2023 Honda CB750 Hornet review - sports naked that offers big thrills for little money

Highlights
- Gutsy 91bhp, 755cc parallel twin
- Generously equipped
- Superb value for money
At a glance
Owners' reliability rating: | |
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Annual servicing cost: | £150 |
Power: | 91 bhp |
Seat height: | Medium (31.3 in / 795 mm) |
Weight: | Medium (419 lbs / 190 kg) |
Prices
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesHonda’s CB750 Hornet is the cheapest of its closest middleweight naked rivals. That’s a mouth-watering prospect when you consider it’s powered by a stonking 91bhp parallel twin cylinder engine and has a bountiful array of rider aids and standard equipment.
There are no obvious signs that corners have been cut to get the price so low, but a couple of burning questions remain: is it as fun to ride as Yamaha’s MT-07? Does it handle as well as a Triumph Trident 660 and it is worthy of its name, especially now it has two fewer cylinders than the 1998 original?
Well, its gusty new engine is the star of the show, although the throttle response can be snatchy and being so small and light it’s easy to manage, although the short seat is a squeeze for taller riders.
Watch Neevesy's video review here:

Ride quality and suspension control could be better and it takes time to get used to such quick steering, but its stable and handles neatly in corners. It isn’t perfect, but the Honda Hornet is an honest-to-goodness sports naked that offers big thrills for little money, just like the original.
⏱️ Join @Neevesy33 for #60secondswith the new Honda Hornet and then read the full review here: https://t.co/RkglF2awZW pic.twitter.com/H4VSZMuxQw
— Motor Cycle News (@MCNnews) November 28, 2022
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineThe new Honda is extremely light, both when you bat it between your legs at a standstill and on the road. Developed by the same group of Honda engineers that put the 2017 Fireblade on a massive diet, they’ve kept the Hornet’s weight down to 190kg fully-fuelled, giving it the best power to weight ratio in class.
It’s small, too and looks almost toy-like by comparison for a 750. It’s slim, has a low 795mm seat, naturally placed bars and feels every inch a friendly, easy to ride Honda. Smaller riders won’t have a problem getting their feet flat on the floor and it’s not too cramped in the peg department. But for the tall the seat doesn’t have enough front to back room, causing your lower back to touch the rear seat pad, hemming you in.
The Hornet’s lightness continues in the way it steers. Not only does it change direction with next to no effort, but the steering is almost too direct until you dial yourself into it. It’s like the forks are so steep the front wheel is underneath you, which it’s not of course, rather the Honda’s keenness to change direction is down to sporty geometry.
Not only is its tubular steel frame 11% lighter than the Honda CB650R’s (and 19% lighter than the smaller CB500F’s), but the wheelbase is also 30mm shorter (1420mm), the rake 0.5% steeper (25˚) and trail 2mm shorter (99mm). A narrow 160-section rear tyre adds agility, too.
At first the steering is so sensitive it’s hard not to thruppenny-bit around roundabouts and slow corners – something compounded by snatchy fuelling from a closed throttle. But as you get used to the Hornet your steering inputs naturally adapt and the more natural it feels.
It reveals itself to be decent handling, but never completely planted or confidence inspiring, although the standard Michelin Road 5 sports touring rubber we’re on (some Hornets will come on Dunlop Roadsport 2s) have plenty of grip. With pegs set back slightly, there’s never an issue with ground clearance.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityOnce you’re past the ride-by-wire’s immediacy from a closed throttle, the engine is a peach of thing. Purists will bemoan the Hornet not having a motor like the original’s mid-90s 100bhp CBR600F lump. But if you want an inline four middleweight with a Honda badge, the CB650R is the bike for you.
It's true that parallel twins aren’t often the most exciting engines and can sound a bit droany, but Honda have done their best to inject as much drama as they can, while still getting it signed off by the Euro5-ists.
It barks and booms like a big V-twin, loves to rev and unlike the old Hornet’s four pot, has an even spread of power, which you can dip into any way you want. It’s as happy plodding through town as it is banging against the limiter and reminding you its class-leading 91bhp is actually rather a lot, especially on a bike this light.
It's grunty, too, so much so that during our mountainous test ride it’ll pull out of just about any corner in third gear, no matter how slow. Add in a dab of clutch and just like an MT-07, you can send the front wheel skywards with the electronics switched off.
A full array of electronics gives the engine even more flexibility. Depending on which riding mode you choose you can set the urgency of the power delivery in three stages and choose the amount of traction, wheelie or engine brake control you want, too (also three-way adjustable). Our test bike is also fitted with the £240 optional up/down quickshifter (three-adjustable for sensitively) and works flawlessly.
Anything but buzzy - Honda CB750 Hornet engine in detail
The Hornet’s is powered by a new ride-by-wire controlled ultra-short-stroke, 8v, parallel twin cylinder. It produces 91bhp@9500rpm, 55lb-ft of torque at 5500rpm and uses a single overhead cam, which Honda says gives several advantages over a twin cam: the cylinder head can be lighter and more compact, there’s space for the valves and intake to be more upright and with fewer parts spinning around creating inertia, the handling is improved, too.
