By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Supersport
Honda CB1000 Hornet (SC86) vs CBR1000RR Fireblade (SC 77)
Honda CB1000 Hornet vs CBR1000RR Fireblade: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
At the turn-in point of a tight bend, the Honda CB1000 Hornet flicks over quickly and doesn't squirm once it's leaned. The Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade tips in with the feel of a much smaller sportbike, and its frame tells you what the front tire's doing. It holds the line you picked at turn-in.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the CB1000 Hornet if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Strong pick: CB1000 Hornet
For five days a week in traffic, the CB1000 Hornet makes far more sense. You'll notice it by the second week.
The CBR1000RR Fireblade has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: CBR1000RR Fireblade
On a twisty road, the CBR1000RR Fireblade edges ahead. That comes from a sportier chassis and more feel through the bars. Not by enough to settle it alone.
What makes each one tick
CB1000 Hornet
Crawling through traffic, the Hornet doesn't wrestle you, since the seat and bars put you in a natural riding position. On the Angeles Crest Highway, the short wheelbase and steel twin-spar chassis let the Hornet change direction in a blink without getting nervous. A twist of the throttle from low revs gets a clean pull from the four, and there's no flat spot as the revs climb. The four screams to its redline.
CBR1000RR Fireblade
Magnesium engine covers and lighter wheels strip mass from the Fireblade, and the chassis feels light the moment it's rolling. A bump mid-corner comes up through the bars as a clear tap. There's no sudden kick as the engine builds from down low, even with the bike cranked over. The gear lever snicks home light.
Nils rode the CBR1000RR Fireblade in Portugal and Qatar in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The CB1000 Hornet has the lower seat: 31.9 in (809 mm) vs 32.8 in (832 mm).
- The CBR1000RR Fireblade has the lower wet weight: 432 lb (196 kg) vs 467 lb (212 kg).
- The CBR1000RR Fireblade makes more peak power: 192 hp (141 kW) vs 152 hp (112 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Look elsewhere
A first bike should forgive mistakes, and these two don't do that well enough. Come back to them later.
There's no real gap on running costs. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
CB1000 Hornet
What owners say
Strengths
- Powerful and flexible engine
- Premium componentry for the price
- Accessible and easy to ride
- Exceptional value for money
CBR1000RR Fireblade
What owners say
Strengths
- Light, agile handling
- Smooth and tractable inline-four engine
- Excellent electronics package
- Slick gearbox and optional quickshifter
Known problems to check before you buy
CB1000 Hornet
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
CBR1000RR Fireblade
- Fuel tank cap seal recall Recall 17V681000 NHTSA campaign 17V-681: the fuel cap seal may swell, creating emission leaks and risk of water ingress or fuel spillage. Honda issued a safety and emission recall to replace the fuel cap assembly on 2017 models.
- Timing chain tensioner rattle A small number of owners have reported premature timing chain tensioner failure causing a metallic rattle in the midrange.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| CB1000 Hornet | CBR1000RR Fireblade | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (809 mm) | 32.8 in (832 mm) |
| Wet weight | 467 lb (212 kg) | 432 lb (196 kg) |
| CB1000 Hornet | CBR1000RR Fireblade | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1000 cc | 999 cc |
| Power | 152 hp (112 kW) | 192 hp (141 kW) |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (104 Nm) | 84 lb-ft (114 Nm) |
| CB1000 Hornet | CBR1000RR Fireblade | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 US gal (17 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
| CB1000 Hornet | CBR1000RR Fireblade | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 190/50-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CB1000 Hornet | CBR1000RR Fireblade | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
