Help! Another VS thread

[milktown]

1999 hornet 600 vs 2007 ER6N

ok ok. i have spent the last week reading the ENTIRE internet researching these two bikes and reading every single thread i could find but alas i still want some new opinions

in the past three years of living in NZ i have owned two bikes. a 1996 CB750 and a 1988 GB400. the 750 was good for touring but its a heavy lump around town and not that powerful with just barley ok handling. so i went far to the other side and got a gb400. one of the best little bikes iv ridden. torquey, nimble, handles like a dream but lacking long highway capabilities. so im going for something in between.

the two bikes that i have narrowed it down to:
1999 honda hornet 600. 20,000km $5000 Mint condition
2007 kawasaki ER6N. 53,000km $4100. decent condition

MY pros and cons

HORNET PROS:
lightish,
close to 100hp
under 600cc rego,
seem to have a huge following
great build/reliability
i like the looks better
low kms
comes with many spare parts
supposedly excellent handling

CONS:
less low down torque
more expensive
not great on gas
older
carbs(does this matter)
weird 16inch from wheel

ER6N PROS:
also lightish
more low down torque
newer
fuel injection (again does this matter?)
cheaper
iv actually been able to ride one and though it was nice
pretty good on gas

CONS
i dont like the looks as much
more kms
i dont know if i WANT it as much
over the 600cc rego
less HP
good quality but not quite HONDA quality

i do about 70% suburban riding 30% highway.

Which one would you rather have? why? HELP

[BuzzardNZ]

I've owned 15 bikes so far and only hated one of them, the Hornet 600!

Go for the ER.

[Gremlin]

Depending on what you consider heavy, and whether the cheaper rego is much of a factor, I'd consider the CB900 as well. The older CB600 was a grey import from memory, so not as many available. Many CB900s available and proven to be very reliable.

[milktown]

iv herd many not so great hings about the 900. dull, heavyish and bad on gas. as you can tell i like lighter bikes that have good low speed handling

[milktown]

I've owned 15 bikes so far and only hated one of them, the Hornet 600!

Go for the ER.



what did you hate about it?

[gjm]

Rode a Hornet the same day I rode a CBR400, and a CBR250RRSP. The hornet was a great bike to ride... Possibly made more comfortable by my having been squished on to what felt almost like a minimoto fitted with a nitromethane-powered sewing machine.

The Hornet is (imho) a very good bike. It doesn't sparkle like some other bikes do, but you'll not tire of it either. And you just know it'll always start.

Can't comment on the Kwak - sorry.

[nzspokes]

iv herd many not so great hings about the 900. dull, heavyish and bad on gas. as you can tell i like lighter bikes that have good low speed handling

Then you need to get out more. Mine screams with revs on. Better on gas then my kawa 400. Low speed handling no problem.

I will line you up once you get the ER6n or Hornet 600. We will see how dull you find the 900 after that. :msn-wink:

[Gremlin]

iv herd many not so great hings about the 900. dull, heavyish and bad on gas. as you can tell i like lighter bikes that have good low speed handling
Under-rated bikes. Can be gentle and docile to ride, even suitable to step from a 250. On the other hand, it pulls nice wheelies if you twist the throttle further than the docile setting... Low speed balance is excellent, not exactly light, but then, what are you comparing to. 20kg I think heavier than the 600. Gas wise, the latest bikes can be pretty good, but compared to the 1999 cb600, I don't think there would be much difference.

If you are interested, just take one for a test ride to see what you think, but bear in mind I think the stock bars are stupid, and you can do much better.

[hayd3n]

294800love my 99 600
currenty up to 115,000 kms and cant bare to replace her
fit some rearsets, braided lined and some street bars and you have a super fun awesome bike
294797294798

[BuzzardNZ]

what did you hate about it?

Gas guzzler, even worse than my SV1000, which is pretty bad.

Buzzy engine, lots of vibration and crap suspension. Mind you, this was an early model ( can't recall the year ).

It had good acceleration from a standing start, but overall a characterless POS which I'm glad I got rid of.

[Banditbandit]

Just go and ride them and buy the one you like ...

[hayd3n]

Gas guzzler, even worse than my SV1000, which is pretty bad.

Buzzy engine, lots of vibration and crap suspension. Mind you, this was an early model ( can't recall the year ).

It had good acceleration from a standing start, but overall a characterless POS which I'm glad I got rid of.

that why i made mine my own , ohlins springs new rear shock :)

[nzspokes]

love my 99 600
currenty up to 115,000 kms and cant bare to replace her
fit some rearsets, braided lined and some street bars and you have a super fun awesome bike


Somewhere I have a new Cat removal link pipe for one of the 600 Hornets.

[hayd3n]

Somewhere I have a new Cat removal link pipe for one of the 600 Hornets.

i never had a cat

[nzspokes]

i never had a cat

I think its a euro thing. But its a bigger pipe than stock I believe. Was trying to get it to work on the 900 but went low mount.

[Big Dave]

I understand about the looks, but the Kawasaki is a more versatile bike and IMO much more fun. Wheelie monster.

[pritch]

iv herd many not so great hings about the 900. dull, heavyish and bad on gas. as you can tell i like lighter bikes that have good low speed handling

You need to start listening to people that might know what they're talking about. Apparently that'll be a new experience. :whistle:

Back in the day the Hornet 919 was one of BIKE magazine's "Ten best of the best".

They aren't heavy, and if you find a smallish 100hp bike dull that's your fault. Gas consumption is about normal for a 900 four, the 800 V four and 996 V twin that I owned since gave similar consumption figures. And it has a good tank range.

[milktown]

so i went with the Er6n. rode it back from auckland to tauranga today. had a blast. got a speeding ticket. good times :Police: