Honda Hornet vs. SV1000s

**jahmin** · 24th May 2006, 17:43

Hi guys,

Just after some of your thoughts. In the next couple months i will be looking at upgrading my ride - the two bikes i am most interested in right now within my price range are the Hornet 919 and the SV1000s.

I will be using the bike for pretty much everything - commuting, a wee bit of touring, and taking it for a blast in the weekends.

Ideally, i want something that is easy to live with, and is happy travelling at sane speeds, but equally (if not more) happy to turn it up a few knotches. Good fuel range is also preferred, but not essential.

I do love the look and sound of the SV, but im sure a hornet can be made to sound very rad too. The main concern with the hornet is the lack of fairing, but i could always add a screen to help with wind blast.

So yeah, thats basically what im after - any thoughts would be appreciated.

Oh, and I dont have the interet at home right now so wont be able to reply to anything tonight, but will check here again tomorrow.

Cheers!

**Edbear** · 24th May 2006, 17:47

Hornet with a screen would probbly be best for your needs. Love the SV but it's mainly best for blatting aound on a weekend. Commuting can be done, but I've heard of owners changing the bars and seat to make them more comfortable.

**Kendog** · 24th May 2006, 17:51

I have nothing but good things to say about the Hornet.

Does everything well and is a very comfortable bike to ride.

Best thing to do is go for a ride on both bikes and see which one fits you.

Good luck

**madboy** · 24th May 2006, 20:29

Speak to Skelstar. He will have analysed every last detail in comparing the two. If you want a track comparo, I saw picture of Spankme and Skelstar at Taupo.

I commute on a 636, and before that an FZR400. The FZR was a hell of a lot less comfortable than the 636, but neither are a problem for commuting 20k each way per day.

**Mr. Peanut** · 24th May 2006, 20:32

Have a look at the videos on here then decide...

http://drsardonicus.com/

**limbimtimwim** · 24th May 2006, 21:24

I heard the SV1000 has been discontinued, so if you do decide on one, remember to beat the living crap out the dealer over the price. Not that it isn't pretty good value anyway.

If you like those bikes, perhaps you might also like the Kawasaki Z750.

**scracha** · 24th May 2006, 21:33

Originally Posted by jahmin

Hi guys,

I will be using the bike for pretty much everything - commuting, a wee bit of touring, and taking it for a blast in the weekends.

Ideally, i want something that is easy to live with, and is happy travelling at sane speeds, but equally (if not more) happy to turn it up a few knotches. Good fuel range is also preferred, but not essential.

Cheers!

TDM900, DL1000, DL650, Ducati ST4, R1100S.

Wouldn't say the bikes you listed are happy travelling at sane speeds...they're a bit like a Fazer 1000 and hardly in their stride at 100k's.

**paturoa** · 24th May 2006, 21:36

Had my SV since aug last year and very happy. Its the s model with the low bars and I commute in AK every day.

Commuting I always get 220ks for 13 litres.

There are some excellent SV sites around including spanks (recommend!) that covers everything you could possibly want to know about SVs.

http://www.sv-portal.com/

If I remember I'll update this thread in a couple of weeks after the Brass monkey about longer rides

Never riden a hornet so wouldn't know.

Would I buy another SV - yes.

**imdying** · 24th May 2006, 21:40

The SV1000S is dead cheap right now, and with a set of pipes it sounds like no 4 cylinder could. I thought it vibrated a lot when I got it, but 2500kms later I don't even notice it... so much so that I think a 4 cylinder would feel somewhat souless in comparison. Defintely ride them both, I'd never ridden a big twin till I took the demo bike for a strop. It's a different way of living, my 600 sounded great around the mid range, typical kwaka growl. The twin on the other hand sounds fabulous anywhere in the range, even plonking about at 3000rpm is a treat.

The SVs ride was a little firm at first, but it's settled down nicely. Cound definitely do with more power, but that's a matter of taste, even at 160bhp some people would be wanting for more.

The SV1000S is a better looker than the Hornet to be sure, the blue is bit ugly, the silver is nice, but you'll love the black. Pipes are readily available, and totally worth the price of entry. I've a set of carbon microns on mine, would recommend them. I commute every day on the SV, it's not hard on the wrists imho... the one thing that makes it difficult is the seat material. It's excellent for dispersing water... really has to rain hard out before you end up sitting on a wet seat, but man is it grippy. Makes it a little hard to reposition yourself on the seat, which can be a pain around town, but admittedly it's a minor point.

Definitely give the Hornet a look over though if you don't mind unfaired bikes. That motors been around a long long time (mind you, so has the SV's), so it's well sorted, plus I'm guessing the Honda build quality is better than Suzukis.

I believe it's only the SV1000 that has been discontinued, not the SV1000S?

**imdying** · 24th May 2006, 21:42

Originally Posted by scracha

Wouldn't say the bikes you listed are happy travelling at sane speeds...they're a bit like a Fazer 1000 and hardly in their stride at 100k's.

Naw, the SVs a peach around town... the motor is nice and flexible.

**paturoa** · 24th May 2006, 21:52

Originally Posted by imdying

Naw, the SVs a peach around town... the motor is nice and flexible.

I've riden a bunch of large 4s and you'd be hard pressed to beat SV accleration from low revs, as round town riding requires. The only other bikes I've ridden that would match it at low revs would be a GSX14 or a GS1200.

The SV has smaller valves, injector bodies and less overlap than the TL motor all to increase low and mid range.

**Devil** · 25th May 2006, 08:41

Test rode both when I was looking. The NAKED SV1000 won over all of them. The poke and linear power nature of that twin is great, plus the riding position was good (couldnt put up with the S model myself, not good for my back or neck).

The hornet was "good", but that was its downfall as well.

The SV1000 was a close second choice to the Triumph I bought. If I had gone with the Zuki it would have needed a change in seat (padding a bit crap).

**WickedOne** · 25th May 2006, 08:51

I am with kendog on this one, no complaints at all as far as the Hornet goes. Ride both before buying but I am really happy with my 05 Hornet, it is a really enjoyable bike to ride.

Run a search for "Hornet" in the forums and you will find heaps of info.

**skelstar** · 25th May 2006, 09:22

Remove the baffles from the mufflers on a Hornet ($0) and the bike sounds HEAPS better.

Youre kinda comparing to very different bikes there. I made the decision whether I wanted an inline4 or a v-twin well before I decided on Hornet/Bandit/Sprotsbike type factors. You ride a CBR250RR?

Have you ridden a big v-twin yet? You may like the howling type sound from an inline4 more than the more sedate sound of a big v-twin (no offence to big vtwin owners, thats just how I felt). Youre also used to riding something that needs a bit of revving too. Conversly youre used to a bike with a more aggresive riding position also...looks like you may have to take some bikes for a test ride.

2c.

**WickedOne** · 25th May 2006, 09:26

Originally Posted by skelstar

Remove the baffles from the mufflers on a Hornet ($0) and the bike sounds HEAPS better.

Youre kinda comparing to very different bikes there. I made the decision whether I wanted an inline4 or a v-twin well before I decided on Hornet/Bandit/Sprotsbike type factors. You ride a CBR250RR?

Have you ridden a big v-twin yet? You may like the howling type sound from an inline4 more than the more sedate sound of a big v-twin (no offence to big vtwin owners, thats just how I felt). Youre also used to riding something that needs a bit of revving too. Conversly youre used to a bike with a more aggresive riding position also...looks like you may have to take some bikes for a test ride.

2c.

A pair of oval Micron Carbon Fibre pipes sound and looks pretty damn awesome too!!!!( check out my profile pic)

Agreed totally, 2 completely different kettles of fish here...