Honda CB1000F (2026) - Technical Review

Earlier this year Honda finally pulled the plug on one of its longest-lived models – the CB1300 Super Four that can trace its heritage back to the 1992 CB1000 Super Four ‘Project Big 1’ – but a spiritual successor has already appeared for 2026 in the form of the new CB1000F.

While the CB1300SF disappeared from European markets back in 2013, the model remained on sale in Japan until the Final Edition that appeared at the start of 2025. The styling always remained true to the 1992 original, which in turn paid homage to earlier machines like the CB750F with Honda styling cues like the twin horns beneath a round headlight. The Big 1 borrowed its engine from the then-current, full-faired CBR1000F, and used modern-for-the-time suspension and brakes, and the new CB1000F follows the same recipe by adopting a Fireblade-derived four-cylinder, wrapped in retro styling but with the latest in technology and running gear, largely borrowed from the immensely popular CB1000 Hornet.

Pros & Cons

2026 Honda CB1000F - Price & PCP

Sharing so many components with the CB1000 Hornet – a sweet spot in Honda’s range when it comes to the cost-to-performance ratio – means the CB1000F is well positioned to undercut the competition in the neo-retro market and Honda has capitalised on that with a tag of £10,599 on-the-road. That’s more than a grand less than the cheapest version of Kawasaki’s Z900RS, even though the Honda has more power and a higher specification, and it's a struggle to find any comparable machine, regardless of brand, that offers a similar combination of performance, equipment and retro styling for the money.

There’s still a bit of a wait before they’re going to be in dealers, with stocks expected in February 2026, but that means you’ve got more time to picked between the trio of colour schemes on offer. There’s the classic Spencer-style look with silver panels and blue graphics, a greyscale take of the same look that replaces the blue stickers with monochrome versions, or a black variant with red stripes.

2026 Honda CB1000F - Engine & Performance

Honda already previewed the CB1000F and an ‘SE’ version with the optional nose cowl and quickshifter fitted earlier this year – branding them as concept bikes despite their near-production appearance – so we’ve known for a while that a CB1000 Hornet-based retro has been on the way complete with an engine derived from the 2017 Fireblade. The unknown element was whether that motor would be tweaked for the new machine, and the answer turns out to be a resounding ‘yes.’

For horsepower addicts, the changes go in the wrong direction. Where the CB1000 Hornet offers 150hp, or 155hp in SP form, the CB1000F drops its output to 122hp, while torque sees a smaller decline from 76.7lbft to 76lbft. But those numbers need to be seen in the context of where they appear in the bike’s rev range to understand why Honda’s opted to make the changes.

The power now hits its maximum at 9,000rpm, a full 2,000rpm lower than the Hornet’s peak, while the maximum torque appears at 8,000rpm, which is 1,000rpm below the Hornet’s. By shifting the maximums to lower revs, Honda makes it easier to access the engine’s full potential more often.

It’s not just a case of electronic tuning, either. There are new camshafts, both intake and exhaust, to alter the valve timing, as well as changes to the engine’s intake with much longer, 140mm funnels instead of the Hornet’s 90mm versions, a common move to increase intake velocity and boost torque. The funnels themselves are narrower, tapering to 36mm at their narrowest points instead of 42mm, again increasing intake velocity, and the trumpet-like mouths of the intakes vary: the two on the left-hand side are 50mm across, while the two on the right have smaller 40mm openings, a change that Honda says contributes to a characterful intake sound.

The airbox itself is new, shaped to suit both the requirements of the engine and the redesigned fuel tank that it needs to fit underneath, and there CB1000F’s retro-style 4-2-1 exhaust means the engine exhales differently, too.

With different torque delivery, Honda has opted to change the gear ratios to suit the CB1000F’s motor. Compared to the Hornet, the new bike has lower ratios for 1st and 2nd, for sharper off-the-line and low-speed acceleration, while the remaining four gears get higher ratios to suit the fact that the engine’s peaks arrive at lower revs. That means the motor is turning more slowly at cruising speed – 4000rpm at 62mph in top, where the Hornet needs 4300rpm to travel at the same rate. There’s an assist/slipper clutch as standard, and a quick-shifter is optional.

2026 Honda CB1000F - Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

The ‘diamond’ steel frame is essentially the same as the design used on the CB1000 Hornet – and there’s nothing wrong with that – but the CB1000F has some substantial revisions, particularly at the back where there’s a completely new subframe to support a longer seat that’s tailored more towards two-up riding.

The dimensions are straight from the Hornet, with the same 1455mm wheelbase, 25-degree rake and 98mm trail, and the suspension – with 41mm Showa SFF-BP forks adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping – is also similar. At the back there’s a preload-and-rebound-adjustable Showa monoshock, a big change from the twin-shocks that featured on the F’s predecessors, connected to a rising-rate Pro-Link linkages that’s tailored specifically for the CB1000F. 

