MRW Issue 27

NEWS DESK
Honda debuts new in-line
twin CB750 Hornet
Ten years after the mid-sized naked
sportbike CB600F Hornet went out of
production, Honda is plotting its return with
claims of a class-leading power-to-weight
ratio from its brand new 755-cc inline twin.
The motor will also power the upcoming
revival of the Transalp.
Honda hit the jackpot in 1997 when it
detuned a CBR600 supersport four-cylinder
engine, and built around it a naked sporty
roadster with quality parts and more than 90
hp at the crank. The CB600F Hornet became
an overnight success in Europe, remaining
in production through a series of updates
and facelifts until 2013. At that point, Honda
substituted it with the tamer CB650F which
over time evolved to the CB650R.
In order to power the 2023 CB750 Hornet,
Honda couldn’t rely on its existing NC750
motor as it lacks the necessary punch and
sporty disposition. Evolved from half a
Honda Jazz (aka Honda Fit) car engine,
the NC750 is an undersquare, low-revving
twin designed for relaxed commuting and
astounding fuel savings.
The new engine is an inline twin with
Unicam cylinder heads which use a single
camshaft to control four valves – a setup of
CRF450R and Africa Twin fame. Measuring
755 cc in capacity, it produces 90.5 hp at
9,500 rpm and 7.7 kgm at 7,250 rpm at
the 270-degree crankshaft, via a six-speed
gearbox and a slipper clutch.
Honda suggests that at 2.81 kg/kW, the 2023
CB750 Hornet tops its class, also thanks to its
relatively low weight. With the 15.2-l fuel tank
full, the bike tips the scales at just 190 kg.
It is equipped with a series of adjustable
electronic support systems that include
traction control, wheelie control, engine
braking and engine power modes. The
rider can harness the Hornet’s power via
four selectable riding modes, consisting
of three presets – sport, standard, and
rain – and a user-programmable mode,
as each dials in different values for the
aforementioned systems.
This engine sits in a new steel diamond-type
frame that weighs 16.6 kg (36.6 lb) – two
less than that of the outgoing CB650R –
suspended on a Showa kit that features
41-mm SFF-BPTM inverted forks and a
Pro-Link monoshock, offering only spring
preload at the rear in terms of adjustability.
Braking is handled by Nissin, with two 296-
mm (11.6-in) disks and four-piston radially
mounted calipers at the front, as well as
a rear single 240-mm (9.5-in) disc with
a single-piston unit. The whole system is
supported by a traditional two-channel
ABS system, without cornering abilities that
would require a more elaborate and costly
inertial engine control unit.