Honda has introduced the fourth iteration of the Africa Twin engine/frame base, which has now spawned the Rebel 1100 cruiser, NT1100 sport tourer and this new Hawk 11 cafe racer sport model. All four of these bikes start with the 1084cc parallel twin and the frame first introduced in the Africa Twin model.
The new Hawk 11 will debut as a Japan-only model, but is likely to reach other markets given the certification of this same engine for sale both in Europe and the United States. Although other models feature a DCT gearbox option, the Hawk 11 is only offered (at least initially) with a manual 6-speed.
The 17″ wheels are shared with the NT1100, which is already on sale in Europe. The Hawk 11 has a unique Showa fork and Nissin front brake calipers, however.
This family of bikes is characterized by reasonable pricing reflecting the somewhat budget nature of the non-adjustable suspension and other features. Pictures of the new Hawk 11 indicate it will not have a modern TFT instrument panel, for instance. Pricing is also more affordable as a result of the shared components, particularly the engine.
Will the Hawk 11 eventually make it to the U.S. market? We expect it will.
Look closely under the front of the frame. Are those mounting lugs for a skid plate? Now I really want this Hawk 11! A naked street bike, a little ground clearance, and I can scrape it over logs and rocks. What’s not to love?
But still no word on USA release of NT1100… ?
Oh! Oh! Silver wheels!!!
Can we go back to doing non-wire wheels in silver painted or brushed/polished finishes again???
Can we, huh? Can we can we?!?!!
The Hawk 11 is the Lotus flower of the motorcycle world, and I like it. According to Buddha, a lotus plant has ugly roots growing in the muck and scum at the bottom of a pond, with the beautiful flower floating on the surface for all to see. “You can’t have beauty in this world without the counter-balancing ugly.” Yin and Yang. The Hawk 11 starts ugly in the back end, gradually gets organized in the mid-section, and only in the front headlight with perfect cowling do we see the beauty! Buddha would approve. I want it.
It’s always interesting that somehow when a manufacturer revives an old nameplate, the new one is twice as big and three times as expensive as its namesake.
I can not stop looking at the top picture (right side), and wishing to get rid of the muffler and replace with two small Ducati type, and of course paint the side covers blue so it looks like all one bike. A semi street scrambler with slightly high pipes and a standard handle bar would be swell too, if one could keep most of the fairing.
Nice with 1100 cc s of thrust, and a 270 crank. what is not to like ?
If tailpiece was blue too and sidecovers left silver wouldnt look so disjointed. And that exhaust looks enormous!
Nice to see Honda make a gorgeous 21st C Norton John Player Special.
I want to have this motorcycle’s baby right now. How does any motorcycle fanatic with the appropriate credit avoid buying this bike?
Make a good club racer…..?
I feel quite certain that its the blacked out tail that is causing all the fuss here. The photos of the bike have the affect of making the rear seem as if its in a B&W photo. Its not disjointed, its just discolored. As Mickey suggests, simply painting the tail section to match the tank/fairing would dramatically alter (and improve) its appearance.
Perhaps someone with paint shop skillz could show us the possibilities. If not, its rather easy to envision it, no?
What are you gonna paint blue? Just the side cover and top of the fender? Leave the diagonal black piece alone?
What about echoing Norton’s John Player Special? Paint both fenders, the fairing, tank and side covers pearl white with a blue and orange fairing stripe?
To my eye it really only needs blue on the upper-most portion of the tail section … above the line where the bottom of the seat meets the top of the side panel. I’d keep the silver side panel which work fine with the other silver accents.
I agree that there’s a lot of negativity in the comments on this site but here goes: This is probably a delightful bike to ride and looks pretty good from the headlight right up to back of the gas tank. My opinion is that from the front of the seat rearward needs one more pass on the design because what’s there now is truly not working for me.
It’s 1/2 MV Augusta, 1/2 Vitpillen. I’ll have to pass.
