In the world of litre-class motorcycles, Honda wanted to do something different, something that isn’t in the market, something ‘Neo’. It was this curiosity that led to the development of not just a single 1000 cc bike but an entirely new motorcycle range. Honda likes to call it the NSC (Neo Sports Cafe) and the CB1000R is the senior-most member of this family. It was first showcased to the world in November last year and quickly gained a lot of attention thanks to its retro-modern styling. So, is the Honda CB1000R a good purchase? Let’s find out.

Looks and design

The foundation of the NSC concept was to have an extraordinary design that has a mix of retro and modern style. Clearly, Honda has done a fantastic job in achieving that, right? The CB1000R is indeed a retro-modern machine. Features like the round headlamp fitted with LEDs and LED DRLs are a perfect example of how classical and modern elements can be integrated with harmony. And it isn’t just the front of the bike that has this mixed yet beautiful appearance, even the rear end gets a minimal and simple LED tail lamp. Another modern element to pay heed to is the four shiny exhaust headers which play a huge role in getting your adrenaline high. But the catch here is that don’t let these good looks fool you. Underneath, the CB1000R is a beast, which brings us to the next point of interest, the engine.

Engine and performance

Listed in the Honda CB1000R specs sheet is a 998 cc, inline 4-cylinder engine which produces a max power of 147 bhp at 10,5000 rpm and 104 Nm of peak torque that kicks in at 8250 rpm. The transmission in duty here is a 6-speed unit. The engine is a DOHC setup and is super smooth and refined, as is expected from Honda. It has enough power to take you to lethal speeds very quickly which you might not even notice unless you glance at the instrument cluster, which is the next thing that we’re going to talk about.

Digital instrument cluster

This is a feature worth mentioning because Honda has carefully designed it to match the overall retro-modern theme. It isn’t like a flat rectangular screen that we usually have in modern sportbikes. It enhances the overall feel and riding experience of the bike. Plus, it is loaded with information like time, speed, gear position indicator, symbols or signs related to the bike’s electronics package, and much more. We like how Honda has cleverly integrated a digital tachometer on the left. It is comparable to a conventional analogue tacho and would give you a similar feeling.

Ride and handling

For a litre-class bike, the Honda CB1000R is quite compact in dimensions which makes it easier to handle. Plus, the riding position isn’t too aggressive. It’s demanding enough to give you a more engaging feel and boost your confidence. There’s a lot of mass at the front of the bike, thus, handling corners and changing directions is also easy. There are a handful of features which continuously help you to get the most out of the bike. For example, the single-sided swingarm enhances handling and performance. The Showa SFF - BP (Separate Function Fork - Big Piston) USD forks at the front and Showa BFRC (Balance Free Rear Cushion) at the rear act as a perfect setup for both enthusiastic and city riding. We also have wider and stickier tyres that provide all the grip you need while in the twisties or under extreme braking. Talking about the brakes, there are two 310 mm rotors at the front and a single 256 mm rotor at the back to drop anchors and are aided by ABS.

The Honda CB1000R price for the Philippines market has been set at Php 865,000, which is indeed a lot of money that can buy you a car. But if you are already looking at litre-class bikes, you don’t want to buy a car, you need a fast bike. And the CB1000R is a great option. It will differentiate you from the crowd with its retro-modern looks, is easier to ride, has a world-class, reputed brand name attached, and can go as fast as the other competition. In short, it is indeed a good purchase.