Brakes? Again, they’re straight from the CB1000 Hornet, with Nissin radial four-pot calipers and 310mm discs at the front paired to a single-piston Nissin and 240mm disc at the back. There’s ABS, of course, and here it’s an IMU-assisted cornering anti-lock system. The wheels are, you guessed it, very much like the ones on the Hornet: light alloy Y-spokes, with 120/70-17 front and 180/55-17 rear rubber. At the moment, at least, there’s no equivalent to the CB1000 Hornet SP, which features an Ohlins shock and Brembo brakes, but the standard CB1000F’s equipment should be more than up to the job.

The similarity to the Hornet means the new bike’s weight is close, too – clocking in at 214kg in road-ready form. That’s just 2kg more than the Hornet, which is impressive given the F’s larger seat and subframe.

2026 Honda CB1000F - Comfort & Economy

And that seat and subframe can also be credited with making the CB1000F a more comfortable proposition than its siblings.

At 795mm the seat is 14mm lower than the Hornet’s, and the repositioned bars and pegs promise to make it roomier, too. For passengers it’s the same story, with substantially lower pegs and a longer, thicker-cushioned seat than the Hornet’s comparatively rudimentary perch.

For riders wanting more, there’s an optional ‘Comfort Pack’ that includes a more luxurious Comfort Seat as well as heated grips.

The revised engine and gearing means the CB1000F is more economical than the CB1000 Hornet, hitting 50.4mpg (5.6l/100km), up from 47.9mpg (5.9l/100km), but the tank is down from 17 litres to 16 litres, so the potential range is virtually identical to the Hornets at a theoretical 177 miles. A Hornet would take you 179 miles from brimmed to dry if you can manage its claimed consumption figures, but the bigger tank means it will cost a bit more to fill up.

2026 Honda CB1000F - Equipment

Despite its 1970s style, the CB1000F is mid-2020s in terms of tech and equipment, with the now-expected 5-inch TFT dash – an optically-bonded design to minimise glare – and all the usual phone connectivity for calls, navigation and music via Honda’s RoadSync app on IOS or Android. Three display modes are available – Bar, Circle or Simple – depending on your preference.

Honda’s Smart Key system means there’s keyless ignition – the key can stay safely in your pocket – and all the lighting is LED. Even the bar controls are backlit, with a four-way toggle on the left side to navigate the display.

In terms of electronics, the addition of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) marks a substantial step forward from the CB1000 Hornet it’s based on, introducing cornering ABS and traction control systems that work when the bike is leant over as well as in a straight line. There are five riding modes, three standard and two user-configured, with the base settings being Standard, Sport and Rain. In Standard, the power delivery, engine braking and traction control are all put in their middle settings, with Honda claiming the throttle response is intended to mimic a traditional bank of carbs. Sport mode makes for the sharpest power delivery and reduces the engine brake control and traction control to their minimums, while Rain flips to the softest power delivery, medium engine braking and maximum traction control, with power minimised specifically in the lowest three gears.

Optional equipment includes the Comfort Pack mentioned earlier, as well as a Sports Pack including the headlight cowl (in black and red or silver to match the bike), a new oil filler cap and a tank side graphic, plus a radiator grill and engine guard as well as the quickshifter. A Travel Pack including soft saddlebags and a tank bag is also offered.

Alternatively, you can pick individual components including the headlight cowl, engine guard, comfort seat, quickshifter, radiator grill, heated grips, luggage and an alarm as optional extras to suit your needs and budget, while an optional centre stand will be welcomed by many, too.

2026 Honda CB1000F - Rivals

The CB1000F joins a growing market for retro-style machines, particularly bikes that are shifting their focus from the 1960s and early 70s – think the now-discontinued, air-cooled Honda CB1100 that paid homage to the original, 1969 CB750 – to the late 70s and 1980s, reflecting the simple fact that kids of that era are now increasingly aged and affluent, ready to make a purchase that harks back to their youth.

Perhaps the most obvious rival is Kawasaki’s Z900RS, but machines as varied as the Suzuki Katana and even BMW’s R12 nineT are likely to be on customers’ shortlists. Here’s how they stack up.

Kawasaki Z900RS | Price: £11,699

Read more

Power/Torque

110bhp / 72.6lb-ft

Weight

215kg

Suzuki Katana | Price: £12,499

Read more

Power/Torque

150bhp / 78.2lb-ft

Weight

215kg

BMW R12 nineT | Price: £14,420

Read more

Power/Torque

107.2bhp / 84.8lb-ft

Weight

220kg

2026 Honda CB1000F - Verdict

While Honda’s own CB1000 Hornet offers more performance for less cash, the CB1000F makes a compelling case for itself thanks to that retro style and the addition of useful tech – notably the inertial measurement unit for cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control. In the context of other, retro-styled machines, you’ll struggle to find a rival that offers the same performance for the price.

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2026 Honda CB1000F - Technical Specification

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