New Honda CB750 Hornet Launched In India At Rs 10.49 Lakh With Game Changing E Clutch Technology
The premium middleweight motorcycling market in India experienced a major technological upgrade as Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India officially launched the 2026 CB750 Hornet equipped with its innovative E Clutch system. Available across the company exclusive BigWing Topline premium dealership network nationwide, this naked streetfighter enters the competitive market at an ex showroom price of Rs 10,49,000. This new introduction represents a substantial pricing revision, marking an increase of Rs 1.27 lakh over the previous standard manual iteration which retailed at Rs 9.22 lakh. Visually, the updated machine marks its unique road presence by arriving in a single, aggressive Graphite Black paint scheme, which is beautifully offset by a striking, high contrast metallic red finish applied directly to both the main trellis frame and the outer front fork sleeves.
The absolute defining centerpiece of this 2026 iteration is the inclusion of the ultra sophisticated Honda E Clutch mechanism, which represents a highly functional middle ground between a conventional manual gearbox and a fully automated dual clutch transmission system. By utilizing dual high speed electronic actuators housed neatly inside a slightly modified engine casing, the onboard engine management computer monitors live throttle inputs, gear positions, and wheel speeds to automatically engage or disengage the clutch plates on behalf of the rider. This means an operator can start completely from a standstill, move through all 6 gears, and come to a dead stop in heavy city traffic without ever squeezing the physical handlebar clutch lever, entirely eliminating stalling risks. Crucially, the system features a seamless manual override capability, allowing traditional purists to grab the physical handlebar lever at any microsecond to override the computer, thereby preserving authentic riding engagement during high speed canyon carving.
While the implementation of this electronic actuator technology dramatically minimizes physical rider fatigue, a critical analysis of the hardware package reveals that the performance output remains absolutely identical to the outgoing model. The streetfighter continues to rely on the proven 755cc liquid cooled parallel twin engine featuring a single overhead camshaft layout, which pumps out a maximum of 90.5 BHP at 9,500 rpm and 75 Nm of peak torque peaking at 7,250 rpm. The underlying cycle parts also carry over completely unchanged, retaining the high specification Showa 41mm Separate Function Big Piston inverted front forks, a rear Pro Link monoshock, and dual 296mm front braking discs gripped by four piston radial calipers. However, the physical integration of the specialized clutch servo motors and supporting wiring architecture has added approximately 3 kg of weight to the motorcycle, bumping the final official kerb weight up to 195 kg, which very slightly alters the original power to weight calculations.
From a broader strategic and competitive perspective, this premium pricing strategy positions the Japanese streetfighter into a highly challenging market dynamic within the Indian superbike ecosystem. At an ex showroom cost of Rs 10.49 lakh, the CB750 Hornet E Clutch is now noticeably more expensive than key established multi cylinder rivals, directly eclipsing the raw performance value proposition of the 4 cylinder Kawasaki Z900 which undercuts it at Rs 9.99 lakh. Furthermore, it demands a premium over the highly regarded Suzuki GSX 8R which retails closer to Rs 9.89 lakh, placing a massive burden on the appeal of the electronic clutch innovation to justify the extra financial stretch. Ultimately, this launch delivers an intriguing narrative regarding the future evolution of premium urban commuting. The product arrives not merely as a minor cosmetic refresh, but as a bold engineering statement demonstrating how automated luxury and software convenience are rapidly encroaching into raw performance categories, changing how enthusiasts will interact with mid capacity streetfighters moving forward.