Performance motorcycles are something that all riders aspire to, and with good reason – they are the pinnacle of fun, and being able to ride one feels like an accomplishment. It’s the equivalent of riding a shark with dynamite into an active volcano, to purloin a phrase from a popular animated movie. The European Union and Australia have a motorcycle licensing system that forces you to start small and level up with practice and experience. All of these mechanisms are in place to protect new riders from getting into bad situations created by excess power and a deficit of control.
However, it would be nice if there existed a motorcycle that a rider could purchase as a new rider and grow into. It would save money, and in some ways reduce the learning curve – you wouldn’t have to learn the idiosyncrasies of a new motorcycle.
What Makes A Good Performance Motorcycle?
Speed, yes. That’s the obvious answer. However, that’s not the only thing. A one-trick pony might be easy to engineer, but it can make it mighty difficult to deal with the demands of an everyday ride. A good performance motorcycle should be the kind that makes you want to reach for the keys on the days that things aren’t perfect – it shouldn’t demand perfection from you all the time. It should be fun even in the city, at legal speeds. And it should put a smile on your face when the servicing bill comes due. The best kind of performance motorcycle for most people is the kind of performance motorcycle that doesn’t intimidate new riders.
The Honda CB750 Hornet E-Clutch Doesn’t Intimidate New Riders
The CB750 Hornet doesn’t seem like a performance bike when you look at the spec sheet. It doesn’t have a lot of power, it has a parallel twin engine in the middleweight segment, and it now comes standard with the E-Clutch system, which is one of Honda’s solutions for the pains that a manual gearbox brings to the table. It might be a little difficult to believe that this docile-looking Honda (on the spec sheet) can be a bundle of fun, but that is exactly what it is. If you’re new to these displacements and power levels, it is forgiving. If you’re approaching it from more power and capacity, its light weight and nimbleness is refreshing. Wherever you might come from, it is the performance motorcycle that doesn’t intimidate new riders.
It Has An Unintimidating Price As Well
The CB750 is available in a single variant, with the E-Clutch. Honda’s asking price for it is $7,999, which puts it at the bottom of its class when it comes to price. The value it delivers is excellent, which is another reason why it will appeal to a new rider: the buy-in is the easiest. The great pricing is thanks to Honda utilizing its parts bin to the fullest, but we’re not complaining at all. This only means that it is a reliable, affordable product.
10 Affordable Motorcycles For New Riders
A fun little dual-sport from Honda is the most affordable motorcycle for a new rider.
This Is A Fun Engine, Beginner Or Not
The CB750 shares its powerplant with the XL750 Transalp, and puts out a similar amount of power as well. It displaces 755 cc from two cylinders, uses a 270-degree firing order, has a compression ratio of 11.0:1, and makes 90.5 horsepower at 9,500 RPM and 55.3 pound-feet at 7,250 RPM. Despite being the most affordable middleweight naked, it has one of the highest power outputs. The sense of performance is heightened thanks to the six-speed close-ratio gearbox.
The E-Clutch system in the real world behaves like a semi-automatic gearbox. You don’t have to operate the clutch lever at all, even when coming to a halt, but you do need to shift gears yourself. Essentially, while in motion, it acts like a two-way quick shifter, and you can theoretically take off from rest in any gear. You can also turn it off if you choose to operate the clutch lever manually.
Rational Choices Have Been Made For The Chassis
The CB750 Hornet doesn’t use complicated (read: expensive) components for the chassis. The frame is a steel diamond frame with the engine as a stressed member, and it uses 41 mm inverted Showa SFF-BP forks at the front. A Pro-link single shock is present at the rear and it has preload adjustability. The front offers 4.7 inches of travel, and the rear, 5.1 inches.
The brakes are similarly good: twin 296 mm wave discs paired with radial four-piston fixed calipers from Nissin are at the front, while a 240 mm wave disc with a single-piston caliper is present at the rear. The standard 17-inch alloy wheels and tubeless tires are present, although we must point out that the 160 mm width of the rear tire is a lot narrower than what is usual for the class. This, among other things like its 422-pound weight, helps it feel light on its feet. In typical Honda fashion, it is also forgiving of mistakes.
We appreciate the large 4-gallon fuel tank, but if there is one thing about the CB750 Hornet that can be intimidating, it is the 31.3-inch seat height. It is one of the lower seats in the class, no doubt, but it is one that short riders will take some getting used to.
10 Hondas Known For Legendary Reliability
All these bikes have played their part in establishing Honda as a world leader in the motorcycle industry
Intelligent Choices For The Feature Set Keep The Price Down
The CB750 Hornet does not feel like it is short on features, despite not possessing a six-axis IMU. A 5-inch TFT display is where it all begins—this is a common unit and is present on a lot of Honda products, and it has Bluetooth and navigation by default. All-LED lighting and some aggressive styling is also standard on the middleweight Hornet.
The accessories list is extremely short, but that is okay for a budget-type motorcycle. You can have a different seat (it is the same height as the regular one, but with different upholstery), heated grips, a fly screen, a pillion seat cowl, tank pads, sporty footpegs, and luggage.
The choice of electronics is very interesting. The by-wire throttle enables three ride modes, one user-configurable mode, HSTC, power modes, wheelie control, engine-braking control, and ABS. The traction control is adjustable, but the ABS is not switchable.
How Honda Earned Its Reputation For Bulletproof Engineering
Owning a Honda offers peace of mind because the products are so reliable. How did Honda get here, though?
Some Very Good Competition But The Honda Is The Most Easygoing For Newbies
The CB750 Hornet has some extremely good competition in the segment, but you’ll still need to look long and hard before you can find something as friendly as the Honda for new riders. If you must have something that has a docile power delivery but don’t mind a little extra weight, the Kawasaki Z900 ($9,999) will do nicely, but you’ll have to spend a good $2,000 more for it. You do get a six axis IMU and twice as many cylinders for the extra moolah. If you’d like the inline four but want even more convenience, you can keep it in the family with the $9,199 CB650R E-Clutch.
However, if you’re looking for friendly motorcycles for beginners in the segment, a great choice will be the Yamaha MT-07. It has a similar philosophy to the CB750 Hornet, but with an even smaller and lighter package. It has less power, less weight, and just as much fun as the Honda. It doesn’t have a semi-automatic gearbox or even a two-way quick shifter, and it costs more, at $8,599.
Source: Honda PowerSports