Hornet 900 -> ZX-12R. Should I, shouldn't I?

[Gremlin]

Death has said what was needed re zx12... it's a hell of a bike, and don't let it's age fool you into thinking it doesn't have much poke. Torque enough to have the rear sliding as you turn through an intersection, should you have a careless right hand...

If you're using it for commuting, you'll never match the CB900, or get close, they're incredibly reliable and cheap to run (servicing is easy and cheap too). Got 24,500 from the PR2 front, rear has 13,000 and plenty of life yet. They are also still really good fun to ride.

[Drew]

Since I ride a hornet 900 should I be worried about my penis size?

Nope, the 900 Hornet is one of the better bikes around for nearly anything you might want to do on it.
They're isn't much they can't do with the right rider on board, but there is also not much they do spectacularly well either. Unless you're good at wheelies, they're fuckin mint for tom foolery!

[Reckless]

Nope, the 900 Hornet is one of the better bikes around for nearly anything you might want to do on it.
They're isn't much they can't do with the right rider on board, but there is also not much they do spectacularly well either. Unless you're good at wheelies, they're fuckin mint for tom foolery!

My mates got a Anniversary edition VFR800 I have similar thoughts on that!!
You can tour all day on the bloody thing and it certainly never gets left behind in the twisties! Very capable bike!
I keep saying it's the bike we should own! There's just something about thats not ...........?????

[NinjaNanna]

Test rode the ZX12 when looking to upgrade from the ZX9, I'm man enough to admit it was too much bike for me. Was a shame really, I liked everything about it, just too much power.

Read into it what you will but I then settled on an 04 R1.

[DEATH_INC.]

Death has said what was needed re zx12... it's a hell of a bike, and don't let it's age fool you into thinking it doesn't have much poke. Torque enough to have the rear sliding as you turn through an intersection, should you have a careless right hand...

By the time I'd had mine a few months, I could slide it out of corners moto gp style, 2nd or 3rd gear often at 160 + clicks. It would pull up into a wheelie at 180k in second if ya wanted. It would also do rolling burnouts in second at any speed up to 200 odd k, just by pulling on the front brake and screwing on the throttle.
Mine (stock barely run in) had 2 less hp than My current ZX10 on the dyno, but I can tell you in the real world the difference is simple, the 10 would prolly pull it anywhere to approx 200k (must line madness up one day...) but at anything over that the 12 would murder it. At 250 k the 12 will still try to pull your arms from their sockets.....

[Grasshopperus]

Hi guys, thanks for all your advice. There's more good stuff here than I can quote with responses to; from Death Inc's chilling tales of how it is, to Gremlin's recommendation for commuting and everything in between (and also MikeD400's uncertainty provoking call about an R1).

So anyway, I've dithered and withered and gone and done what I should've done as soon as I got the money... put it all on paying back the mortgage. Boring, old-person-esque, smart-move, lifesaving etc etc.

I still love the look and drive of the ZX-12R but it's probably just going to cause tears (more $$ on consumables, and, let's face it, tickets). The hornet900 is still real fun and has more potential than I'm using anyway. I hope none of you think I was wasting your time with this thread, the responses you've given me have had me thinking hardout and I've come full circle to realise that I'm actually real happy with what I've got. Goddamn money, it tempted me. Also, the wife said I'd have to buy her a new diamond ring if I got a new bike (as I'm not allowed to enjoy my hard-gotten gains exclusively).

So thanks all.

[MikeD400]

So anyway, I've dithered and withered and gone and done what I should've done as soon as I got the money... put it all on paying back the mortgage. Boring, old-person-esque, smart-move, lifesaving etc etc.

Good call dude! Your a good man I like the way you think its easy to blow money on these two wheeled money pits Ive got a mate that burns all his money on needless bike stuff, I just use his example as a guide to where my priorities should lie, and your right the hornets great and u love it really!

[gijoe1313]

And that's the way it is, the Hornet always manages to have a fond owner keeping it for a bit longer! Always good to consider other options though!

[Gremlin]

And that's the way it is, the Hornet always manages to have a fond owner keeping it for a bit longer!

And when an owner is stupid enough to let it go, it's the first bike to their rescue when the new one packs up

[Grasshopperus]

And when an owner is stupid enough to let it go, it's the first bike to their rescue when the new one packs up

Oh that's right, had forgotten about that. Karma being what it is, would've got me almost immediately with that trick. How to (eventually) dispose of a hornet900 then? Sell it overseas? Ride it into the ground? Keep it (pull a gijoe)?

[Gremlin]

Actually, that's a good point... it was THAT hornet. Doesn't like being traded for prettier models

Good luck running it into the ground. GiJoe has 85,000km ish, I have 97,000km (and it has a hard life of commuting, gearbox takes quite the hit, never getting into the country really), and Toto has 125,000km. Courier I heard of did over 200,000km (but included open country runs to Whangarei etc.

[Madness]

Must line madness up one day...

Keen as bud, Miranda - Kaiaua maybe? You can then give me the learn on doing wheelies, just in case I happen to pass a mufti-car one day.