New Honda Hornet details revealed
The iconic Honda Hornet is set to be revived as a parallel twin, while its new engine could also power a new Transalp adventure bikeHonda has offered a sneak peek at its new Hornet concept, with the middleweight streetfighter set to be powered by an all-new 755cc parallel-twin eight-valve Unicam engine.
First teased at EICMA last year, the concept sees the revival of the iconic Hornet moniker which gained a loyal following throughout the late '90s and 2000s in both 600cc and 900cc form.
In Australia, both the CB600F Hornet and CB900F Hornet exited the market in 2009, the latter being replaced by the Honda CB1000R, but the smaller-capacity model continued in some countries until 2013.
In a YouTube reveal, Honda showed Test Project Leader Fuyuki Hosokawa piloting the machine, but stopped short of giving away any clear visual cues about the bike’s appearance.
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The firm did however offer a little more information on the engine, which will feature a 270-degree crank and will reportedly put out around 90hp and 75Nm.
While the Japanese firm is calling the new machine a “concept”, it appears inevitable that an all-new Hornet will see production in the near future.
Honda’s current flagship naked offering is the inline four-cylinder neo-retro CB650R, but a new Hornet would follow the current industry trend towards parallel-twin powerplants.
The Hornet name was introduced in 1998 for the European market and quickly developed a cult following as a great all-round motorcycle. It remained successful for much of its lifespan, before it was replaced by the Honda CB650F in 2013.
Honda has been relatively conservative in recent times, but it has shown a tendency to revive classic monikers for modern times, including the Africa Twin, Super Cub, the Monkey, Dax, and Hawk.
A new Hornet will certainly create a…err…buzz, while its engine will likely appear in another modern day revival – the Honda Transalp adventure bike. A new Transalp has been rumoured for some time, but recent reports suggest that the firm has trademarked the moniker, as well as the XL750 designation.
It is unclear if a new Hornet or Transalp will be distributed for the Australian market. The recent Honda Hawk 11 was not made available on local shores.
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