2019 Honda CB1000R ABS

Let’s get something straight right from the clutch drop: Despite similarities in model names, the 2019 Honda CB1000R is not a CBR1000RR relieved of its plastic bodywork, leaving the liter-spec four-cylinder engine in plain view. Rather, this so-called “neo-sports café” entry is a blend of old and new; if you squint, you might even see an early 1980s CB900F. The modern engine has three power modes—Rain, Standards, and Sport—and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) can be switched off. A steel backbone frame with aluminum pivot plates is paired with a single-sided swingarm. Showa’s Separate Function Big Piston (SFF-BP) fork keeps damping control in one leg to reduce weight; the Showa shock is three-way adjustable for preload and damping. Antilock braking is standard.

Honda touts “premium” metal finishes throughout, from a burnished aluminum radiator shroud and airbox cover to machined engine cases, cylinder head, and sprocket hub, plus a flangeless steel fuel tank. In fact, only six exterior parts are plastic, the largest being the front fender. LED lighting is used from stem to stern, and the sleek dash—with shift-up, ECO riding, gear-position, and riding-mode indicators—is integrated with the triple clamp.

Likes: Top-notch finish, typical of Honda production motorcycles; classic profile

Dislikes: One color—admittedly stunning Chromosphere Red; boom-box muffler

Verdict: A lot of motorcycle—built to provide a lifetime of riding—for the money

“With its sharper geometry the CB1000R pours through turns yet remains stable in the rough stuff,” Adam Waheed wrote after riding the 2018 model. “True, it isn’t quite as well-supported as CBR1000RR suspenders, but overall the components perform admirably and, more importantly, better than others in this class.”

2018 Honda CB1000R Pairs Elegance And Performance 2018 Honda CB1000R Redefines Modern Café Racer Concept

Standard-style motorcycles—a category for which the 2019 Honda CB1000R is tailormade—are frequently fitted with a one-piece tubular handlebar, have a relatively upright riding position, and little, if any, wind protection. They are exceptional do-it-all streetbikes that can serve as commuters, light tourers, or perhaps even attack the occasional trackday.

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Honda offers 10 factory-issue accessories for the 2019 Honda CB1000R. These products range from function-first (rubber-capped 2-volt DC electrical socket, three-position heated handgrips) and performance-enhancing (rev-matching quickshifter) to style-upping (headlight-housing-topping aluminum meter visor, soft-to-the-touch Alcantara rider and passenger seats).

Manufacturer Claimed Specifications

Cycle World Tested Specifications