CB1000R Honda
998cc | 212kg | 143.4bhp | 830mm
Cash price £11,499 Deposit £1860 Mileage 4000pa Rate 0% APR Optional final payment £5714.97
It doesn’t take long in the saddle to realise that, like the lovechild of a super-naked and retro, the classy new Honda CB1000R is a subtle blend of both, although it’s not the naked Fireblade that many were hoping for.
You get the feeling every component was lovingly chosen, then combined with care. Happily, it goes as well as it looks. The motor is still the same longer-stroke 2006 Fireblade unit from the previous CB1000R, but the redline is raised to
11,500rpm, power is up 12bhp to 143bhp and there’s more torque to play with, too. The gear ratios are also shorter and it now comes with a slip/assist clutch. The riding position is so natural you don’t think about it; there’s enough legroom for taller riders, and the seat is comfier than it looks.
All this adds up to an inline fourcylinder motor that’s calm and refined at low revs, but packed with midrange grunt and a fruity top end. The electronic throttle never surges or stutters and the seamless power delivery feels instantly familiar.
Honda haven’t chased super-naked glory or gone full retro, but by nestling nicely in between they’ve created a fast, slick, beautifully-crafted roadster that’s daringly different with a style of its own.