Honda CB-F concept is the retro-mod we need
Retro is the new cool and Honda seems to have hit the perfect sweet spot with the new CB-F Concept. Revealed online due to the global COVID lockdown, the CB-F pays homage to the legendary CB series that started from the CB750 and then the Super-fours to the latest generation Hornets.
The Honda CB-F concept takes cues from the early CB series motorcycles with the sloping rectangular tank design that has now been modernized with knee recesses but made to look like the old one with the apt use of decals. The tail cowl extends to the tank like in the Super fours and also sports the block-like design of the tank with the carefully blended sweeps and curves. The floating rear end with the monoshock snuck in is probably the highlight of the design. The round headlamp and the beefy USD forks with the two horns on the tee are pure old-school design.
Underneath this retro skin is a properly modern motorcycle powered by a 998cc liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine. It is the same engine from the CB1000R that develops 145PS of power and 104Nm of torque and has been tuned for better mid-range and comes with riding modes and rider aids like wheelie-control embedded in traction control.
Honda might bring it into production, alongside the regular CB1000R as the cycle parts and the powerplant are essentially the same and if that happens, the CB-F will have to compete with the likes of Kawasaki Z900RS, the Yamaha XSR 900, the Moto Guzzi V7, the Triumph Bonneville and the BMW RNineT.