Honda Hornet: A Timeline Reference Special

Following the success of my timelines tracking the iconic VT250 series and Honda’s flagship superbike, the Fireblade, it felt only natural to turn my attention to a lineage that bridges the gap between sensible daily commuting and pure mid-weight hooliganism. For the third installment in my Timeline Reference Special series, we are diving deep into the history of a machine that defined the modern streetfighter category for a generation of riders: the Honda Hornet. Having spent plenty of time dissecting high-performance heritage on my Instagram, I wanted to give this legendary naked bike family the exact same exhaustive, generation-by-generation technical breakdown it deserves.

The name "Hornet" was explicitly chosen by Honda's design team to encapsulate the physical shape, mechanical behavior, and raw attitude of the motorcycle, moving away from sterile alphanumeric codes to give the bike an aggressive, organic identity. The styling was heavily centered on insectoid proportions, featuring a bulbous, broad-shouldered fuel tank that tapered down radically to a narrow waistline, which, when paired with the high-slung exhaust exiting beside the tail, gave the bike the silhouette of a raised stinger ready to strike. Mechanically, the high-revving sport bike engines emitted a busy, high-pitched mechanical hum at idle that transformed into a furious, high-frequency screaming wall of sound past 10,000 rpm, a characteristic journalists and owners quickly dubbed the "Hornet Buzz." Combined with a lightweight, highly maneuverable chassis built to dart through traffic and "sting" larger sport bikes on tight canyon roads, the bike perfectly matched its predatory namesake. Interestingly, while the motorcycle became an instant global phenomenon under the Hornet moniker, Honda was legally barred from using the trademark in North America due to a prior automotive filing held by American Motors Corporation (AMC), forcing the bikes to be stripped of their insect decals and marketed in the United States and Canada under the purely numerical "599" and "919" designations.

1996 - 2007 Honda CB250 Hornet (MC31)

1996 was a pivotal year for Honda's naked bike lineup, as it marked the birth of a new philosophy that maximized Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) licensing tiers to prototype a radical, wide-tired streetfighter look. During this year, Honda released the Hornet 250 (MC31), a naked sport bike powered by a liquid-cooled 249cc inline-four engine with a gear-driven DOHC setup lifted directly from the legendary CBR250RR (MC22). The advantage of utilizing this high-revving engine over a conventional parallel-twin was an astonishing 16,000 rpm redline that produced 40 hp and 24 Nm of torque, giving the small-capacity machine a screaming, exotic exhaust note. 

A good thing to note is that despite its small displacement, Honda gave the bike an incredibly muscular presence by fitting a massive 180/55-17 rear tire—wider than what most contemporary 600cc sport bikes were running at the time—which established the signature aggressive Hornet silhouette. The chassis built around this was a minimalist steel mono-backbone frame that kept the midsection narrow, seamlessly flowing into a wide, sculpted fuel tank and a high-slung single muffler exiting on the right side of the tail. 

Other features included a single front disc brake paired with an adjustable rear monoshock, multi-spoke alloy wheels running tubeless tires, and classic round instrumentation. An interesting fact is that this JDM-exclusive formula proved so visually and dynamically successful that its exact aesthetic blueprint was used just two years later to launch the global, larger-capacity Hornet series that took over the international market.

Engine: 249 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC transverse 4 cylinder

Max power: 40 hp @ 14,000 rpm

Max Torque: 24.4 Nm @ 11,000 rpm

Dry Weight: 151 kg

1996 Honda Hornet CB250FT Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH1 Black, NH341 Pearl Fadeless White, NH373 Boon Silver Metallic and R195 Candy Blazing Red.

1997 - 1998 Honda Hornet CB250FV Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH295 Sparkling Silver Metallic, NH341 Pearl Fadeless White and R195 Candy Blazing Red.

