Honda developed the CB1100R as a race bike, for street legal racing series in various countries like the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa. To be able to use such a bike in such classes Honda had to produce a minimum amount of bikes (500) and it has been updated quite a few times to meet the requirements as rules changed. It has been raced without fairing in Australia, the seat unit has been changed from a single seater into a dual seater (with passenger seat cover), the fairing has been altered for aerodynamic reasons.

The bike is heavily based on the CB900F (Bol 'd Or). The frame and engine layout are quite similar. And even the fairing of the first model looks like the ones on the CB900F2 and the CBX.

The engine has been enlarged to 1062cc by a wider (70mm) bore. Hotter camshafts, forged pistons, a wider primary chain and upgraded gearbox were used. For racing conditions the alternator was lightened and some R's even have a lightened starter clutch gear. The frame was apparently made of a higher quality of steel and the right hand side down tube of the frame isn't removable. The exhausts have the similar shape and size of the CB900 but the down tubes don't have an inner tube like the CB900F (effectively a larger diameter).

The first CB1100R was shown to the public at various bike shows at the end of 1980. The first model is known as RB.  Honda released an improved version at the end of 1981, the RC. Again at the end of 1982 the last model was introduced, the RD. Honda uses to use letters to give motorcycles year codes, B means 1981, C '82 and D '83.

Above the Australian unfaired RB. With many thanks to the CB1100R Owners Club of Japan for the picture.

This is the more common RB

 1050 RB's were built. Most of them with a fairing but it was also released without a fairing in Australia. The RB has a top fairing only (looking like the CBX one, but not identical), made of glass fibre. A CB900F headlight is used and mirrors are identical. The front fork is air assisted with a connection tube between both fork legs, no anti dive on this bike. The fuel tank is a 26 litre aluminum one. The seat unit is made for a rider only and the space in the seat hump is used as storage for the tools and owners manual. Next to that small items can be stored in it (like raingear). The seat can be removed with the ignition key. It's also the first Honda with dual piston brakes. The wheels are conversed Comstar wheels painted gold with the edges of the rims and spokes silver. Bodywork is painted into a red/white colour scheme, the colours of the Japanese flag.

The RC, this bike was owned by Mr. Koizumi before it was stolen.

1500 RC's were built. It has a full fairing with better aerodynamics as the RB isn't the most stable bike at high speeds (the fairing lifts the front wheel). And it has been made out of carbon fibre! The headlight is now rectangular and the bike has chrome mirrors. The front fork were upgraded (larger diameter  fork legs and an anti dive).  The front brake disks are hollow inside (ventilated) so they get air-cooled. The bike now got Boomerang comstar wheels painted gold. The seat unit is converted into a 2 seater with a seat hump over the passenger seat. Bodywork is painted in red, white and blue. Most of the bikes have stainless steel braided brake lines.

The RD

Like the RC 1500, RD's were built. The top fairing of the RD was modified to meet the latest race regulations. The front of the fairing is now behind a vertical line through the front wheel axle. Apart from that the RD bodywork is painted in pearlescent red, white and blue. The engine covers are painted in gloss black, the gold covers received a much deeper colour. The engine shares many parts with the CB1100F bike. The clutch is updated, the rear swing arm is made of rectangular steel painted silver. The exhaust system is finished in black chrome.