It’s one step closer to the naked that I will buy.
And when they make a naked version, I want a tail.
They can call it the CB1100F. Honda, take my money.
Give it a year. People will drop these and ruin the fairings. When they see how much Honda OEM parts cost? Voila’! Naked versions will begin to populate the used market (see Suzuki SV650S “naked conversions” on craigslist..)
That’s a good idea Dave, and true. I still can’t get along with the tail section tho, so they’ll have to wreck that as well.
Yeah, I would probably prefer it without the fairing but then I’d probably just buy the CB650R or Kawasaki Z650RS instead.
I have a colleague who owns a cb650r. It’s gorgeous. In person it’s easy to see why it’s more expensive than the Z or the MT. It’s has a higher level of fit and finish.
Best ever MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE, was a companion publication to the very first Road & Track’s called “MOTO”. It was small sized and only lasted a few issues. The editor left to go with a different publishers motorcycle magazine. I’m 87, have all the ROAD & TRACKS, MOTOS, and CAR LIFES; that were published by BOND. It would be interesting to see if anyone else remembers similarly.
That’s way before my time. I liked Motorcycle Consumer News (the ad-free US publication,) but I enjoyed reading most of the mags to see what similarities and differences journalists took away from testing the same bikes. I’ve also enjoyed the various websites, particularly in the late 90’s – early 2000’s when there were lots of them going for broke in the early days of the internet.
Did any of the print publications survive the internet? I had pretty much switched to electronic versions of the print mags as soon as they were made available and had subscriptions to five or six of them, but eventually they all died off sometime in the 2010’s with just Cycleworld as the last holdout, which I ended up cancelling because I think they switched to a semimonthly (or maybe even quarterly) circulation which made anything in it irrelevant by the time it came out. I wonder if they still print or are merely an in nternet presence at this point.
The dirt bike magazines are still around. Some company or another gave me a year od Dirt Bike and another gave me a year of Motocross Action. They seem to be doing all right. There is quite a bit of advertising going on in both.
I have often wondered why street bikes still follow a very automotive mindset. The bikes are heavy and the bodywork is expensive and easy to damage. Take a que from dirt bikes and make bikes that the aftermarket can really embrace. Sell them with plastics that are easy to remove. Ones that you can buy a whole kit and have a custom graphics applied for a very reasonable price.
Standardize levers and pedals so the aftermarket can make cool replacements. Harley obviously has some of that going on.
The dirt bike press is making new dirt bikers because it has a huge aftermarket to support it. If street bikes weren’t so automotive the street bike press could be doing the same thing. Show a dirt biker a street bike and he sees a bike that weighs 2X and is ridiculously fragile even so. Screw up a piece of bodywork and go to the dealer to be crucified. You can get and new plastics with custom graphics for your dirt bike for the same money or less. I replace all the plastics on my dirt bikes day one. I sell them with fresh stock plastic. Same deal with the gas tanks. You wouldn’t ever think about doing that to a street bike. And so there are no companies to buy ads on the drying up press.
Vicious cycle. The street bike industry is to blame for their own problems. I’m 60, and I’m about the average age here. That wouldn’t be the case at a dirt bike news site. Those young dirt bikers walk right by all those street bikes that clutter the dealerships. Why? Because even the ones that they can relate to where kind of pathetic when they were new designs 35 years ago.
I’m weird here because I have been one of those dirt bikers since I was a young boy. My front line street bike is fashioned from a dirt bike that has been given the name “Big Red Pig” by the dirt bikers. Why is it that a “Big Red Pig” dirt bike is what a street biker would call an insanely light street bike? Now tell me why the street bike industry is suffering while the dirt bike industry is not. Dirt bikers want motorcycles, not two wheeled cars. Maybe the street bike industry should try their hand at making motorcycles for dirt bikers to ride around on public roads. They are people who are enthusiastic about motorcycles and they are not afraid to spend money.
