This is not the first time that we have talked to you about the French specialist Moto Martin and some of his striking works. This company, like other contemporary brands such as Bimota, delighted the most sybaritic fans of the two-wheeled sector, at the end of the last century, with its kits based on the most notable engines of the time. Among them, those that were equipped at the time with such iconic frames as the CB750, GSX1100 Katana, CBX1000 or the Kawasaki Z1.
This Martin CB1100 Motorcycle by Henry Cole can be yours
Recently, a British dealer based in the Brierley Hill area has put this fascinating Martin CB1100 Motorcycle up for sale. A motorcycle that belongs to the private collection of the well-known television presenter Henry Cole. The same one who, together with Allen Millyard, broke the speed record in the tandem category on the famous Millyard Viper V10 with 500 HP of power.
As for this example, we are looking at one of the approximately 5,800 chassis and fairing kits that Moto Martin manufactured between 1972 and 1986, a time during which the company was operational. For the occasion they used the mechanical base offered by the CB1100R from the early eighties. We are talking about a 1,062 cc four-cylinder engine, water-cooled and associated with a 5-speed gearbox. At the time, Honda declared a final power of 120 HP at 9,000 rpm and 98 Nm of maximum torque at 7,500 revolutions.
From here on, the kit offered by Moto Martin, in general, included a custom tubular chassis, as well as a specific body kit for each model. There were two options when it came to having one of the French specialist’s motorcycles in our personal garage: You bought the material and assembled it yourself at home or, on the contrary, you took the motorcycle to their facilities and they were in charge of transforming it themselves.
Although in the beginning they only undertook the aforementioned reforms (as if this were not enough), later they began to offer their customers an endless number of components produced by the most leading manufacturers in the sector: Marzocchi or Brembo were among them. In this way we not only changed the chassis and aesthetics, but also the cycle part of the motorcycle could be improved exponentially.
Essentially, Moto Martin’s approach was very clear in all its creations: Reduce the final weight as much as possible and improve the performance of the motorcycle at all levels. Of course, then there was the aesthetic level, where their models generally sported a double circular optic. A stylistic resource that became very fashionable in the late eighties and early nineties, just after the closure of the French brand itself.
This Martin CB1100 Motorcycle faithfully reflects the work philosophy of the French specialist. In it we can see how, unlike the model from which it starts, it includes new suspensions, braking, chassis and custom swingarm, as well as a peculiar body finished in maroon color with gold details matching the color of its wheels. According to the sales advertisement itself, “We are looking at a rare example of the already scarce Moto Martin CB1100.”
They also clarify that this unit was “recently released from the private collection of Henry Cole. A highly collectible machine that rarely comes to market. Presented in excellent overall condition, starts, runs and drives well.” It currently has 28,500 miles traveled, just over 45,000 kmand is on sale for a starting price of £16,995, about 19,500 euros at the exchange rate.
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