By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
CFMOTO 800NK (MY2023) vs Honda CB750 Hornet (RH12)
CFMOTO 800NK vs Honda CB750 Hornet: which one's easier to live with every day.
A tight bend at the end of a fast straight, and the CFMOTO 800NK doesn't hesitate before it snaps onto its line like a supermoto. The Honda CB750 Hornet doesn't fight you on the way in. Then it kicks back hard enough to make you grin.
So which one do you buy?
The 800NK has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Narrow edge: 800NK
For the ride to work, the 800NK noses ahead. Don't let that alone make the call.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: 800NK
Back-road fun leans slightly toward the 800NK. It's a narrow call, so trust your test ride.
The CB750 Hornet has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
By a nose: CB750 Hornet
On upkeep, the CB750 Hornet asks a bit less of your wallet. The difference won't change your life.
What makes each one tick
800NK
On twisty pavement the 800NK's short wheelbase and stiff frame drop it from one apex to the next, and the bars don't need any coaxing. The very firm KYB fork doesn't give much as the brake lever slows the bike. Bumps come right through. Up top, the twin's pull builds into a rush.
CB750 Hornet
Rolling off mid-corner doesn't unsettle the Hornet, because engine braking eases in without a jolt. There's almost no effort to corner entry through esses and hairpins. One push and it goes. The front brake trails in clean and clamps without surprises.
Nils rode the CB750 Hornet in Austria in 2023, and in Austria in 2024 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 800NK has the lower wet weight: 410 lb (186 kg) vs 419 lb (190 kg).
- The 800NK makes more peak power: 99 hp (74 kW) vs 92 hp (68 kW).
- The 800NK makes more peak torque: 60 lb-ft (81 Nm) vs 55 lb-ft (75 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both fall short
For all-day comfort, both fall short. Keep the rides short and you'll get on fine with either.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not built for it: 800NK
The 800NK is built for experienced hands. Come back to it once you've got some miles in.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
800NK
What owners say
Strengths
- Excellent value for money
- Punchy, characterful parallel-twin engine
- Sharp, sporty handling
- High-quality fit and finish
- Awesome TFT display
Trade-offs
- Overly stiff suspension for lighter riders
- Snatchy low-speed throttle
- Uncomfortable seat and cramped ergonomics
- Wooden brakes lacking initial bite
CB750 Hornet
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Front brake is easy to modulate and stops hard
- Lean angle clearance surprises you
- Solid and composed at highway speed
Trade-offs
- Fork gives up little front-end information
- Menu logic takes getting used to
- No USB port in the cockpit
- Overall proportions feel compact for taller riders
- Seat bottoms out on long days
Known problems to check before you buy
800NK
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
CB750 Hornet
- Soft suspension setup, limited adjustability The Showa SFF-BP USD fork is non-adjustable on the standard model; the Pro-Link rear shock offers preload only (7-step). Heavier riders and brisk-paced riders report rebound oscillation, bouncing on bigger bumps, and a setup biased toward comfort over control. Aftermarket shock upgrades (Wilbers and similar) resolve this for owners pursuing sporty pace. Honda revised the fork damping for 25YM, but the adjustability did not change.
- Jerky on-off throttle at low rpm and urban speeds The ride-by-wire throttle calibration is abrupt during transitions between closed and small-throttle openings, particularly in 1st and 2nd gear at urban speeds and at part-throttle below approximately 5,500 rpm. Multiple owners report a TPS reset procedure provides limited improvement; Honda is reported to have improved the calibration for model year 2025.
- ABS cannot be switched off, no cornering ABS The 2-channel ABS system is fixed and non-defeatable, with no IMU and therefore no cornering ABS. Reviewers report the ABS can intervene aggressively on loose surfaces. This is a spec design choice rather than a fault, but it is a documented limitation for owners using the bike on gravel or for back-track riding.
- HSTC traction-control setting resets to default on every key-on Owners and reviewers note that the bike does not retain the rider's HSTC setting across a key cycle; it returns to the default level whenever the ignition is turned off and on again. An annoyance for riders who routinely run a non-default HSTC level.
What they share
- Seat height
- 31.3 in (795 mm)
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| 800NK | CB750 Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 410 lb (186 kg) | 419 lb (190 kg) |
| 800NK | CB750 Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 799 cc | 755 cc |
| Power | 99 hp (74 kW) | 92 hp (68 kW) |
| Torque | 60 lb-ft (81 Nm) | 55 lb-ft (75 Nm) |
| 800NK | CB750 Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 47 mpg (US) / 5 L/100 km | 55 mpg (US) / 4.3 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 US gal (15 L) | 4.0 US gal (15.2 L) |
| 800NK | CB750 Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 296 mm |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 160/60-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.7 in (1465 mm) | 55.9 in (1420 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 800NK | CB750 Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Standard | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
