now a titanium Nitro Racing module. A Dynatek ignition system is present, too, along with a fresh oil cooler to keep temperatures in check. Lastly, the Ferrari influence is clear when it comes to the paintwork, with a glossy coat of red covering the frame, bodywork, and swingarm, among other parts.