Honda CB1000R (2018-2021) Review | Speed, Specs & Prices - MCN

At a glance

Prices

Overall rating

The new Honda CB1000R doesn't chase super naked glory or go full retro, but by nestling nicely in between they’ve created a fast, slick, beautifully-crafted roadster that’s daringly different with a style of its own. It’s not the naked Blade some might have hoped for but we reckon it’s much better for it.

• Related: 2021 Honda CB1000R review
• Related: Back to the '80s with Hounda CB1000R-based CB-F Concept

This Honda CB1000R replaces the outgoing model, and was replaced itself in 2021.

It's affectionately known as the 'CB thou' by enthusiasts, make of which can be found at the Honda CB1000R Forums.

Ride quality & brakes

A new single tubular steel backbone frame let the designers keep the bike suitably skinny and there’s new suspension each end: Showa Separate Function Big Piston forks (SFF-BP) up front (with rebound and compression adjustment in the left leg and preload in the right) and a Showa shock with just rebound and preload twiddlers (no compression).

New 10-spoke wheels are shod with wider 190/55 x 17 tyres (up from the old machine’s 180-section). They actually have a racier profile and bigger side footprint than the Blade SP’s 190/50 rubber.

Smaller and squatter than the previous model, the Honda’s riding position is so natural you don’t think about it, there’s enough legroom for taller riders, but bars are slightly narrower than you’d expect from a big naked when you first jump on. The seat is comfier than it looks for a few hours…and then it isn’t.

Steering is ultra light and accurate at all speeds, OE Bridgestone BT-021 tyres have adequate grip and front brakes have lots of feel and power (and if you hammer them really hard the hazard lights come on!). The standard suspension is set for a plush ride, but gets floaty when you push hard and pegs stay nicely away from tarmac at full lean.

Engine

Happily the Honda goes as well as it looks. The motor is still the same longer-stroke 2006 Fireblade unit from the previous CB1000R, but the redline is up from 10,300rpm to 11,500rpm, power is increased 12bhp to 143bhp and there’s more torque to play with between 6000-8000rpm.

A new ride by wire system replaces the old throttle cables and the motor has Blade SP-style forged pistons, a gas-flowed head, increased valve lift and a higher compression ratio. Throttle bodies are up from 36mm to 44mm and the motor breathes through a new airbox and 4.5kg lighter exhaust. Gear ratios are 4% shorter and the Honda now comes with a light action assist and slip clutch.

All this adds up to an inline four-cylinder motor that’s calm and refined at low revs, but packed with midrange grunt and a fruity top end. The electronic throttle never surges or stutters and for anyone who’s ridden a big inline four, the seamless power delivery will be instantly familiar. Granted it doesn’t have the character of a twin, triple or crossplane crank four, but it growls when you prod it and accelerates hard enough to pull wheelies on demand.

And what a strange twist of fate that of all the over-intrusive modern traction control set-ups around right now, it’s a ‘sensible’ Honda system that lets you play, as well as keeping you safe.

Reliability & build quality

There have been no reports of major issues with the previous CB1000R, so don’t expect any nightmares from this new model.

Our Honda CB1000R owners' reviews show some buyers complain about thin paint, but many others comment on Honda's legendary reliability and build quality.

It's useful to note that one owner also advises to get a trickle charge if you're using a tracker - presumably they drain charge fairly quickly.

Value vs rivals

There’s little doubt the Honda has its own unique style, is beautifully built, has perfect performance for the road and just like the ’08 Blade, its looks really grow on you. But when you look at some of its closest rivals it’s not cheap. A Kawasaki Z900RS, Suzuki GSX-S1000, Kawasaki Z1000, base-model BMW S1000R are all less and the Yamaha MT-10 costs the same.

• Related: Best naked motorbikes

Equipment

The very best thing about the new CB is the way it’s been put together. This is Honda build quality and attention to detail at its magnificent best.

The devil is in the detail and you get the feeling every component was thought through and lovingly chosen by the Japanese engineers: the fresh-from-the-gun deep black gloss paint finish, the brushed ali panelling, red saddle stitching and embossed radiator guard and seat-back logos. The elegant new subframe design features pillion grab handle cut-outs and the funky clocks are a '70s Tomorrow’s World glimpse into the future. That slash-cut exhaust looks and sounds so good there’s no need to go aftermarket.

LED headlights feature old school cooling fins, even though they’re not needed and together with the rear light they’re so thin the snub-nosed bodywork is smaller and more compact. The red sprung Showa shock screams Suzuka 8 Hour factory superbike and everything from the ali single-sided swingarm pivot plates to the engine covers look anything but mass-produced.

Riding modes, that started life on the RC213V-S and trickled down to the new Blade, Gold Wing and Africa Twin, give you the choice of Rain, Standard and Sport settings with ascending levels of power, engine brake and torque control.

There’s also a ‘User’ mode that lets you tailor the electronics to suit and of course ABS. None of the rider aids hinder you on the road, but serve as a silent safety net for when you need them. The CB1000R+ version we’re riding today (has even more silicone implants, offering a crisp, accurate quickshifter and autoblipper, as well as usefully UK-hot five-level heated grips.

Custom Honda CB1000Rs

The CB1000R is a popular bike for those who like to modify their machines. In fact, Honda displayed 12 versions at the Wheels and Waves Festival in 2018.

HONDA CB1000R for sale with MCN

• CB1000R (2020/69) £4,999 East Sussex
• CB1000R (2018/18) £5,290
• CB1000R (2018/18) £5,390
• CB1000R (2019/69) £5,392 Cheshire
• CB1000R (2018/68) £5,690 Buckinghamshire

Model history & versions

Model history

2008: CB1000R launched. Features retuned ’06 Blade motor producing 130bhp, a single sided swingarm and funky styling. A fine machine, but lacked soul and performance compared to its rivals.

2018: Revised CB1000R with more power, electronic rider aids, a new chassis, bigger back wheel, new styling and as step up in build quality.

