History of the Hornet
The Hornet name carries weight. Born in 1998, it first appeared as the CB600F , a mid-size inline-four offering 94 hp and a head-turning modern design. It balanced raw street power with Honda’s characteristic reliability. The bigger CB900F followed in 2002 with a tamer Fireblade engine and a sportier setup, followed by the CB1000R in 2008. That bike, with its single-sided swingarm and futuristic headlight, dropped the Hornet name but kept the spirit. For a while, it seemed like the Hornet had buzzed off for good.
Transition to the “Neo Sports Café” era
Honda’s design pivot came in 2018 with the Neo Sports Café aesthetic. The CB1000R returned with sharper angles, a minimal rear, and 145 hp, but the retro-futuristic look wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Still, Honda kept evolving. The CB750 Hornet’s 2023 success and the CB500 Hornet in 2024 paved the way for the rebirth of the true Hornet spirit. And now, in 2025, we get not just one, but two variants: the CB1000 Hornet and the CB1000 Hornet SP.
With the heart of the Fireblade
The SP’s engine is a derivative of the 2017 Fireblade’s four-cylinder DOHC screamer. It’s been retuned for the street, offering 157 hp and 107 Nm of torque. I rolled onto the throttle coming out of a tight bend near Padmapuram Gardens, and the power delivery was immediate. The engine surged, yet it felt smooth and linear. In Sport mode, the response was razor-sharp. No lag, no drama, just usable grunt exactly where I needed it.
Exhaust system gives Hornet SP more power
One key contributor to the SP’s 5 hp advantage over the standard model is its unique exhaust. Honda’s electronic valve control adds finesse. When the flap opens at 5,700 rpm, the character changes. The tone deepens, throttle response sharpens, and acceleration feels meatier. It’s like the bike gets a second wind just when you’re pushing harder, especially up Araku’s steeper gradients.
Hornet SP slightly louder
You’ll hear it too. The SP produces a burbly growl on deceleration and a muffled but deeper tone under load. It’s 1 dB(A) louder than the standard version, which doesn’t sound like much, but you feel it. It’s present without being obnoxious, even when the exhaust flap opens. Just enough to put a grin on your face, especially blasting through the tunnels near Borra Caves.
Quickshifter as standard on the Hornet SP
The SP comes with a bi-directional quickshifter as standard. It’s smooth and intuitive, letting you snick through gears even under load. Climbing steep twisties with frequent switchbacks, I barely touched the clutch. Downshifting into hairpins felt natural, and the slipper clutch worked silently to keep the rear in check.
No experiments with chassis and brakes
At 193 cm tall, I usually struggle with ergonomics, but the CB1000 Hornet SP surprised me. The seat is low (809 mm) yet supportive. The bars are wide, giving great leverage, and the tank’s shape allows a perfect knee lock. My riding posture was slightly canted forward, sporty yet all-day comfortable. The only quirk was my heel occasionally brushing the exhaust plate, but nothing deal-breaking.
The chassis is conservative in design, and that’s a good thing. Honda sticks with a steel twin-spar frame and Showa SFF-BP forks up front. The rear suspension is where the SP steps up, offering an Öhlins TTX36 shock absorber with full adjustability. It felt planted, confident, and tuned to perfection. On descending curves, the Hornet carved corners with a neutral feel, and the Bridgestone S22s bit into the tarmac with confidence.
Radially mounted Brembo Stylema four-piston brake calipers
Stopping power is another SP advantage. While the standard CB uses Nissin calipers, the SP gets top-shelf Brembo Stylema four-piston radial calipers. Bite is strong, modulation excellent, and even when I grabbed the brakes hard entering a descending curve near Ananthagiri Hills, the Hornet stayed composed. No drama. Just precise deceleration.
Hornet-typical narrow waist
Despite its liter-class heart, the Hornet SP remains deceptively slim. This makes a difference when weaving through tight traffic or threading through narrow hill paths. Even shorter riders will find it approachable. The center mass is compact and low, adding to the agility. At 212 kg, the SP never feels heavy. Whether upright or leaned in, it always responds like a machine half its size.
Electronics – Focus on the essentials
In the tech department, Honda has chosen restraint. No cornering ABS or IMU-based wizardry here. Just traction control, wheelie control, and adjustable engine braking , all customizable. ABS is non-cornering but reliable. The electronics never intruded during the ride, but they were always there in the background, watching my back.
Sensitive electronics
The beauty lies in how subtle these systems are. I tried pushing traction control to its limits while powering out of a bend on loose gravel, and it kicked in gently, with no abrupt cut. The wheelie control allowed playful lifts of the front without letting it float too far. Everything felt polished.
Well connected and a top-notch cockpit
The 5-inch TFT display is sharp, vibrant, and well laid out. Navigating settings was easy even with gloves on. Info is presented cleanly, with ride modes, fuel economy, and speed all legible at a glance. The display never felt cluttered, and it always matched the bike’s premium feel.
Smartphone connectivity via RoadSync app
Honda’s RoadSync app offers navigation, call and message alerts, and music control. Pairing was straightforward. I set a route to Araku Tribal Museum, and turn-by-turn directions were displayed on the dash. It added a layer of convenience, especially in an unfamiliar place.
Standard or SP?
The CB1000 Hornet Standard is no slouch, but the SP elevates the game. The refined suspension, brakes, and exhaust tuning make it a better all-rounder. If your budget stretches, the SP is worth every euro.
What distinguishes the SP model?
- Quickshifter (up/down) standard
- Öhlins rear shock
- Brembo Stylema brakes
- Unique exhaust system
- Subtle aesthetic enhancements
- Better weight distribution
Conclusion
Riding the Honda CB1000 Hornet SP through Araku Valley was more than a test; it was a celebration. A celebration of what Honda does best , balance. Power and control. Tech and simplicity. Emotion and precision. The SP brings back the big Hornet name with a vengeance, but it doesn’t rely on nostalgia. It delivers real-world joy, blistering performance, and Honda reliability in one tightly engineered package. Whether you’re diving into a canyon curve or just ripping along a coffee plantation-lined road in Araku, the Hornet SP whispers one thing: Buzz is back.