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Honda CB1000, but not like your grandad used to ride
24 October 2025
Honda CB1000, but not like your grandad used to ride
Drawing on the heritage of its iconic CB750 whilst deploying the latest in motorcycle technology, Honda’s CB1000F has added further heft to Street range.
It’s a big bike that can handle itself, unlike, arguably, it’s historic predecessor which may well have made your grandad’s knees knock.
Paul Browne looks forward to the arrival of the mighty machine in 2026.
In days of yore real men and women rode around on deadly dangerous, large-engined motorcycles.
Each of the main manufacturers had theirs and Honda’s was the mighty CB 750 and the even mightier CB 900.
While your gramps was busy spending all of his money raising your da, his cooler and richer friends were riding around on these things.
The thing about these bikes was that they were quite poorly equipped when compared to what we have today.
An awful chassis that was out-gunned by its engine, a set of tyres that were downright uncooperative and brakes that were just not interested in stopping. The things were a death trap.
However, if you didn’t know any better and you were being carried on the back of one when you were but a child, they were the coolest things on earth.
Reclaiming Hornet’s buzz
Now Honda have taken that nostalgia and dressed a Hornet 1000 in the colours of old, blessing us with the CB1000F.
The 998cc motor has been retuned for more bottom end torque – a little over 110Nm is available – and to unharness a few less top-end ponies, just shy of 100bhp.
It’s sprung with Showa forks and a Pro Link system down the back.
Stopping, unlike the one that grandad had, actually has brakes that work, with radially mounted calipers and the management system for them even features cornering ABS.
The TFT screen that allows you to link your phone to your bike would, probably, blow the old guys mind.
But the longer subframe will make a more comfortable pillion seat than I, as a child, enjoyed.
The round headlight is flanked by a pair of horns in a nod to the original but the lighting is all LED.
It’s also really light at only 218kg.
The tyres work with 180 and 120 mm options and there’s an IMU which will assist the rider in staying alive longer.
One can also pre-set the traction control, wheelie control and engine braking via the button on the left bar. Freddie Spencer didn’t have this back in the day!
Styling out
The CB1000Fs’ styling really is delivered very well.
The colours, exhaust end cans, body panels all look the part. The bike also looks big while having a sub 800mm seat height. Your grandad would really like the deep seats.
The colour choices are excellent, but with funny names; Wolf Silver Metallic with a blue stripe, Wolf Silver Metallic with a grey stripe and a Graphite Black. To my mind, the one with the blue stripe is the one to go for.
The new CB1000F will be available from dealers nationwide from early in the new year and dealerships across the country are taking orders for them now.
Click here to find your local showroom.