Other versions

CB1000+. Has a quickshifter, heated grips, brushed aluminium front mudguard and rear hugger panels, a fly screen, single seat cowl and radiator grill with CB1000R logo.

Related Honda CB reviews on MCN

• Honda CB125R review (2018-on)
• Honda CB300R review (2018-on)
• Honda CB650R review (2019-on)
• Honda CB1000R review (2008-2018)

Owners' reviews for the HONDA CB1000R (2018 - 2021)

35 owners have reviewed their HONDA CB1000R (2018 - 2021) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your HONDA CB1000R (2018 - 2021)

Year: 2018

Bought this after a somewhat random test ride and never regretted it.

Long wheelbase makes it extremely stable in corners, and the brakes could stop a plane. Motorways, B roads, A Roads, commuting, you can tour on it, drag race from the lights, pull wheelies, do track days, carry a pillion easily for a romantic sunday afternoon ride...all things to all men really. It's not even that big, so if you're short in the leg you can still fit. Seat is a little firm but I could ride for several hours before it became a problem.

Buttery smooth and tons of power. I've never been able to use all of it on the road, it takes very little effort to go very fast. It's polite at low speeds but keep it above 6k in the rev range and not much will catch up with you.

It's overall excellent. Only slight gripe is the thin paint on the bottom of the fuel tank, and can lead to rust spots. Apart from that, no issues.

It's probably a bit more expensive than other offerings with more gadgets, but it is built solid.

It's reasonably simple by modern standards, which is what I liked about it. Fully recommend the quickshifter.

Buying experience: Fowlers Honda were brilliant.

Version: Black Edition

Year: 2021

Annual servicing cost: £1,000

Fantastic great all around bike with a couple of things I wish I could change

Brakes are good, rear shock is a weak point of the bike. I took mine to the track a few times and put an ohlins rear shock and it transformed the bike, night and day difference.

Engine is good, but the fuel mapping and ecu from the factory isn't that great. I know its for euro emission requirements but the on/off fueling sucks and it is extremely neutered from the factory. It's got a big flat spot in the power below 6000 rpm and being able to the get the ecu flashed has proven to be a difficult process, not a lot of tuners are offering services on this bike as the ecu is very difficult to get into and modify. This model has been out for 3 years of writing this and only now is there a couple of main stream tuners offering flashing services for the bike.

Fantastic build quality, 30,000km on mine with never an issue.

Other than new fluids, oil as needed, brake fluid and rad flush every year its never needed anything

TC sucks like mentioned in the review, the way it just cuts the power and the front comes straight down and then there is nothing for a couple of seconds until the bike starts to give you some juice again is terrible. I turn mine off everytime I get on. For a new model bike this should have been better, and they definitely should have added cruise control on a modern bike with ride by wire.

Buying experience: Bought from a dealership and had 0 issues

Version: Plus

Year: 2018

Could be a great bike and is great fun to ride, but is let down by flawed execution in a number of ways. Most importantly, fine vibrations became unbearable as they left my hand and foot tingling for days on end after every ride. The old FireBlade engine is known for vibrations so why didn't they use rubber engine mounts? The paint quality is abysmal. The rider seat is too hard and uncomfortable. Footpegs are too high. The pillion seat is useless (like on most naked bikes). The number plate hanger is super-ugly and heavy, easily fixed with a tail tidy which also turns chain adjustment from a chore to a doddle. The front mud guard looks cheap and is not in keeping with the rest of the bike. Most of these issues are minor or can be easily addressed, but I only rode the bike for four months because of the vibrations. I had owned my previous bikes for 20 and 13 years, respectively and the CB1000R was intended to be a keeper, too, so this was a very disappointing experience.

Brilliant handling, very easy to ride. Awesome front brakes, average rear. The rear shock is much criticized but I had no problem with it, perhaps because I am a relative lightweight at under 70kg. [There is a useful suspension set-up guide on the web.] Hard seat becomes uncomfortable after approx. 2 hours in the saddle, but easily fixed: I used a gel strap-on cover which allowed all-day riding in comfort. Footpegs are positioned unnecessarily high and forward. They could be much lower without sacrificing ground clearance. After initial back pain my body quickly got used to the slightly strange riding position and I could ride all day in comfort (with the gel pad fitted). Not suitable for a pillion: seat is too small, too hard, and the pegs are too high.

I loved the power delivery: pulls smoothly from low revs and never feels slow. From about 6,500 revs it takes off like a missile, absolutely intoxicating. So you can ride it depending on your mood, enjoying the scenery and taking it easy or having an absolute blast. The vibrations spoiled it for me, unfortunately. Also, the fuel consumption should be better in this day and age.

No mechanical problems in 4,000 miles of riding, but the paint quality is very poor. Paint on tank and seat cowl is deep and lush, but very soft and prone to scratching, as if no clear coat had been applied. A magnetic map holder which I had been using for years without problems left deep scratches on the fuel tank after only one short use. Engine paint is extremely thin and flakes off quickly where it is exposed to road grit etc from the front wheel.

Loses value quickly, which is one of the reasons I bought it as a low mileage used bike. Fuel consumption not great. I got 40 - 50 mpg out of it depending on riding style whereas my Triumph Speed Triple delivers a consistent 59 mpg.

I bought the "Plus" version with quickshifter, seat cowl, and some brushed aluminium bits. As a used buy, the Plus commands very little premium over the standard version so it's the one to go for. I fitted Dunlop Roadsmart III tyres which worked brilliantly with this bike, very confidence inspiring in dry and wet conditions.

Buying experience: Bought used from Superbikefactory, with only 4,000 miles on the clock. SBF had fitted a rear tyre and left plenty of tyre grease on the wheel to suggest that a new tyre had been fitted, although they never claimed they had. On closer inspection, they had fitted a squared-off used tyre worn close to the legal limit. When I went around the Donington show room, I observed that the same was true for about one third of their bikes. They also fitted a new chain and battery. With hindsight, I wondered why that was done on such a low mileage bike. Also, I wasn't told that the pillion seat was missing. [The Plus model comes with seat cowl and seat as standard.] Fortunately, I asked and was able to renegotiate the price. I would think twice before buying from SBF again. Went to John Banks Honda in Cambridge (where the bike had been bought when new) to have the vibrations checked out, but they didn't want to know and fobbed me off. My impression was that they are really a car dealership with little interest in bikes. I then went to Norman Way Honda in Letchworth and received excellent service. They took my bike out for a test ride and even lent me their demonstrator bike to prove that the vibrations on my bike were normal for this model.

