From the Classifieds: Dennis Neill's 1980 Honda CB1100R
Ever wanted an iconic piece of Australian motorcycle racing history in your shed? Now's your chance...A browse through the
will reveal many gems, but it’s not often that a genuine piece of history is offered up. This particular 1980 Honda CB1100R is perhaps one of the most iconic machines in Australian motorcycle racing history.In the late 1970s and early 1980s, endurance and production motorcycle racing in Australia was experiencing peak popularity. The Castrol Six Hour for touring bikes at Amaroo Park was the biggest of them all – so much so, that Honda built a bike with the specific purpose of winning the race.
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Honda's secret weapon
That bike was the Honda CB1100R, and Honda built just over 100 examples and shipped them to Australia. The bikes were registered so they could be entered in the race, and it was specially designed to perform in endurance racing.
Despite tough homologation requirements, and the fact that the CB1100R was clearly not a ‘touring’ bike, it was given a start in the 1980 edition of the Six Hour. One pilot of the CB1100R in that race was Honda Australian rider, Dennis Neill, who also played a role in the development of the bike. Honda actually flew Neill to Japan to test ride the bike before its debut. Interestingly, due to Honda wanting to make the 1980 Six Hour in time, the bike was shipped without a fairing.
The real McCoy
Now, this is where it gets interesting – the 1980 Honda CB1100R for sale here is the actual bike that Neill rode to third place with Roger Heyes in the 1980 Castrol Six Hour. It is also the bike that ended his career in Easter 1981 at the Arai 500 at Mt Panorama. While Neill recovered from the horrific crash, his race career was over.
Honda Australia rebuilt the bike following Neill’s crash and was raced further until it was retired and sold to Karl Praml – Wayne Gardner’s first sponsor. Incidentally, Gardner won the 1980 Six Hour on – you guessed it – a Honda CB1100R.
Dennis Neill sadly passed away in 2015, but through this bike and its incredible history, his memory continues to live on in the hearts and minds of Aussie motorcycle fans.
It could be yours...
The ultra-exclusive machine has been on display at the National Motor Racing Museum in Bathurst and has been featured in many magazine articles. It comes with a full documented race history, as well has a signed pair of Neill’s Honda race leathers, and some additional race memorabilia and spare parts.
Given the exclusivity, it carries a hefty price tag of $115,000. But for a rare and iconic machine, that almost seems like a bargain.
Former Australasian Dirt Bike and TrailZone editor, Andrew Clubb, wrote about the bike on Facebook: “As a 16-year-old teenager who lived and breathed motorcycles, I have the most vivid memories of this very motorcycle. What an iconic piece of Australian motorcycle racing history – and it could be yours.”
That’s right, you really could have a piece of Australian motorcycle history in your shed – albeit for a large stack of cash. Check out the listing for
.
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