Our Hornet family is complete, and the boss of the hive is here packing a sting in its tail. The new CB1000 Hornet loads a four-cylinder engine built to shred tarmac with naked class-leading punch. Throttle By Wire delivers precise control while the chassis arms with adjustable Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD forks and Pro-Link rear shock. Pure, bare-knuckle street fighting aggression is led by sharp twin LED projectors; a full-colour 5-inch TFT screen and Honda RoadSync connectivity brings the smarts. Ready for full attack?

All out attack

Nothing just for show. This is the motorcycle in its rawest form, tautly defined. Stripped for action the CB1000 Hornet’s uncompromising, streetfighter style is led by the piercing stare of super-compact twin LED projector headlights, tightly wrapped in a discreet nose fairing. The subtly blacked out frame brings a strong element of lithe design, underpinning the lines as does the trellis-style rear subframe. Adding menace, the engine, wheels and swingarm are also finished in black. And the Hornet-signature, broad-shouldered fuel tank tapering radically to the rear outlines pure performance.

Packing a punch

Thoroughbred racing DNA courses through the CB1000 Hornet. Its 999cc, DOHC four-cylinder engine pumps out an adrenaline-charged 112kW power @ 11,000rpm and 104Nm torque @ 9,000rpm. Tuned for smooth yet punchy low- to mid-range delivery and precise throttle control, with 11.7 compression ratio and newly developed die-cast pistons optimised it’s a huge buzz to ride, streetfighter-style and free in the city. And the gearbox ratios – tuned for instant acceleration – ensure the CB1000 Hornet simply destroys any set of corners.

All-round agility

It’s got the incredible engine. The hardcore streetfighter looks. But the CB1000 Hornet is also built to handle. From urban jungle to winding back road. The one-piece steel twin-spar frame uses mass-forward geometry to weight the front wheel and ups torsional rigidity by 70%, for agile corner entry and razor-fast side-to-side performance. It also mounts a Showa rear shock operating through Pro-Link for perfect suspension control, matched by the steering precision of adjustable 41mm Showa SFF-BP USD front forks. You’ve also got the sharp stopping power of Nissin four-piston radial-mount front brake calipers gripping 310mm floating discs. And the wide handlebars and riding position that join you, as one, with the bike.

Never miss a beat

The CB1000 Hornet has you. Throttle By Wire (TBW) puts all the engine’s stunning performance fully in your right hand and at your control. And the 5-inch, full-colour TFT screen serves up intuitive mode management via simple 4-way switch on the handlebar. You can select the default riding modes – Rain, Standard and Sport – or use 2 User modes to go fully custom with 3 levels of Engine Power/Engine Brake and 4 levels of Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) plus Wheelie Control. The display also features Honda RoadSync connectivity, for on-screen turn-by-turn navigation and whatever else you need from your smartphone.