Time to sample the full SP
LONG-TERM TEST BIKES
We reckon the Hornet SP is one of the best-value bikes in UK showrooms. But what will it be like with time and miles under it? Let’s find out…
SP’s proving good fun on sunny autumn days Pictures Adam Shorrock
UPDATE 01
2025 HONDA CB1000 HORNET SP - 2785 MILES
LAST MONTH, WE named the Hornet SP as the best-value new bike in UK showrooms, so in the name of journalism (and a love of fast, simple motorcycles) we’ve grabbed one for a few months to see how it stacks up.
Earlier in the year we ran a base-model Hornet and it was an interesting experience. To begin with, I thought it was utterly brilliant. A grand cheaper than the SP, it handled almost as well and had a little bit more bottom-end power.
But time and miles changed my view. The main issue was the rear suspension. A Showa emulsion-style shock similar to a CB750 Hornet’s, it isn’t fully adjustable and is set soft as standard. Initially it felt good, but as the miles wore on and the damping fluid deteriorated, so did the bike’s behaviour. I’m 90kg in my kit and I overwhelmed it.
As the miles wore on, there was more weaving, more mid-corner wobbles, and while I dialled some of it out with extra preload and rebound, it still really didn’t feel appropriate for a 150bhp performance motorcycle. And with only £1000 between the base bike and the SP, any rear shock upgrade would bring the price perilously close to the SP.
That golden shock is worth its weight in…
So, while the base Hornet has that Showa shock, the SP boasts an Öhlins TTX. Typically a £1000£1500 upgrade, the difference in control, ride and mid-corner feel is stark – especially compared to our 4000-mile basemodel test bike. Although static ride heights are similar between the two bikes, when under load mid-corner the SP feels higher at the rear – an d that steeper geometry makes it feel more poised and eager to hold a line. You especially notice this on corner exits, where it feels more stable and gives you the confidence to get on the power harder.
Our test bike came to us with 2500 miles on the clock and is typical of the handful of SPs that are now coming onto the used market for about £9k. Just like our base model, it does have the patina of miles and age, but the engine feels smoother and a tad more responsive, while the Brembo brakes are a modicum stronger than the other SPs I’ve ridden. I suspect it is down to unglazed pads, even if there still isn’t a clear benefit over the base-model’s Nissin four-pots.
“‘The SP’s proven to be a great package over the past month’”
Brembo Stylema calipers are good – so long as they’re used hard
The SP’s proven to be a great package over the past month and 400 miles of autumn, and suits my riding style well. Revelling in the dying embers of an Indian summer, it’s great at sniffing out grip and imbuing confidence - OE Bridgestone S22s have never felt so good, and just surfing the midrange is a perfect way to make serious progress.
It’s easy to see why owners have loved Hornets so much.
I definitely prefer the SP to the base model as its level of ability is a tad higher, with no obvious drawback. So long as you like matt black paint, that is – it’s the only option for 2025.
This time of year I always feel compelled to make the most of every dry or sunny day and lift my mood at a time that can be slightly depressing as a biker. Next month we’ll try to make it a bit more practical and a better all-rounder. Hopefully the wonders of global warming will mean it’ll be mild, grippy and salt-free so I can make the most of it.
MATT WILDEE
WHAT DEALS CAN YOU GET?
When we first reviewed the Hornet in February, there was a five-month waiting list for an SP. Plumping for the base model was an easy choice.
But those days are over. Not only are bikes in showrooms, but there are strong discounts, too. Base Hornets are as low as £8000 new (and ultra-low demo models for the same), while new SPs can be had for £9495 – a £600 saving. At these prices, a base model is very attractive, but we’d still pay extra for an SP.
The deals are out there and you don’t have to look far
THE FACTS
£10,099
155bhp
212kg
MILES THIS MONTH 400 MILES
FUEL CONSUMPTION 42.6 MPG
COSTS £52.96 (Fuel, 28.94 litres @ £1.36/litre)