CB1000F: 3,000km Ride Review - The Gap Between Expectation and Reality

CB1000F × stonemaker003

It’s hard to believe, but it’s already been 3,000km since I took delivery of my HONDA CB1000F. While it’s good to review a bike right after delivery when the excitement is at its peak, there are quite a few things you only truly understand after riding a motorcycle for a certain distance.

Before buying the CB1000F, I had my own ideas about what kind of bike it would be.
However, after actually riding it for 3,000km, I’ve found that while there are aspects that are “better than I expected!”, there are also parts that are “Hmm? This is a bit different from what I imagined…”

Now that the recall issues have been resolved and more people are seriously considering purchasing one, I’d like to share the “gaps” I’ve discovered after riding 3,000km as a touring rider.

The Mighty Flagship of Liter-Class Inline-Fours! ...Or So I Thought

Yuigahama, Kamakura City. 5 AM, enjoying the still-chilly air on my CB1000F. The best time to ride with my beloved bike.

The CB1000F is a liter-class inline-four that requires premium fuel. It’s HONDA’s flagship naked bike, a machine that commands respect.
Before buying, I was definitely intimidated by the image of it being “big,” “heavy,” and “difficult to maneuver.”
However, after actually owning it, I found it to be more manageable than I expected.

Of course, it doesn’t have the magical maneuverability of my Rebel 250, but once it’s moving, you don’t feel the bike’s size any more than necessary.
For me, I use it for everything from 300-400km weekend tours to early morning “zen” rides before work. The feeling of “I don’t want to ride because it’s a liter bike” simply hasn’t come up at all so far.

It’s a classic rider’s anecdote:
“If you own both a large-displacement bike and a small-displacement bike, you’ll end up not riding the large one.”
I was surprised that this saying doesn’t apply to the CB1000F.

With a seat height of 795mm – a catalog spec that screams the developers’ determination to keep it lower than *that* – and strategic stability provided by mode switching for power adjustment and a 6-axis IMU.

I was bracing myself, thinking “This is going to be a major challenge in my life,” but I was pleasantly surprised.
It’s a happy miscalculation, and I find myself spending more and more time riding my motorcycle.

Smart Key: From "Unnecessary" to "Absolutely Essential" - A Complete Turnaround

Apologies for my old man fingers, but this HONDA smart key system has quite a presence compared to a car. It's a jackknife type, and the key part pops out when you press the button.

I clearly remember everyone raising an eyebrow when HONDA’s smart key system was announced alongside the CB1000F’s specs.
At the time, I grumbled, “I don’t need it! Just make it 10,000 yen cheaper!” I’m sorry, HONDA.
What’s more, the smart key only authenticates the main power; you still need to insert a physical key for the fuel cap and seat removal.
So, I thought it would just add to the luggage you carry while riding… and I used it without much thought or appreciation when I first got the bike.

But, here’s the thing.

The more I ride long distances, the more I appreciate its value.
The security is reassuring. It provides a different level of peace of mind when staying overnight at your destination or leaving the bike for an extended period for meals.
And above all, the reduction in stress from having to insert and remove the key less often unexpectedly secures a spot in my brain for “absolutely essential.”
Returning to my beloved bike after a break:
“Wait, where did I put my bike key?”
That day, standing in the middle of a parking lot under the scorching summer sun, I searched every pocket, rummaged through my bag, and finally found it inexplicably in my chest pocket.

With the CB1000F equipped with a smart key, that will never happen again.

Riding Modes: "I'll Probably Just Use STANDARD All the Time, Right?"

A touring trip to the southernmost tip of the Izu Peninsula with my wife. It rides well even alongside her XSR155.

When I switched to the CB1000F, my wife, who rides an XSR155, asked me,
“Will you be able to keep up with me?”

I managed to get out of that tight spot with a vague reply, “Well, it has mode switching, so it’ll be fine.”
But now that I’m riding it, I feel like that wasn’t such a bad answer after all.
In fact, even when riding solo, I find myself using the lowest setting, RAIN mode, about half the time.
It has a slight delay and is designed for rainy conditions where sudden acceleration is avoided, but it’s surprisingly easy to ride on local roads.
The CB1000F allows switching between three modes – RAIN, STANDARD, and SPORT – plus two user-defined modes, for a total of five riding modes.
I even set my two user-defined modes to be similar to RAIN mode, making RAIN mode my default for general riding.