Mick, I pretty much agree with you. Between my son and I own a bunch of bikes, motocross, flat track, road racing, and pit bikes. One, my MX and flat track bikes (based off of MX bikes) are much easier to buy parts for and they rarely break badly when crashed — and I crash a lot! I usually replace the plastics one or twice a year. It costs a couple hundred bucks for new plastics and graphics. When I crash my road race bike I anticipate it will cost me at least $2000 every time.
To add to your point, when I go to the MX track there are hundreds of racers. Grids are packed. Tons of racers. When I road race, grids are getting smaller every year and several clubs I have raced with are struggling to survive.
I pretty much replace my motocross bike and my son’s motocross bikes every 2 years. Motocross bikes get updated every year or two, get lighter, add power, and other significant updates — thus, I feel the need to update. As for my road race bike, it is a 5 year old middleweight and still quite competitive. There really is no reason to update this bike with a new one. Even in the litre bike field, there have been very few significant updates in the past decade.
Frankly, I have gotten more into MX bikes in the past few years because there is a lot more to be interested in. In the world of road based bikes, there really isn’t much to care about.
I imagine we all have our hypotheses as to why the street bike industry is dying. I personally don’t think it has much to do with weight or fragility. They were heavy and fragile 15 years ago, but demand was strong. I think there are a number of reasons, but I believe the main problem is that the price of bikes have gone up quite a bit since then. And while one could argue that the current price of bikes has merely kept up with inflation, discretionary income hasn’t kept up with the price of bikes. And bikes are very discretionary purchases, especially for first time buyers. This combined with the shifts in priorities of the younger generations I think makes motorcycles a hard sell.
I don’t think the street bike industry is dying. It’s lagging behind other growth markets but Ducati just reported all time records for revenue and profit and some of the gains were huge.
Motorcycle prices have trailed inflation but I totally agree about discretionary income. An MT07 costs less in inflation adjusted dollars than it’s equivalent did 20 years ago but it’s target customer has even less disposable income. That taken into account I think your point about shifts in priorities is spot on. Young people just aren’t interested.
Comparing dirt bikes based on a couple of magazines is a bit of a misnomer. The average age is certainly younger (though the purchaser helping to drive the average down is often a parent) but dirt bikes are the way they are because they’re made for a very narrow, specific use case and the user accepts that many of its parts are disposable. I get road bike plastics are expensive but you’re not supposed to crash them.
I always thought the best motorcycle magazine was MOTO. This goes all the way back to the 1940’s. ROAD & TRACK, I believe that many people agree with me is the best. I hope that it goes on forever. When it started, the publisher of the time put out a small sized motorcycle magazine called “MOTO”. It only lasted a few issues, as the editor got involved with another motorcycle magazine.
By the way, it appears this bike would look better without the fairing.
I understand what Honda has to do in offering this engine in various platforms, but it should have thought first that it’s just not much to look at. So that leaves a buyer to consider the rest of the motorcycle–and most people just aren’t buying this version. I guess the Africa Twin gets away with it because you just want an adventure bike to be rugged, not glamorous or beautiful.
Paint the side covers and that stubby tail section the same blue as the fairing and it will look 100% better.
I envision the guy that buys this bike is not a full time all weather motorcyclist that actually goes anywhere, but a sunny days weekend warrior riding on a few local curvy roads with a stop at the local hip waterhole on the way home. Actually that how I envision all guys that ride choppers, bobbers and cafe’s lol.
The side covers being aluminum/silver to match the silver wheels and the silver on the front fairing is fine, and rather classy, but the tail section should have been painted the matching blue. Absolutely.
“Paint the side covers and that stubby tail section the same blue as the fairing and it will look 100% better.”
Exactly .. and maybe a slightly larger tail section. This no-tail/stubby tail thing is so tired. Like Sir Mixalot, I like a big butt.
