The dogs' Hornet mods

[nzspokes]

Couple goodies I've made for the 900.

Poor man's rear-sets - adaptor to move the stock peg holders back 35 up 5mm. Started as wooden masters sand cast and cleaned up. Work a treat.

Cover for the rear master cylinder. Bling really.

Thats very nicely done.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I have a Hornet shop manual (Honda) one and a disc containing the pdf file if anyone wants it. I printed it out at work and it fills an A4 Eastlight folder.

If anyone wants to come get it from me it is here. If no takers it is going in the recycle bin.

I also have a tail tidy for a Hornet I found in my garage if anyone wants to make me an offer.

[nzspokes]

I have a Hornet shop manual (Honda) one and a disc containing the pdf file if anyone wants it. I printed it out at work and it fills an A4 Eastlight folder.

If anyone wants to come get it from me it is here. If no takers it is going in the recycle bin.

I also have a tail tidy for a Hornet I found in my garage if anyone wants to make me an offer.

I would like the printed copy, the the cost of the ride there may make it uneconomic.

[Gremlin]

Hagon are emulsion shocks so as they heat they cavitate.

Ohlins is way to much on a cheap bike.

Honestly, you look to spend all this time and money on crap like engine mods to make it faster, when you're starting trackdays in Group 1.

A mate has circulated on a standard-engined CB900 in group 3 just fine. Decent suspension and wide bars are really the only requirements to turn the bike into a sweet road ride. You get better handling and better tyre life as a result, so it's not just the cost of suspension. As said, the suspension can also be on-sold and the bike returned to stock, should you wish, it can be serviced, and also traded or modified should you change bikes (thinking of Ohlins for all the options). There are other cheaper options, but in my mind, they're cheaper for a reason. Flexibility like servicing, support etc etc vary as well, but totally agree anything would be better than the stock stuff.

Power? Pulls wheelies just fine in first, and tops out around 200 (some say they've had more, but the weave got really unnerving at that point) which is more than enough.

Sorry to be blunt, but figured someone had to say it. The bikes are also really reliable when left alone, I can't think of a single 900 I know of, that gets a harder life than mine, so messing with it doesn't make much sense to me.

[nzspokes]

Honestly, you look to spend all this time and money on crap like engine mods to make it faster, when you're starting trackdays in Group 1.

A mate has circulated on a standard-engined CB900 in group 3 just fine. Decent suspension and wide bars are really the only requirements to turn the bike into a sweet road ride. You get better handling and better tyre life as a result, so it's not just the cost of suspension. As said, the suspension can also be on-sold and the bike returned to stock, should you wish, it can be serviced, and also traded or modified should you change bikes (thinking of Ohlins for all the options). There are other cheaper options, but in my mind, they're cheaper for a reason. Flexibility like servicing, support etc etc vary as well, but totally agree anything would be better than the stock stuff.

Power? Pulls wheelies just fine in first, and tops out around 200 (some say they've had more, but the weave got really unnerving at that point) which is more than enough.

Sorry to be blunt, but figured someone had to say it. The bikes are also really reliable when left alone, I can't think of a single 900 I know of, that gets a harder life than mine, so messing with it doesn't make much sense to me.

You have to start track days in group one. Ive only done one.

Ive not done much for power as yet due to there is not much there to be found. I may go cams, porting and Fireblade throttle bodys if I can get some at the right price. All I have done for power is basic stuff. Biggest issue with power on them is rubbish fueling. Have been speaking to a guy in the US about a PC for it, when people speak of them failing it would seem to be due to spikes from dead rectifiers or plane bad wiring.

I don't have $2k to drop on an Ohlins. So I will mod a stock shock. How hard can it be?

Biggest improvement in the bike I have found is narrower and much lower bars and lifting the pegs. I can now work the bike much harder. That's for me though, may not work for others.

Why do I do it? Because I can. Why did I fit a 351 Windsor to a perfectly good Mk2 Cortina? Because I could. Why did I fit a Falcon IL6 to a Mk2 Landrover then end for end it? Because I could.

Reliability wise the bike has had its issues. Clutch cable, wheel bearings in the back, sticky indicator switch and the Hornet headlight that comes on when it pleases. None to do with mods.

[Kendog]

Reliability wise the bike has had its issues. Clutch cable, wheel bearings in the back, sticky indicator switch and the Hornet headlight that comes on when it pleases. None to do with mods.

Interesting, I have had clutch cable and sticky indicator problems as well.

[nzspokes]

Interesting, I have had clutch cable and sticky indicator problems as well.

