Upcoming Honda Hornet design sketch unveiled ahead of launch

A month after teasing the Hornet Concept for the first time, Honda has now released a few more official sketches of the motorcycle, revealing quite a lot about the upcoming streetfighter. 

If the sketches are anything to go by, the new Hornet will get a very sharp and aggressive bodywork. A case in point is the long tank extensions with the radiator shrouds, placed directly below, along with the pointed tail section, which gives the motorcycle a very imposing look. 

At the heart, Honda is likely to use the existing 745cc parallel-twin engine from the NC750X. However, the behaviour of the engine could be altered to suit the Hornet. The bike is also likely to get premium hardware for suspension and braking setups. Considering that Honda is using a twin-cylinder engine, the manufacturing cost is also likely to be low as compared to using a four-cylinder engine. 

The revival of the Hornet means that Honda is aiming to enter the thick-end of the middleweight segment, placing a model between the CB500F twin and the CB650R inline-four. We think that it will rival the likes of the  Kawasaki Z650, Yamaha MT-07, and Aprilia Tuono 660.

It would be safe to say that the Hornet will be followed by more motorcycles of different styles built around the same motor. This means that you can expect a fully-faired sportbike and an adventure tourer in the near future. We could see the new Hornet in the flesh sometime towards the end of this year.