PS .. Sorry younguns, the bullet fairing isn’t a copy of the Speed Triple RR or the MHR. Bullet fairings are from the 60’s and 70s. See the 1969 Velocette Thruxton, the 1974 Ducati 750SS or the 1974 Laverda SFC750 to name a few.
Your vision of this rider is the vast majority of American riders. Motorcycles are toys for most.
my second post on this. I said I liked it in my first post and still do. So many of the other posts, that nit pick all the things they seem to want to nit pic about, are frivolous. Front doesnt match the back, too many angles, too many tubes, too much room above the rear wheel, too this, too that? It will be smaller, faster, smoother, and better handling what most of what other are riding. And all of the criticism, before anyone has even rode one. The one thing “I”, dont like, are the clip ons. At my age, leaned over that far, even for canyon riding, just isnt for me anymore. But I am not going to say how hideous it is, just because of that? What I dont get, is all the criticism, just about its “looks”. too many angles, too many pipes, headlight is too round. I know not everyone is like me, and I’m not like everyone. I spent 30 years at the dealer level, and every year, there were those that liked and disliked the “new” models. Some even hated the New ’81 Katana. go figure. This is a neat little bike that has a lot of performance, and good looks, finally a bike with out the schoolbus looking rear end, and its criticized for that? I shake my head. Maybe I’m the one that needs brain surgery. Maybe not.
My riding buddy and I were commenting on just that. It seems that there’s so much whining, we’re wondering if most commentors even ride? People piss and moan about the littlest things. I perfer to accentuate the positives and there’s a bunch with this bike. I really like the fairing, it’s a timeless classic. The engine is bulletproof and more than enough to get into trouble. Yep, the rider position may be a bit wrist heavy but I’d get used to it. I don’t think any bike I’ve ever owned I haven’t needed help pulling out of my arse after a long ride. After 3 or 4 days on a bike trip, I’m usually so stiff/sore when I’m off the bike, that I have to get back on to feel comfortable. By the end of the trip/ride, the bike saddle/position is perfect.
You’re right. There are so many whiners on this site, many of whom are using mom’s computer to put up messages to the grown-ups.
It’s basically a deviant kid site these days.
Moooommm! Huls is picking on me!! And bring me my sandwiches!
I dunno – I think the OEM marketing departments are happy to have the feedback. Anyone who buys one of these is voting with their wallet, but if I were Honda’s Don Draper, I’d be equally interested in why people DIDN’T buy what I’m selling. I don’t see the conversation here as juvenile, but then again, the three greatest influences on my adult life were Moe, Larry, and Curly…
To me, I like the “slammed” (long and low) looks of it, but without sitting on one, have no idea how much the function (mostly comfort) is impacted by that particular choice. If Dirck does a road test, I’m sure he will provide that info. The exhaust is a casualty of our time, unfortunately, and by the looks of the passenger footpegs and seat, it’s pretty clear this is aimed at solo riders. I’m more of a traditionalist (old barstard) when it comes to styling, but this bike does a much better job of hitting the mark compared to many of the Alien-franchise lookalikes on the market these days.
You’re whining again, instead of contributing a fresh perspective, or intelligent observation about the subject bike. I didn’t think HD lovers whined. I kinda like this site, just fine as is.
“Stay off the grass when writing a term paper”
I may be getting drawn in by the beautiful color and MV-like nose but i concur with RD350…nobody will buy it and 25 years from now when viscerally emasculated by the g’s of whiz, this collector will look, sound and feel pretty good i’d reckon…i’ve no dog here though and am content on my big ol Bandit…
While not a 916 or an RC30, it’s a whole lot nicer looking than the overwhelming majority of sporty bikes these days. People seem less troubled by some truly appalling looking bikes. Not sure why this stands out as particularly bad for some. Yes the tail could be better… but I’ve seen a lot worse. I predict this will be a future cult bike, like my SRX600, my GB500 and my NT650 Hawk GT .. all bikes that few wanted when they came out.
