A stock 2014 CB11 is, let’s face it, a fairly dull device. But chuck some engine tweaks and a cosmetic makeover at it and all that changes.
Riders of the ‘real thing’ tend to be dismissive of retros. Often with good reason. Many retros are hollow pastiches of the bikes whose lines they seek to emulate. That ineffable quality of ‘character’ is the one that constantly eludes the modern motorcycle designer.
What if you could inject some soul into a new retro? Then you would have a bike with none of the irritating foibles of an old one and all of the life-affirming charm that makes that machinery so appealing. Such was the aim of London-based cameraman Kevin White. A serial owner of motorcycles modern and ancient, he always struggled to find the right balance in a bike. He needed something that offered long-distance reliability for visiting family around the country as well as the pulling power for long-distance European jaunts with his partner. It also had to look right. Kevin has bikes in his soul and if a machine doesn’t stir his passion visually as well as on the road, he feels that he’s missing something. Hence the frequent chopping and changing of bikes. There are practical considerations too.
“My issue now is that I only have the space and the budget for one bike,” says Kev. “Living in London, storage is at a premium and insurance is astronomical.” In 2014 our man’s attention alighted on the Honda CB1100EX, a big and grunty air-cooled re-imagining of the firm’s epochmaking 1970s inline fours. A new model for that year, with a six-speed gearbox rather than the previous edition’s five, wire-spoked not cast wheels, redesigned sidepanels, a more retro seat and a revised dash that was most evocative of Honda’s green-faced 1970s clocks. When Kev realised there was a classy and busy aftermarket he took the plunge.
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Gold Rush
A stock 2014 CB11 is, let’s face it, a fairly dull device. But chuck some engine tweaks and a cosmetic makeover at it and all that changes.
Tony Scott - A Life In Engines
One of the greatest engine tuners of any generation, Tony Scott’s work is synonymous with Honda’s RC30. But Tony won TTs with every manufacturer, in a career spanning some of the greatest names and greatest bikes of the modern era.
Origin Of The Species
In the 17 years between Suzuki’s GS1000S in 1979, via Yamaha’s 1989 FZR1000R EXUP, to Honda’s 1996 CBR900RR-T ’Blade, the face of big-bore sportsbikes changed beyond recognition. PS celebrates this huge evolution.
Fettled Kettle
Tony Edwards, it’s fair to say, is obsessed with Harris Magnums. He’d never seen a Kettle engined Magnum 2, so he set about building one. Two years (and thirty four grand later) here it is.
Lester Harris
Hertfordshire’s most famous sons are now involved in developing new Royal Enfields, yet they’re still right in the thick of old school tubework and their stainless steel paddock stands are still the industry standard.
Shafted By The Weather Gods
The H1F’s crank was a sorry rusted mess. Now it is a thing of great beauty and strength.
Special Build Of the Year
Enter your stunning home-built special in to our Venhill Special Build of the Year competition and you could win our £1000 cash prize.
Dukes And Hazards
The Isle Of Man is an unforgiving place for any machinery, not least big twins from Bologna. Despite meticulous prep, a small stone did forJames Hillier’s Classic TT.
Greek Tragedy (With A Happy Ending)
It arrived from Athens, a hound with a bag of nails in its jaws. After untold amounts of pain, suffering and expense, Tony Barrow’s RG finally emerged, as the pristine square four he always craved.
Droop Snoot Beaut
It ‘only’ took Mike Newman four years to get his Bandit/’busa/ZX-9/10 hybrid into exactly the shape he wanted. Now it’s precisely the machine he had in his head all that time ago.