1999 Honda Hornet CB250FX Colours: PB284 Candy Phoenix Blue and NH411 Force Silver Metallic

2000 Honda Hornet CB250FY Colours: PB284 Candy Phoenix Blue and NH411 Force Silver Metallic

2001 - 2002 Honda Hornet CB250F1 Colours: PB284 Candy Phoenix Blue, NH1 Black, NH341 Pearl Fadeless White, NH411 Force Silver Metallic, R101 Candy Glory Red and Y124 Pearl Shining Yellow

2003 - 2005 Honda Hornet CB250F3 Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH1 Black, NH341 Pearl Fadeless White, NH411 Force Silver Metallic, R101 Candy Glory Red and Y124 Pearl Shining Yellow

2006 Honda Hornet CB250F6 Colours: PB284 Candy Phoenix Blue, PB369 Robix Blue Metallic, NH1 Black, R195X Cadiz Red Metallic, R258 Winning Red, Y163X Pearl Flash Yellow and YR263 Pearl Fire Orange.

2007 Honda Hornet CB250F7 Colours: B197B Glint Wave Blue Metallic, NHA30B Digital Silver Metallic, NHA64 Pearl Cosmic Black, NHA66 Pearl Sunbeam White and R195B Cadiz Red Metallic.

 

1998–1999 Honda Hornet 600 (CB600FW/FX - SC36) 

Following the domestic success of the 250cc prototype, Honda translated this aggressive styling philosophy to the global stage for the 1998–1999 model years with the introduction of the Hornet 600 (CB600FW/FX), internally coded as the SC36. This global variant dropped a slightly detuned version of the proven, liquid-cooled 599cc 16-valve DOHC inline-four engine from the CBR600F3 into a structurally similar steel mono-backbone chassis, fueling the machine via four 34mm Keihin VP carburetors. The advantage of this package was a potent output of 94 hp at 12,000 rpm and 62 Nm of torque at 9,500 rpm, which, when paired with a remarkably light dry weight of 176 kg, cemented its reputation as a serious mid-weight streetfighter. 

A controversial thing to note is that the early SC36 was characterized by a distinct 16-inch front wheel wrapped in a 130/70-16 tire; while this gave the bike lightning-fast, ultra-sharp steering responses, it severely limited aftermarket performance tire options for owners. Other core visual features included a single, classic round multi-reflector headlight, dual analog instrument clusters for the speed and rev readouts, and a massive 180-section rear tire that maintained the muscular insectoid look established by its smaller sibling.

Engine: 599 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC transverse 4 cylinder

Max Power: 97.5 hp @ 12,000 rpm

Max Torque: 65.6 Nm @ 10,000 rpm

Weight: 176 kg (dry) & 198 kg (wet)

Standing Quarter Mile: 11.4 s @ 192.2 kph

Top Speed: 226.6 kph

1998 Honda Hornet CB600FW Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH373 Boon Silver Metallic and R195 Candy Blazing Red

1999 Honda Hornet CB600FX Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH194 Heavy Grey Metallic, NH341 Pearl Fadeless White, R157 Italian Red, R228 Candy Muthos Magenta and Y124 Pearl Shining Yellow

2000–2002 Honda Hornet 600 & Hornet S (CB600FY/F1/F2 - SC36)

For the 2000 to 2002 model years, Honda rolled out a series of vital mechanical updates to the SC36 platform under the CB600FY, F1, and F2 designations, directly addressing the core complaints of real-world riders. Most notably, Honda permanently axed the controversial 16-inch front wheel in favor of a standard 17-inch front wheel wearing a more traditional 120/70-17 tire, a change that required altering the front brake disc diameter to maintain optimal stopping clearance and leverage. To further refine the bike's street manners, the engine's ignition system was updated by adding a K-TRIC throttle position sensor directly to the Keihin carburetors, which vastly smoothened out low-to-mid-range throttle response during urban commuting. 

The year 2000 also saw a notable expansion of the lineup with the introduction of the Hornet 600S (CB600F2Y/F21) variant, a model specifically aimed at the touring crowd that traded the traditional naked look for a protective, frame-mounted half-fairing and a distinct rectangular headlight layout. While this fairing setup successfully minimized high-speed wind blast for long-distance highway comfort, it did add roughly 6 kg of weight over the standard bare-bones naked model, though both variants shared the same updated 17-inch rolling chassis.

Performance specs stayed the same as the 1998 - 1999 Hornet models, but the Hornet S adds 3 kilograms more because of its extra fairings. It's Quarter Mile time is therefore, slightly slower at 11.6 seconds, but due to less drag, its top speed increases to 229.8 kph!