Year: 2019

Definitely recommend, light ,agile,great engine,a very rideable, enjoyable machine.

Excellent all round bike,comfortable and very little effort required.

Fireplace unit so excellent

No problems so far.

Can't remember,so can't have been bad.

Engine,gearbox,frame,single side swinger and overall finish

Buying experience: Dealer,paid asking price.

Year: 2021

Annual servicing cost: £150

En general es lo que espero de la moto, las sensaciones son muy buenas especialmente después de las 6000rpm, el sonido del tetracilindrico es magnifico, la posicion de manejo acorde a lo que uno espera de un naked. Las suspensiones algo blandas incluso cuando graduas la dureza al maximo, te haran sentir inseguro si la exiges al maximo en curvas, si eres un usuario normal y no la exiges al maximo, te sentiras comodo.

Mira, las marchas son muy suaves, y con Quickshiffter es aun mejor, la relación corta hace que puedas adelantar con mucho brío incluso con 6ta marcha. Es muy alegre después de 6mil rpm, el sillín es suave, pero no importa que tan suave sea un sillín, después de 3 horas seguidas en ella ya estarás cansado.

La experiencia del sonido, el torque y la potencia es excepcional, es muy suave y docil en bajas, el acelerador electronico dosifica muy bien la potencia al tacto, y definitivamente es una bestia cuando le abres el gas. Encantado con ella.

Las piezas son de excelente calidad, salvo por el plastico de la farola, que es un plastico blando y que tiende a rayarse con cualquier cosa, la pintura de las partes muy bien lograda. Llantas de serie excelentes en piso mojado y seco, obviamente con las precauciones que se deben tomar.

Dolares americanos que en Colombia son aproximadamente 680.000 (Menos de un salario minimo) asi que me parece muy economica.

La posicion de manejo me gusta, es sobre la moto y no dentro de ella como la mayoria de a mi nakeds del mercado. De accesorios ojala viniera con el quickshiffter de fabrica (mi version no la trajo asi que lo instale) y sin duda la plataforma de honda no esta en mi pais asi que no puedo tener conectividad bluetooth a mi telefono, algo que honda deberia solucionar pronto, debido a la gran cantidad de usuarios con motos en Colombia.

Buying experience: Compre a un distribuidor privado, excelente servicio, atentos y amables... pague por ella 13.500 dolares (60 millones de pesos colombianos) siendo la mas barata del segmento (1000cc) en ese momento, y con mejor calidad/precio.

Year: 2021

Would be a 5 but seat comfort is literally a pain in the arse after an hour of riding.

Comfortable enough sitting position but seat isn’t the best. The longer your out the worse it gets.

Fantastical smooth engine and throttle response. More than enough torque solo riding. Can’t comment about two up as I’ve not had a pillion on yet.

Not not it had to service it yet so can’t comment. Mileage wise if your into that kind of thing is a solid 50 mpg giving a tank range of 170ish.

Great quickshifter both up and down the box. Bit disappointed about lack of cruise control and heated grips at this price point.

Buying experience: Bought from dealer over the phone and they delivered it for me. Hassle free and I’d be more than happy to do it again.

Version: Neo Sports Cafe'

Year: 2019

The engine is very smooth and felxible.

The rear shock absorber is dreadful. It has a very soft progressive spring and there is no way you can adjust it to get a quality ride and handling. I got a YSS shock and transformed the ride. Two hours. No pillion.

Smooth. Never got it flat out as it just keeps pulling,

The powder coating on the sump flakes off with 200 miles. It is very poor quality preparation and so thin you scratch it off with your finger nails. The armour plating on the water hoses is disappearing, rust on various brackets, Just not Honda quality.

ABS, Engine modes.

Buying experience: good

Year: 2018

Annual servicing cost: £100

EXCELLENT, useable bike, powerful but never "heavy" and very easy to ride. Light and great fun, thanks Honda.

Needs setting up and then excellent.

Pulls like a train with loads of low down torque making it wìeasy and fun to ride at all speeds. Lovely.

It's a Honda, period.

Oil, filters and chain lube.

Has everything you need, I just added a Puig screen.

Buying experience: I bought her as soon as I saw her on sale at Alf England, great looking bike and super value for money. Thanks guys!!!

Year: 2020

Annual servicing cost: £160

Beautiful finish, with great low speed everyday handling and comfort, but when you get the revs above 6000rpm it comes to life and never fails to put a smile on my face. Superb.

Very comfortable for real world speeds. This is the first naked bike I've had and I find that the constant steady airflow is more comfortable than the constant noise and buffeting that I've had from various screened/faired bikes in the past.

Very versatile, can be ridden like a commuter when required but comes alive after 6000rpm.

Traction control gives peace of mind. Other than that, it stops, goes, and puts a smile on my face, what more do you need in a bike.

Version: Ra

Year: 2018

Rear shock absorber too soft so fitted a different shock. Mirrors useless fitted extenders. Footrest too high fitted lowers. Rear number plate carrier ugly fitted a tail tidy.

Rear shock absorber too soft.

Paint flaking of sump. Exhaust end cap. Front reflector brackets. Oil cooler completely hammered with road debris. Hose protection fraired

Buying experience: Dealer

Year: 2021

Annual servicing cost: £175

This bike does everything really well, it has no bad points at all, but also it doesn't have one standout point. I guess the thing about Hondas they are well built and designed and that's what the manufacturer aims to do. I love my CB1000R, it's well built, very reliable and has more than enough performance (even compared to a Fireblade which I've had three models of, RR2, RR7 and RAB.

