Honda first utilized the “Hawk” nameplate in 1960 with its CB72, though the monicker would later be used to badge a slew of additional two-wheeled models. And though the name has been dormant for over a decade, Big Red has now opted to revive the badge for its all-new café racer-style Hawk11 motorcycle.
Taking ample inspiration from Honda’s CB4 Interceptor concept from 2017 — albeit with less sharp lines and without the turbine-equipped fairing design — the forthcoming Hawk11 is the latest addition to Honda’s Neo Sports Café lineup. Sharing its steel chassis and engine platform with the Japanese moto marque’s Africa Twin adventure bike and NT1100 tourer, the Hawk11 is kicked along by a 1,084cc 270-degree parallel-twin that should be good for around 100hp. The Hawk11 also shares the NT1100’s cast wheels and the AT’s subframe, though has received its own inverted Showa front-end, Nissin radial-mount dual front calipers, clip-on handlebars, rear sets, and a circular LCD display.
Honda’s first NSC model to sport café-style bodywork, the Hawk11 wears a modern take on a half-fairing complete with a circular LED headlight that’s flanked by circular drop-down mirrors on both sides. Blacked-out radiator covers and an exhaust heat shield that doubles as a belly-pan — capping off the bottom of the bike’s silhouette — give Honda’s latest café racer an even more modern feel. A rear pillion and passenger pegs also make the Hawk11 two-up-friendly.
Unveiled at the Osaka Motorcycle Show, the 2023 Honda Hawk11 will initially be reserved for the Japanese market, however, with its engine already being Euro5-compliant, there’s a very decent chance this modern café racer will eventually reach Europe and/or the U.S. And, while there’s no word on official specs or pricing, by sharing its platform with the existing Africa Twin and NT1100, Honda will likely be able to massively reduce production costs which should result in a lower MSRP.