I like it. Not perfect but what is ? …oy to all the haters out there.
Always a feeling of being satisfyingly underwhelmed by Honda these days. Reliable, indeed.
Honda have lost their way. SMH.
Reminds me of the Ducati MH900e. But uglier (or Butt Uglier). Too many angles and wires and pipes. As if the bike had already been in an accident and crunched up. Honda needs to get the guy who designed the Fury to work on this
I agree, that fairing is very suggestive of the MH900e. And I like it.
looks like a Ducati MH900e, only uglier, too many angular lines taking away from the basic shape. Honda should get the designer who made the Fury to take a stab at this
I kinda like it. Then again, I’ve owned some less than highly praised motorcycles… 1983 Suzuki GS550ES, 2002 Honda 919, 2013 Honda CB1100, 2014 Honda Valkyrie. Although, at my age, leaning over that tank with those low bars is not really in the cards anymore.
What is Honda doing? I know a bunch of people here seem to like it, but this will be an absolute sales dud.
Excellent! Then I can maybe pick one up for a couple thousand less than asking.
It may just look long, no # on the wheelbase given. But one of the selling points of the AT engine is that it can be leaned more upright and contribute to a more compact length to fit inside the sportier frame. I see that they are going for a consistency and aesthetic link to the current gen CB1100 with the brushed aluminum look side cover. It looks sporty and fun, a big parallel twin is the quintessential Rocker’s bike, I ride country roads all the way to the mountains, it would surely be a hoot with torquey shooting out of corners up and down the gaps. Good for trying this big red
The blue color should have carried on to the tail section.
Agreed.
It sort of looks like the tail section was Photoshoped on.
Seeing one in person would change that. But the bike doesn’t photograph well.
They did a good job of nicking Triumph’s design. Front half of the bike looks great. Behind the tank looks like they just bolted on spare parts from around the garage. Really like the paint though. Nice to see a bike not black or dark grey these days.
I don’t mind the front or the back, they just look terrible combined, like someone made a mistake and somewhere else Honda has a motorcycle with a modern front end that was supposed to be combined with this back end and a retro back end that was supposed to be combined with this front end.
I’m not exactly polite now, but this Hawk 11 could become collectible. Not because it’s the first year of the most successful Honda ever, but because it lasted about one year and, like the Honda Pacific Coast, Pontiac Aztec or Edsel, becomes an oddity with a cult following.
I like it till you get to the tail section. Then not so much. The bike for me would be the Spencer Replica Concept based on the CB1000R.
I’d like to see either this treatment or the Neo-Sports Cafe (or whatever they’re calling it) treatment for the CB500 line. The F model looks like someone crashed a sportbike and fixed it with parts from Bent Bike.
holy chit that thing is ugly, it’s like they fused two totally different motorcycles together
I am happy that Honda is making good use of this engine, but this model is not for me. Maybe if it was put in something looking like the ctx700, yet with a big 1100 instead of 700.
You’re looking for the Rebel 1100, which has been out for a year or two now.
I thought of the Rebel, but the gas tanks on them are just too small.
The ctx700 has a modern look and a slightly different gas tank that may get me further down the road.
nope I was wrong about the gas tank sizes. Rebel is slightly bigger than the ctx
If it has an exhaust note of the Rebel 1100, that is “put,put,put”, then don’t bother Honda. Perception that it needs to be like a big bore KTM goes with the racer looks.
I like it well enough. I’ve said a few times that if they used the AT powerplant in a VTR type set up, I’d be in. Had the VTR and the TL-S and currently own a 20 AT, I personally love the powerplant, but I’m not totally thrilled about the looks of the bike, especially the mirrors but I can learn to love it, I hope…
which did you prefer, the vtr or the tl-s and why?