Great brakes, plenty of feel and usable with just two fingers. Smooth to use when riding at slow speeds on congested city roads.I can ride for two hours before needing a break, but a pillion passenger needs a break after around eighty minutes.

Nice and flexible with a well matched gearbox. Beautiful exhaust note.

Outstanding quality, faultless.

Cheaper than many of my previous bikes to maintain.

My bike has the monochrome LCD display which can be tricky to see in bright sunlight. The best accessory I have is heated grips from Oxford, they make winter jaunts a pleasure.

Buying experience: Crescent Honda in Southampton are an outstanding dealership, knowledgeable and extremely helpful.

Version: RA

Year: 2018

I would never recommend any bike to anyone for obvious reasons. The rear suspension is an absolute disgrace and this has been reported to Honda over the years but typical Honda its the rider not the bike!!! I fitted a YSS rear suspension and when the I removed the OE one it had a progressive spring fitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is now brilliant. The footpegs are too high got cramp in my groin and I only have a 29" leg! The rear number plate carrier is so ugly it had to go. Superb engine, brakes and front suspension. Paint flakes of the sump which has been replaced but it came straight of the replacement on the first ride out

Disgusting rear suspension. Week spring impossible to set up. For Honda it is a disgrace.

Like everything

Sump paint flaking.

Not had a service yet

No extras on the bike not even air temperature. Favourite is fuel tank looks.

Buying experience: Excellent.

Version: Neo

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £120

I bought this bike on looks alone, the added bonus was the performance and handling. I do NOT recommend that an inexperienced or return to riding rider buy this bike without at least 2 or 3 years on a minimum of a 650cc, at first I found I was joining motorways at over 100 in 2nd or 3rd gear, and it does 78 in 1st

So much power even in normal mode it would pull wheelies going from 2nd to 3rd so you couldn't open up the throttle fully until in a higher gear, however when I got used to these things the bike was awesome, the scream of the engine and the exceleration are fantastic, you should get 2 hours between filling unless plodding but I generally used 2nd and 3rd gear as this is when it is at it's best

More power than most would ever need and I include myself, the engine breaking is brilliant and I hardly ever used my breaks when out of town

Starter motor issues from early on and dealer couldn't find the issue

Service very reasonable but fuel economy when ridden as it should was low 30's mpg and it loves eating tyres.

It has 3 power options plus a personal set up, fully adjustable suspension, comfortable seat (you'll be filling up before any numb bum), I had heated grips fitted, and ran Michelin pilots after the oem tyres needed replacing, I loved the candy red colour, I would recommend a screen as over 80 you get blown down the saddle, I went with smoke grey perspex one that looked quite good on the bike. All speeds quoted may be kph or mph, you decide 😉

Buying experience: Bought from Kent Motorcycles and the service was excellent, more than a fair trade in price for my previous bike, with this and 0% finance I was happy with the price of £10.5k

Version: Plus

Year: 2018

Annual servicing cost: £200

Stunning design, best-looking bike out there imho. Presence, class and coherent design architecture. Slick ride, but lacks a bit of character.

At its best on fast, smooth, sweeping A and B roads. Nakedness limits distance (bike, not me). Slightly uncomfy riding position for me, easily solved by a higher seat option.

Smooth and powerful top end, but lacks a bit of character and grunt low down.

Perfect

Favourite feature - quickshifter. Needs a higher seat option for 5'10" plus riders... Position is a bit too arms out-feet forward for longer journeys.

Buying experience: Excellent 0% PCP and £1000 off deal from a Honda dealer.

Version: Black edition

Year: 2021

Superbly constructed ,Honda quality.

Version: Basic

Year: 2018

Annual servicing cost: £35

I love it great bike but maybe just me but I feels runs a bit rough and hated the standard mirrors they spoiled look of bike

Its plenty fast for me especially as its a naked bike

I only change oil n filter on this one

I cant figure out how set time and reset trip meters i got no instruction book with it .

Buying experience: Dealer had 3000 miles on it wanted £7500 for it i traded a 2015 vfr 800 against it and got £2650 for it so I was only out pocket under 2 grand .and sold the akraprovic can from vfr for 200 quid so was happy

Version: Black edition

Year: 2021

Stunning looks & finish, more than enough power for the average rider

I'm tall at 6'4" but strangely this bike fits me perfectly, your legs aren't too tucked up and I find the riding position perfect.. A couple of things I've changed.. I've put foam grips on the handles as they seem very hard and I think a gel insert in the seat will be needed for longer journeys

More than enough power for me and the sound from the stock exhaust always makes me smile!

Break down?! It's a Honda!!

The new TFT screen looks amazing (especially compared to the previous model) still working out how to get the Bluetooth to work but probably just user error!

Buying experience: Bought from a Dealer who delivered it on the day and time they said they would.. Perfect

Version: Neo Cafe' Racer

Year: 2019

1- The rear shock absorber has a very soft progressive spring. Fit new YSS shock and the bike is transformed. Footpegs too high for me lowers fitted. Handle bars to far away for naked riding, risers fitted, mirrors only show your arms, extenders fitted, radiator guard fitted, handlebar grips too narrow so part of your hand is always on the bar end weights and the paint rubs off, different bar ends required. After the above is completed it makes a fabulous bike with stunning engine and high build quality. It is a shame as with all bikes that manufacturers allow them to be sold knowing they have all these issues. Just as a side why does MCN never mention build quality in any of it new model reviews? Just take a look at the Yamaha MT09 Tracer it is so cheap I would be ashamed to put my name on it yet MCN make no mention of this very important aspect. You will say you don't like the look of it. This is a very unhelpful comment as it is only one person personal opinion

As mentioned above rear shock absorber is inadequate. Brakes front good but rear poor.

Flexible and smooth.

Standard Honda superior quality.

Lacks items such as air temperature gauge.

Buying experience: Dealer.

Version: Black edition

Year: 2021

It's a friendly and fun road bike. I went from a gsxs1000f to a tuono 1100 factory. To much drama and hard work on the road. High running costs for a weekend toy so went for a more road focused machine. So glad I did. I'm back to riding the bike bike instead of it riding me.

