VOLUME ISSUE JULY , P85
BY MARK MILLER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALIGN MEDIA
F
or the first time ever in the
United States, Honda's
iconic Hornet name graces
a liter-class machine built for
the street.
The 2025 CB1000 Hornet SP
is a high-spec, rider-focused na
-
ked bike that strikes a balance
between aggressive styling and
everyday usability and perfor
-
mance, all while undercutting
the prices of many competitors
in the segment.
While European and Japanese
riders have been familiar with
Honda's Hornet moniker for
decades, U.S. enthusiasts had to
wait. The name first appeared on
the 1996 CB250 Hornet in Japan,
followed by the CB600F Hornet
and CB900F Hornet in Europe.
Those models were sold
stateside under different names
(the 599 and 919, respectively)
due to trademark restrictions.
For 2025, Honda secured the
rights from Chrysler to use
Hornet in the U.S. (permitting
Chrysler to use the name Rebel
in exchange), allowing Honda to
introduce both the CB750 Hor
-
net and CB1000 Hornet SP.
The CB1000 Hornet SP is
manufactured in Japan and
designed for experienced riders
seeking a performance machine
that doesn't compromise practi
-
cality. Honda sought to provide
an alternative to the over-styled,
overpriced hyper nakeds that
have flooded the market for
years. The result is a clean,
functional design with premium
visual touches like gold fork
legs, wheels and decals. The
signature Hornet profile is here,
too: broad tank shoulders, a slim
waist and a high, tapered tail. A
flat seat and wide handlebars
offer leverage and comfort for
upright, confident riding.
The CB1000 Hornet SP is
powered by a retuned version
of the 2017 CBR1000RR's
inline-four. With a 76.0mm x
55.1mm bore and stroke and
an 11.7:1 compression ratio,
