If you’ve been waiting for Honda to bring some serious heat to the Indian market, your wait is over. The Honda CB1000 Hornet SP has just landed at Rs 12.36 lakh and it’s making a statement in the premium naked bike segment.
The heart of this beast is a proper 999cc inline-four engine that pumps out 157 horsepower at 11,000 rpm with 107 Nm of torque. Those numbers mean you’re getting proper superbike performance in a more approachable naked bike package. The power flows through a smooth 6-speed transmission with bi-directional quickshifter so you can bang through gears without clutching, that racing DNA in your rides.
Honda has gone all out with premium components on the SP variant. Up front there’s a fully adjustable Showa USD fork, at the back an Ohlins monoshock that’s also fully adjustable. For braking, twin 310mm discs get squeezed by radially mounted Brembo Stylema calipers, the same stopping power you’d find on much more expensive European bikes.
The tech package includes a 5-inch TFT display with smartphone connectivity for music, navigation and calls. Five riding modes cover Sport to Rain conditions, plus two custom modes you can personalise. The three-level traction control works quietly in the background, keeping things planted when roads get slippery.
Honda’s pricing is clever here. At Rs 12.36 lakh it undercuts the Ducati Monster SP at Rs 15.95 lakh and beats the Suzuki Katana’s Rs 13.61 lakh price tag. What’s interesting is how it’s close to premium middleweight bikes like the Triumph Street Triple RS, but with more displacement and power for just a bit more.
The CB1000 Hornet SP will be sold exclusively through Honda’s BigWing Topline dealerships, with deliveries starting in June. This isn’t a bike for everyone, but for experienced riders who want litre-class thrills without track focused compromises, it delivers serious performance in a comfortable, upright package. Honda has finally brought the excitement to India’s big bike segment.