It looks ok , but not lust worthy. The SuperHawk looks better and makes very similar HP and v-twin growl. I thought the SuperHawk was low on power 25 years ago and went for the TL1000s.If I’m buying a liter bike I think 120hp is the minimum and I hate when they tune them for “low end”. My ZRX1200R got the lame 120hp engine While the ZZR and ZX12R made 30-50 hp and the low end torque on either was plenty. They treat us like newbs and we are forced to dump thousands into them to perform like other ugly standard bikes they make.
While I do like the bike, I would have preferred the lines be more consistent with the CB1000R, which is a better overall design in my opinion. This looks good, but it also kind of has that cross-platform feel, like design was stretched around a frame that was never really intended for it.
I have to say though, the blue is gorgeous.
Fully agree. There is a render in the comments under another article about this of a CB1000r with this fairing treatment and predictably the proportions are better.
If the price and performance of that new GUZZI are similar, I’m looking for a dealer.
Yep, that Bezzi rendering is pretty sweet. I hadn’t seen it before. Admittedly, mine is probably a minority opinion as I already felt the CB1000R might be the best looking standard bike available these days.
Not the Bezzi render. Check the comments under CW’s release article.
This will not get a big(ger) piece of market. If it is trying to evoke memory of VTR1000 it is certainly not happy one – I owned it. That bike had some serious shortcomings (bad ergos, thirsty engine and small tank).
Good try, but…. little too tall for what it is intended to be. Not really Honda-like fairing (if you are not MV so don’t try to look like one). Also, complete lack of pillion. I’d suggest to look at new Katana for comparison. Good luck with this Honda.
I like the color – very similar to the Guzzi 850 blue – but wish Honda had gone with a naked or sport touring execution. The Paul Smart retro fairing doesn’t jive with the rest of the bike’s modern techno look. Nice try but to my eye they missed on this one.
I like it – but it looks too long, low and under-powered to be a decent wheelie bike (i.e. – no fun).
As an owner of the 1000cc Africa twin that makes less power, is taller, heavier, and longer than this bike, I can wheelie it with ease.
That’s why he included “too low” in his description. Very low bars, paired with a long wheelbase. Your AT has very high handlebars, making it much easier to wheelie.
And a taller center of gravity that also makes it easier to wheelie.
Exactly. This new Hawk looks like it needs to be a full foot shorter in wheel base to be any fun.
My point is, this bike makes plenty of power with its weight to wheelie just fine. Doesn’t matter about handle bar height. I’ve ridden bikes with similar dimensions to this new Honda, that made less horsepower that could wheelie fine. In the case of complaints about being “unable to wheelie” something usually comes down to rider skill. Besides that, considering a bike “not fun” because it can’t wheelie is pretty poor judgement. It is significantly more fun to ride a bike that handles curves. If you want a wheelie machine then build one.
This is the most beautiful modern bike in a very long time BECAUSE of the rich blue with gray tones, black accents, and slightly silver parts, all of which show a conservative adult style. I would just paint the side covers the same blue and attach a rear fender. Wish I was not so stiff to ride bent over all the time. Wow it is pretty !
Oberdan Bezzi to the rescue….
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/designer-oberdan-bezzi-gives-honda-hawk11-the-rr-treatment/ar-AAVpU45?ocid=EMMX
Picture the OB design in blue and I would put it on the short list!
Fantastic! Thanks for posting that. Somebody should send it to Honda.
You nailed it! I think it’s beautiful and styled perfectly. I sat on a Rebel and it was very small, I imagine that this is just as small.
I love the look except the mirrors. Neither retro nor avant garde, they just look, uhhh, stupid.
The mirrors probably provide a perfect view of your knees while riding.
As an older rider the handle bars might be a bit low for me but I’ll admire it from afar if it hits US shores. If I could knock off 20 years I could see owning one.