2000 Honda Hornet F CB600FY Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH1 Black and Y124 Pearl Shining Yellow

2000 Honda Hornet S CB600F2Y Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH1 Black and NH411 Force Silver Metallic

2001 Honda Hornet F CB600F1 Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH1 Black and Y163 Pearl Shining Yellow

2001 Honda Hornet S CB600F21 Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH1 Black and NH411 Force Silver Metallic

2002–2007 Honda Hornet 900 / 919 (CB900F1-F7 - SC48)

To challenge the rapidly growing heavyweight naked market, Honda initiated its next major expansion between 2002 and 2007 by introducing the big-bore Hornet 900 (coded internally as the SC48 and sold as the 919 in North America) under the CB900F2 through F7 designations. The blueprint for this muscle standard was exceptionally potent, utilizing a heavily detuned 919cc engine sourced directly from the legendary 1998 CBR919RR FireBlade (SC33). However, unlike its smaller carburetor-fed siblings, the SC48 ditched carbs entirely for a modern 36mm PGM-FI electronic fuel injection system to deliver incredibly linear, torque-heavy performance. The advantage of this package was an output of 110 hp at 9,000 rpm and a mountain of low-end grunt totaling 92 Nm of torque at just 6,500 rpm, which kept the 194 kg dry-weight machine moving effortlessly. 

Chassis architecture kept the familiar steel square-section mono-backbone layout, but Honda significantly beefed up the frame wall thickness to cope with the massive increase in torque and structural stress. Visually, the 900 distinguished itself from the mid-weight bikes via a digital instrument clock cluster borrowed straight from the high-tech VTR1000 SP1 superbike, and a highly distinct dual under-seat exhaust silencer setup instead of the traditional single side-mount muffler. A good thing to note arrived with the 2004 update, where the bike received heavily upgraded cartridge-style front forks equipped with manual compression and rebound adjusters to sharpen high-speed handling, alongside the introduction of popular matte factory paint options.

Engine: 919 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC transverse 4 cylinder

Max Power: 108.6 hp @ 9,000 rpm

Max Torque: 92 Nm @ 6,500 rpm

Dry Weight: 194

Standing Quarter Mile: 11.1 s

Top Speed: 235.3 kph

2002 Honda Hornet CB900F1 Colours: NH411 Force Silver Metallic and R157 Italian Red

2002 - 2003 Honda Hornet / 919 CB900F2 Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH1 Black, NH167 Iron Nail Silver and NH436 Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic (only 919)

2003 Honda Hornet CB900F3 / 919 CB900F3_A Colours: PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue, NH1 Black, NH389 Matte Bullet Silver and NH436 Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic (Only 919)

2004 Honda Hornet / 919 CB900F4 Colours: GY126 Matte Peridot Green Metallic (only 919), PB347 Matte Caledonite Blue Metallic (only Hornet), NH1 Black and NHA30 Digital Silver Metallic

2005 Honda Hornet CB900F5 / 919 CB900F5_A Colours: NH463 Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic, NHA30 Digital Silver Metallic (only Hornet) and R101 Candy Glory Red (only Hornet)

2006 Honda Hornet CB900F6 / 919 CB900F6_A Colours: NH463 Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic (only Hornet), NHA30 Digital Silver Metallic (only Hornet) and R101 Candy Glory Red

2007 Honda Hornet CB900F7 / 919 CB900F7_A Colours: NHA30 Digital Silver Metallic (only Hornet), NHB01 Graphite Black (only Hornet), R101 Candy Glory Red and YR196 Candy Blaze Orange (only Hornet)

2003–2004 Honda Hornet 600 (CB600F3/F4 - SC36 facelift)

The next significant milestone for the mid-weight platform arrived with the second-generation rollout for the 2003 to 2004 model years, introducing a sharp visual and structural refresh to the 600cc class under the CB600F3 and F4 facelift designations. While it retained the core SC36 engine architecture, this generation focused heavily on cosmetic modernization and ergonomic enhancements, most notably seen in the redesigned fuel tank which had its capacity enlarged from 16L to 17L to offer better touring range. Moving to the rear, the tail cowl was completely overhauled with a far more aggressive, angular profile that incorporated a modern, integrated dual-bulb LED tail light assembly to ditch the dated 1990s rear look. Up front, the headlight optics were heavily upgraded, switching from the older style lens to a highly efficient, clear multi-reflector lens system for vastly superior night visibility. On the chassis side, while the bike stubbornly retained conventional right-side-up front forks for these specific two model years, Honda's engineers firmed up the internal front suspension damping and spring settings significantly to reduce brake dive and offer a much more composed, sporty feeling through the handlebars during spirited riding

As with the CB900 Hornet, when the CB600 Hornet was made available to the American market, the name had to be change to the Honda 599 to avoid the AMC trademark.