Road focused so quite plush. No dramas in the fast corners.

Nice smooth and predicable power curve. Pulls well from low down.

New so can't really comment. Had honda in the past so not worried.

Cheaper insurance, servicing and mpg than my previous tuono. Still gives the same smiles though.

It's a shame cruise control wasn't included.

Buying experience: Great service from via moto at Sheffield. 1k off list price.

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £150

Mine came with heated grips on the base model which are brilliant,I've also added bar end mirrors,rear plastic seat cowel,tail tidy,and short levers clutch and brake. Definitely adds to the bikes character looks more sporty with attitude.

So smooth through all gears,plenty off power all round loves to rev.

Plenty of power does not dissapoint.

Quality built bike typical honda quality.

Everything I need on board plus more,rider modes and abs work a treat.

Buying experience: Bought from a honda deal got a great price on a 12 month old model in black

Version: +

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £110

how it looks & rides Everyone should try one of these Worse feature is the standard No plate hanger, chain adjustment is timely

Bike it light and well balanced at walking pace when filtering which is great Saddle good for 2 + hours when just sat touring fast b roads much better as your moving around on the bike Brakes are fantastic Suspension now great Front compression & rebound 2.5 turns out from fully in Front preload also 2.5 turns out from fully in Rear preload 8 out of 10 (10 the hardest) Rear rebound 1.5 turns out from fully in Much firmer ride, so much better at speed Can't comment on pillion comfort as rear peg hangers removed and pillion pad still in factory bag I wouldn't go on the back of it so no one else is

Engine is fab, free revving with lots of torque low down, then revs like a lunatic slight buzz through the bars at times

It shouldn't fail - Says Honda on the tank

Valve inspection is @ 24000 miles, What's not to like ?

Favorite two features are how it looks and rides Evotech tail tidy is pure class as it merges almost seamlessly into the rear underbody I don't get why people put £50 ones on that look like they bent a few bits of metal in a vice and fastened it together with gutter bolts Akrapovi'c race can is no louder than std, just a much deeper tone. Puig h/bar fairing takes all the wind of the upper torso but no turbulent air at the head, just clean air - perfect I would never use a quick shifter up or down through neutral - that's just cruel !

Buying experience: £1500 off list and 0% on a pcp deal A breeze

Version: CB1000R+

Year: 2020

Annual servicing cost: £158

Beautiful bike - a real looker esp in red - guess what flavour I have LOL!

A great bike for a the pilot. Not fab with a pillion TBH - upsets the balance. Luckily the Mrs has her own bike - a Grom :0)

Fantastic: goes well, sounds wonderful!

It's a Honda - nuff said

Bought a 2 year service plan = £316.

Great as she comes from the shop, but of course you have to fettle! This is what I've done - so far: R&G: RD Moto Oil Filler Cap Red - RDM-OC6R £14.99 Kickstand Shoe - PKS0038SI £31.66 Bar End Sliders for Honda CB1000R(+) '18- BE0058BK £24.99 Tail Tidy for the Honda CB1000R(+) '18- LP0254BK £150.Motea: ConStands Central Stand Power-Classic Honda CB1000R 2018 Red. SKU: 994449-0-572529-0 c/w 3 Year WarrantyGivi: BF30 Tanklock Tank Ring ST602B Sport-T Tanklock Tank Bag - 4LOptiMate: OM TM73 AccuMate Extension Lead 2.5 MeterAkrapovic: Slip-On Line (Titanium & Carbon) S-H10SO20-HAPLTASV: C5 Clutch & Front Brake Levers

Buying experience: Doble - a great dealer.

Year: 2019

Best features looks, handling and sound, yes I would recommend to a friend , worst - range not great, pig to keep clean especially wheels, fuelling issue

When I first had the bike it was very uncomfortable needed to get off after an hour but never had a naked and pegs are quite high, soon got used to it and now find it very comfortable. Handling is superb corners really easily and brakes are excellent.

I would have given it 5 stars but for the fuelling issue which is still not solved, sometimes runs rough and sometimes very twitchy on throttle response, Having said that you can ride at 30mph in 4th or 5th and accelerate away with ease

Until recently (had the bike 2 years) exhaust was ok but now rust appearing and downpipes have become tarnished and stained, fuelling not great very twitchy took it to dealer but couldn't find a fault. Paint on tank scratches very easily

Get around 40-45 so MPG not bad but not great, rear tyre expensive and plugs will be very expensive apparently 25 quid each when its time to change them. Bought bike on 0% finance so great value

You get what you need for this type of bike, 3 rider modes, and one you can set but too much bother normally leave it on standard, headlight very good. I will fit the meter visor and the rad guard looks good.

Buying experience: Excellent bought form Bob Minions in Derby who were an approved Honda Dealer bought it on a PCP with 0% interest it was just over 11k

Version: Plus

Year: 2018

Build quality on this bike is very good, it also attracts a lot of looks. If I could add a couple of things to make it better one would be cruise control and 20 more bhp.

Suspension is a bit bouncy. Brakes are excellent

Lacks a bit of power. Could do with an extra twenty horses

Quick shifter

Buying experience: Dealer priced at £9,900 I paid £9,900

Version: +

Year: 2019

The CB1000R+ Is a marmite bike, some love the naked neo cafe racer looks, others do not. I’ve had more people tell me how cool my bike looks than any other I’ve owned. Many a proud Dad has asked to perch their small child atop the CB and have a picture taken. The + model comes with quick-shifter, which is good, but the amount of false neutrals between first and second is frustrating. The seating position is comfortable, but could be better, for me, if the pegs were slightly lower. The light system is infuriating, green, blue, purple, red for no real reason. However, despite a couple of niggles, this bike fills you with confidence, is a dream to ride and renews my love of riding every time I take her out for a spin.you can personalise the power settings as well as use the three Pre-programmed options. Note to Honda: please stop shipping with anything other than Bridgestone tyres. All reviews I read before I purchased spoke of how well the bike performed shod with Bridgestones, factory fitted. Mine arrived at the dealer with Dunlops, which I was charged to change to Bridgestone. But now the bike sticks to the road like glue.

