The 2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet – First Look. No, Really This Time.
A year later than expected, and it brought a special friend
Honda introduced its flagship streetfighter model, the CB1000 Hornet, at EICMA last year, with promises it would arrive as a 2024 model. We’re nearly at Halloween and Honda has finally confirmed the CB1000 Hornet is coming, as a 2025 model, and it will be joined by an up-spec SP variant. Well, for Europe at least. Until we hear otherwise, we do not expect either model will be coming to the U.S. for 2025.
The base model is powered by the 2017 CBR1000RR’s engine, claiming a peak output of 150 hp at 11,000 rpm, and 76.7 lb-ft. at 9,000 rpm. The SP model gets a bump up to a claimed 155 hp and 78.9 lb-ft. thanks to a valve in the beefy-looking silencer. The valve stays fully closed at low engine speeds and fully opens at speeds higher than 5,700 rpm, allowing the engine to breathe deeper.
The engine is matched with an assist and slipper clutch plus a six-speed transmission, with gears two through five optimized for acceleration, and six for highway cruising. The SP model comes standard with a bidirectional quickshifter with three levels of adjustability.
A throttle-by-wire system offers preset Standard, Rain, and Sport modes, plus two user customizable modes, each offering a combination of power delivery, engine braking, wheelie control, and traction control.
The frame is a new one-piece steel twin-spar design, with Honda claiming a 70% increase in torsional rigidity compared to the CB1000R.
The CB1000 Hornet is equipped with a Showa single tube separate-pressurization rear shock with adjustable preload and rebound damping. The CB1000 Hornet SP comes with a fully-adjustable Öhlins TTX36. Both versions have the shock connected to an aluminum swingarm via Honda’s Pro-Link. A fully-adjustable 41mm Showa Separate Function Fork Big Piston (SFF-BP) inverted fork is equipped on both variants, though they come with a fancy gold-colored coating on the SP model.
The SP model also employs dual radial-mount Brembo Stylema four-piston calipers and 310mm discs on the front wheel, while the regular model makes do with Nissin calipers. Both versions use a single-piston Nissin caliper and 240mm disc for the rear wheel.
Above the dual LED projector headlights is a five-inch TFT color display. Like other recent Honda models including the smaller CB500R, the gap between the screen and its glass cover is sealed with resin, reducing glare and improving the backlighting. The screen offers three customizable display patterns and is compatible with both Android and iOS phones via Honda’s RoadSync app, allowing music playback and turn-by-turn navigation.
The 2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet will be offered in Grand Prix Red, Mat Iridium Gray Metallic, or Pearl Glare White. The CB1000 Hornet SP will only be offered in Mat Ballistic Black Metallic with Desert Gold Metallic wheels to match the gold-colored forks.
Specifications | 2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet | 2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet SP |
|---|---|---|
Engine Type | Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke DOHC inline four | |
Displacement | 1000cc | |
Bore x Stroke | 76mm x 55.1mm | |
Compression Ratio | 11.7:1 | |
Horsepower | 150 hp at 11,000rpm (claimed) | 155 hp at 11,000rpm (claimed) |
Max. Torque | 76.7 lb-ft. at 9,000rpm (claimed) | 78.9 lb-ft. at 9,000rpm (claimed) |
Carburation | PGM FI electronic fuel injection | |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 4.5 gallons | |
Battery Type | AGM | |
Battery Capacity | 12V 6.3Ah | |
Clutch Type | Wet multiplate, Assisted slipper clutch | |
Transmission Type | 6 speed | |
Final Drive | Chain | |
Type | Twin-spar | |
Length | 84.3 inches | |
Width | 31.1 inches | |
Height | 42.7 inches | |
Wheelbase | 57.2 inches | |
Rake/Trail | 25°/3.9 inches | |
Seat Height | 31.9 inches | |
Ground Clearance | 5.3 inches | |
Curb Weight | 465 pounds (claimed) | 467 pounds (claimed) |
Front Suspension | Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD fork | |
Rear Suspension | Prolink mono with seven-stage preload adjuster, aluminium hollow swingarm | Öhlins Monoshock damper, Prolink swingarm |
Front Wheel | Multi-spoke cast aluminum, 17M/C X MT3.50 | |
Rear Wheel | Multi-spoke cast aluminum, 17M/C X MT5.50 | |
ABS System Type | Dual-channel | |
Front Brake | Dual 310mm disc with Nissin radial mounted four piston calipers | Dual 310mm floating disc with Brembo Stylema radial mounted four piston calipers |
Rear Brake | Single 240mm disc with single piston caliper | |
Instruments | Five-inch TFT Meter with customizable layout, including speedometer, tachometer, clock, gear position, upshift indicator | |
Headlight | LED | |
Taillight | LED | |
Connectivity | Honda RoadSync | |
USB | Yes | |
Quickshifter | Optional | Yes |
Security System | HISS (Honda Intelligent Security System) | |
Riding Mode | Standard, Rain, Sport and 2x User | |
Wheelie Control | Yes | |
HSTC | Yes | |
Additional Features | ESS | |
2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet and CB1000 Hornet SP Gallery
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Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
More by Dennis Chung
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Cornaring-ABS was omitted. Sigh.
Yawn! Another ujm