Honda CB750 Hornet Review 2026 | Blade Honda

HONDA CB750 HORNET REVIEW: THE BEST MIDDLEWEIGHT NAKED YOU CAN BUY?

The Honda CB750 Hornet has spent the last three years quietly becoming one of the most talked-about bikes in the middleweight naked class, and it is not hard to see why. A 90.5bhp parallel twin and a kerb weight of just 192kg add up to a spec sheet that few rivals can match.

Starting from £7,449, we have pulled together what the UK motorcycle press actually think of it, who it suits best, and how it stacks up against its closest rivals from Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki.

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What Is the Honda CB750 Hornet?

Honda CB750 Hornet Review: What the Press Say

The UK motorcycle press has been consistently positive since the Hornet’s 2023 launch. Bennetts tested it on the original Spanish press launch and found the power delivery “well-distributed, and linear” rather than the peaky character its high-revving spec sheet might suggest, while praising the standard chassis enough to call the accessory quickshifter an absolute must-spec item for anyone buying one. Visordown described the handling as a “supremely quick turning and highly agile machine”, noting that the Hornet’s steering lock allows for sub-three-metre U-turns even at a standstill.

Autotrader ran a full head-to-head against the Yamaha MT-07 and concluded the Hornet “aces the MT-07 in every area”, pointing to its extra power, smoother gearchange and superior equipment list for a lower asking price. Motorcycle News, meanwhile, was more measured, calling it “the cheapest of its closest middleweight naked rivals” while flagging that throttle response on early bikes could feel snatchy and that the standard seat is tight for riders over six feet. Honda addressed both points with revised fuelling and seat foam on the 2025 model year update, and reviewers in the US market testing the latest bikes in 2025 reported no further complaints about throttle response in either Standard or Sport mode.

Who Should Shortlist the CB750 Hornet?

The Hornet was built to flatter a wide range of riders rather than just one type, but a few groups in particular should put it on their shortlist:

Engine, Performance & Technical Specification

At the heart of the CB750 Hornet is a 755cc liquid-cooled parallel twin with a 270° crank and Honda’s Unicam valvetrain, shared in a different state of tune with the XL750 Transalp. An oversquare 87mm x 63.5mm bore and stroke gives it a higher bore/stroke ratio than rivals like KTM’s 890 Duke, which helps explain why it revs harder than most parallel twins in the class while still pulling cleanly from low in the rev range.

Electronics include a 2-channel ABS system, Honda Selectable Torque Control with wheelie control across three levels of intervention, and a slipper/assist clutch as standard. A bidirectional quickshifter with three adjustable sensitivity settings is available as a factory accessory rather than fitted as standard, which is worth knowing if you are comparing the Hornet’s out-the-door spec directly against the Suzuki GSX-8S below. Full figures are in the numbers section further down the page.

How Does the CB750 Hornet Compare to Its Rivals?

The Hornet was built from day one to take on the Yamaha MT-07, and it has since picked up the Kawasaki Z650RS and Suzuki GSX-8S as the other regular names on any sensible middleweight naked shortlist. Here is how the numbers actually stack up.

Head to Head

Three honest, head-to-head breakdowns against the bikes most riders cross-shop against the Hornet.

CB750 Hornet vs Yamaha MT-07

The MT-07 has been the default choice in this class since 2014, and its CP2 engine is rightly loved for its torque-rich, playful character. But the comparison on paper is not close. The Hornet produces 90.5bhp against the Yamaha’s 73bhp, a 24% power advantage, while costing roughly the same money or less depending on dealer and finance offer. Honda also adds Sport, Standard and Rain riding modes plus a customisable User mode where the standard MT-07 has none, and the lower 795mm seat height is more forgiving for shorter riders than the Yamaha’s 805mm.

CB750 Hornet vs Kawasaki Z650RS

The Z650RS trades outright performance for retro styling, and at £7,899 it is the most expensive bike in this comparison while also producing the least power. Its 649cc engine makes 67bhp and 64Nm of torque against the Hornet’s 90.5bhp and 75Nm, and at 820mm its seat is the tallest of the four bikes here. If classic looks and a more relaxed riding character are the priority, the Z650RS still has plenty of appeal, but on specification and price alone the Hornet is the stronger buy.

CB750 Hornet vs Suzuki GSX-8S

This is the closest fight. The GSX-8S is genuinely excellent, with a standard bidirectional quickshifter, a slightly higher torque figure at 78Nm, and a 776cc engine that some reviewers rate as smoother through the midrange. But it gives away around 8.5bhp to the Hornet, weighs 10kg more at 202kg, and typically lists from around £7,999 OTR, roughly £550 more than the Honda. For riders who specifically want a standard quickshifter, the Suzuki earns its place on the shortlist. For most buyers prioritising power, weight and price, the Hornet still comes out ahead.

Three Reasons the CB750 Hornet Leads the Class

1. Power-to-Weight

At 0.47bhp per kilogram, the Hornet beats the MT-07, Z650RS and GSX-8S on power-to-weight by a clear margin. That translates directly into how the bike feels on the road: brisker off the line, more eager through the midrange, and capable of carrying real pace into a set of corners without ever feeling like it is working hard to get there.

2. Sharp Price for the Spec

At £7,449 OTR, with finance available on finance, the Hornet undercuts or matches every direct rival here while offering more power, a full TFT dash, RoadSync connectivity and four riding modes as standard. Few bikes in this class give away as little on equipment for the money.

3. Built to Grow With You

The A2-compatible ECU restriction means a new rider can buy the Hornet on a restricted licence and have it switched to full power by an authorised Honda dealer once they pass their direct access test, with no need to sell up and start again. Combined with the optional E-Clutch variant for riders who want clutchless gear changes without losing manual control, the Hornet covers more of a rider’s journey than most of its rivals manage from a single model.

Order Your CB750 Hornet at Blade Honda

Blade Honda operates two authorised Honda dealerships, in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, and both currently have the 2026 CB750 Hornet available to order across all four colours, plus the 26YM E-Clutch variant from £7,549. Our Honda-trained team can talk you through the full specification, current finance offers, and the Style, Sports and Comfort accessory packs available for the Hornet.

Figures correct at time of writing and subject to change, please confirm current offers with your local Blade Honda dealership.

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Blade Honda Abingdon
9c Nuffield Way, Abingdon OX14 1RL — 01235 550055 

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