An hour or so riding is fine, is no tourer, but that’s not why you buy a naked bike. Great riding experience with bags of confidence.

Can be a bit choppy at low speed irrespective of power setting. It’s fast, proper fast!

It’s a Honda! Just wish the quick-shifter could avoid false neutrals between 1st and 2nd.

It’s a Honda, it doesn’t go wrong!

Make sure yours has Bridgestone tyres.

Buying experience: Good from Honda Chiswick.

Version: 'Neo Sport Cafe' - 'Plus' version

Year: 2018

Annual servicing cost: £300

Best: the way it looks (and how I look on it passing a shop window), the engine, the reliability, the build quality. It's fast and, with a replacement shock, the handling can take it. Worst: the seat is too high (unnecessarily so for a street bike, I think), not adjustable - and no low seat options - don't understand why Honda would deliberately limit their market this way, the pointless coloured lights on the dash (after trying all the options, I don't use any of them), the lack of an ambient temperature gauge (would surely cost

The engine is excellent and really takes off at 7k rpm and up. Nevertheless, it is a pussycat in town, especially in Rain mode. It's really easy to switch modes on the go and I've learned to do this a lot depending on riding conditions. Not ideal as a commuter as you get very mucky in rain, and there's no weather protection. So long m-way rides are wearing with the constant wind blast and with no cruise control. It's more for blatting B-roads (which is mostly what I bought it for). As Neevesy says, the seat is comfy until it isn't - usually after 1.5-2 hours. Best of all, this is the only bike I've never dropped (so far!), despite its being a smidge too tall for my perfectly formed legs.

Tried and tested Fireblade RR7 engine. Bomb-proof reliable, super smooth, really powerful over 7k rpm, and it has some 'character', thanks to Honda's tweaking of the power and torque delivery from the original Fireblade version. The only thing that slows this bike down is the rider's tolerance of wind resistance (mine's getting lower as I get older).

Never had an issue with the bike in the 2.5 years I've owned it. Surfaces seem to be standing up to the wear and tear after 18k miles riding in all weathers and all seasons.

Even the 'expensive' 16k-mile service came in at sub £400 so this is not an expensive bike to own.

Love its looks. It looks like a hooligan with its short perky tail, squashed nose and low tank. I've customised it a bit - Evotech rad guard, ASV levers, Oberon bar-end mirrors, paint protection film, Nitron R1 shock, Leo Vince carbon end-can, R&G tail tidy. I replaced the OE tyres immediately after purchase and put Michelin Road 5 on. Sold the OE ones on Ebay. No brainer. Don't understand why Honda put such poor OE tyres on their bikes - it must affect the handling on test rides and put some potential buyers off.

Buying experience: Bought it new in August 2018 when it was a brand new model from a dealer (Crescent Honda, Bursledon) as they were selling it at £1k discount on rrp. Paid £11,500. Excellent service. Real test of a dealer is if they call back when they said they would - Crescent always did. I now use Farnham Honda as they are nearer to home. Also excellent.

Version: CB1000R Plus

Year: 2020

Annual servicing cost: £300

I would rec to a friend. I like Hondas bravery here. It isn't a full retro which is a good thing - the 1970's were a long time ago. It has cafe racer leanings but also has its own design statement. Modern, elegant but taking some of the better design tips from the past. Overall its best feature is the handling. It is a fast Fireblade powered and flickable machine perfect for street carving, filtering, traffic or an enthusiastic blap out on the A and B roads for a 50 mile blast. Just don't try long distance touring without changing the seat!

Handling is sharp and spot on - some say rear shock is poor - I don't get it myself. It works better if you push on through the corners...this seems to get the bike settled as it tracks a line with real precision. Give it a good chance before rushing off for a Hagon or Nitro after market...the OE is probably as good as most riders require . The front big piston showas are really good. My 4 stars is down to only one thing as the brakes are superb - progressive with great feel and very undemanding - NO, it's the seat!! - It chews my arse after about an hour an a half something rotten. I have a VFR and that seat I can be on all day

Lovely thing. Great midrange now Big H have remapped the power curve, and loves the revs. All the best features of an in line 4. I don't get any vibes through my bars. Smooth response from the ride by wire. Fast enough for anyone quite frankly, especially when you combine the sprightly performance with the pin sharp handling. For road riding, especially urban, you can comfortably run with all comers!

Beautifully engineered. Rimless tank, silky quickshifter and auto blipper, elegant single sided swing arm, crafted alloy wheels, aluminium not plastic body parts, etched engine casings, classy tapered tube handle bar, forged pistons, more mid range grunt, superb brakes. No corrosion (but only done low miles). Never failed.

Don't yet know, but Honda build, and made in Japan. Ex Fireblade engine has been around for years with millions of test miles under its pistons so most problems will have been sorted. Also, the Fireblade engine welcomes 'hard revs' so there will difficulty in over doing it on this engine

Auto blipper and quick shifter a work of art. Some say they get a 'fal;se neutral' with the quick shifter between 1st and 2nd - well I was always told not to use the QS between 1 and 2. The OE Bridgestones mine came with are absolutely fine. Trust them...combined with the bikes handling they are good - wet or dry

Buying experience: From a Honda Dealer with £1000 reduction and PCP finance at 0% interest. With 3 grand down it costs me £50 a month! Excellent service from them.

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £180

rear shock is "shocking", pointless if you weigh more than your average Joe. Replace at all costs. other wise everything else is as you would expect from Top of the range Honda

You might great some corrosion under the plastic panel at the front of the tank, remove the plastic and spray with acf50 right off the bat. If you have a tracker, get a trickle charger

only done 5000 odd miles in two years due to lockdown, so will see.

OEM tyres are rubbish, swapped mine for Road 5's from purchase, had no issues.