It also has a 270˚ crank to give it the feel and sound of a V-twin-like feel and there are weights fitted to its two balance shafts to cancel out the vibes - a first for a Honda. Cylinders use the same slippery nickel-silicon carbide coating as the Fireblade’s and snail-shaped ‘Vortex Flow Ducts’ leading into the sides of airbox spin the air entering, boosting both torque and top end power.
A third intake at the bottom of the airbox further boosts top end power and throttle response. A light-levered slip and assist clutch smooths out engine braking during fast down changes (there’s no DCT option) and Honda claims 65mpg and a theoretical full to dry range of 217 miles. It can also be restricted to 47bhp for A2 licence holders.
The same engine will be used in the new XL750 Transalp, but with longer airbox intakes and a bigger rear wheel it’ll feel slightly gruntier and longer-legged.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValueDespite its low price, the Hornet is well built, has lots of thoughtful design touches and being a Honda, the engine should be just about bombproof.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentYou could make a case for a whole bunch of affordable middleweight nakeds to rival the Hornet – it’s a packed class, to say the least. The closest in price and spirit are the two machines we’ve already mentioned here, which deliver something a little bit more special.
There’s the £7500, 73bhp Yamaha MT-07, which is way more basic than the Hornet, but weighs just 184kg, is better balanced and a more playful engine. And in the Brit corner there’s the £7695, 80bhp, 189kg Triumph Trident 660 that mixes style, tech and a rasping three-cylinder soundtrack with a more refined ride and solid handling.
There’s also the less powerful £7499, 67bhp Kawasaki Z650, the return of the KTM 790 Duke and of course the new 82bhp parallel twin cylinder Suzuki GSX-8S, but it’s an unknown quantity right now, in terms of price and what it’s like to ride.
It’ll have its work cut out to beat them, but at £6999, the new Honda CB750 Hornet is hard to ignore.
Watch: Honda Hornet CB750 takes on Yamaha MT-07

Equipment
In addition to the kind of rider aids that only appeared on a Honda Fireblade five years ago, your £6999 gets you a hatful of goodies. There are three riding modes, (Sport, Standard, Rain), plus an extra User mode that lets you choose between three power maps, three torque control settings (to limit wheel slip and wheelies) and engine braking. You can also disable the torque control. ABS is standard, but not lean sensitive.
Its multi-function 5in TFT has four layouts to choose from and links to your phone to control music, calls and sat nav, by voice control via a Bluetooth headset. You also get a USB charger, LED lights all-round, self-cancelling indicators, Nissin front radial brake calipers, wavy discs and Showa upside forks.
A full range of dedicated Hornet accessories can be bought separately or bundled into three packs. The £410 Style Pack includes frame protectors, tank pad, aluminium handlebar riser clamp, bar end weights and wheel rim tape. The £555 Sports Pack contains an up/down quickshifter, lighter footpegs, rear seat cover and fly screen. And for trips away the £765 Touring Pack comes with a three-litre tank bag and tail pack and hard panniers.
Specs |
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Engine size | 755cc |
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Engine type | Liquid-cooled, 8v, parallel twin |
Frame type | Tubular steel diamond |
Fuel capacity | 15.2 litres |
Seat height | 795mm |
Bike weight | 190kg |
Front suspension | Showa 41mm upside down forks, non-adjustable. |
Rear suspension | Single shock, non-adjustable. |
Front brake | 2 x 296mm front discs with four-piston radial Nissin calipers. ABS |
Rear brake | 240mm rear disc with single piston caliper. ABS. |
Front tyre size | 120/70 x 17 |
Rear tyre size | 160/60 x 17 |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
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Average fuel consumption | 65 mpg |
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Annual road tax | £117 |
Annual service cost | £150 |
New price | £6,999 |
Used price | £5,800 - £6,800 |
Insurance group |
- How much to insure? |
Warranty term | Two years |
Top speed & performance |
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Max power | 91 bhp |
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Max torque | 55 ft-lb |
Top speed | 130 mph |
1/4 mile acceleration | - |
Tank range | 217 miles |
Model history & versions
Model history
2023: Honda Hornet released. 91bhp parallel twin cylinder engine in a lightweight chassis with a full array of electronic rider aids.
Other versions
None, although the Honda XL750 Transalp shares the same engine, albeit tuned differently.
Owners' reviews for the HONDA CB750 HORNET (2023 - on)
10 owners have reviewed their HONDA CB750 HORNET (2023 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your HONDA CB750 HORNET (2023 - on)
Summary of owners' reviews |
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Overall rating: | |
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Ride quality & brakes: | |
Engine: | |
Reliability & build quality: | |
Value vs rivals: | |
Equipment: | |
Annual servicing cost: | £150 |
Year: 2023
Annual servicing cost: £100
Fabulous bike let down by snatchy throttle
Perfect amount of power and handling just let down by jerky throttle at low speeds
Bags of torque and power for such a lightweight bike
Suspension is a little soft
Year: 2024
Annual servicing cost: £100
This bike has everything I was looking for
Lovely ride
Quick enough for me
Too early for me to report on its reliability as I only had it for 1200 miles! But quality is fantastic! Well made with some great features
Screen says 66mpg Great value for at the time! Other jap bikes were 1k more for the same spec
The ride modes are great
Buying experience: This was my first A licence bike and dealer was great!
