Why I think the honda hornet CB1000 will sell like hotcakes!

Introducing the all-new Honda Hornet CB1000!
Ever since I spotted it at Motorcycle Live, I’ve been interested. What’s not to love? With 150bhp, a solid chassis (at least on paper), and straightforward electronics that let you stay in control, this bike has a lot going for it. It does borrow styling cues from the Ducati Streetfighter, but hey, as the saying goes – imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? What's even more impressive is that both the standard and SP versions will be priced under £10K. That’s a pretty amazing deal, especially with an engine derived from the 2017 Fireblade, promising smooth, linear power that’s bound to impress! 

Undercutting the competition 

The Hornet will undercut the competition, and that’s probably going to be its main reason for success. Let’s take Yamaha’s MT-10 as an example. Yes, it’s a bit more powerful, and I’ll admit it sounds fantastic with that crossplane engine, but is it really worth nearly £4,000 more? For most riders, that’s a tough pill to swallow. And don’t forget—you can get the SP version of the Hornet for under £10,000, which makes it an even more appealing deal.

Sure, there are other manufacturers out there with competitive options and deals to be had, but that magic price point of under £10,000 just makes sense. It’s affordable enough to attract a wide range of riders while still offering all the key features you’d expect from a bike in this category. Honda is hitting the sweet spot here, and that’s a big part of why the Hornet will likely fly off showroom floors.

Reliabilty 

We all know that Honda’s reliability is legendary, right? It’s a reputation built over decades of producing bikes that just keep going, and that history of satisfied customers speaks for itself. But, let’s be honest—there’s a bit of a “but” here. These days, Honda sources a lot of their parts from China. Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing—it’s a smart way to keep costs down, which is a big part of why bikes like the Hornet can hit such an attractive price point.

That said, it does raise some questions. A quick search online, and you’ll see some murmurs about potential quality issues with certain Honda models in recent years. Are these isolated cases, or is it a sign of a broader shift? Only time will tell. What’s clear is that Honda’s track record gives them a lot of goodwill, but the pressure is on to prove that even with this cost-cutting approach, they can still deliver the legendary reliability we’ve come to expect.