How Fast Can 1100cc Motorcycles Go? (With 17 Examples)

One of the great things about motorcycles is that there are many different models with different specifications and capabilities.

Motorcycles also vary a lot in terms of engine size, which raises different questions like “How fast do the different cc motorcycles go?” or “How fast a particular cc motorcycle is?”

In this article, we will be reviewing 1100cc motorcycles.

So, how fast can 1100cc motorcycles go?

The average 1100cc motorcycle has a top speed of around 100 to 140 miles per hour. Most 1100cc sports bikes and superbikes tend to be faster, compared to 1100cc cruisers, with top speeds in excess of 180 miles per hour.

That being said, there are some caveats that are worth understanding when it comes to motorcycles and their speed—especially in connection to the engine cc.

Below you will find more in-depth information about 1100cc motorcycles and how they perform.

How does the cc of a motorcycle affect it?

The engine size of motorcycles is measured in cubic centimeters (cc). The cc of most commonly used motorcycles usually varies between 50cc to 1,500cc. However, motorcycles with as much as 10,000cc or more can be found.

The cc of the engine determines how much fuel it can displace or burn. In other words, the higher the cc of the motorcycle, the more fuel its engine can burn through each stroke of the piston(s).

The cc is directly connected to the engine’s power and torque. More ccs usually mean a more powerful engine that also has more torque. On the other hand, the bigger the engine capacity, the less efficient it is in terms of fuel consumption.

However, the power and torque of the engine are not determined only by the engine size. This is evident by the fact that 1100cc motorcycles will vary widely in terms of how fast the different motorcycles can go. Let’s take a look.

Examples of 1100cc motorcycles top speed

This is how fast some of the most commonly found 1100cc motorcycles can go.

2019 Ducati Panigale V4S: 191 mph (307.38 km/h)
2020 Ducati Panigale V4: 180 mph (289.68 km/h)
2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4: 167.77 mph (270 km/h)

Suzuki GSX-R1100: 163 mph (262 km/h)
Suzuki GSX1100F Katana: 156.15 mph (251.3 km/h)
BMW R1100S: 141 mph (226.92 km/h)

2021 Honda Rebel 1100: 140 mph (225.31 km/h)
Honda CB1100F: 139 mph (225 km/h)
Ducati Hypermotard 1100: 136.70 mph (220 km/h)

BMW R1100RT: 131.11 mph (211 km/h)
Honda CB1100 RS: 129 mph (208 km/h)
Moto Guzzi California 1100 EV: 118.31 mph (190.4 km/h)

Moto Guzzi California Jackal: 117 mph (187 km/h)
Yamaha XVS1100 Drag Star (V-Star 1100) : 112 mph (180.25 km/h)
Yamaha BT1100 BULLDOG: 109 mph (175.42 km/h)

Honda VT1100C2 Shadow ACE: 107 mph (172 km/h)
Harley Davidson XLH 1100 Sportster Evolution: 104 mph (167.37 km/h)

Are 1100cc motorcycles faster?

The engine size or the cc cannot really tell you everything about a motorcycle. The general belief is that more ccs equal more power and speed. However, that is not always true.

Let’s take a look at a few examples.

The 2021 Honda Rebel 1100 is capable of reaching a top speed of 140 mph. In comparison, the Kawasaki Ninja 650, a 650cc motorcycle, can reach top speeds of 131.73 mph. Both motorcycles have nearly identical top speed, but the Ninja has nearly half the ccs of the Rebel.

Another good example is the 321cc Yamaha YZF-R3, which can reach top speeds between 103 to 110 mph. It has a nearly identical top speed to the Honda Shadow ACE and the V-Star 1100, both being 1100cc. This is pretty good for a 321cc motorcycle with an engine capacity of less than 1/3 of a 1100cc motorcycle.

It can be said that most 1100cc motorcycles are very fast, but they are not the fastest motorcycles out there. It may be more accurate to say that most 1100cc motorcycles are reasonably fast, but most of all have a lot of torque.

In other words, how fast a 1100cc motorcycle can go cannot be determined solely by the size of its engine.

Why are there speed fluctuation between the different 1100cc motorcycles

As you have seen from the examples given above, the difference in how fast a 1100cc motorcycle can go can be fairly big. The fastest 1100cc motorcycles can be nearly twice as fast as some of the other 1100cc motorcycles.

What is more, usually, cruisers will be slower than sports bikes. That means that sports bikes with significantly fewer ccs can often be faster but may lack top-end torque.

The 1100cc Ducati Streetfighter V4, the Panigale V4S, and the Panigale V4 sports bikes are a lot faster compared to 1100cc cruisers like the Honda Rebel 1100 and Honda Shadow ACE.

This is not unusual, as the motorcycle’s top speed that can be observed in a real-world setting is not determined solely by the cc or the engine size. In fact, there are a number of different factors that will determine a motorcycle’s actual top speed and acceleration.

These factors are, but not limited to:

The type of engine; its configuration, tuning, number of cylinders, bore/stroke ratio, compression ratio
The power to weight ratio

Gearing ratios
Performance mods
Aerodynamics

Weather and road conditions
The weight of the motorcycle
The weight of the rider(s)

Tire dimensions and threads
Braking horsepower (BHP)
Exhaust system

Are 1100cc motorcycles fast enough?

There should not be any doubt here as 1100cc motorcycles can be used comfortably and safely on highway and city roads.

While riding around the town, 1100cc motorcycles will be a little less nimble and harder to maneuver in tight spots (mostly because they are heavier), but riders will not feel underpowered or limited in terms of speed and acceleration.

The majority of the 1100cc motorcycles are definitely fast enough to be taken on the highway. They may not have the highest top speeds but have plenty of power and torque to allow quick and safe acceleration at highway speeds.

Who are 1100cc motorcycles good for?

All in all, 1100cc motorcycles are not only fairly big but can go pretty fast. These are excellent motorcycles to take on the highway. Riders that are spending a lot of miles and time on the highway will appreciate the higher torque of a 1100cc motorcycle. Most 1100cc motorcycles are very powerful and do not feel anemic in any way, so riders will keep up with highway traffic safely and comfortably.

In addition to highway commuting and trips, 1100cc motorcycle cruise can also be ridden comfortably around town. However, some motorcycles may feel a little big and bulky and will not have the same handling and nimbleness as motorcycles with much smaller engine sizes.

This brings us to the next aspect of 1100cc motorcycles: they are not good starter motorcycles and are not recommended for beginners due to how heavy and fairly powerful they are.

The weight of the 1100cc motorcycle is probably the thing that most riders will notice, which can be problematic when maneuvering in tight spaces and parking lots. Some 1100cc sportbikes can be very powerful, and this can be dangerous for newer riders. That being said, 1100cc cruisers are usually a little more forgiving.

See article: What CC motorcycle should a beginner get?