Adjustable handlebars to the rescue.
https://www.convertibars.com/category-s/139.htm
It’s called “parts bin manufacturing” and is used for one reason and one reason only….to save money! Harley takes a single frame and switches tanks, fenders and fairings and claims it to be an entirely new model. Honda is just playing catch-up to what has been an industry standard for years, but somehow their loyal customers ain’t buying it. Get used to it and expect another model after this one to employ the same frame, engine etc. and be announced to be an “all-new” design. How many iterations on the AT already? Oh well, it’s a lot better than “Bold New Graphics!”
Too bad the Black/Silver one was not pictured. It had a Moriwaki slip on and looked much better.
If this is effect of design studies based on Honda’s CB4 Interceptor concept, then I see it as huge disapointment. Otherwise, maybe they still have something cafe-retro styled with R4 engine in their future plans.
Some styling cues on the fairing and tank, seat b to tail section maybe too abbreviated for me. The horsepower is a little over 100 which should supply enough entertainment. I haven’t read the specs yet but the wheelbase looks to be around 60 inches. Certainly for Honda a versatile engine that can be used across several iterations is cost effective. I do miss the 1980’s when the engineering department had more control. The multitude of variety was incredible, inline 3,4, and 6 cylinders and V4’s across the Japanese manufacturers. The first GSXR’s, Turbo’s, GPZ range including the 900, great days indeed. Unfortunately bean counters rule the day now and we are left with “nice” motorcycles. Certainly it is a nice motorcycle but lacks the creativity of a unbridled engineers hand.
It is unfortunate when manufacturers have to build to a specific price point. It rules out purpose designed parts for the stated mission, and mandates as much parts sharing as possible. That Honda produced this bike, looking as decent as it does, is commendable, but it is not beautiful. It is not a Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR. Sadly, the last sporting bike Honda built for the US market where they paid attention to all the styling details, was the CB1000R.
It looks to be styled like the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR, which took some notes from the MV Agusta Superveloce…two of the best-looking sportbikes out there in my opinion. Both of those models have a much higher performance spec, but they’re also much more expensive. So if you’re looking for exotic styling with Honda reliability for less $$, I guess this fits the bill.
I wish KTM and Yamaha would embrace some of this art-deco style instead of the current Mad-Max-meets-origami-transformer look.
An odd duck, I agree with the others that the design isn’t very coherent. Also, there hasn’t been a bike with that motor that’s less than ~500 lbs. I don’t think the performance will be worth the riding position, and I think it will cost more than what North American riders are will to pay for what it offers.
Nice bike, if priced correctly I would buy one. I love the cafe racer looks.
Nice concept but I don’t care for the styling, particularly the Cyclops headlight and the bathtub fairing. Poor Honda hasn’t made a pretty bike in a long time but at least they’re not as bad as Yamaha and the strange and ghoulish MT-09.
Not a fan of the CB1000R? I think it’s one of the best looking bikes on the market. I was hoping this thing would look more like that plus some wind protection.
This bike’s looks I could take or leave. I’m not offended but also not interested (on looks..). The engine is supposed to be excellent and if this turns out to ride like a VTR1000 with its suspension already sorted out, it could be a winner.
No, again, I like the concept of the CB1000R but that muffler doesn’t work, at least for me. Being a Honda, I bet it’s nice to ride. I’ve had two Hondas and enjoyed and appreciated them both. Overall, motorcycle styling’s not doing that well, apart from the Italians (Ducati, MV Agusta, and Moto Guzzi, which is starting to get it going.) Kawasaki? No. I wanted to buy a 400 Ninja since I had a 300 Ninja but got an R3 instead. Suzuki? No, except for maybe the GSX-750. Yamaha? It used to sell because of its styling but only the R6, now track-only, and the R3 look good to me. Honda? I like the CBR600RR, the CB500R, and the CB650R. BMW? I don’t bother looking seriously because you can’t buy a BMW without it being loaded. I generally like Triumph–I had a Street Triple–but the Bonnevilles are all looking the same. KTM? All angles, and I don’t like orange. Royal Enfield? Nah.
