Honda CB1000R Black Edition
Dark details and new dash
THERE ARE MORE powerful and faster supernakeds but it’s easy to make a case for the CB1000R being the one for thinking riders. Focused on road use rather than lap times, the Honda is seriously fast and exciting but without being overwhelming; accurate and engaging without foregoing usability. The inline four is also extremely well made, yet could be considered cheap next to a KTM Super Duke R or Ducati Streetfighter V4.
This was already the case, of course. But with its backbone frame and nonelectronic suspension looking a tad old-hat against tech-laden competition, Honda has spruced up the CB for this year. A new TFT colour display has four layout options, each chock full of data and can be controlled with your voice – download an (Android) app and connect an intercom to dictate messages, make phone calls, control music or whatever.
There’s navigation too, with turn-by-turn directions on the dash. The ‘neo sports café’ styling is improved, including delicious new wheels, and this Black Edition also has a quickshifter.
Which is all lovely but unfortunately, Honda hasn’t fixed the two main issues with the CB: its flickable chassis still deserves a rear shock that isn’t bouncy at speed, and the throttle is still too snatchy. Blingy tech is fine, but I’d have preferred the fundamentals sorted. That said, the CB still stands out as a great supernaked for real roads — but personally, I’d get the regular CB1000R in classy Candy Chromosphere Red and save £1500 or so.