Finally, it is here: The 2025 Honda CB1000 SP. It was launched at the recent Malaysian Autoshow 2025.
Also known as the CB1000 Hornet SP, this model is differentiated from the Neo Sports Café CB1000R. As such The Honda calls the former a bike with a streetfighter stance.
Highlights
1000cc, liquid-cooled, 16-valve DOHC inline-four delivers 155 hp (115.6kW) at 11,000rpm and 107Nm of torque at 9,000rpm.
A gain of 5.4 hp (4kW) and 2Nm is achieved through the addition of a Revolutionary Controlled (RC) valve in the 7.1L exhaust muffler, compared to the earlier versions.
Fuel is managed via PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injection), supported by a 17L fuel tank.
Multi-plate assist & slipper wet clutch, and 6-speed transmission.
Riding the Honda CB750 Hornet was eye-opening for sure, what more having after having ridden both the 650cc CBR650R and CB650F in succession. And it was not because of the engine capacity upgrade, only.
What is the Honda CB750 Hornet?
The bike occupies the 750cc-900cc midrange naked/roadster segment, which is also hotly contested among manufacturers that include European brands. Virtually every maker is represented here, from A-Z.
However, the segment is sub-divided into several categories such as sport-naked, roadster (the standard naked bike), and of course, adventure. The Hornet is not an adventure model, so we probably need to find out if it is a sport-naked or roadster.
But first, a history about the “Hornet” name.
Origins of the Honda Hornet
The original Honda Hornet was launched in 1998 utilising a 599cc inline-four engine. This engine was adopted from the CBR600 supersport, albeit in detuned form and the Hornet carried it in a basic frame and components to keep its price down.
As such, it became an extremely popular motorcycle especially in the UK, beating out the midrange Suzuki Bandit and Yamaha Fazer. Production of the CB600F Hornet went on for a full 15 years, before the competition got serious: Kawasaki launched the Z800/900, Yamaha with the MT-7 and MT-09, and Suzuki brought out the GSX-8S. From across the ocean were the BMW F 850/900, Triumph Trident 660 and Street Triple (765), KTM 790 Duke, and of course, the Ducati Monster, although costing more.
1998 Honda CB600F Hornet
The CB600 Hornet began falling out of favour so Honda pulled the plug. However, the European market, especially fans in the UK wanted a new Hornet. Honda heard them, thus unveiling the new CB750 Hornet at the 2022 Cologne Motorshow.
It was sold in the UK for £6,999 and with higher specifications than the MT-07. It also marked Honda’s entry into the modern two-cylinder middleweight class. It became the best-selling 750cc naked bike in Europe.
2012-2013 Honda CB600F Hornet
And it has to be said that its 755cc two-cylinder engine became the basis for the Honda XV750 Transalp which made its debut the next year.
Thus, the “Hornet” name, just like the Fireblade, Transalp, Africa Twin, is important for Honda.
Back to the CB750 Hornet
While appearing basic, there are several outstanding features:
755cc, SOHC, 8-valve, parallel-twin, with 270° crank engine which provides 90.6 hp (67.6 kW) at 9,500 RPM and 74.4 Nm of torque at 7,000 RPM.
As you can see, maximum power occurs at a “sane” RPM rather than in the 10,000s, showing that it is tuned for road use, rather than being more suited to the track.
The engine is mated to a slipper and assist clutch, and 6-speed transmission.
The frame is steel diamond, coated in beautiful metallic red.
Suspension consists of non-adjustable Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD forks up front, and a preload-adjustable monoshock damper with Pro-Link swingarm at the back.
Front brakes are 296mm twin discs with Nissin radially-mount 4-piston calipers, and a 240mm disc with 1-piston caliper out back. ABS is standard.
Seat height is a low 795mm.
Along with a 15.2-litre fuel tank, Honda claims a kerb weight of 190 kg.
5-inch full-colour TFT screen with Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCs) that connects via the Honda RoadSync app through Bluetooth.
Ride-by-wire throttle which allows for ride modes – Sport, Standard, Rain, and User.
Riding the Honda CB750 Hornet
This particular model was from 2024 as the 2025 model has been updated visually. In any case, they are still the same.
