The new 2023 Honda Hornet has finally been unveiled at the Intermot motorcycle show in Cologne, Germany.
2023 Honda Hornet | All-new Honda Naked Specs and Details
Honda’s revival of the Hornet motorcycle has been anticipated for some time now and, over the last few months, the Japanese manufacturer has teased us with small snippets of information, from concept designs to engine specs.
Now, the bike has been revealed in full, and we have our first look at the final form of the latest-generation Hornet, or CB750 Hornet to give its full name.
As we found out recently, the new Hornet will be powered by a 755cc parallel-twin engine producing 67.5kW (90.5 horsepower) and 75Nm of torque. A 270-degree crank and uneven firing order means the feel of the engine is comparable to that of a V-twin, and a fuel consumption statistic of 23km/l combined with a 15.1-litre fuel tank means a range of up to 340km (211 miles).
The motor also benefits from Honda’s patented ‘Vortex Flow Ducts’ which are designed to “evenly distribute airflow into the airbox,” according to Honda, for a sharper throttle response.
Additionally, the nickel-silicon carbide coating found on the two cylinders is inherited from Honda’s flagship sports bike, the CBR1000RR-R; and the Unicam system shares its configuration with the CRF450R motocross bike with which Tim Gajser won the 2022 MXGP World Championship, and which Chase Sexton rode to second in the 2022 AMA Pro Motocross 450MX championship, and as part of the 2022 Motocross of Nations-winning Team USA.
The character of that engine will be adjustable with three pre-mapped riding modes - "Rain", "Standard", and "Sport" - for the rider to choose from, as well as a fourth mode which is customisable by the rider for their own preference.
Each riding mode - the three pre-mapped modes, and the customisable fourth mode - changes the character of the engine not only on the gas, with power and torque control, but also in deceleration, with engine brake adjustments integrated to each mode. Further, each mode features its own integrated anti-wheelie setting.
Away from the engine, we find an all-new steel diamond frame which weighs only 16.6kg (the total kerb weight is 190kg). Connecting the chassis to the front wheel is suspension from Showa, who have provided 41mm Separate Function Fork Big Piston USD forks with new yokes both top and bottom. These forks have split-function, with "Big Piston" pressure separation in one leg, and a spring mechanism in the other, and they offer 130mm of wheel travel.
At the rear, the shock absorber is preload-adjustable (five stages) thanks to Pro-Link and offers 190mm of wheel travel. Honda have also designed a new steel swingarm for the Hornet.
Both front and rear wheels are 17 inches, with a 120/70 tyre (3.5 inches wide) at the front, and a 160/60 (4.5 inches wide) at the rear.
Moving to ergonomics now, we can discover a 795mm seat height, auto-cancel indicators, and a five-inch TFT display. This “vividly supplies all the crucial information and allows management of all systems,” Honda says of the display.
Another use of the TFT display is its connectivity function, which you can take advantage of with your phone and the Honda Smartphone Voice Control system, which is also now available on iOS for the first time.
The aesthetics of the bike have been designed by Honda’s R&D Centre in Rome. We can see its lines follow an aggressive style which has become typical of contemporary motorcycle - even automotive - design. This aggressive styling extends from front-to-back, and includes the fuel tank, which Honda says is inspired by the wing of a hornet.
For those looking to add to their Hornet, or tailor it to their motorcycling wants and needs, the bike will be available with a number of accessories to suit the needs of various kinds of rider. These can be added to the Hornet singularly, or as one of three ‘packs’:
- Sport - Quickshifter; fly screen; rear seat cowl; rider footpegs
- Style - Bar end weights; handlebar upper clamp holder; tank pad; wheel stripes and skid bungs
- Touring - Rear panniers; tank bag; seat bag
2023 Honda Hornet UK price
Finally, we come to the colours and the pricing. The price of the bike is unchanged - at £6,999 - for whatever colour you choose, and there are four: “Pearl Glare White”, “Graphite Black” (which both feature a “Metallic Red Flame” frame and anodised red forks), “Matte Iridium Grey Metallic”, and “Mat Goldfinch Yellow”.
For more information on the bike, head to the Honda UK website: www.honda.co.uk