Year: 2023
Annual servicing cost: £189
On prize alone is wins hands down £6999 New.
Built to a cost however the suspension set up isn't too bad
Likes to be revved but 90bhp
Its a Honda need I say more
Great mpg
Comes with lots of kit as standard
Buying experience: Got one of the first batch into the UK
Year: 2023
Nothing “ not to like “
Exceeds expectations !!
Rider aids and fuel efficiency
Buying experience: Doble Honda is awesome to deal with from A - Z being an intimate , Family business !!
Year: 2023
Bought this as my first bike and it’s great. Only issue I have is it’s a bit small for me but I’m tall
I’m a new rider so comment too much so only reason I’ve not given it 5/5 is personal to me because I’m quite tall. I find my knees ache only after an hour.
Love the engine only reason I’ve marked it down is the well documented snatchy throttle. Only an issue for town stuff which I don’t do much of
Not been on many other bikes but compared to others I have tried I do think the build quality is excellent especially considering the price
399 for 3 services on a service plan with long service intervals
If you want your phones features on the dash this isn’t the bike for you. Although it is possible I wouldn’t bother. If you just want to ride a motorcycle then it’s great
Year: 2023
Great engine and great handling, more fun per mile than any of the competition can deliver
The seat could do with a tad more padding, you’ll want to have a break after about 90 minutes
The engine is a peach.
It so fun and it handle better than it has any right to do
If rode sensibly, you can easy get 60 mile per gallon. However, it loves to be rode hard
Year: 2023
Annual servicing cost: £185
I owned a brilliant KTM390 Duke from new for 6 years as a second bike and having seen a few reviews decided to test the new hornet not even sure if I wanted to change the KTM. One hr test ride late I was hooked and bought myself one. What a machine for less than £7000! To be honest no matter the cost is a fantastic bike. You have to try one and don't let the slightly dull looks put you off. If I could give this bike 6 stars I would. It's that good and fun
Took a pillion no issues. In fact it was better than my Ninja 1000 2up. Brakes a good and handling is good to considering it has budget suspension. I do find sometimes at speed there's a bit of shaking through the bars at times though
The engine is the star of the show and I've no idea what people are on when they say it lakes grunt down low as it really doesn't and if doesn't run out of puff higher up either.
OK not done 1000 miles yet but no issues
The first service was £185 which I thought was a bit much but the bike is proving cheap to run and good on fuel considering it makes you ride it like a complete loon all the time
No cruise control option but it's the cheapest and best bike in it's class so that's no surprise. I've ignored the optional packs and just bought heated grips and a quick shifter otherwise its good out of the box. I may get a touring pack though as now really want to tour on the bike. I'll be a blast to tour on I'm sure
Buying experience: Bought from local Honda dealer Bransons. This is my 3rd bike bought from them(previously an R1 and a Fireblade) with no real issues. I had to wait for the extra's to arrive before collecting it so it sat in the showroom over a month but it didn't bother me as I had other bikes to amuse me while I was waiting. Paid just over £7500 I think. It's a brand new model and is already very well priced so happy with that.
Year: 2023
Only issue is snatchy throttle I actually run out of fuel so can confirm it did 217miles then stopped. I adjusted rear suspension on to number 6 which improved it over bumps immensely for me anyway . The engine and torque in third and fourth gear is fantastic my last bike was a 1250r BMW and didn't feel a lack of power at all.
Can ride 2hours then I need a break .
Snatchy throttle takes a bit getting used to at low revs .but once over 20mph it's great. Performance it's fantastic
Well built
Don't know yet .done 4750miles in 2 months does between 59mpg and 70mpg on readings depending how I ride .
Tank bag slides out place all the time . Quick shifter is great.
Buying experience: Bought from honda 6999.
Year: 2023
Review says it all - great engine but let down by snatchy throttle & harsh suspension. Also only doesn’t fit anyone over 5’8”
Reach is too short for taller riders Throttle is snatchy in traffic You’ll feel every bump in the road On the right roads it’s a hoot
Pulls like a train
It’s a Honda - nuff said
Service package £399
Comes with all the toys but switch gear is small & fiddly - particularly indicators
Year: 2023
Annual servicing cost: £200
Thank you honda!! I bought the first 600 Hornet back in 2000 and then a 900 hornet in 2002, went on to own the cbr600rr powered hornet too and this new Hornet lives up to the name, in black and red it’s one of the best looking bikes out there, I love it
Cant fault it in any way
Feels great and pulls really well from low speeds
Early days but feels solid and tight
A miracle of a bike for this money
Class leading equipment
Buying experience: Very good