Honda brought this North American naked standard in as the local sales name for the European Hornet 600, positioning it as a sporty middleweight with upright ergonomics and a minimalist streetfighter look. It first appeared for the 2004 model year, using the 599cc inline-four that helped define Honda’s lively 600-class roadster formula. In the U.S. market, it stood out as a relatively pure, no-fairing alternative to more fully faired middleweights, with an emphasis on agility, everyday usability, and a rev-happy character rather than touring comfort.
For 2006, Honda updated the model with revised front suspension and minor cosmetic/ergonomic changes, but the nameplate remained focused on the same basic idea: a compact, performance-oriented standard derived from Honda’s European Hornet family. The model’s U.S. run ended after the 2006 model year, making it a short-lived but well-regarded entry in Honda’s middleweight street lineup. Among enthusiasts, it is remembered as one of Honda’s cleaner interpretations of the naked 600 formula and as a rare North American-only naming of a broader global motorcycle.