The Honda CB1000 Hornet sits at the very top of Honda’s naked Streetfighter family, a machine built to drag genuine four-cylinder superbike muscle onto the street under the hard-edged Hornet badge. Its 1,000cc engine is drawn from Honda’s previous-generation Fireblade, tuned here for real-world thrust rather than lap times, and it wears aggressive, insect-eyed styling and a compact tail unit that promise exactly the aggression the engine delivers.
That liquid-cooled DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine, with a 76mm x 55.1mm bore and stroke and an 11.7:1 compression ratio, produces a huge 115.6kW at 11,000rpm and 107Nm of torque at 9,000rpm. Drive goes through a six-speed manual gearbox with a wet, assisted slipper clutch for stable, controlled downshifts under hard braking, while Throttle By Wire sharpens response and feeds the bike’s electronic rider aids. The result is a muscular midrange that builds into a hard-charging top end, giving it genuine superbike urgency whenever the throttle is wound open, yet enough manners for gentle, low-speed riding around town.
A twin-spar frame carries fully adjustable 41mm Showa USD SFF-BP forks with 118mm of travel and a Showa Prolink monoshock with 138mm of travel, striking a balance between sharp direction changes and stability at speed. A radial-mounted four-piston Nissin caliper grips a 310mm floating double disc up front, with a single-piston caliper and 240mm disc at the rear, giving strong, progressive stopping power to match the engine’s pace. With 135mm of ground clearance, a 25 degree rake, a 1,455mm wheelbase and a kerb weight of 211kg, plus an accessible 809mm seat height, it feels light and planted whether filtering through traffic or hustling down a favourite road.
Five riding modes adjust power delivery and rider aid intervention to suit the conditions, while Honda Selectable Torque Control and wheelie control keep that output manageable however aggressively it is used. Twin LED projector headlights and a five-inch TFT screen with Honda RoadSync smartphone connectivity for calls, messages and navigation bring the cockpit right up to date, and a 17 litre tank supports a decent range between fill-ups. The CB1000 Hornet suits confident, experienced riders who want superbike-derived punch and genuine naked-bike theatre in a stripped-back, everyday package. Available now at GT Motorcycles, your Honda dealer in Plymouth. We serve riders right across Devon and Cornwall, with finance and test rides available.
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