Engine: 599 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC transverse 4 cylinder

Max Power: 97.5 hp @ 12,000 rpm

Max Torque: 65.6 Nm @ 10,000 rpm

Weight: 176 kg (dry) & 198 kg (wet)

Standing Quarter Mile: 12.9 s

Top Speed: 214.8 kph

2003 Honda Hornet CB600F3 Colours: PB324 Candy Xenon Blue, NH1 Black and NH381 Matte Plutonium Silver Metallic

2004 Honda Hornet CB600F4 / 599 CB600F4_A Colours: PB352 Matte Xenon Blue Metallic (only Hornet), NH381 Matte Plutonium Silver Metallic (only Hornet), NHA12 Interstellar Black Metallic (only Hornet), NHA16 Pearl Cool White (only Hornet), NHA32 Matte Blacky Gray Metallic (only 599) and Y163 Pearl Flash Yellow (only 599)

2005–2006 Honda Hornet 600 (CB600F5/F6 - SC36 facelift)

The 2005 to 2006 model years brought a major mechanical milestone for the 600cc platform under the CB600F5 and F6 facelift designations, serving as the ultimate evolution of the first-generation chassis architecture. The headline upgrade for this update was a premium suspension overhaul, where the aging conventional front setup was finally replaced by high-performance 41mm inverted (USD) front forks finished in a striking gold casing. The advantage of switching to these upside-down forks was a massive increase in front-end rigidity and a reduction in unsprung weight, which completely transformed the bike’s tracking stability and feedback under heavy braking. Moving to the cockpit, Honda permanently retired the traditional twin analog gauge pods that had defined the bike since 1998. In their place, they installed a modernized, slimline semi-digital instrument cluster featuring a prominent central analog tachometer paired with a crisp digital LCD screen that handles the speedometer, dual trip meters, and a highly requested digital fuel readout gauge.

2005 Honda Hornet CB600F5 Colours: B186 Matte Satin Blue Metallic (R.O.W.), NH1 Black (only Brazil), NHA12 Interstellar Black Metallic (R.O.W.), NHA30 Digital Silver Metallic (R.O.W.), NHA48 Quasar Silver Metallic (R.O.W.), R294 Candy Energy Orange (only Brazil) and YR254 Bombay Orange Metallic (R.O.W.)

2006 Honda Hornet CB600F6 / 599 CB600F6_A Colours: PB341 Pearl Breezy Blue (R.O.W.), NH1 Black (Brazil only), NHA12 Interstellar Black Metallic (USA's only colour), Y193P Pearl Ipe Yellow (Brazil only), YR254 Bombay Orange Metallic (R.O.W.) and YR268 Matte Titanium Metallic (R.O.W.)

2007–2010 Honda Hornet 600 (CB600F7/F8/F9/FA - PC41)

The arrival of the third-generation Hornet 600 for the 2007 to 2010 model years—spanning the CB600F7, F8, F9, and FA designations—represented an absolute, ground-up structural revolution for the series. Coded internally as the PC41, this model was born out of strict necessity to pass tightening Euro 3 emissions regulations, forcing Honda to completely abandon the old carburetor-fed engine layout and its signature high-slung tail pipe. Out went the aging F3 motor, replaced by a cutting-edge 599cc inline-four powerplant derived directly from the track-focused 2007 CBR600RR, which was heavily detuned for mid-range road punch and equipped with a highly precise PGM-FI electronic fuel injection system. The structural layout saw an equally radical shift; the iconic steel mono-backbone frame that had defined the bike for a decade was completely axed, swapped out for a highly rigid, gravity die-cast aluminum mono-backbone chassis that shaved significant weight. This engineering overhaul drastically altered the bike's classic visual lineage by permanently deleting the high-mount side exhaust, implementing instead a low-slung, under-slung shorty muffler tucked neatly beneath the engine to maximize mass centralization. 