Buying experience: traded in a CBF1000A, got a great deal, ended up paying £8000, brand new.

Version: Plus

Year: 2020

Annual servicing cost: £250

Great build quality and (in my opinion - one of the best looking current bikes). It loves to rev and is seriously fast. Handling is good, but unlike most reviews, I find it a bit harsh. It's better when you are pushing on. Some come with Bridgestone tyres and others have Dunlop. Apparently it is well worth making sure you have the Bridgestones. They are very good. It is expensive, but the quality and thought that has gone into the design does show, and grows on you. Heated grips and the quick shifter are very welcome. It definitely has soul, whilst being a solid and dependable Honda. Really pleased with it.

A bit firm but very secure. Brakes are excellent. The seat is pretty hard and I'm glad to get off it after 100 miles. There is some space to shift about though. There is some high frequency vibration on the right bar which I hope may reduce over time (or maybe I'll get used to it).

Cracking engine. Honda bombproof and it loves to rev.

Top quality. Nothing has gone wrong and I don't expect it to.

The list price is high, but I got a cracking deal.

Heated grips and the quick shifter are great. I've added an Arrow exhaust, which saves lots of weights and is much smaller - showing off the single sided wheel. Cruise control would be useful (so you can get your right hand away from the vibration occasionally).

Buying experience: Bought from Graftons in Milton Keynes. Top notch shop. It's like a family shop, but very professional.

Version: +

Year: 2018

Annual servicing cost: £300

Best: Great Fireblade RR7 engine - fast, bomb-proof, flexible, sounds great (with my LeoVince can). Quickshifter - buttery and robust. Build quality - it's a Japan-built Honda, so nuff said. Right first time. Looks - subjective I know, but I love how I look on it when passing shop windows. Useful riding modes that really help in real world situations.Worst: Stupid pointless fairy lights - what was Honda thinking?!! No ambient temperature gauge - Honda could fix this for a fiver. Handling spoiled by cheap rear shock - replaced by me with an aftermarket Nitron R1 so now gorgeous. A really mucky bike in the wet, not helped when I switched to a tail tidy plate holder. Not unique to this bike though. It would be nice if manufacturers could find a way of keeping my back clean when it rains. Trigger operates traction control rather than the headlight flasher. I have never wanted to turn off TC on the fly, whereas I tend to use the headlight flasher a lot in ordinary road situations. This is primarily a road bike after all. Rubbishy slippery OE tyres - I wonder how many sales are lost because potential buyers think that scary moment on the test ride was down to the bike. Follow Ducati's lead Honda and put proper rubber on your new bikes. Mirrors that look like centipede antennae and don't work very well anyway. At least offer bar-end mirrors as a cost option. Tank filler - too much splash back means filling up is a pain. Headlight looks pretty but is virtually useless as a means of illuminating the road in front after dark.

Bike is perfect for summer blasts on B roads (but then, which bike isn't?). It's comfy enough for most riding. It's not a long distance tourer - I usually need to fill up at c140 miles and am always glad of the break. I never take a pillion. Fit decent tyres from new and sell the OE crap on Ebay. Also, replace the shock with something better.

Creamy inline four that's got loads of grunt and flexibility. It's a bloody fast bike so the fact that it's a naked bike means that wind resistance keeps me out of jail.

Great build quality. No corrosion so far after 2.5 years and 18k miles. No breakdowns and no part has failed.

Even the 16k valve service wasn't that bad. Service manager told me that they hardly ever need to touch the valves on these bikes. Nothing goes wrong between services. So although the upfront price may look rich versus the rivals, it soon becomes obvious that it's money well spent. Bomb-proof reliability is priceless - especially when you're planning a continental trip.

Favourite features - probably the riding modes, the quickshifter, the brakes. I favour Michelin Road 5 or their predecessors but imagine almost anything will be better than what it comes with as standard.

Buying experience: Bought new from dealer. They had an offer of £1,000 off rrp so I bought the + version for almost the same price as the standard - £12,300 down to £11,300.

Version: +

Year: 2019

Great design with neoclassical appeal. Riding position almost perfect, but saddle comfort could be a little better. This bike handles well, having had a CBR600FS (amazing bike and should Honda would do well to revamp this legend) and a couple of Blades, culminating in the last one you could actually tour, the 954, the CB1000R fees solid, reassuring and a pleasure to ride on the twists and turns, but is equally at home in commuter traffic. My one issue is the amount of false neutrals from the quick-shifter. A Great piece of Honda tech, but from 1st to 2nd, about 50% of the time, there’s a neutral. I’ve taken to using the clutch for that particular gear shift. The downshift works well and you have to remind yourself this isn’t an automatic. There are various power, torque and engine breaking settings and these can also be personalised. The heated grips work brilliantly. My last, personal note is that I am a Bridgestone fan. When researching this bike, prior to purchase, every review, official or otherwise, had the bike shod in Bridgestones. When my bike arrived at the dealer, it had Dunlop’s and old tech Dunlop’s at that. When you part with a significant amount of money for a beautiful new Honda, you don’t expect to have to pay for the right boots to be fitted, rather than the seven year old alternates apparently factory fitted. That said, the bike is a dream, it’s looks amazing, feels amazing and a pleasure to own and ride.

Pillion ???? I’d have the seat cowl off and I’ve told no one but nearest and dearest that there’s a pillion seat.

Quickshifter needs a little improvement between 1st and 2nd.

Only had first service so far.

Buying experience: Good buying experience, apart from the tyres, which I had to pay to rectify.

Version: Neo

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £73

Awesome performance, very well balanced even at low speeds. No self canceling indicators, tyres only good for warmer months

The abs was called into action recently (smidsey at a junction) and worked well although I had thankfully started to slow down when I saw the car racing to the junction, I can ride a good two hours before needing a break and/or petrol, the riding position means you are not leaning on your wrists all day, seat it quite adequate. I do need to get the suspension set up for me as it is a bit too bouncy

No matter what hear you are in it pulls, I love 2nd and 3rd gear and the acceleration for the faster rides but you could quite easily leave it in 5th or 6th, I also like the engine braking especially in 2nd gear on twisties.

