Honda’s Best-Looking Entry-Level Street Bike Just Quietly Got Much More Affordable

Great styling, performance and approachability return for 2026 — but with a tweaked name and a sweeter price tag.

Close-up of a black motorcycle engine with silver exhaust pipes and foot pegs on a teal pavement background.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published January 8, 2026

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Updated January 8, 2026

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Honda just dropped its first moto press release of the year, highlighted by the news that an E-Clutch-enabled CB750 Hornet would indeed be coming to the US market.

While this is no surprise — the bike was announced for the UK last November, with a subsequent US rollout all but expected — I found a much tastier nugget further down the page.

Black Honda CB500F motorcycle parked with ocean and sunset in the background. — Now, unlike the original Model T, the CB500 Hornet comes in any color you want, as long as it’s black.

A number of bikes — mostly in the CB family — are returning for 2026 at significantly reduced prices.

The biggest slash — $1,000 off last year’s figure — is reserved for the CBR500R and its “new” naked counterpart, the CB500 Hornet, which happens to be one of the finest entry-level options out there.

Price chopper

In fairness, both bikes are pretty cool. I just happen to have a strong preference for the streetfighter, which ditches the fairing, trades out flashy paint for matte black and costs $500 less, enabling the 2026 edition to dip under $6,000.

I should say that the quote marks around new above are quite intentional, as the big change here is in name only, a shift from CB500F (which still appears in the product page URL) to CB500 Hornet.

Close-up of the rear section of a black motorcycle showing the seat, exhaust, rear tire, and footpeg assembly. — The bike’s seat height of 31.1 inches, together with a curb weight of 414 pounds, helps reduce the intimidation factor.

The new nomenclature is something of an honor, as it places the bike in the esteemed company of the aforementioned CB750 Hornet and the renowned CB1000 Hornet.

The de facto little brother of those bikes was already an entry-level star in my book thanks to its style, performance and approachability, but all those factors get much more compelling when you’re saving a thousand bucks to boot.

Street stallion

So what do I love about this bike? You’d be hard-pressed to find a more badass-looking ride that still slots comfortably into the entry-level category, for one thing.

While it has not yet gone the E-Clutch route (stateside, anyway), a number of other qualities max out this Hornet’s approachability.

Matte black Honda naked sport motorcycle with dual exhaust pipes and disc brakes on gray background. — E-Clutch? Nope. Slipper clutch that makes life easier for noobs and veterans alike? Hell yes.

One highlight is the slipper clutch, which reduces clutch-lever pull effort by 45 percent and wards off rear-wheel hop during hard braking.

Another confidence booster is the 41mm inverted Showa fork helping you ride out the bumps in your path, complemented by a single rear shock offering 4.7 inches of travel.

Front wheel and suspension of a black CB500F motorcycle with disc brake and ABS label. — The Showa fork not only looks great but offers ample suspension to keep potholes and speed bumps at bay.

Braking itself is equally dependable thanks to dual 296 discs with four-piston calipers up front and a single 240mm in the rear, both outfitted with safety-boosting ABS.

A couple of key dimensions, meanwhile, are refreshingly beginner-friendly — a 31.1-inch seat height and a 414-pound curb weight — two numbers that make the bike less intimidating to maneuver and park at low speeds.

Matte black Honda sport motorcycle with dual exhaust pipes and disc brakes on both wheels. — This Hornet bets hard on black, with a few nicely appointed silver details complementing the shadowy silhouette.

As rider-friendly as it is, this Hornet still carries a sting thanks to its 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin four-stroke engine.

Honda’s US site is coy about the power numbers, but according to the UK site, that beating heart makes 47 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 32 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm.

A sleek and stylish silencer is another feature that makes this feel like a big boy bike while remaining approachable.

Honda

Those numbers are more than enough to zip through city traffic and rip through two-lane twisties.

Heck, you can even hit the highway on your way home from the dealership with an extra thou burning a hole in your pocket.

Availability and pricing

The 2026 Honda CB500 Hornet is scheduled to roll into dealerships next month at a starting price of $5,899.

Matte black Honda sport motorcycle with silver exhaust and disc brakes on both wheels.

2026 Honda CB500 Hornet

The motorcycle formerly known as the CB500F returns for 2026 with a notable $1,000 price reduction. It remains as approachable as ever, thanks to a slipper clutch, forgiving suspension, ABS, a 31.1-inch seat height and a 414-pound curb weight. Meanwhile, the 471cc engine still has plenty of sting, to the tune of 47 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 32 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm.

$5,899 at Honda

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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