Modern motorcycles, like anything else, have become more specialized over the past few decades. Today’s customer demands race-derived products for road-going motorcycles. On the surface these are contradictory things. Motorcycles designed for the racetrack are built to a higher standard and are expected to be serviced after each race, while street bikes have a service schedule and speed limits. However, this demand for bigger, better, faster vehicles means that manufacturers now offer motorcycles with premium components and even bigger horsepower figures than ever before, and this in turn means that prices are higher than ever.
The naked bike segment is a microcosm of this problem
The naked bike section shows the problem clearly. Historically, a naked bike was a simple, disassembled machine whose main purpose was utility and easy repairability on a daily basis. Today, this has changed, and the best examples of naked bikes are track specials with a different seating position and not many other changes. You only have to look at the BMW M 1000 R and Ducati Streetfighter V4 and their winglets to know that these are not stripped-back or everyday motorcycles.
Then, there’s the price. This can mean different things to different people, but the general definition is to get the most features or performance for the money, or even to get a motorcycle from a higher displacement class at a lower price. This is easier said than done, especially for naked people in the literary category. After all, producing exceptional technology and performance isn’t cheap. Look carefully, however, and you’ll find some hidden gems that manage to do just that.
Honda has always been a champion of value
If you’re looking for such a high-priced bike, you’ll probably find it with a wing badge on the tank. Honda has been the best at making high-value products for the past several decades, no matter what segment or target audience it is targeting. When it decides to create a completely value-driven product, you can be assured that that is what you will get, and what it offers for the price will surprise you. A prime example of this are some of its recent offerings, such as the CB750 Hornet, CB1000 Hornet SP and the XL750 Translap. Now, another has quietly joined the party and decimated its competition.
Honda CB1000F quietly offers the best value in its segment
Honda’s CB1000 Hornet SP is a roadster that strikes a balance between affordability and high-end feel. Seriously – look at the price tag, and you’ll be surprised how much a product with a rear shock that’s usually reserved for track-day specials costs that much less. The CB1000F takes things two steps further by adding a retro look and making things even simpler. This has helped it lower its price to compete with premium middleweight bikes, while still offering Honda’s build quality, reliability and ownership costs. This is definitely a motorcycle that quietly offers the best value in its segment.
Hardly credible MSRP at under $11,000
The CB1000F is priced at $10,599, which is exactly the same price Yamaha asks for its XSR900. Sure, the Yamaha is a premium product, but it still remains a middleweight option, while the Honda is a litre-class, inline four-cylinder machine. If you look at other competition around the same price point, the Triumph Speed Twin costs about a thousand dollars more. Similarly, CB is concerned about the Kawasaki Z900RS and BMW R12 as they fall in the same expensive bracket. And while the Suzuki GSX-8T is priced exactly the same, it doesn’t even come close to the Honda in terms of performance. The Honda simply crushes everything else.
This engine focuses on torque rather than power
The engine of the CB1000F is surprisingly similar to the fast and fuel-efficient CB1000 Hornet. So you get 999 cc, a bore and stroke of 76 mm and 55.1 mm respectively and a compression ratio of 11.7:1. However, Honda has changed the internal parts for a different kind of power and torque delivery that suits the retro look. Changes included different camshafts, a longer intake funnel that is narrower, and a new airbox.
The result is 122 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 76 pound-feet of torque at 8,000 rpm. Power is sent through a six-speed manual gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch and a chain final drive to the rear wheel. Honda has created three to six longer gears than the Hornet, which means it is a more comfortable motorcycle and with better fuel efficiency at higher speeds.
A simple steel chassis mated to Showa suspension
The CB1000F has a steel trellis frame like the CB1000 Hornet. But the subframe is longer and more horizontal to accommodate the one-piece seat, making it an ideal retro bike for enthusiasts. While this indicates that pillion comfort will be better on the CB1000F, it is important to point out that these subframes are welded. The swingarm also differs from the Hornet, and the link-type rear shock is mounted differently.
Speaking of which, Showa offers suspension at both ends, consisting of a 41mm inverted front SFF-BP (Separate Function Fork – Big Piston) fork and a rear shock, both with adjustability. Brakes also include twin 310 mm discs at the front with radial-mount four-piston Nissin callipers and a 240 mm rear disc with Nissin callipers. These are mounted on 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels shod with radial tubeless tyres.
weighs more than 470 pounds
This is where you realize why the CB1000F is so affordable. Honda reports its weight at 472 pounds, which is significantly heavier than the XSR900, but impressively, it’s still a few pounds less than the Z900RS. The rest of its dimensions are fairly conventional, with seat height at 31.3 inches, wheelbase at 57.2 inches and ground clearance at 5.3 inches. The new retro tank holds 4.2 gallons of fuel.
The addition of a six-axis IMU is a pleasant surprise
The CB1000F may look retro, but it has a modern 5-inch TFT instrument cluster equipped with Bluetooth and navigation as standard. Additional standard equipment includes keyless ignition, all-LED lighting and backlit switchgear. The options list includes practical items including quickshifter, center stand and luggage options, making it the most balanced option of 2026. Interestingly, like the Yamaha XSR900, the headlight cowl and bar-end mirrors from the sport pack that convert it into a proper café racer are not available here.
In a surprising turn of events, the CB1000F features a six-axis IMU, while the more premium and sportier CB1000 Hornet SP does not. This adds cornering-capable functionality wherever applicable. The rest of the electronic parameters remain the same, offering traction control, ABS, engine brake control and power modes. There are five riding modes: three are factory presets, and two are user modes that let you mix and match settings to suit your preferences.
No real competition with similar combination of specifications and price
There are a surprising number of products that occupy the same niche as the CB1000F. What’s even more surprising is that none of them have the same combination of features and price as the Honda. The BMW R12 is an often overlooked product, but it is also a premium product, so it does not play the price game with a base price of $13,145. Whereas, the Suzuki GSX-8T is priced almost the same, but its performance places it in the segment below. These are three motorcycles that we have to eliminate.
The choice on the left is the Triumph Speed Twin 900 with a retail price of $11,495. What you get here is not just a retro-looking bike, but with its parallel-twin engine and its 270-degree firing order it feels retro in a good way. However, Triumph doesn’t skimp on components, so you get a product that is equal parts exotic, retro and modern. Since it is a twin-cylinder engine, it relies on its torque rather than high horsepower figures.
There is also the Kawasaki Z900RS which is priced at $12,899. It follows the same format as the CB1000F. It has a six-axis IMU, which explains some of the premium Kawasaki demands. However, it has less power and is heavier than the CB1000F, so it’s not necessarily the best choice if you don’t want the CB1000F. However, we can’t deny that the Z900RS Café looks professional among all these bikes available in the United States.
So, the main competition for the CB1000F is the Yamaha XSR900, a product that perfectly captures Yamaha’s DNA. We can say this with confidence because Honda has priced its product exactly the same in dollar terms as the XSR. It makes slightly less power at 117 horsepower, but it also weighs 25 pounds less. It also has better bicycle parts with an aluminum twin-spar chassis, and the crossplane three-cylinder engine lends itself very well to a wider torque spread. But in terms of pure power, cylinders and overall retro look, the Honda can’t be beat.
Source: Honda Powersports
