The middleweight naked market offers a whole host of incredible machinery at wallet friendly prices. This includes Yamaha’s MT-07, Kawasaki’s Z650, Triumph’s Trident and Suzuki’s SV650, which all offer an incredible riding experience without breaking the bank. But for 2023, there’s a new player in town, with Honda’s new CB750 Hornet throwing its hat in the ring.
And judging by the spec sheet, it looks set to be a seriously impressive bit of kit. This is thanks to what Honda tell us is a ‘best in class performance’ with the 755cc parallel twin engine pumping out 90.6bhp and 75Nm torque, with a weight of well under 200kgs. It may be budget, but the engine is an impressive looking bit of kit, with some internal work such an uneven firing order to give the twin some character, which has been stuck in a steel diamond frame.
In terms of handling, the Hornet comes equipped with red coloured 41mm Showa forks, a preload adjustable shock and Nissin four piston calipers, which work with dual 296mm discs. Impressively, Honda have given the new Hornet with three riding modes (Sport, Standard and Rain), alongside adjustable engine braking, torque control, wheelie control and an ABS system, which is a powered through a 5” TFT dash that supports Bluetooth connectivity. You even get self-cancelling indicators and full LED lighting.
Most impressively though, is the price. The Hornet name has a strong following among Honda fans, not least because the original CB600F of the late 1990s was famous for offering incredible value for money. And even though the CB750 Hornet has little in common with the inline fours from 25 years ago, one thing they do share is the ability to deliver plenty of bang for your buck.
Honda have placed the new Hornet at £6999, which undercuts pretty much all the competition, including the smaller and less powerful Z650.
Expect it to be a big seller for Honda, and perhaps the first in a whole range of bikes based around the new platform. If it rides as impressively as it looks, then we’re going to be in for a real treat.
