cb900 hornet or bandit 1200

[OLD MAN BJ]

Hi Guys, Old Man BJ here
A while ago I asked a question re big bikes, and after riding some machines I have come down to two bikes. I will be commuting during the week, and taking the misus on tours at the weekend. I have riden both the CB900 Hornet and the Suzi 1200 Bandit and I really like them both. About the same power and torque really. For touring, both take Givi top boxes and side cases, and if I was to buy the Hornet I would fit a Givi 760 fairing for touring. So by the time you add the fairing to the Hornet , the difference in price is about $1500 bucks. Now this is my first new bike in a long time, and I want to keep it for at least 4 or 5 years. So all other things being equal, what really matters to me is the reliability factor and comfort of the pillion. Surprisingly, the Hornet has the longer leg room for a pillion. I have never owned a Liquid cooled bike, ie Hornet, and I have read that the Bandit motor is just about bullet proof. So what about commuting in Auckland traffic for the Bandit, being Air/Oil cooled?, and over a long period, which bike would be least expensive to service. ( re fuel injection V Carbies, and water cooled V air/oil cooled etc) Anyone who has experience with these bikes, please feel free to give me your thoughts.
Thanks guys,

BJ

[terbang]

Had a 1200 Bandit for 8 years and you are right they are a bullet proof tried and proven theme. It can tour, commute and also be an absolute hooligan (if you want it to be).
I'm biased to the Bandit..Enjoy either way

[Zapf]

well haven't had my CB900 for that long.... but I do ride it everyday and it tours and commutes just fine have done like 9'000km since Nov,05.

The CB900 motor is a detuned (un stressed) CBR919 motor... so its bullet proof... and should run for a long long time.

I am getting around 250~270km per tank before reserve. For touring you might want to get some custom work done on the seat to replace the foam, but that is pretty much true on most bikes.

[runed]

I just bought a Hornet 900 few weeks ago and I loved it, a well put together package.

I've fitted a GIVI 755 windscreen and considering a Top Box soon.
Ride it on a daily basis and found the first gear a bit too tall for the morning traffic.
Engine is Ultra smooth with good torque from 2k onwards, mid to high end power is AMAZING
Got the seat redone by the guy down Tauranga (Riders by Macdonal Auto trimmers) - Great Job, really comfortable for long distance
Unmount the origional tyre when it's brand new and put a set of Avon Viper Sport AV60 (don't want to argue what is the best but this is the profile I am used to on my Valkyrie for 8 years)

[Lou Girardin]

I'm on my second Bandit. I commute every day, tour two-up with a three bag Givi set-up and fang around.
It sure is bullet proof, easy to service (locknut adjustment on the valves, no shims), averages 17 km/l, tons of low down/mid range grunt makes dragging a big load easy. A can, air box mod will give another 10 -15 HP.
The Hornet wouldn't do the same things as well, but is probably a tad better fanging in the twisty's.
I could have got a Hornet at staff rates but it just didn't quite make the grade.

[OLD MAN BJ]

So Lou,
Obviously you are very happy with the Bandit. Have you ever experienced or worried about the motor overheating in heavy traffic, being air/oil cooled?

BJ

[Lou Girardin]

So Lou,
Obviously you are very happy with the Bandit. Have you ever experienced or worried about the motor overheating in heavy traffic, being air/oil cooled?

BJ

No worrys about overheating, they use these things in the States and Aust without a problem and it gets a lot hotter in some parts than it'll ever get here.
Plus there's no coolant to leak.

[kiwifruit]

im bais towards the bandit
good strong motors those
just my 0.02c

[Pixie]

Hi Guys, Old Man BJ here
A while ago I asked a question re big bikes, and after riding some machines I have come down to two bikes. I will be commuting during the week, and taking the misus on tours at the weekend. I have riden both the CB900 Hornet and the Suzi 1200 Bandit and I really like them both. About the same power and torque really. For touring, both take Givi top boxes and side cases, and if I was to buy the Hornet I would fit a Givi 760 fairing for touring. So by the time you add the fairing to the Hornet , the difference in price is about $1500 bucks. Now this is my first new bike in a long time, and I want to keep it for at least 4 or 5 years. So all other things being equal, what really matters to me is the reliability factor and comfort of the pillion. Surprisingly, the Hornet has the longer leg room for a pillion. I have never owned a Liquid cooled bike, ie Hornet, and I have read that the Bandit motor is just about bullet proof. So what about commuting in Auckland traffic for the Bandit, being Air/Oil cooled?, and over a long period, which bike would be least expensive to service. ( re fuel injection V Carbies, and water cooled V air/oil cooled etc) Anyone who has experience with these bikes, please feel free to give me your thoughts.
Thanks guys,

BJ

If you're that way inclined, you can do all the servicing on the Bandit yourself with ease.
Valves are screw adjusted.

[Groins_NZ]

Both bikes have some aspects better than the other and vice versa.

If I understand you correctly and reading what has been said already then personally I would now base my decision on my gut feeling. Both bikes should see you right for 4-5 yrs relatively trouble free if well maintained/looked after.

There is a thread for a CB900 review here if you haven't found it already.
05 CB900F Honda Hornet Review

My 0.02

[terbang]

I rode my bandit in the middle of Australia +45degC and I also rode it in europe at -10degC and it gave no trouble at all.

[Lou Girardin]

I guess it comes down to wanting to ride an insect as against a bad-ass mofo.

[unhingedlizard]

never been near a hornets nest have you?

[Zapf]

never been near a hornets nest have you?

hahah... in UK you have to contend with not just 1 hornet... but a swam of them....

[timorang]

I went thru the exact same process and arrived at these two machines. Both excellent value and capable bikes. I bought the Hornet. The Bandit I found to be 'bigger' and heavier, requiring much more muscle and input to ride than the Hornet. The Hornet by comparison felt more intuitive and responsive without being overly sensitive. I think from looking at them side by side it is clear that the Bandit is 'older technology' in most respects (frame, suspension, brakes, motor) but this is largely redeemed by that outstanding engine. The carbs and screw and locknut valve adjsutment on the Bandits will also require more regular and more expensive attention (cf fuel injection and shims). Riding them it felt to me that the Bandit was harder to maintain in the 110 - 120 kph range, wanting to roll onto 140+ if attention was not paid, the two Bandits I rode also had an annoying vibration at around 110kph. What was your decision?