KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Suzuki Katana and the CB1000 Hornet SP are closely matched in terms of prices.
- The CB1000 Hornet SP gets more sophisticated hardware over the Katana.
- The Katana comes at a slightly higher price tag.
The Honda CB1000 Hornet SP landed in India recently, and we decided why not take things further and put it alongside another litre-class naked motorcycle in an on-paper comparison. The Suzuki Katana comes along as one of its closest rivals, and both motorcycles are quite closely matched in various aspects.
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Honda CB1000 Hornet SP Vs Suzuki Katana; Design
The CB1000 Hornet SP is Honda's reimagination of what its ultimate naked flagship should look like, as it replaces the neo-retro CB1000 R. It comes with a modern streetfighter design, featuring a beefy fuel tank giving it a muscular stance, along with sharp visual elements, compact fenders, an upswept tail section and a stubby exhaust pipe. The split LED headlamps will also remind you of other performance streetfighters.
In comparison, the Suzuki Katana pays tribute to the original Katana of the 80s, with its smooth and sharp design. The Katana has been designed keeping the literal Japanese sword in mind. Unlike the Honda, the Katana is available in two paint schemes; Metallic Matte Stellar Blue, and Metallic Mystic Silver. While the CB1000 Hornet SP is more fitting to the times in its design, the Katana is far sharper looking, and it looks like a tribute well done.
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Powertrain And Performance
| Criteria | Honda CB1000 SP Hornet | Suzuki Katana |
| Engine | 1000cc, liquid-cooled, four-cylinder | 999cc, liquid-cooled, four-cylinder |
| Power | 155bhp at 11,000rpm | 147bhp |
| Torque | 107Nm at 9000rpm | 106Nm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed with quickshifter | 6-speed with quickshifter |
The CB1000 Hornet has landed here in its full-fat SP guise, and as such it carries higher power and torque figures. Strangely, however, while Suzuki did mention that the Katana's engine finds its roots in the 2006 GSX-R1000 K5, the Japanese bikemaker has not been very clear with the rpm figures. However, it is fair to assume that the Katana will not be too far off from the Katana in terms of acceleration and performance.
Hardware And Chassis
| Criteria | Honda CB1000 Hornet SP | Suzuki Katana |
| Frame | Twin-spar frame | Twin-spar frame |
| Front Suspension | 41mm Showa SFF big-piston forks | 43mm KYB forks |
| Rear Suspension | Ohlins TTX monoshock and a pro-link swingarm | Link-type monoshock |
| Front Brake | 310mm twin discs with radially-mounted dual piston Brembo Stylema callipers | 310mm twin discs with radially-mounted dual piston Brembo dual piston Monobloc callipers |
| Rear Brake | 240mm disc with a Nissin single-piston calliper | 240mm disc with a single-piston Brembo calliper |
| Kerb Weight | 212kg | 215kg |
| Fuel Tsnk | 17 litres | 12 litres |
Both bikes are closely matched in terms of hardware, with the Katana and the Hornet both packing a fully-adjustable front suspension and premium quality brakes. However, while the Katana comes with a 12-litre fuel tank, the Hornet should help you travel slightly further with its larger 17-litre fuel tank.
The Katana is also 3kg heavier than the Hornet, and while both motorcycles are known to be quite agile despite their claimed kerb weight figures, it remains to be seen which one rides better than the other.
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Features
The CB1000 Hornet SP comes equipped with a 5-inch colour TFT with RoadSync connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, and call/SMS alerts. There are three default riding modes on offer, along with two custom modes, and it also comes with four-level Honda Selectable Torque Control, engine braking control and wheelie control.
As for the Katana, it carries on with a basic LCD insrument cluster with no connectivity. However, the LCD cluster comes with a day/night mode. Some other features on this bike include three riding modes, dual-channel ABS, traction control, ride-by-wire, and low RPM assist.
Verdict
This is quite the close match between two naked motorcycles on-paper. Both motorcycles are quite close in terms of the hardware they pack. However, it is clear that the Hornet edges out over the Katana by a small margi when it comes to the features list. That said, the Katana is clearly the better looking motorcycle, and it remains to be seen how different the two motorcycles are in terms of the ride experience.