The dynamic result of this FireBlade-adjacent tech era was a potent 102 hp at 12,000 rpm and 63.5 Nm of torque at 10,500 rpm, which kept the machine incredibly agile at a curb weight of 198 kg with all fluids. A final safety milestone to note during this generation was the optional introduction of Honda's advanced Combined ABS (C-ABS) system, which linked the front and rear brakes to provide exceptionally stable stopping performance under emergency conditions.

Engine: 599 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC transverse 4 cylinder

Max Power: 102 hp @ 12,000 rpm

Max Torque: 63.5 Nm @ 10,500 rpm

Dry Weight: 173 kg

Standing Quarter Mile: 11.6 s @ 189.3 kph

0 - 1000 m: 22.2 s @ 214.1 kph

Top Speed: 223.9 kph

2007 Honda Hornet CB600F7 Colours: PB324 Candy Xenon Blue, NHA84 Pearl Nightstar Black, R320 Pearl Siena Red and Y200 Pearl Amber Yellow

2008 Honda Hornet CB600F8 Colours: B202 Pearl Fiji Blue, NH1 Black (Brazil only), NHA16 Pearl Cool White, NHA48 Quasar Silver Metallic, NHA84 Pearl Nightstar Black, R306 Candy Guarana Red (Brazil only), R320 Pearl Siena Red and Y200 Pearl Amber Yellow

2009 - 2010 Honda Hornet CB600F9 - CB600FA Colours:  NH1 Black (Brazil only), NHA16 Pearl Cool White with Red stripe, NHA48 Quasar Silver Metallic, NHA84 Pearl Nightstar Black, R320 Pearl Siena Red, Y204 Amarello Caju (Brazil only) and Y205 Pearl Acid Yellow

2011–2013 Honda Hornet 600 (CB600FB/FC - PC41 Facelift)

For the 2011 to 2013 model years, Honda rolled out the final classic polish for the inline-four platform under the CB600FB and FC designations, giving the PC41 a sleek, aggressive aesthetic makeover designed to mimic its larger flagship sibling, the CB1000R. The biggest visual shift occurred up front, where the traditional round headlight that had anchored the bike's look for over a decade was permanently deleted, replaced by a futuristic, integrated, shield-shaped headlight cowl. By shifting to this angular layout, the instrument panel was redesigned into a fully digital LCD unit and relocated directly into the headlight cowl housing itself for a far cleaner, more compact cockpit view. Moving rearward, the tail section was significantly lengthened and sharpened, incorporating cleaner passenger grab handles to complete the modern streetfighter silhouette. A good thing to note is that this marked the end of an era; production officially wrapped up in 2013, with Honda briefly filling the mid-weight naked void using the more budget-oriented, less aggressive steel-framed CB650F. This strategic shift effectively put the legendary "Hornet" nameplate into a decade-long hibernation across international markets, cementing the 2013 PC41 as the final screaming, high-performance inline-four variant of the original lineage.

2011 Honda Hornet CB600FB Colours:  B182 Florida Blue (Brazil only), GY144 Autumn Green (Brazil only), NHA16 Pearl Cool White, NHA84 Pearl Nightstar Black and Y211 Pearl Sprint Yellow

2012 Honda Hornet CB600FC Colours: GY144 Autumn Green (Brazil only), PB386 Pearl Pacific Blue, NH1 Black (Brazil only), NH312 Matte Cynos Grey Metallic and NHA16 Pearl Cool White

2013 Honda Hornet CB600FD Colours: PB386 Pearl Pacific Blue, NH1 Black (Brazil only), NH196 Ross White (Brazil only), NH312 Matte Cynos Grey Metallic, NHB44 Matte Pearl Cool White, NHB47 Basalt Black (Brazil only)

2023–Present Honda CB750 Hornet (RH12)

