The Performance Motorcycle Built For Real Roads
Somewhere along the way, the sport bike lost the plot. Decades of chasing lap times produced machines so focused on outright performance that riding one on public roads felt like a compromise at best and a liability at worst. The engine was there, the brakes were there — but the usable power, the real-world comfort, and the honest value? Not so much. That gap is exactly where the naked sport bike was born, and it has never been more relevant than it is today.
Knowing full well that halo-model sport bikes have limited everyday appeal, pretty much every manufacturer also offers a naked bike version of those sport bikes that actually works on the street. While there are several great options to choose from, there is one that adds a healthy dose of value to the equation.
A Highly Competitive Segment
Out of all the exceptional naked bikes on the market, only a couple offer as much value as the bike in question. The Suzuki GSX-S1000 presents itself as a sporty option, sharing the same aluminum twin-spar chassis as the outgoing GSX-R sport bike, with traction control, ABS, and a quickshifter all standard. The Yamaha MT-09 SP stands out as a great all-round package with a similar level of specification to the Suzuki, plus upgraded suspension — but it is a middleweight, and a little down on power compared to the liter-class competition. The bike that is truly built for the street is actually a throwback to the UJM era.
The Honda CB1000 Hornet SP Is The Performance Motorcycle Built For Real Roads
MSRP: $10,999
The CB1000 Hornet SP takes us back to the days of the original CB750, widely regarded as the very first universal Japanese motorcycle (or UJM for short). After years of pushing the neo-retro CB1000R, Honda finally developed a more convincing, value-oriented naked bike. The Hornet SP undercuts pretty much every other major manufacturer and even throws in a premium Swedish rear shock for good measure. Unlike competitors in this space that are marketed as capable track bikes, the Hornet SP makes its engine the centerpiece of the entire package.
The CB1000 Hornet SP Has A Fireblade Engine
Power: 155 Horsepower*
This inline-four is an extensively reworked CBR1000RR Fireblade engine. In the CBR1000RR, it is capable of producing as much as 189 horsepower, but in an effort to add more midrange grunt, that overall power figure is reduced to 155 horsepower in the European version. That figure falls to 129 horsepower for the U.S. version, due to noise restrictions.
An Inline-Four Purposefully Reworked For The Street
While on paper that might seem a little disappointing, all the added midrange performance is very much present. The power that you would normally only access high up in the rev range is now available at road-legal speeds, making the Hornet SP a genuinely rewarding bike to ride — one you would buy purely for its engine. It has been purpose-built for spirited road riding; a canyon carver in the truest sense. It is not much of a track bike, though.
The CB1000 Hornet SP Has A Fancy Öhlins Rear Suspension
The Öhlins TTX36 rear shock is not there to aid track performance like some of the other options in this space. It is there to offer riders more adjustability, add compliance to the suspension, and compensate for what is otherwise a budget-friendly chassis. Its steel twin-spar frame will certainly not be found on just about any track. But if you are after a naked bike that will be more at home on a circuit, there are some far better options in this price range.
None of those bikes offer the same bang for the buck, and none of them pack a superbike engine. Honda deserves credit for keeping the price this accessible. This is not a new approach to building motorcycles — it is the UJM concept reimagined for the modern world. By pairing a relatively simple chassis with a beast of an engine, you get the motorcycle equivalent of a hot rod. And while Honda keeps things straightforward, the Hornet SP certainly cannot be criticized for being a bare-bones offering.
This Is One Spicy Modern UJM
While Honda may have trimmed costs in certain areas, the Hornet SP is far from light on features. Traction control, ABS, a TFT dash, Brembo brakes, and a quickshifter are all present. It is a genuinely impressive package, making it a fantastic option for experienced riders seeking a fun, high-performance motorcycle. Factor in the potential longevity of a Honda engine that has effectively been detuned for this platform, and you have a bike that offers irresistible value. It is certainly not meant for everyone, though.
The big risk of pricing a high-performance machine so aggressively is that it ends up in the hands of inexperienced riders. This happened time and again with the superbikes of the 2000s, and it ruined the motorcycling experience for many riders who couldn’t fully grasp the gravity of their decision. Manufacturers have wised up over the years and have developed beginner-friendly models for pretty much every kind of rider. Honda will most certainly point new riders toward the CB300R.
But for less scrupulous dealers, the temptation will always be there to let a new rider part with their money and ride away on one of these machines simply because it is what they want. No modern rider aids can compensate for this much power used indiscriminately. This is a potent bike that has more power than its chassis can safely handle at the limit, and it needs to be treated with respect — or the punishment will not fit the crime.
Chassis, Suspension And Weight Specifications
|
Chassis |
Steel twin-spar |
|
Front Suspension |
41mm inverted Showa SFF-BP telescopic fork with adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping (5.1-inch travel) |
|
Rear Suspension |
Öhlins TTX36 remote-reservoir shock with adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping (5.5-inch travel) |
|
Weight |
465 lbs |
Sources: Honda Powersports
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