Honda presents the new Hornet 2023, a bike that takes the name of a model that made the history of the Tokyo manufacturer. In fact, one motorcycle in particular kicked off the sport naked boom in the new millennium: the Honda Hornet 600 (later flanked by the “S” with half fairing and the 900, both with little success). It was an easy bike, fast, not very elaborate in its shapes and with a nice four-cylinder in line that characterized its design and personality.
The story of the “Hornet” lasted several years (thewe relived through our tests of time published in September, here , here , here , here And quthe), from 1998 to 2013, the year of its release from the lists, replaced with the CB650R still appreciated today by a niche of lovers of the four-cylinder.
After ten years of absence, the Hornet returns on the market with the same desire to amaze. Of course it does so with a more modern, current approach, in line with the times and with the needs of an audience that has changed and no longer seeks certain technical characteristics. Yes, because if on the one hand the Honda technicians claim to have built the bike following the same philosophy as the original Hornet, therefore of a light, fast and agile bike, on the other they are aware of having addressed the same issue with different “words”. This explains the sleek shapes of the new 2023 Hornet, not too sharp edges, sinuous curves without excesses, a humped tank and a tail shot upwards to accentuate the character of a motorcycle that wants to be sporty.
And in the midst of all this there is the new engine, not a 4-in-line (as it was once written) with a round figure, but a compact “seven-half” forward twin-cylinder engine as is fashionable nowadays, an engine with a clean layout. that it almost disappears behind the inevitable air conveyors inspired by the shapes of the hornet’s wings (and vaguely simulating the aerodynamic trappings of super sports cars).
As happened for the Africa Twin of today which also adopts an in-line twin and not a V-shaped one as in the original version, purists will probably scream “scandal, a Hornet cannot have a two cylinder”, but at the same time many , many more, will not even notice, simply because the Hornet 2023 is aimed at a new audienceto today’s motorcyclist, younger and more “accustomed” to both design with sharp lines and forward-facing twins.
Going beyond architecture, the Hornet 2023’s 755cc engine is a “short stroke” (87×63.5 mm) combined with a 270 ° crank mechanism that simulates the character of a V-twin at low and mid-range speeds; the distribution is single overhead shaft (Unicam) with four valves per cylinder, while the throttle bodies are 46 mm. The primary transmission moves the balancer shaft, while the cylinders have a nickel coating with silicon carbide. The multi-plate clutch in oil bath is assisted and with slipper. All this delivers 92 hp at 9,500 rpm, 75 Nm of maximum torque at 7,250 rpm and a maximum declared speed of 205 km / h.