After a decade-long absence from the global market, the legendary nameplate made a triumphant return under the modern parallel-twin revival era with the introduction of the Honda CB750 Hornet, internally coded as the RH12. This rebirth marked a monumental philosophy shift for Honda, adapting the brand to modern global manufacturing logistics and increasingly stringent international emissions standards. The high-revving, inline-four architecture that defined the original lineage was officially closed; instead, the RH12 debuted an all-new 755cc 8-valve parallel-twin powerplant featuring a compact Unicam layout and a distinct 270-degree crankshaft. The core advantage of utilizing this 270-degree crank configuration over a traditional 180-degree layout was that it perfectly emulated the offset firing order and punchy, characterful power delivery of a V-twin. Dropped into a lightweight steel diamond frame, the RH12 dragged the series firmly into the digital age by introducing a comprehensive suite of electronic rider aids managed via a modern Ride-by-Wire throttle system. This electronic suite gave riders three pre-set riding modes—Rain, Standard, and Sport—alongside a 3-level Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC/Traction Control) system, integrated wheelie control, and a crisp, full-color 5-inch TFT instrument display. The resulting mechanical package produced a highly competitive 91 hp at 9,500 rpm and a fat torque curve peaking at 75 Nm at 7,250 rpm, which, when paired with a featherweight curb weight of just 190 kg, gave the modern Hornet a lightning-fast power-to-weight ratio and a return to its raw, agile roots.

Engine: 755 cc, 4-stroke, 8-valve, OHV parallel twin with 270-degree crank and uni-cam

Max Power: 90 hp @ 9,500 rpm

Max Torque: 75 Nm @ 7,250 rpm

Wet Weight: 190 kg

2023 - 2024 Honda Hornet R CB750AP Colours: NHB01 Graphite Black, NHB53 Pearl Glare White, NHC64 Iridium Grey Metallic Matte and Y242 Matte Goldfinch Yellow

*Note: Only Black and White came with the Red frame.

2025 Honda Hornet R CB750AS Colours: B197 Glint Wave Blue Metallic, NHA30 Digital Silver Metallic, NHA86 Matte Ballistic Black Metallic and NHB54 Matte Pearl Glare White 

2024–Present Honda CB500 Hornet (PC69)

For the 2024 model year, Honda finalized the complete consolidation of its naked streetfighter lineup under the CB500 Hornet designation, internally coded as the PC69. To understand this modern entry, a vital piece of predecessor history must be noted: from 2013 through 2023, Honda filled its entry-level tier with a mild, sensible commuter naked called the CB500F, which relied on a bulletproof 471cc parallel-twin engine that pumped out exactly 47 hp to meet strict European A2 licensing caps. While that older "F" variant was globally praised for its unkillable reliability, it admittedly lacked the aggressive, sharp streetfighter branding expected of the historical Hornet line. 

The 2024 global rebrand completely rectified this by officially dropping the old "F" moniker and inducting the platform directly into the Hornet family. While the core, ultra-reliable 471cc internal engine architecture and basic steel frame layout remained structurally identical to the late-model CB500F, Honda gave the machine a massive, aggressive makeover. Most notably, it received sharp, angular new fairings sculpted to mirror the flagship CB750 Hornet, functional structural air ducts flanking the fuel tank to clean up high-speed airflow, and an updated ECU map specifically programmed to sharpen off-the-line acceleration feel. Furthermore, the bike's onboard technology was heavily modernized by adding standard Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC/Traction Control) and a premium, full-color 5-inch TFT dashboard, giving entry-level riders the exact same premium cockpit view and aggressive street presence as its larger-capacity siblings.

Engine: 471 cc, 4-stroke, 8-valve, DOHC parallel twin

Max Power: 46.9 hp @ 8,500 rpm

Max Torque: 43Nm @ 6,500 rpm

Wet Weight: 189 kg

2023 - 2024 Honda Hornet CB500FAR Colours: NH436 Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic, NHA87 Pearl Himalayas White, R380 Grand Prix Red

2023 Honda Hornet CB500FAS Colours: NH436 Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic

It has been an absolute delight to dive into the archives and map out the complete, shifting evolution of the Honda Hornet series for this third installment of the series. Tracking how a high-screaming, gear-driven 250cc JDM experiment transformed into a global inline-four streetfighter phenomenon—before successfully reborn into the sharp, torquey parallel-twin weapons of today—shows just how brilliantly Honda can adapt a legendary nameplate to changing eras. Piecing together these precise factory codes, chassis transitions, and mechanical milestones has been an incredible project to assemble. Thank you all for reading, make sure to keep your eyes peeled, and stay tuned for the next entry in the Timeline Reference series!