Not had any problems at all

Just paid £73 for annual service at Kent motorcycles. The bike feels like it is in sports mode after the service even though the setting is in standard, very pleased. Decent rear tyre will cost £180 and £120 for the front

I would have expected heated grips on a new U.K. bike and self cancelling indicators, I have fitted a Givi rear rack but it spoilt the lines but unfortunately I need it, I also fitting a puig light smoke screen that looks good and really helps with wind pressure once you get over 80, and have just fitted Michelin pilot 5's as I am an all year round rider

Buying experience: I bought my bike from Kent motorcycles, they gave me a great trade in my Cb650fa along with dealer discounts I paid about £10,500 on 0%

Version: plus

Year: 2019

The Bike looks and rides the business

on the road the bike is amazing, im 14 stone and the suspension is far from harsh and gives good feeling braking in and accelerating out of corners.

this underpowered naked honda? acceleration is where you need it on the road to think about overtaking is to overtake, standard mode smooth through all the gears.

realy too soon to tell, but secondhand bike picked up in excellent condition. no problem with the paint finish as some seem to have, slight niggle the seat cowl is so high the previous owner and myself are scratching it getting on and off.

again too soon to tell

dealer fitted new tyres (after only 1800miles ) and also have the aftermarket slip on, so all good.

Buying experience: excellent Derby Honda dealer

Version: Plus model

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £180

Lovely all round bike with some finish issues

The suspension Honda have set a few notches off dead soft, so a lot of people are replacing rear shocks, this appears to mainly be larger riders, i have had my suspension set up and its much more planted and useable! The brakes appear sharp and give plenty of stopping power!

Despite the CAT being in place i find the power more than enough and midrange is good fun,the front wheel often pops up and skips about under acceleration and with the right rider will wheelie no problem.

i have given the bike the rating i have due to the many issues the bike has shown over the months,not just from myself but from the many owners worldwide who voiced these views on owners groups. 1st example the riders seat appears to have rips in, this im told is how they are produced and the stitching is incomplete leaving you with "gaps" either side of the rear where it bolts on. secondly in my case is the rust forming around the welds, this appears on the top of the tank where the shrouds bolt in and on the back of the tank where the front seat sits and also at the front inside of the tank, the paint finish even though im assured by honda is an adequate finish considering the euro friendly paint/clearcoat is shocking, after being aware the paint was soft i avoided contact where possible but after light buffing/cleaning and a little polish it is left looking like i have used wire wool on it and the rainbow looking micro scratches show through big time.I have had my tank and seat replaced under warranty ,the new tank is scratched beyond belief and the rust i am in no doubt will appear again..Other owners suffer condensation in the display to the point they have had them replaced,failing peeling paint around the sump bolt is another issue, so in short Honda have really dropped the ball on finish!

Has to be the quickshifter/blipper,i owned a 2017 fireblade prior which i added this too and it was a delight, and the heated grips on the plus model work well for what they are!

Buying experience: I speak to Honda dealer in Blackpool on facebook and a good deal was offered in p/x for the fireblade so no dramas

Version: Standard (not the +version)

Year: 2018

I came into possession rather by accident as I traded in my GSX-S1000F due to high milage. As there was nothing else modern and quite fast available, I went for the CB1000R. I have a hard time to name what the CB does better than the GSX-S... I guess only the brakes and the front-fork.

The strong suit of this bike are the brakes and (with a few turns toward hard on the rear-damper) the suspension.

Could be stronger - especially in the middle of the rev-range you feel a torque-plunge that really goes on your nerves. Sixth gear uphill around 6 - 7000 rpm it nearly stagnates. I have installed a Shark Track Raw Slip-on exhaust with claims to bring 4 additional hp. I wreck my brain why they did not use the SC59 engine as basis - so much more expensive?

The core-virtues of Honda are still well made - very smooth engine and everything seems well crafted and engineered. But... all the other japanese producers excel in this catagories as well for years.

As Honda seems not to be able to sell its huge stock, you can get them at a bargain, far under listprice. With 998 ccm you are in any case in the 749 to 999 ccm-range - due to a bit lower horsepower it is a few Euros cheaper than my previous GSX-S. The fuel-economy is on average - I neet 5,66 l to 100 kilometers on very low-rev-pace. I was used to 5 l straight with the Suzi and a bit more punch through the rev-range.

First thing you need to install is something against the wind as soon as you go over urban-riding, onto country roads or tours. I was pondering a long time what will not worsen the looks of the already not so sharp front with the round headlight and reduce wind-pressure. I chose the Puig 3133F eventually. The traction-control is very different to the GSX-S - I was used to have power on full and traction on highest (safest) setting. Worked perfectly on the GSX - you never had the feeling you are hindered but super safe and fast. The same setting on the CB frustates you as it brutally slowes you down - somehow unnecessarily overzealous. Strangely when going uphill fast through corners in high gear it also brings you down although the wheel are most likely not to spin... somehow as the lean-angle and corner speed sets off the traction control. Then I went down to two bars in the User-mode - same. Then I went down to only one bar left for traction-control. Now it is not as intrusive as to slow you down but I am a bit anxious what happens when I accelerate fully and lose grip... how fast it will engage and prevent a crash. I tested this setting on a gravel parking-area - it does work at least there. ABS is excellent front and rear.

About the author

MCN Chief Road Tester - Neevesy’s been an MCN Road Tester since 2002. He’s reviewed everything from mopeds to Rossi’s Yamaha M1, and plenty in between He covers tens of thousands of miles a year on the world’s roads and racetracks in his role with MCN, and when he’s not working he’s still on two wheels, racing both modern and classic superbikes for a variety of teams. To cement his position as one of the most influential motorcycling journalists on the planet, Neevesy spent many years as an Elite Instructor at the Ron Haslam Race School, based at the famous Donington Park race circuit. He regularly presents videos on riding tips and road safety, working alongside the likes of Highways England to deliver a strong and consistent message.

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