Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1538173
P102 RIDE REVIEW I 2025 HONDA CB750 HORNET The brakes are Nissin units, featuring 296mm rotors up front and a 240mm disc out back. The feel is good, and the stopping power is solid. How- ever, if I were to buy this bike, I'd upgrade the rubber brake lines to steel-braided ones for improved consistency under hard use. Truth be told, I had an abso- lute blast wringing this bike's neck for a full day. The default engine settings worked well, but with the TC/WC turned off, I just couldn't stop myself from doing playful wheelies. The handling is just great, the Honda's fuel- ing is spot-on, and the gearbox never missed a beat. The CB750 Hornet is not a race bike, and it doesn't pre- tend to be. But it's a seriously competent street machine with legitimate performance and modern styling. The fact that it comes in at just $7999 is bor- derline shocking. I especially liked the matte black version—understated, sharp, and just begging for cus- tom touches. If I bought one, personally, a set of lightweight wheels and a full titanium ex- haust would follow, turning this into a proper urban weapon— and an affordable one at that. Honda nailed it with the 750. It's no wonder they're selling like hot pastries in Europe. This is a 750cc hooligan machine at an entry-level price. Built in Japan, with the reliability and refinement you'd expect. I've already started scheming to convince my wife that this would be "her" next bike. We'll see. CN The front and rear ABS is fixed and therefore the 750 does not include a six-axis IMU, so no ABS functions can be disabled and there's no corner- ing ABS. In practice, I found the CB750's somewhat rudimentary ABS system to be unobtru- sive and confidence inspiring. Besides, a buyer of this bike is going to save thousands of dol- lars keeping things simple. The Hardware There are a couple of bonus features worth mentioning; the bike comes with an Emergency Stop Signal, which initiates rapidly flashing turn signals if the rider brakes massively hard. There's also a USB-C charg- ing port under the passenger seat to keep your smartphone charged while you ride. The diamond steel frame (weighing36.6 pounds (for com- parison, the CB650R's is 40.8 pounds) uses tuned wall thick- nesses to trim weight without compromising rigidity. Geom- etry (55.9-inch wheelbase, 25° rake, 3.9-inch trail) promotes agile yet stable handling. Showa 41mm SFF-BP forks (nonadjustable) are tuned for real-world comfort, absorbing city potholes and bumpy back- roads with ease. They're softer than track-focused setups, but that works in the Hornet's favor for everyday use. Out back, a shock with seven-stage preload adjust- ability helps you dial it in for rider weight or the occasional passenger. 2025 HONDA CB750 HORNET ($7999) ENGINE 4-stroke, parallel-twin VALVETRAIN SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder DISPLACEMENT 755cc BORE X STROKE 87.0 x 63.5mm COMPRESSION RATIO 11.0:1 COOLING SYSTEM Liquid TRANSMISSION 6 speed FUEL SYSTEM PGM-FI, 46mm throttle bodies CLUTCH Wet, Multiplate FRAME Steel diamond FRONT SUSPENSION Showa SFF-BP REAR SUSPENSION Showa Pro-Link shock; preload adjustment FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 4.7 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.1 in. FRONT BRAKE Nissin radial mount 4-piston calipers; 296mm discs; ABS REAR BRAKE Single-piston caliper; 240mm disc; ABS FRONT TIRE 120/70-17 in. REAR TIRE 160/60-17 in. RAKE 25° TRAIL 3.9 in. WHEELBASE 55.9 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 5.6 in. SEAT HEIGHT 31.3 in. FUEL CAPACITY 4.0 gal. WEIGHT (WET, CLAIMED) 422 lbs.