By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Hyper Naked
Honda CB1000 Hornet (SC86) vs Yamaha MT-10 (RN78-SP)
Honda CB1000 Hornet vs Yamaha MT-10: which one's easier to live with every day.
You'll roll open the Honda CB1000 Hornet's throttle and feel it pull clean from low revs to a screaming redline. The Yamaha MT-10 picks up off closed without a stumble.
So which one do you buy?
The CB1000 Hornet has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
A touch ahead: CB1000 Hornet
Over a year of riding, the CB1000 Hornet noses ahead on running costs. A neglected example would wipe that out.
The MT-10 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: MT-10
On a twisty road, the MT-10 edges ahead. Most of that is a sportier chassis and better suspension. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Which one's the smarter buy
Different bikes, different deals
The CB1000 Hornet and MT-10 sit in different classes, so neither is the clear better buy for the money. You're choosing between a naked bike and a hyper naked, which makes the value a trade-off rather than a win.
What makes each one tick
CB1000 Hornet
On its stiff twin-spar steel frame and short wheelbase, the Hornet flicks into a bend and still tracks steady once it's leaned over. Down at walking pace, the clutch lever's light and the bar sits where you'd reach. On Angeles Crest Highway, the four shoves hard the moment the throttle moves. It keeps hauling up the tach.
MT-10
The MT-10 turns in at corner entry and holds the exact line you've chosen, fast sweeper or tight hairpin. Deep on the brakes into a bend, the chassis doesn't squirm, and every downshift lands with a matched blip. The rear stays settled mid-corner.
Nils rode the MT-10 in Slovakia in 2023 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The CB1000 Hornet has the lower seat: 31.9 in (809 mm) vs 32.9 in (835 mm).
- The MT-10 makes more peak power: 166 hp (122 kW) vs 152 hp (112 kW).
- The MT-10 makes more peak torque: 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) vs 77 lb-ft (104 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither one fits
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
Traveling with luggage
Both miss here
Multi-day trips with luggage aren't their thing. Travel light, or travel on something else.
They come out level on commuting. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
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
MT-10
Strengths
- Öhlins Range You Can Feel
- Holds Your Line Exactly
- Quickshifter Nails Every Downshift
- Öhlins ERS transforms chassis composure
- Sharper, more legible TFT dashboard
Trade-offs
- Soft Front Brake Lever
- Fades Against The Wildest
- No USB, No Phone Link
- Limited wind protection at sustained high speeds
- High price premium over base RN78
What they cost used
These prices compare a 1-year-old CB1000 Hornet with a 1-year-old MT-10.
- CB1000 Hornet
- about $9,000
- MT-10
- about $17,700
At one year old, the Honda CB1000 Hornet sits around $9,000 while the Yamaha MT-10 runs about $17,700. That's an $8,700 gap in the Hornet's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel capacity
- 4.5 US gal (17 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| CB1000 Hornet | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (809 mm) | 32.9 in (835 mm) |
| Wet weight | 467 lb (212 kg) | 472 lb (214 kg) |
| CB1000 Hornet | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1000 cc | 998 cc |
| Power | 152 hp (112 kW) | 166 hp (122 kW) |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (104 Nm) | 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) |
| CB1000 Hornet | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 190/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CB1000 Hornet | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Option | Standard |
| 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.