Even so, I feel more potential power than my previous 400cc Eliminator. And yet, it’s not difficult to ride with my wife on her XSR155. The power control is so easy that we could enjoy a trouble-free couple’s tour to the southernmost tip of the Izu Peninsula, Kyu-ga-hama.

On the other hand, for a quick round trip to Mt. Shibutsu in Gunma Prefecture from my home, I switch to SPORT mode and blast down the highway.
While merging onto the highway or climbing steep hills can be challenging on a 250cc, the CB1000F offers linear acceleration that seems to defy gravity, showcasing its incredible versatility and depth.

Honestly, I can’t imagine riding without these riding mode adjustments now.

A Bargain at ¥1,397,000! I Thought It Was Cheap, But It Ended Up Costing Me More

RS Taichi Quick Dry Parka RSJ335 ASH NAVY. I love this design so much I bought two in different colors – a reckless act.

RS Taichi DRYMASTER STRIKER Shoes RSS016. The BOA system placement is exquisite and outstanding.

Perhaps it’s because it’s a noteworthy new model, but the CB1000F attracts a lot of attention when I ride it.
Even my CB1000F, in Wolf Silver Metallic (Gray Stripe) – which friends jokingly call the “naphtha shortage color” and isn’t exactly the main theme color – gets approached everywhere.
“Excuse me… can I take a look?”
“Please, by all means.”

Komine JK-1623 Protect Full Mesh Jacket Neo. I love how flashy it is for its cost-effectiveness.

What I’m trying to say is, I can’t just ride around in any old outfit.
It’s like entering another world where a middle-aged man like myself checks his outfit in the mirror before going out.
Of course, my safety awareness is also heightened: chest, elbows, shoulders, and knees are all protected with armor! I’ve even equipped Level 2 protectors.

Since I started riding the CB1000F, I’ve felt a sense of obligation to act as a “role model rider.”
When a fellow rider, who looks older and seems to have been riding longer than me, approaches with a smile and asks,
“That’s cool! How is it? Is it good?”

Even though we’re meeting for the first time, I feel like I’ve become a fellow rider.
This is something I never would have considered before riding the CB1000F…

Although it’s jokingly called the “bargain-priced CB1000F,” I’ve ended up buying new apparel to match,
and I even opted for the quick shifter. I also took the plunge and bought a low seat (lowering the seat height from 795mm to 780mm). Now I’m even considering a front cowl…

The CB1000F is a terrifying motorcycle. Just because the base model is a bit cheaper doesn’t mean it can tighten the purse strings on our love for motorcycles…

If I Had to Choose Again From Scratch, I'd Still Choose the CB1000F

My favorite mirrors are TANAX NA-014 Shark Mirror 7.
Their visibility, allowing me to see even behind me, is unparalleled.

With features like the standard e-clutch, the CB1000F’s initial recall issues have shifted the spotlight in the motorcycle scene entirely to the CB400SF.
It’s only natural, as many people are looking for a “lightweight, easy-to-handle inline-four” category.

But even if I had to choose again from scratch right now, I would still want to ride the CB1000F.
I started riding the CB1000F thinking it was “big, heavy, and intimidating,” but after spending 3,000km together, I feel like I’ve gotten somewhat better at riding it.
I see the CB1000F as a bike that allows you to challenge yourself, a stepping stone for riders moving up from lower displacements. Conversely, I think the CB400SF is a bike for experienced riders of larger displacements to step down to.

Of course, I probably won’t be able to “master” the CB1000F no matter how many years pass, but these past six months and 3,000km have made me feel much closer to everyone in the motorcycle community.

Thank you for reading to the end.
While I’m still aiming to become a HONDA Friends Official Motorcycle Ambassador around 2028, I offer even more in-depth reviews in my videos.
It would be encouraging if this article could bring even a little bit of joy to your motorcycle life. This is stonemaker003!