05 Hornet 600 unveiled

Honda unveiled a new-for-2005 Hornet in Italy on Wednesday night (December 1).

It now has upside-down forks – the only machine in the naked 600cc class to have them. They’re adjustable for preload.

There’s a new front hugger – similar to that on the FireBlade – and sportsbike-style clocks, with an analogue rev counter and a digital display for speed and other read-outs, as on the CBR600RR. The backs of the clocks are hidden by a new air deflector.

Honda has kept the engine virtually unchanged – so it still uses carburettors rather than injection.

The overhaul goes some way to justifying its £600 price premium over the mechanically similar CBF600.

New colours include eye-catching orange.

The new price is unlikely to be much higher than the current version, which sells for £5199.

Honda has also given the Transalp a mild update and there’s a new SH125 step through and updated Forza 250cc scooter (see images, right).