Triumph, Ducati, Honda -SuperNaked's Compared
POSTED: 02/07/2026
Triumph vs Ducati vs Honda
Three Super-Nakeds, One Buyer's Guide
Three of the most exciting motorcycles on sale right now. One British triple, one Italian V4, one Japanese inline-four, and between them, a price gap of nearly £15,000. The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS, the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S, and the Honda CB1000 Hornet SP all occupy the same broad category: high-performance, naked, street-focused machines built for riders who want the sensation of a superbike without the commitment of a full tuck. But the similarities stop there.
This guide gives you an honest, practical account of what each bike actually is, what it costs, what you get for your money, and which type of rider each one suits best. All three are available at Blade Motorcycles, through Blade Triumph, Blade Ducati, and Blade Honda, so if you want to compare them in person, you can do exactly that across our showrooms without visiting three different dealers.
At a Glance: The Numbers
| Specification | Honda CB1000 Hornet SP | Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS | Ducati Streetfighter V4 S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 999cc inline-4 | 1,160cc inline-3 | 1,103cc 90° V4 |
| Power | 155bhp @ 11,000rpm | 180.5bhp @ 10,750rpm | 214bhp @ 13,000rpm |
| Torque | 107Nm @ 9,000rpm | 128Nm @ 8,750rpm | 120Nm @ 11,250rpm |
| Weight | 212kg (kerb) | 199kg (ready to ride) | 189kg (no fuel)* |
| Front suspension | Showa SFF-BP 41mm USD, fully adjustable | Öhlins SmartEC3 43mm USD, semi-active | Öhlins NIX30 S-EC 3.0, semi-active |
| Rear suspension | Öhlins TTX36 monoshock, manually adjustable | Öhlins SmartEC3 monoshock, semi-active | Öhlins TTX36 S-EC 3.0, semi-active |
| Semi-active suspension | No | Yes — front & rear | Yes — front & rear |
| Front brakes | Brembo Stylema, 2×310mm | Brembo Stylema, 2×320mm | Brembo Stylema, 2×330mm |
| IMU / Cornering ABS | No | Yes | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Yes — bi-directional, standard | Yes — bi-directional, standard | Yes — bi-directional, standard |
| Riding modes | 5 (inc. 2 user-configurable) | 5 | 6 (inc. Race A & B) |
| Connectivity | Honda RoadSync Bluetooth | My Triumph (turn-by-turn nav, GoPro) | Ducati Connect Bluetooth |
| OTR Price at Blade | £10,099 | £17,695 | £24,995 |
*Ducati quotes weight without fuel. Triumph and Honda weights include fuel. Prices correct at time of publication — always confirm current OTR pricing with your local Blade dealer before purchasing.
Honda CB1000 Hornet SP
The Bargain That Shouldn't Exist
Watch: Honda CB1000 Hornet SP
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS
More Power, More Tech, More Character
Watch: Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS
Ducati Streetfighter V4 S
214bhp. No Fairings. No Apologies.
Watch: Ducati Streetfighter V4
Note: the video below features the standard Streetfighter V4. The model available at Blade Ducati Oxford is the fully-equipped V4 S, which adds Öhlins SmartEC3.0 semi-active suspension front and rear as standard.
Full Head-to-Head Comparison
| Specification | Honda CB1000 Hornet SP | Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS | Ducati Streetfighter V4 S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 999cc inline-4 | 1,160cc inline-3 | 1,103cc 90° V4 |
| Power | 155bhp | 180.5bhp | 214bhp |
| Torque | 107Nm | 128Nm | 120Nm |
| Weight (as quoted) | 212kg kerb | 199kg ready to ride | 189kg no fuel* |
| Semi-active suspension | No | Yes — Öhlins SmartEC3 | Yes — Öhlins SmartEC3.0 |
| IMU / Cornering ABS | No | Yes | Yes |
| Front disc size | 2×310mm | 2×320mm | 2×330mm |
| Aerodynamic winglets | No | No | Yes |
| Navigation connectivity | Honda RoadSync (Bluetooth) | My Triumph (turn-by-turn) | Ducati Connect (Bluetooth) |
| Warranty | 2 years standard | 3 years + Triumph Assist | 2 years standard |
| Valve service | Conventional | Conventional | Desmodromic (specialist) |
| Price at Blade | £10,099 | £17,695 | £24,995 |
| Price gap vs Honda | — | +£7,596 | +£14,896 |
*Ducati quotes weight without fuel. Triumph and Honda weights include fuel.
Verdict: Which Super-Naked Is Right for You?
Choose the Honda CB1000 Hornet SP if…
You want the most performance per pound available on the market right now. The Hornet SP's Brembo Stylema calipers and Öhlins TTX36 rear shock are genuine premium components at a price that makes no logical sense until you ride it. At £10,099 you get 155bhp, a Fireblade-derived engine and brand-name chassis hardware that should cost thousands more. It is also the most accessible bike here to ride well from day one, quick and engaging without demanding constant attention, and without the intimidation factor of either rival. If you primarily ride on the road, rarely visit a track, and want to be genuinely astonished by what your money buys, this is the one.
Choose the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS if…
You want the most complete package at a rational price. At £17,695 the Speed Triple 1200 RS gives you 180.5bhp, the most torque of any bike here, full Öhlins SmartEC3 semi-active suspension on both axles, IMU-enabled cornering ABS, and My Triumph connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation as standard. You also get the characterful triple engine that many experienced riders prefer to either a four-cylinder or a V4 tractable, sonorous, and deeply satisfying to ride both quickly and slowly. The Speed Triple makes the strongest case for mixed use: capable of carrying you quickly and comfortably on a long ride, and equally impressive on a track morning. The three-year warranty and 3 years of Triumph Assist roadside cover is also the strongest factory package of the three bikes here.
Choose the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S if…
You want the best. Not the best value, not the most practical, the best, in terms of outright performance, technology, and the experience of riding the closest thing to a factory Superbike that you can legally use on the road. The Streetfighter V4 S is extraordinary: 214bhp from a MotoGP-derived engine, world-class Öhlins SmartEC3.0 semi-active suspension, and an electronics package calibrated at a level most riders will spend years learning to fully exploit. At £24,995 it costs nearly £15,000 more than the Hornet SP, and that gap deserves serious thought. But for riders who attend trackdays regularly, who have the skill to use what the V4 S offers, and for whom the riding experience is the primary consideration above everything else, the Streetfighter V4 S is in a different category to its rivals. Budget for the Desmodromic valve service at 15,000-mile intervals, and buy it because you want the ultimate experience rather than because the numbers make sense.
Come and See Them in Person
The best way to choose between these three motorcycles is to ride them. Blade Motorcycles is one of the few dealer groups in the UK where all three are available across our showrooms at Blade Triumph in Stratford-upon-Avon and Cheltenham, Blade Ducati in Oxford, and Blade Honda in Abingdon and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Not looking to buy new? We also carry a massive selection of premium used motorcycles across our network, including approved-used Honda, Triumph, Ducati, and Harley-Davidson models. Come in, sit on them, ask questions, we're here to help you make the right choice, not the most expensive one.
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