If you're the owner of a 2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet SP, there's a new safety recall that's been issued by American Honda Motor Company for units produced between September 30, 2024 and August 22, 2025.
The problem relates to a potential oil starvation issue that could lead to a connecting rod bearing seizure in the engine. If that description of the end result sounds familiar, it's because there's also a different recall from Honda about a similar issue with certain CBR600RRs right now, but the cause is something different in this case, which I'll explain in a moment.
With the 2025 Honda CB1000 Hornet SP recall, approximately 452 individual motorcycles may be affected, according to Honda's records. It's unclear what percentage of the total population this represents, as that information isn't included in the recall documentation.
In this case, Honda's investigation of this issue determined that the pistons and piston rings are out of spec on the affected units, which could lead to excessive oil consumption. This could, in turn cause the connecting rod bearing to seize, which could cause rear wheel lockup and/or possible contact of the engine oil with the exhaust. The risk of fire, injury, and/or a crash could be increased in such a situation.
As for any potential warning signs that owners may notice, Honda advises that if you notice increased oil consumption and/or a low engine oil level during your regular inspections, that could be an indication that this problem exists with your motorcycle.
Honda notified its dealer network about this problem on December 12, 2025. It plans to send a notification letter to registered owners on or about February 16, 2026, notifying them about the problem. However, much like the CBR600RR recall, that notification will be an interim solution. A second notification will be sent to owners once Honda has established a full recall repair plan to address this issue. The recall service will be provided to owners free of charge, but it's not yet clear what that service will entail. It is expected to be available sometime around August 2026, per Honda.
Owners may contact American Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870 regarding recall KT6. Owners may also contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-888-275-9171) or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
