Honda launches CB1000 Hornet – again – plus posh new SP version – with great pricing
The best-laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley, as Rabbie Burns said. And you can add ‘giant Japanese bike makers’ to that list as well it seems, since we’re reporting on the launch of a bike which was originally shown off in 2023 – but has failed to hit the streets yet.
So, it’s another go for the CB1000 Hornet – which we now see in final form, with full specs and pricing. And it’s actually been worth the wait, since we’re getting a saucy SP version as well as a base bike, and the pricing is frankly cheeky too: just under £9k for the base model and £10k for the SP.
Starting with a reminder of the basics as announced last year though, the new CB1000 Hornet uses a version of the CBR1000RR Fireblade inline-four 999cc engine – the 2017 model to be precise – making a juicy 150bhp with 104Nm of torque.
Power is down by around 40bhp and 12Nm from the full-beans superbike tune though it makes its peak power 2,000rpm lower down the rev range, which all sounds ideal for the job in hand.
That retune comes from softer cams with less lift and duration, plus lowered compression, down to 11.7:1 from 13:1 on the Blade, while the intake valves are steel, not titanium.
There’s also been a bit of cost shaving on the casings it seems: the Blade had light magnesium engine covers, but they’re now aluminium. Honda has also altered the gearbox ratios to suit the new role too: gears two through five have been optimised for acceleration to match the engine’s all-round drive while top gear offers relaxed highway cruising.
Now, 150bhp is a bit down on the crackers end of the supernaked four-cylinder sector – the Ducati Streetfighter V4 and BMW S1000R – but a very decent total for a sensible Honda – and let’s be honest, more than enough for a good time in anyone’s book.
That classic superbike engine finds itself in an all-new steel one-piece twin-spar frame, which is, again, a cheap option, at the cost of a bit of weight. A cast aluminium 619.1mm long swingarm is claimed to provide tuned rigidity balance for optimum grip and feel, while rake and trail are 25° and 98mm, with a 1,455mm wheelbase.
Honda says the centre of gravity is set forward toward the front wheel to help reduce ‘yaw inertia’ which helps provide more nimble handling.
The rear shock and battery are also located further forward to add more agility, with the airbox sat above the cylinder head rather than behind it. Weight distribution is a forward-focussed 51.2%/48.8% and kerb weight is 211kg (212kg on the SP).
The riding position is pure streetfighter. Seat height is 809mm, and the handlebar position is set up and back, paired to a sporty footpeg position and a ‘rider triangle’ with relatively upright upper body position.
The rest of the chassis is good-quality standard roadbike stuff too: 41mm Showa SFF-BFP USD front forks and a Showa Pro-Link rear monoshock adjustable for preload and rebound damping, Nissin radial-mount four-piston front brake calipers and supersport tyre sizes: 120/70 and 1800/55 ZR17 with Dunlop Roadsport2 or Bridgestone S22 rubber as OE fitments.
Finally, the new Hornet gets a solid 2024-spec electronics package, and comes with three default riding modes offering preset combinations of Power, Engine Brake, Wheelie Control and HSTC traction control settings, plus two customisable USER options allowing the rider to choose their own preferred settings.
An optically-bonded five-inch TFT screen offers intuitive control, clarity in bright light and easy smartphone connectivity through the simple switchgear on the left handlebar.
The big surprise in the Hornet launch is a new SP version though, which looks pretty sweet indeed. There are a couple of chassis upgrades: Brembo Stylema brake calipers up front instead of the Nissin parts, and an Öhlins TTX36 rear monoshock instead of the Showa unit, both of which are well worth having.
There’s also an engine ancillary upgrade: you get an up/down quickshifter as standard, but there’s an extra 5bhp peak power too, which lifts it up to 155bhp, plus more torque, now peaking at 107Nm.
Honda says this comes from a Revolutionary Controlled (RC) valve in the 7.1L exhaust muffler, which is closed in low revs then, at 5,700rpm it fully opens allowing the engine to ‘breathe’ harder.
Further details are scant, but it seems like a basic exhaust valve setup, which should help make a saucier exhaust note as well as giving the extra dollop of power. The SP weighs in at an extra kg, and we imagine the exhaust valve is the reason, with the associated operating motor and fittings.
The SP also gets its own single exclusive colour scheme: the sweet black and gold paint scheme with gold anodised front forks.
Both bikes will be on sale in January 2025, priced at £8,999 for the basic bike and £9,999 for the SP. More info: www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles.html
2025 Honda Hornet CB1000 technical specifications
| ENGINE | |
| Type | Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke DOHC inline four |
| Displacement | 1000cc |
| Bore and stroke | 76mm x 55.1mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11.7:1 |
| Max. Power Output | 111.6kW @ 11,000rpm |
| Max. Torque | 104Nm @ 9,000rpm |
| FUEL SYSTEM | |
| Carburation | PGM FI electronic fuel injection |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 17.0L (inc reserve) |
| CO2 Emissions WMTC | 136g/km |
| Fuel Consumption (WMTC) | 5.9L/100km / 16.9km/L (WMTC mode) |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |
| Battery Capacity | 12V 6.0AH |
| DRIVETRAIN | |
| Clutch Type | Wet multiplate, Assisted slipper clutch |
| Transmission Type | 6 speed |
| Final Drive | Chain |
| FRAME | |
| Type | Steel diamond |
| CHASSIS | |
| Dimensions (L´W´H) | 2,140mm x 790mm x 1,085mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,455mm |
| Caster Angle | 25° |
| Trail | 98mm |
| Seat Height | 809mm |
| Ground Clearance | 135mm |
| Kerb Weight | 211kg |
| Turning radius | 2.8m |
| SUSPENSION | |
| Type Front | Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD forks, |
| Type Rear | Prolink mono with seven-stage preload adjuster, aluminium hollow swingarm |
| WHEELS | |
| Type Front | Multi-spoke cast aluminium |
| Type Rear | Multi-spoke cast aluminium |
| Rim Size Front | 17M/C X MT3.50 |
| Rim Size Rear | 17M/C X MT5.50 |
| Tyres Front | 120/70-ZR17M/C (Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22F/ Dunlop Sportmaxx Roadsport 2) |
| Tyres Rear | 180/55-ZR17M/C (Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22F/ Dunlop Sportmaxx Roadsport 2) |
| BRAKES | |
| ABS System Type | 2 channel |
| Type Front | Dual 310mm x 4mm disc with Nissin radial mounted four piston calipers |
| Type Rear | Single 240mm x 5mm disc with single piston caliper |
| INSTRUMENTS & ELECTRICS | |
| Instruments | 5in TFT Meter with customisable layout, including speedometer, tachometer, clock, gear position, upshift indicator |
| Headlight | LED |
| Taillight | LED |
| Connectivity | Honda RoadSync |
| Security System | HISS (Honda Intelligent Security System) |
| Additional Features | ESS |