All good points. It used to be easier to change exhaust before proprietary catalytic converters were commonplace on them.
I too prefer the look of the R3 to the Ninja 400 but I would still choose the Ninja on attributes. I think it’d be the better bike to ride for me (I’m tall and spend some time on highways). I think it looks pretty good in colors other than the racer-boy green.
Kinda funny how style preferences differ. I like exactly those features you don’t on the Hawk and am seriously considering buying a current spec MT09. Can’t say moto people aren’t a diverse bunch that’s for sure.
With a few minor changes ( exhaust) it looks like a really cool bike & for those who want a retro look with modern reliability could be just the ticket…for those looking for a bike that really rips they should look elsewhere …and lastly why on earth Honda is promoting this bike in blue & not red is beyond me. Like most Honda products the end product is much better than the sum total of their parts & spec’s.
Looks like a fun bike. Bet that motor will be fun in this model too.
Can’t really put my finger on it, but I think it would look better if they just removed the subframe and everything attached to it and replaced it with something more model specific. Would prefer a tubular handlebar as well. Not a deal killer to me if I was shopping for a new bike though.
I was wondering if this guy was going to show up here. To me it looks like a reissue of a bike that didn’t sell well in the mid eighties. But the OEMs obviously don’t care what I think.
I was thinking this crowd would want to pull the tank off to see if that frame was hiding any seams.
They did do a pretty decent job of making a long and low looking bike with clip-ons that are quite a bit higher than the seat.
Boring honda crap designed by accountants!
Like the looks. And the anticipated “specs.” And what looks to be the ergos. And doubly the road-proper handlebar width, instead of the awkward wingspans so fashionable these days.
But, no bags, high exhaust…… No deal! For those looking more for a pure sport bike, just without a typical sport engine, I’m sure it’s great. I just don’t particularly care for bigger bikes which can’t conveniently carry stuff.
If Honda brings this out at close to the Rebel 1100 price, they should have a big seller. I’m guessing it will be priced between the NT 1100 & the Rebel 1100, but don’t see anything official on the NT 1100 in the States yet.
A lot depends on the final specs, but this is a quite interesting bike.
I think it looks pretty cool.
Personally, I think the front looks great, but the tank and tail don’t match. Regardless, it’s probably a great bike.
As for the engine. It’s a good motor, but I’m generally disappointed that manufacturers are recycling the same engines across so many platforms. I understand the economics, but dislike the lack of diversity between models.
Just wait for electric motorcycles. The only difference between a Ducati and a Harley and a Honda will be the color and shape of the plastic bodywork.
The Ducati will not have valve springs
The proportions are right. The details therein ruin it.
I like this too. I currently have a 2012 CB1000R, this isnt “like it”, but it rhymes. As I grow older, I am partial to the vintage look bikes, and like how finally the manufacturers are waking up to finally putting up for sale, something that “looks old”, but underneath has modern, well lets say all the good stuff. Many of the newer bikes all look BIG in pictures, when in real life they are pretty small, more like mid size bikes. I would like to sit and ride one of these, but I know the lean over clip on riding position, is something I cant tolerate anymore. I do think there is more to the styling of this, something someone else might take to another level. How something like this fares, in the world we live in, with Covid 19, computer chip shortage, Ukraine war, and all the manufacturers streamlining their manpower, even Honda, and how it will end up costing 15k or so, makes my head spin. Lets see how this one looks after some aftermarket custom builders, get their hands on it.
Very nice plus we already know that engine is a peach, I’m interested, very interested actually!
While not a 916 or an RC30, it’s a whole lot nicer looking than the overwhelming majority of sporty bikes these days. People seem less troubled by some truly appalling looking bikes. Not sure why this stands out as particularly bad for some. I predict this will be a future cult bike, like my SRX600, my GB500 and my NT650 Hawk GT .. all bikes that nobody wanted when they came out.