Honda CB1000F Launched: Retro Design, Hornet’s Agility And Fireblade’s Heart

After months of anticipation and concepts, Honda has officially launched the production-ready CB1000F internationally. With a competitive price tag of £10,599 (around Rs 10,59,000), this neo-retro roadster promises to make us all warm and fuzzy with nostalgia, and also literally warm and fuzzy with all the creature comforts of a modern-day motorcycle. Here’s everything you need to know which will make you fall in love with Honda’s latest offering:

A Modern Classic

The Honda CB1000F draws heavy inspiration from its iconic 1980s predecessors, the CB750F and CB900F, that dominated the superbike scene. The new CB1000F is a nod to the golden era of motorcycling. Honda’s design team has ensured that the bike resonates with its ancestors with its vintage styling, especially the retro headlamp design, which is an instant conversation starter.

Heart of the Beast

The CB1000F features Honda’s 998cc inline-four engine, derived from the 2017 CBR1000RR Fireblade. However, unlike its aggressive counterpart, the CB1000F’s engine has been retuned for a more relaxed riding experience. With 122PS at 9,000rpm and 103Nm at 8,000rpm, the CB1000F is made to deliver strong low-to-mid-range grunt - perfect for your weekend cafe runs or early morning breakfast rides.

That said, your neighbours may be a little annoyed or super interested (depending on whether they’re into motorcycles), thanks to the new 4-2-1 ‘megaphone’ exhaust. That should keep the moto-audiophiles happy. 

A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

The CB1000F might look retro, but in no way will it be a slouch. It features a chassis taken from the latest CB1000 Hornet, but a new subframe tweaked for pillion comfort. The fully adjustable 41mm Showa SFF-BP fork and Showa rear shock remain the same. Even the set of four-piston Nissin radial callipers biting into 310mm floating twin front discs, and the single-piston calliper on a 240mm rear disc are the same as the Hornet. 

Old School Meets 21st Century

Honda has left no stone unturned when it comes to the features. While the bike may look ‘vintage’, it has all the electronics one could ever need. Equipped with a 5-inch TFT console, a six-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) that allows cornering ABS, wheelie management, and tunable engine braking. It also comes with three riding modes: Standard, Sport, and Rain, and also 2 customizable user modes. 

For those who have ever ridden an OG Honda CBs, they would testify as to how easily approachable the bikes are to ride. With the 2025 CB1000F, Honda has made sure that with a seat height of 795mm, it is accessible to a wide range of riders, and the 214kg weight should feel well-balanced for a bike of this class. The keyless ignition system adds convenience, although you’ll still need to unlock the fuel tank and seat manually. 

One also has the option to personalise the CB1000F as well! Honda offers three accessory packs:

• Sports Pack: Includes a colour-coded headlight cowl, engine guard, and a bi-directional quickshifter.

• Comfort Pack: Adds a plush seat, tank pad, and heated grips for longer rides.

• Travel Pack: Perfect for touring with soft panniers and a 3L tank bag for added luggage capacity.

A Tempting Yet Unlikely Arrival

Considering it’s based on the Hornet 1000, which is already sold in India (the SP variant), we really, really wish it came to India. Afterall, its distant relative, the Honda CB1000R was sold here, and it’s only fair that Honda brings it here. But alas, this simply remains our wishful thinking as Honda is unlikely to bring this beaut to our shores. But hey, at least we have the unique-looking Honda X-ADV here.