Honda CB1000 Hornet SP v Suzuki Katana v BMW S 1000 R Spec Comparo

The Honda CB1000 Hornet SP has arrived in India at a competitive price of Rs 12.36 lakh (ex-showroom). In a similar price and performance bracket, the Suzuki Katana also presents itself as a compelling option, whereas in a higher price bracket, the BMW S 1000 R offers slightly higher performance in a lighter overall package. In this article, we’ve compared the technical specifications of these three motorcycles across various parameters.

Powertrain	Honda CB1000 Hornet SP	Suzuki Katana	BMW S 1000 R
Type	Liquid cooled, DOHC, in-line four cylinder	Liquid cooled, DOHC, in-line four cylinder	Liquid cooled, DOHC, inline-4 cylinder
Capacity	999 cc	999 cc	999 cc
Power	157.2 hp @ 11,000 rpm	152 hp @ 11,000 rpm	165 hp @ 11,000 rpm
Torque	107 Nm @ 9,000 rpm	106 Nm @ 9,250 rpm	114 Nm @ 9,250 rpm
Transmission	6-speed	6-speed	6-speed

All three of these motorcycles have identical engine configurations and produce similar power and torque outputs. The BMW has the highest engine output of the three, producing 7.8 hp and 7 Nm, and 13 hp and 9 Nm more than the Honda and the Suzuki respectively.

Dimensions	Honda CB1000 Hornet SP	Suzuki Katana	BMW S 1000 R
Kerb weight	212 kg	217 kg	199 kg
Seat height	809 mm	825 mm	830 mm
Wheelbase	1,455 mm	1,460 mm	1,450 mm
Ground clearance	135 mm	140 mm	NA
Fuel capacity	17 litres	12 litres	16.5 litres

The BMW also pulls ahead with respect to weight, it’s the lightest bike here by a considerable margin and is also the only one of the three with a kerb weight under 200 kg. This combined with its highest engine output (out of these three bikes) means that the S 1000 R also has a significantly higher power-to-weight ratio compared to both the CB1000 Hornet SP as well as the Katana.

Another point to be noted is that the BMW and the Honda both have significantly larger fuel tank capacities compared to the Suzuki.

Power-to-weight ratio	Honda CB1000 Hornet SP	Suzuki Katana	BMW S 1000 R
Hp per tonne	741.50	700.46	829.14

Brakes and tyres	Honda CB1000 Hornet SP	Suzuki Katana	BMW S 1000 R
Front brake	310-mm twin-disc	Twin-disc	320-mm Twin-disc
Rear brake	240-mm disc	Disc	220-mm disc
Front tyre	120/70 ZR17	120/70 ZR17	120/70 ZR17
Rear tyre	180/55 ZR17	190/50 ZR17	190/55 ZR17

Price	Honda CB1000 Hornet SP	Suzuki Katana	BMW S 1000 R
Ex-showroom	Rs 12.36 lakh	Rs 13.61 lakh	Rs 19 lakh

The pricing is the kicker here. The BMW is priced at a premium and makes you pay for that extra performance and lightness, whereas the Honda and Suzuki are in a similar ballpark with approximately a Rs 1.25 lakh rupee delta between their ex-showroom prices. The Honda’s segment-best pricing of Rs 12.36 lakh (ex-showroom) is sure to lure more motorcyclists into getting a litre-class machine. All these bikes are extremely fast and should be ridden responsibly by an experienced motorcyclist. A test ride is integral to find out whether your riding skills have developed enough to handle a 1000-cc bike properly, and, if they have, to find out which one of these bikes appeals to you the most.

The updated BMW S 1000 R will make its way to our shores soon, and hopefully we’ll get to ride the CB1000 Hornet SP in the near future as well. Exciting times ahead.