Common issue with Hornets, well cables are a given. Indicator was dried up grease on the switch which a shot of brake clean sorted. Brake clean also fixed the headlight which was the starter button needing a clean.

[Gremlin]

Interesting, I have had clutch cable and sticky indicator problems as well.

Clutch cable replaced at 60k, potentially a lack of lubing that made it fray, the bike is at 118k now, and they're lubing the cable regularly at service. Possible rain etc, when parked outside.

Never had sticky indicators, starter button has needed some cleaning out, some CRC etc, 2-3 times over the years.

Rear wheel bearings are a known problem. GiJoe had his replaced while still under factory warranty

[Kendog]

One of the throttle cables snapped on Tuesday. I have the replacements ready to put in this weekend.
Anyone done this themselves, sounds like it could be a tricky job?

[nzspokes]

One of the throttle cables snapped on Tuesday. I have the replacements ready to put in this weekend.
Anyone done this themselves, sounds like it could be a tricky job?

Not done it yet but from what ive read its easier to pull out the throttle bodys. I will get some shorter ones made at some point and fit them.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Honestly, you look to spend all this time and money on crap like engine mods to make it faster, when you're starting trackdays in Group 1.

A mate has circulated on a standard-engined CB900 in group 3 just fine. Decent suspension and wide bars are really the only requirements to turn the bike into a sweet road ride. You get better handling and better tyre life as a result, so it's not just the cost of suspension. As said, the suspension can also be on-sold and the bike returned to stock, should you wish, it can be serviced, and also traded or modified should you change bikes (thinking of Ohlins for all the options). There are other cheaper options, but in my mind, they're cheaper for a reason. Flexibility like servicing, support etc etc vary as well, but totally agree anything would be better than the stock stuff.

Power? Pulls wheelies just fine in first, and tops out around 200 (some say they've had more, but the weave got really unnerving at that point) which is more than enough.

Sorry to be blunt, but figured someone had to say it. The bikes are also really reliable when left alone, I can't think of a single 900 I know of, that gets a harder life than mine, so messing with it doesn't make much sense to me.

At one of the trackdays I was on which was run by the then HRC (not THAT HRC, sadly, the Honda Riders Club) Aaron Slight was there on a bog stock CB900 and absolutely schooling the thing. The bike was doing 110% of its capability and he was riding at about 60% of his: looking round, pulling the odd wheelie, slowing so people could follow, shit like that. Real lesson in its not what you ride its how you ride it. I didnt have a camera with me but the tyres when he got off it were ragged.....

And the BEST money I spent on my Hornet was the fork upgrade (emulators, springs, magic fairy dust) and Ohlins shock. Quite spendy at the time but the shock I onsold and I did a deal with a guy (on KB actually) to swap his stock forks with mine and cash my way. So the stuff has a second hand value. Agree too re the fucking weird stock bars: Renthal Street Low is your friend.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Why do I do it? Because I can. Why did I fit a 351 Windsor to a perfectly good Mk2 Cortina? Because I could. Why did I fit a Falcon IL6 to a Mk2 Landrover then end for end it? Because I could.

awesome!

presumably the Landy went end for end becuase it was very front heavy after the mods?

[nzspokes]

awesome!

presumably the Landy went end for end becuase it was very front heavy after the mods?

Falcon motor was lighter than the rover 4. Nah a hill I thought was flat on top wasnt.....

[tobbera]

Regarding the stock bars having a weird angle to them. Too narrow and my wrists were in a strange position.

My cheapo solution was to take the stock bar off and rebend them. Bended out the back swipe so they are almost straight. Then mounted it back with some bar back risers. Much more comfortable.

/Tobias

[soopa]

My 1998 hornet is being troublesome.

It has been stalling mostly as I come to a stop. Park it up and it will not start up unless I wait a bit. If i manage to start it back up it idles for a bit then stalls again but sometimes I ride away fine. There has been a couple of times when I'm cruising straight at just 50km/h and the engine just stalls on me and I would have to wait a couple minutes to start it back up. I can feel it coming when I give it a bit of throttle and it becomes unresponsive. This has been going on for a month or so now. Did a service recently with motorcycle doctors and everything was actually in pretty good order. I did have a leaky petcock which I fixed it temporarily which may be the problem, gotta feeling its something to do with the fuel line/vacuum line tho. Just seems as if there is some sort of fuel starvation (i know that there is plenty fuel left in my tank) .Any suggestions before giving motorcycle doctors a call? Cheers!