Sitting on the bike confirmed that Honda did not BS about the seat height and both feet touched the ground comfortably (this writer is 167cm in height and inseam challenged). The handlebar is set well within reach and not too high nor too low for us.
Starting the engine told us that immediately that it had a different feel to it compared to other Honda inline-fours. It was still smooth, but you could feel the throbbing power pulses.
Even in Standard ride mode, the engine was eager to move, requiring little throttle input. We found that it was the best mode to use when riding in heavy traffic – the kind you get riding down Jalan Ipoh at lunch time. In fact, we used Standard mode for general riding.
Sport mode requires some finesse (read: focus) when riding through traffic but it was best suited for the carving corners and climbing “The Mountain.” But it soon became addictive as any millimetre of throttle movement was rewarded by a kick as swift a Larry delivered it to Moe. The Hornet punched hard away from traffic lights, through traffic, and out of corners instantly. And, this, our friends, perfectly illustrated the beauty of two-cylinder engines.
The engine has a 270° crank and therefore mimics the firing order of a 90º V-Twin. Meaning the engine delivers superb torque at low and mid-RPMs for that punchy nature while at the same time, the rider is serenaded with a throaty, pulsating soundtrack. The engine felt alive rather than the machine-like inline-four.
Thankfully, Honda did not just give the CB750 Hornet an entertaining engine while doing away with iffy handling. Not Honda. The bike’s handling had be to experienced in order for you to fully appreciate it. We are afraid that our words alone may not be enough to convey the full picture.
But we shall try.
The bike actually makes our-often used “light steering” term look overused, because this, by far, needed the lightest steering among its peers (apart for the Triumph Street Triple). Flick it right, flick it left, the Hornet did not protest, did not hesitate. In fact, riding it in Sport mode made it seem like we were riding a larger supermoto with a low seat.
Boon Siew Honda had retrofitted a quickshifter to the test bike which made it even more entertaining. As such, despite always starting out calmly we ended up riding the bike around like our hair was on fire.
The only side to the bike to remember was the test bike was fitted with Dunlop Roadsmart tyres which had a (very) round front profile. That meant we could not charge into corners like the way we liked (perhaps because we had just dropped off the CBR250RR). Instead, we slowed down a little more steered the bike through the corner, and surfed the wave of engine torque out of corners. We still managed to ride the tyres edge to edge that way – no chicken strips, yay! You may try out tyres with more triangulated front tyre profiles for even quicker steering.
Last but not least, we liked that TFT screen. It was not big thus it had cram a lot of information on the same screen, but the speedometer, tachometer, and turn-by-turn navigation was easy to pick up. That is a welcomed relieve for these tired old eyes.
Build quality is of course top-notch as per a Honda. We did not see stray wires and cables hanging around, the panels fitted beautifully, the paint had no blemishes.
Conclusion
Back to our earlier question: “Is it a sport-naked or roadster?” It was still undetermined at the end of our tests. It did exhibit the aggression of sport-nakeds, although it was not as mad. As roadster, it had all the hallmarks of practicality, until you switch it to SPORT mode. So, it is the embodiment of both worlds.
But that does not drown out the fact that Honda CB750 Hornet is an entertaining motorcycle, for sure, not to mention being accessible and practical at the same time. Easy to ride (relative to other bikes, of course), easy to figure out, it is a bike that will make sense for any rider.
Its price is of good value too, selling at RM50,800.
As such, we only have one thing to about the Hornet: Welcome back!
The driver of a Nissan Navara that rammed a motorcycle was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined RM12,000 by the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court today.
He was charged under Section 42 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
The court also ordered the sentence to start from the date of the accused’s arrest, which was May 11. The accused was remanded for two days from that date.
The driver was found to have driven recklessly, therefore causing injury to another party. Through a video that has gone viral on social media, the Navara he was driving hit the motorcycle’s right-hand side storage box. The impact caused the motorcycle to crash, spilling both the rider and pillion passenger heavily onto the road. As a result, the 53-year-old motorcyclist suffered a fractured collarbone and a lacerated ankle. However, his wife bore the brunt of the impact and was seriously injured with a fractured ankle and right rib, as well as a brain haemorrhage.
The driver initially reported that the motorcycle had swerved into his path and he was unable to avoid it. However, video footage from another motorcycle’s dashcam showed the victim’s motorcycle being ridden carefully in the far left lane of the highway. The driver did not stop his vehicle but continued to flee the scene.
