Honda CB 1000 GT

The Honda CB1000GT adds to Honda Motor Southern Africa’s motorcycle range for riders looking for a fully equipped, tech-rich touring motorcycle capable of covering long distances in supreme comfort It also comes with a Fireblade engine – so you know you are going to have a lot of fun while you ride…

Last year, Honda delivered the Honda CB1000 Hornet – a hard-edged naked armed with a Brilliant hit of a four-cylinder Fireblade mill.

That bike’s reception globally convinced Honda engineers that the platform had huge potential… and this year sees a brand-new model drawn from Hornet stock – the Honda CB1000GT.

Headlined by the banner ‘High Performance Tourer: Faster. More Distance. More Comfort.’

We took it out to test those claims…

They certainly have packed this one…

According to Honda, the GT’s sharply chiselled front end was refined through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)ios to deliver optimum efficiency through the air, at all speeds, without disturbing either rider protection or handling. Sitting above this is an easy-adjust five-position screen.
The GT sports Showa EERA (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment) Suspension, upgraded electronic package and premium equipment. It has the ability to adjust rear spring preload on the move.

Standard Equipment levels are high: Standard fit are removable rear panniers. That’s pretty cool!
Cruise control, heated grips, knuckle guards, centre stand and quick shifter. Honda’s optically bonded five-inch TFT screen serves up intuitive usability, clarity even in bright light and Honda RoadSync smartphone connectivity through a simple switchgear on the left handlebar.
Auto-cancelling indicators with Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) function.

The GT has a power-to-weight ratio of 2.08kg/kW thanks to the legendary 1000cc, inline four-cylinder engine originally found in the CBR1000RR Fireblade.

That donk produces 110.1kW and 102Nm torque.

Throttle-By-Wire (TBW).
Six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) manage the default riding modes.
USER mode parameters and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC).
Cornering ABS.
The Hornet donates its diamond-style steel main frame with a revised subframe to increase rider and pillion room, as well as geometry adjusted for sharp handling and fully loaded stability.
Braking power is provided by dual four-piston radial-mount calipers up front biting 310mm floating discs, and a mono-piston rear caliper operating on a single 240mm disc.

All of this is standard, no hidden costs, which is refreshing!

This standard specification is one of the Honda CB1000GT’s strongest value propositions for the market. At a suggested retail price of R315,000 (Incl. VAT), the Honda CB1000GT includes everything. And that’s cool!

Deon says:

The Honda CB 1000 GT is one of those bikes I had really been looking forward to riding.

One of the first things I noticed is that it doesn’t feel overly tall or massively bulky. Yes, it comes fitted with panniers and can be a little more challenging to thread through traffic, but once you’re moving, the bike feels surprisingly light and easy to manoeuvre. Most of my time with the CB 1000 GT was spent out on the open road, which suited the bike perfectly – and thankfully, there wasn’t much traffic to contend with.

When the road opens up, twist the throttle and let those 1000cc loose – the resulting roar is bloody glorious. The bi-directional quickshifter makes it so easy to bang through the gears. The quickshifter can be adjusted into Hard, Medium or soft, this is especially smooth when riding at low speed. But when the speed climbs fast and the upshifts become effortless, it is easy for the 1000 GT to take you well beyond 200 km/h. At these speeds, the bike feels planted and composed, while the touring screen does an excellent job of taking the wind pressure off the rider, making high-speed cruising surprisingly relaxed.

Coming to a stop is not a problem at all. The Nissin four-piston radial calipers grab those twin 310 mm discs up front, while a Nissin single-piston caliper works with the 240 mm rear disc. The braking feels strong and progressive, but there is also some clever safety tech working in the background. If you have to grab a handful of brakes in an emergency at speeds above 50 km/h, the Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) automatically kicks in, rapidly flashing the rear indicators to warn anyone behind you that things have suddenly got serious. Once you release the brake or the deceleration returns to a more moderate level, the flashing stops automatically. It’s a small but genuinely useful bit of technology that could make a big difference when you need to stop in a hurry.

Cornering on the CB 1000 GT is smooth and easy.. The bike settles into a corner without any drama and feels natural when you start leaning it over. Before long, you find yourself wanting to explore, looking for those roads packed with twists, tight bends and sharp corners just to see how much fun you can have. It is the kind of bike that makes you want to take the long way home.

A big part of why the CB1000 GT feels so good in the twisties is the Showa EERA (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment) suspension. The system constantly monitors the bike’s speed, attitude and suspension movement through the ECU, six-axis IMU and fork stroke sensor, then adjusts the damping in just 15 milliseconds. In other words, the suspension is constantly working in the background while you get on with riding. There are five settings: Standard for everyday riding, Sport for a firmer and more controlled feel when the road gets interesting, Rain for a softer response in wet conditions, Tour for maximum stability at higher speeds and when carrying a passenger and luggage, and User, where you can create your own setup. The rear preload can also be electronically adjusted through 24 levels, even while riding, while the 41 mm front forks have manual preload adjustment. With 130 mm of front travel and 144 mm at the rear, the system gives the CB1000 GT a really impressive ability to switch between relaxed touring and attacking a twisty road – and it even helps reduce excessive front-end dive under hard braking

The optional extras.

This particular model has a whole handful of optional extras like the top box, crash bobbins, easy adjustable touring screen, fog lights, grippy tank pads and a fancy Honda two-toned seat.

What comes as standard on the CB 1000 GT is Panniers, Fireblade Engine, 21L Fuel Tank, Honda Roadsync Compatible, Smartkey, 5 Rider Modes, Heated Grips, Cruise Control, Centre Stand, Quick Shifter, Electronic Suspension and Adjustable Screen.

What more could a rider ask for?

FIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HONDA CB1000GT

Is the Honda CB1000GT a sports bike or a touring bike?

It’s a bit of both. You get the punchy 1000cc four-cylinder engine and sporty handling, but with the comfort, protection and luggage capacity for longer rides.

How powerful is the Honda CB1000GT?

The 1,000cc inline-four produces around 150 PS, giving the GT plenty of punch when you open the throttle.

Is the Honda CB1000GT easy to ride?

Yes. Despite the panniers and touring equipment, it feels surprisingly light and manageable once you’re moving.

What suspension does the CB1000GT use?

It uses Showa EERA electronically controlled suspension, with different settings for Standard, Sport, Rain, Tour and a fully customisable User mode.

Is the Honda CB1000GT good for long-distance riding?

Absolutely. The comfortable riding position, touring screen, electronic suspension and standard panniers make it well suited to covering serious kilometres – although we’d probably recommend taking the scenic route whenever possible.

Go check your local Honda Dealer and take the CB 1000 GT for a test ride.