This makes it the fourth e-clutch-equipped bike in the manufacturer’s line-up
After installing the convenient E-clutch system onto the CBR650R and CB650R duo sold in India and, most recently, the Rebel 300 cruiser sold overseas, Honda has now added it on to the 2026 CB750 Hornet as well. Unlike the 650 duo, the new CB750 Hornet E-clutch is also the first Honda E-clutch model with throttle-by-wire, so its rush of performance–91.8 hp and 75 Nm from its 755-cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin–won’t be hampered.
For the uninitiated, Honda’s E-clutch system is not the fully automatic DCT (dual-clutch transmission) arrangement available on other Honda offerings such as the Gold Wing tourer and Africa Twin adventure bike. Where the DCT system offers a simple twist-and-go arrangement, the E-clutch still relies on the rider changing gears as on a regular motorcycle – keeping the purists happy–but without needing to modulate the clutch in day-to-day riding scenarios.
Now, many old-school riders–including this correspondent–feel like such a system robs one from building clutch and throttle coordination, a crucial skill in a rider’s motorcycling journey. However, Honda has a more nuanced approach, saying the move “reflects our [Honda’s] ongoing goal of making the joy of motorcycling more approachable, intuitive and enjoyable for riders of all experience levels.”
Summing up, Honda’s latest decision raises two questions. The first, and most important, is how close the E-clutch-equipped Hornet’s price tag shall be from that of its manual transmission sibling when it’s launched in India; and the second being the timeline for the launch of the E-clutch-equipped Transalp. Whatever be the case, though, we couldn’t be happier.
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