Can I ride a 919 Hornet like a Nana?

**Biff** · 26th September 2005, 20:48

Why buy a 919 when a CB600 would do the job just as well, if not better?
The 600 is good for some hooning fun, but not a balls out sprots bike, and is a great cruising machine to boot..

How about a CBF600S - a half faired machine. Secsy.

**myvice** · 26th September 2005, 21:25

Go for it!
You wont out ride the thing like it sounds like your doing with your present steed. It will take a bit of getting used to as will any new bike!
90% of this madness is confidence in your own skill and your bikes capabilities to do what you want it to do.
The other 10% is in the lap of the Gods/luck/ESP/leaving 1/2 a minute later/earlier...
Nice bikes the Hornets, take one out for a nice long test ride, if it doesn’t scare the snot out of you then try harder! If you have to try then you should be fine!

**James Deuce** · 26th September 2005, 21:36

Originally Posted by Biff

Why buy a 919 when a CB600 would do the job just as well, if not better?
The 600 is good for some hooning fun, but not a balls out sprots bike, and is a great cruising machine to boot..

How about a CBF600S - a half faired machine. Secsy.

I reckon, and please don't take this the wrong way, that the 600 Hornet is probably a more "challenging" bike to live with day to day than the 900.

Unfortunately this is the entire line up that Honda offer in Road bikes as official imports:
Sports

Touring

Street

X11
CB1300
CB900 Hornet
VTR250

Cruiser

VTX1800
VT750C

Scooter

Today
Lead

I reckon the CBF600S would be a great second bike to graduate to. It does everything an ex-novice needs well enough to be fun, without the threat of imminent peaky power delivery mortification

Doesn;t look too bad either

**SixPackBack** · 26th September 2005, 21:41

I rode naked bikes for years in the mistaken beleif that sprots bike's were not my shizzle, i eventually got sick of the cold, wind and rain and bought a sprot bike, and i can say i would never go back. They offer far more control and comfort [supprisingly], but the seating and handle bar set up take a little getting used to. a naked bike all things being equall will get blitsed on the road by a sprots bike. My 2 cents worth, if you like to fang it , naked's not for you

**SPman** · 26th September 2005, 21:43

Originally Posted by sixpackback

,.... if you like to fang it , naked's not for you

not over 200, anyway...

**Groins_NZ** · 26th September 2005, 21:45

You'll be sweet mate; you can ride the Hornet at a leisurely pace no problem (like most bikes). Before you get used to the power delivery you'll properly be doing a bit of that latter anyway (if you have some common sense and it sounds like you do). I remember my first few rides on the Hornet and I soon realised how much ‘poke’

it had – I used to ride to work via Paekak Hill and it took awhile to get used to the rate of knots you could approach corners at, whooooaaaaaa boy!

I reckon the Hornet is an excellent commuter bike too – don’t know if you plan on doing that? It’s quite well balanced, handling slow speeds in amongst traffic with no real difficulty and when you need to ‘squirt’ through a gap, or two, it’s a nice to know you’ve got plenty of horses at your fingertips - no need to be in the ‘right’ gear either; lots of low end torque as et al mentioned.

What colour are you choosing?

**skelstar** · 26th September 2005, 21:53

Originally Posted by Jim2

I reckon, and please don't take this the wrong way, that the 600 Hornet is probably a more "challenging" bike to live with day to day than the 900.

Im definitley getting some conflicting views from outside the forums (what do you mean outside???). Something like 'going from 27hp to 105hp and then riding in the rain is a big ask' (or there abouts). I think they have a point (I commute on my bike). So im kinda thinking 600-650 now. 4 cylinder maybe/probably. Maybe a naked Bandit 650...$10990. Perhaps a SV650 (nekid). Im sure a ride around the block will help me sort it out.

I think that I really would like a naked bike and yeah, the options are limited. While some semi-faired bikes are good looking (VTWIN yours is gorgeous) sometimes they just looking like bits of plastic falling off the front.

Ta for the discussion though guys. Maybe a loud pipe would make me feel better about a Bandit.

**skelstar** · 26th September 2005, 21:57

Originally Posted by Groins_NZ

What colour are you choosing?

Black. Black with a black belly-pan

.

**John** · 26th September 2005, 21:58

you can get a zzr14 and ride like a nana, well until something hits your and such - do what you want throttles and clutches do the speed controlling and brakes if your a wuss - once you get the 919 go down a quiet road and gun it in first, get used to lifting the wheel under power and you will be right.

**pritch** · 26th September 2005, 22:02

Originally Posted by skelstar

Knowing that I already ride conservatively, am I able to buy a 919 Hornet and ride it like a Nana, AND avoid doing something stupid because the bike is a bit 'quicker' than my 250?

Umm OK. It isn't a "bit" quicker. There are not too many bikes faster 0 to 160kph.

The Hornet has excellent power in the low and mid ranges. That's to say at the speeds at which a naked bike is comfortable.

Basically, if you want to pass a truck and trailer it is very quick (and this can be useful). It should also give the hint that you could get into a lotta trouble in a short time, but as always that's up to you.

It's easy to ride slow but it can hustle if you have the skills, always remembering it ain't a CBR RRRR etceterar rrrr. (Sorry I overdosed on alphabet soup.)

The 919 has to be one of the bargains in the current market and it has a better range than the 600. (A bigger tank, and fuel injection instead of four carbs?)

Whatever you buy, stay outa the papers.

Good luck.

**Biff** · 26th September 2005, 22:14

Originally Posted by Jim2

I reckon, that the 600 Hornet is probably a more "challenging" bike to live with day to day than the 900.

Think so? I found it quite a forgiving machine. Pretty much everything was 'neutral', but in a good way, particularly the handling and braking, and the de-tuned CBR600 engine was lovely. No (potentialy) scary mid range range bursts for the newb (i stepped up from a 125cc road machine), but a progressive impressive mid-range - perfik for over taking safely.

I've a scenic piccie of my ole CBF600S in the gallery here somewhere. Taken during a tour of Europe. Be buggered if I can find it though.

**Groins_NZ** · 26th September 2005, 22:15

Originally Posted by skelstar

So im kinda thinking 600-650 now. 4 cylinder maybe/probably. Maybe a naked Bandit 650...$10990. Perhaps a SV650 (nekid). Im sure a ride around the block will help me sort it out.

Have you considered the Hyosung 650GT then? There's alway the semi-faired option too.

**skelstar** · 26th September 2005, 22:21

Originally Posted by Groins_NZ

Have you considered the Hyosung 650GT then? There's alway the semi-faired option too.

I have, I technically know the bike well owning the 250 version. To be honest theres nothing wrong with the make or bike but you just cant find after market stuff for them. I want to jazz the standard bike up a bit with a hugger or belly pan (they look great on a naked) but theres nothing for Hyobags. Except the 650R full faired version is pretty hard to go by. If I could sort out a more touring type position alla CBR600 F3.

You on the ride this sunday?