There was also a video footage showing the driver racing with three other four-wheel drive vehicles.
According to the Head of the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT), Assistant Commissioner Mohd. Zamzuri Mohd. Isa, “The four-wheel drive vehicle is believed to have tried to overtake another motorcycle but failed to avoid it and crashed into the victim’s motorcycle.”
Both victims were rushed to the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
A truck carrying FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) personnel was involved in an accident that has killed 9 personnel, so far. The incident occurred at Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam, Teluk Intan, Perak.
It is understood that the FRU truck from Unit 5, which was carrying 18 personnel (confirmed by the Director of the Perak Fire and Rescue Department), was on its way back to Ipoh after completing the Chitra Pournami celebration assignment in Hilir Perak.
The Director of the Perak Fire and Rescue Department, Sayani Saidon, informed that the incident involved a lorry carrying a load of stones and occurred at around 8.30 am this morning.
According to a press release at 12:07 pm, Perak Police Chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said “Upon arriving at the scene, the FRU Unit 5 lorry was hit from the front by a lorry carrying stones which was believed to have suffered a steering failure.”
He reportedly said that eight members died at the scene, another was confirmed dead at the hospital, while five other members were slightly injured.
The FRU truck driver was transferred to the Teluk Intan Hospital but died while receiving treatment. Meanwhile, the driver of the stone-laden lorry was arrested by the police and a urine test found him to be free of drugs.
The 2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure (or GSA, in short) has arrived in Malaysia. It was unveiled at the 2025 Malaysia Autoshow.
Saravanan Krishnan, BMW Motorrad Area Manager
To those who wonder what the “Adventure” variant means, it features a larger fuel tank capacity and certain exclusive features over the standard “GS,” therefore positioning itself as the adventure touring motorcycle. Previously, BMW Motorrad Malaysia sold more GSAs compared to the standard version thus it will be interesting to see if the trend continues with this all-new model.
Extracted from the Official Press Release
Completely redesigned engine, chassis, bodywork, design, and storage concept.
New 1300cc Boxer engine with BMW ShiftCam, producing 145 hp (107 kW) at 7,750 RPM and 149 Nm at 6,500 RPM.
New 6-speed transmission placed under the engine for more compactness.
All-new 30-litre aluminium fuel tank offers substantial range for long-distance tours.
Cross-spoked wheels with aluminium rim rings for off-road performance.
As part of the standard Dynamic Package, Riding Modes Pro includes “Eco” for efficiency and “Enduro” for off-road adventures in addition to “Rain”, “Road”, “Dynamic”, “Dynamic Pro”, and “Enduro Pro”.
Sports brake is standard equipment for the model.
Also part of the Dynamic Package is the Automated Shift Assistant (ASA) automatic transmission, for the automation of the clutch and gear shifts.
ASA is available as standard for the All-New BMW R 1300 GS Adventure in Style GS Trophy, Triple Black, and Option 719 “Karakorum”, while the All-New BMW R 1300 GS Adventure in Racing Red features the Shift Assistant Pro as standard.
Touring Package is also standard across all variants, includes the main stand, chrome-plated manifold, navigation device preparation, electrically adjustable windshield, top case holder and case holders for aluminium cases.
The 2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure’s frame now includes a steel sheet metal main frame and an aluminium lattice tube rear frame, enhancing rigidity.
EVO Telelever front wheel guide and revised EVO Paralever rear wheel guide provide exceptional steering precision and ride stability, both on and off-road.
Dynamic adjustments to the front and rear damping are further made possible with the new Dynamic Suspension Adjustment (DSA).
With adaptive vehicle height control as standard, the 2023 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure also offers fully automatic adjustment of the vehicle height to suit the operating conditions.
Comfort rider and passenger seats are standard.
Matrix LED headlights consisting of a single LED unit for both low and high beams, along with four additional LED units for the daytime running light and the side light.
With the Headlight Pro as standard, the headlights dynamically adjust, ensuring better road
safety, whether on winding roads or rugged trails.
Complementing this are two extra-flat auxiliary headlamps with LED technology, seamlessly integrating into the bike’s bodywork.
Newly designed LED turn indicators are integrated into the hand protectors at the front and function-integrated at the rear.
