Honda CB1300S ABS 2007 — Specifications

We’d almost expected it. In the mid-2000s, as muscular roadsters reigned supreme, Honda finally released the faired version of its CB1300. But not just any version. The 2007 CB1300S ABS is more than just a fairing grafted onto a roadster. It's an assumed nod, a free-wheeling tribute to the legendary CB1100R Bol d’or. The design doesn't lie: the colors, the vents on the fairing, the gold calipers, all transport you back to the superbikes of the 1980s. A style statement that immediately makes this motorcycle a desirable object for nostalgics and lovers of old-school mechanics.

Beneath this retro look lies a robust mechanical heart. The 1284 cm3 inline-four isn’t the most powerful in its class with 100 horsepower, but it reveals its true character in the low and mid-range. Its 117 Nm of torque, available from 5500 rpm, is its real strength. Here, we’re not looking for peak rpm, we’re surfing on a tsunami of elasticity. The transmission, like the clutch, has been refined for a velvety, almost syrupy feel. It’s a motorcycle that’s ridden with the wrist, never requiring abrupt downshifts. Faced with competitors like the Kawasaki ZRX1200 or the Suzuki GSX1400, the Honda CB1300S focuses on flexibility and generosity rather than brute performance.

But this half-fairing changes everything. It’s not just aesthetic. It offers tangible protection, transforming this roadster into a comfortable touring machine capable of long distances. At 130 km/h on the highway, the rider is well protected, and the two small glove boxes integrated into the fork returns are a welcome practical touch. However, with a weight of 269 kg when fully fueled, the machine commands respect. It’s not agile, it’s imposing. The double cradle frame ensures stability like a freight train, perfect for straight lines and sweeping curves, but it weighs down the steering in a series of tight turns. It’s a motorcycle for long distances, not for hairpin mountain passes. The adjustable suspensions are up to the task, absorbing imperfections without complaint.

Who is the CB1300S for? For the touring rider who prioritizes torque over power, style over the stopwatch, and retro looks over aggressive plastics. It's a machine for those who like to cover long distances in a comfortable armchair, with the deep sound of an inline-four in the background. ABS, still rare on this type of motorcycle at the time, is a serious safety asset, as are the dual disc brakes that effortlessly control the mass. At over 10,000 euros at the time, it positioned itself at the top of the range, but it offered solid finishing and a unique character.

Ultimately, the Honda CB1300S ABS wasn’t the fastest, the lightest, or the most radical. It was generous. Generous in torque, presence, style, and comfort. It embodied a philosophy of travel from yesteryear, where pleasure comes from regularity and the sensation of always-available power. A grand touring roadster with timeless elegance, which knew how to mark its era by reviving the glorious ancestors of the brand.