By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Honda CB1000 Hornet (SC86) vs Suzuki GSX-S1000 (MY2021)
Honda CB1000 Hornet vs Suzuki GSX-S1000: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
Shift through the gears and the Honda CB1000 Hornet's clutch pulls in light, and it doesn't fight you at walking pace. The Suzuki GSX-S1000's quickshifter snaps gears up and down.
So which one do you buy?
The CB1000 Hornet has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
By a nose: CB1000 Hornet
On the way to work, the CB1000 Hornet asks a little less of you. What tips it: easier everyday riding. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: CB1000 Hornet
Through a string of corners, the CB1000 Hornet feels a little more eager. The gap is small, so ride both.
What makes each one tick
CB1000 Hornet
Low in the revs the Hornet's inline-four hauls cleanly, and there's no stumble as the needle climbs. On the Angeles Crest Highway, the short wheelbase and narrow rear tire flick the bike into each bend without unsettling it. Over a bump mid-corner, the stiff steel frame and upside-down fork hold it steady. At the redline, it's still screaming.
GSX-S1000
Behind the GSX-S1000's wide, close-set handlebar, you're sitting tall, and that posture still feels easy at the end of a long day. Its ride-by-wire throttle feeds the inline-four's torque in gently, even when you crack it open mid-corner. There's no on/off snatch.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The GSX-S1000 has the larger fuel tank: 5.0 US gal (19 L) vs 4.5 US gal (17 L).
- Quickshifter: standard on the GSX-S1000, option on the CB1000 Hornet.
- TFT Display: standard on the CB1000 Hornet, not offered on the GSX-S1000.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not built for this
Neither of these is a mile-muncher. If big days are the plan, keep looking.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Look elsewhere
Neither of these is a sensible first motorcycle. Learn on something smaller and lighter, then come back.
Call it even on running costs. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
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
GSX-S1000
What owners say
Strengths
- Smooth, tractable ride-by-wire fueling
- Class-leading bi-directional quickshifter
- Value for money in the literbike-naked class
- Comfortable, useable upright ergonomics
Known problems to check before you buy
CB1000 Hornet
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
GSX-S1000
- Monochrome reverse-LCD washes out in direct sunlight The standard naked uses a monochrome reverse-LCD (TFT only on the GT sibling). In direct sun the dash is hard to read; full brightness is still dim with a tinted visor; information density is high in a small footprint. Addressed by the MY2025 update, which introduces a 5-inch full-colour TFT.
- Cam-chain tensioner / timing-chain tap on cold and hot starts A distinct tapping/knocking noise from the right side of the cylinder head (cam-chain tensioner area) at the moment of startup, lasting a few seconds until oil pressure builds. Audible on cold and on hot starts; some bikes do it every start, others intermittently. Owners report acoustic issue only — no engine failures or mechanical damage have been documented across forum threads. Some Suzuki dealers have replaced the CCT under goodwill.
- Bi-directional quickshifter hesitates / shifts harshly below ~4,000 rpm The bi-directional quickshifter operates well above approximately 4,000 rpm but is springy and clunky below that, sometimes requiring partial clutch input. Specific 3→4 hesitation has been reported by multiple owners — a momentary lag before power resumes when full-throttle upshifting. Above ~4,000 rpm the same unit is consistently called class-leading. Aftermarket ECU reflashes (Schnitz, BT Moto, Woolich) target this band, suggesting an addressable map issue rather than a hardware fault.
- Stock mirrors blur in the engine's vibration band The stock mirrors blur in the same 5,000–7,000 rpm band that produces the bar/peg vibration, making rear vision difficult to interpret at sixth-gear cruising rpm. A separate aftermarket category of bar-end mirrors is marketed specifically against this issue.
- Tank paint chipping at knee/belt contact, fastener surface corrosion Tank paint is reported as thin and prone to chipping where knees and belt buckles rub. Fasteners in exposed areas show surface corrosion within the first wet/winter season if not actively maintained. Visual / resale-relevant only.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 152 hp (112 kW)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| CB1000 Hornet | GSX-S1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (809 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 467 lb (212 kg) | 472 lb (214 kg) |
| CB1000 Hornet | GSX-S1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1000 cc | 999 cc |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (104 Nm) | 78 lb-ft (106 Nm) |
| CB1000 Hornet | GSX-S1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 US gal (17 L) | 5.0 US gal (19 L) |
| CB1000 Hornet | GSX-S1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 190/50-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CB1000 Hornet | GSX-S1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quickshifter | Option | Standard |
| TFT Display | Standard | Not offered |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