Other advanced standard features are Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Engine drag torque control (MSR), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) and Hill Start Control (HSC), ABS Pro.
Riding Assistant further includes Active Cruise Control (ACC), Front Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Change Warning, and Rear End Collision Warning (RECW) are also standard features.
6.5-inch full-colour TFT display, offering vibrant, real-time information such as speed, fuel levels, riding modes, and more.
An additional Sport screen is available, allowing for the display of additional information on lean angle, traction and braking behaviour, as well as a sports rev counter with gear indicator.
BMW Motorrad Connected app seamlessly integrates with the display, enabling riders to access vehicle status, navigation, and performance data via their smartphones.
The display can be easily operated via the BMW Motorrad multi-controller, offering simple access to all key functions.
Other standard equipment on the 2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure includes RDC, heated grips, Keyless Ride, and a smartphone charging compartment with an integrated USB socket and 12V on-board power socket.
Colour options
The All-New BMW R 1300 GS Adventure comes in four variants: Racing Red, Triple Black, GS Trophy, and Option 719 Karakorum. Comfort rider seats and seat heating come as standard on all variants, enhancing travel and touring comfort.
Racing Red
Finished in solid Racing Red, the All-New BMW R 1300 GS Adventure showcases an athletic and dynamic look with a silver tank, with black and red seats and red hand protector extensions.
Triple Black
The Triple Black variant presents a more refined look with cross-spoke wheels in black and a fuel tank finished in brushed aluminium with dark clearcoat.
It features top side panel, middle tank cover and storage compartment lid in Blackstorm metallic and handlebars in anodised black, while the the rider and passenger seats are in black and grey.
Style GS Trophy
The Style GS Trophy variant is painted in Racing Blue metallic, accented with solid Light White and Racing Red stripes.
The bike features textured powder-coated parts in Avus Black matt metallic, and red hand protector extensions combine with the stainless-steel engine protection bar and gold cross-spoke wheels striking appearance.
The sport windshield, sport passenger grab handles, and aluminium fuel tank shelves further emphasise the rugged, off-road-ready character.
With large radiator cowls and aluminium fuel tank shelves that offer robust docking points, this variant is ideal for riders looking to take their adventure to the next level.
Option 719 Karakorum
The Option 719 Karakorum variant stands out in the exclusive Aurelius Green matt metallic.
Gold anodised handlebars and wheel rims, along with the “Opt. 719” badge on the tank
cover.
Gold-coloured lines enhance the high-quality appearance, along with the “Opt. 719” badge
on the tank cover.
Gold anodised components, including the wheel rims and handlebars.
The engine protection bar is painted black, and the hand protector extensions are grey.
Small aluminium radiator cowls and a protective grille on the auxiliary headlamps.
Two black/grey heated comfort seats, a luggage rack, and a small sport windshield complete the look, offering both style and function.
A study conducted by the Vehicle Theft and Accident Reduction Council (VTREC) found that 70% of road accidents involve motorcycles. However, only 13% of these accidents are caused by the motorcyclists themselves, while 87% are caused by other vehicle drivers.
Of these motorcycle accidents involving other vehicles:
67% are caused by private vehicles, and
20% are caused by commercial vehicles.
Motorcyclists and pillion riders are the most vulnerable road users. On average, 6,000 road users are killed annually, with 4,200 (70%) being motorcyclists.
According to VTREC Coordinator Ms. Mas Tina Abdul Hamid, statistics show that motorcycle accidents are 12 times more frequent than car accidents.
“Motorcyclists are often blamed when accidents occur, but we have learned that car drivers need to improve their road safety awareness and require education on defensive driving,” she added.
“The annual fatality rate remains alarming. The number of yearly accident-related deaths could fill graves requiring space equivalent to six football fields.”
“On average, one road user is killed every 80 minutes.”
“Human error is the primary cause of road crashes, contributing to eight out of the 10 factors behind traffic accidents,” Mas Tina emphasized.
The vehicle insurance industry recorded 266,716 accident claims in 2024, an 11% decline compared to 299,657 cases in 2023.
Editor’s Note: VTREC data is collected through insurance claims. Thus, it does not cover unreported or unclaimed accidents, meaning the actual accident figures are higher than those reported by authorities.
