A few months ago, Honda debuted its all-new 755cc, twin-cylinder engine which currently serves duty in the 2023 CB750 Hornet and Transalp XL750. Though both motorcycles are popular in their respective segments, the new engine makes enthusiasts, like us, wonder whether it could birth a middleweight sport bike soon. Building on this, popular Japanese publication Young Machine has whipped up a render of the future sport bike - likely called CBR750R - and it looks like a bona fide Yamaha R7 killer.
The CBR750R Takes Inspiration From Both The CBR600RR And CB750 Hornet
One look at the CBR750R render, and it’s instantly recognizable. This is thanks to its CBR600RR-inspired fascia, complete with twin headlights and aerodynamic wings studded into the sharp side fairings. Meanwhile, the opposite end is a carbon copy of the CB750 Hornet, which will serve as the basis for the CBR750R. It makes sense too since the CBR500R and CB500F also look exactly the same from the rear.
Similarly, the CBR750R will also borrow its underpinnings from the CB750. So the mid-capacity sport bike will be sprung on beefy Showa upside-down forks and monoshock (both adjustable), alongside 17-inch alloy wheels front and rear. The render paints the same picture and even has the same Pearl Glare White livery as the streetfighter. Again, underpinning sharing is quite common in Honda’s portfolio (CB650R and CBR650R, CB500F and CBR500R all do it), so it seems quite probable in reality. The obvious key difference, however, will be the CBR750R’s clip-on handlebar and higher foot pegs, put in place to inspire more confidence in the saddle. Once aboard, the CBR750R should feature the same TFT instrument cluster as the Hornet, ripe with modern rider aids.
The final piece in the puzzle will be Honda’s all-new 755cc, twin-cylinder engine. This mill produces 90.6 horsepower in the Hornet, and the output will likely remain unchanged on the full-faired motorcycle. If so, the CBR750R will have a near 20 horsepower advantage over its Japanese rivals, the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and Yamaha R7. It will still be 10-HP shy of the segment-leading Aprilia RS 660, though.
Here's Why This Honda Makes Sense
So why should Honda build the CBR750R? Well, for starters, the supersport compass has shifted from screaming 600cc four-cylinder sport bikes to comfier twin-cylinder motorcycles ranging between 650cc to 750cc. Leading bike makers like Aprilia, Yamaha, and Kawasaki are all enjoying a piece of this pie, and it’s high time Honda joins the party too.
Plus, judging from the Hornet’s competitive British and European prices, the new 755cc lineup clearly has lower manufacturing costs than Honda’s existing middleweight, the CB650R. So the CBR750R will also be cheaper to produce than the CBR650R, thus making it a better financial decision. Now, we know a new motorcycle equates to millions of dollars in R&D, but don’t forget, Honda already has the CB750 blueprint ready to go. Owing to all this, the CBR750R seems like a no-brainer move from Honda. But the Japanese giant is yet to comment on the matter, so you should take all this with a pinch of salt. Nevertheless, if the CBR750R is indeed in the pipeline (as suggested by Japanese rumors), the sport bike will probably debut no sooner than next year.