Shall I get the Honda CB900 or...

**MGST** · 13th January 2008, 19:42

Originally Posted by Cache Wraith

Some photos wouldn't go astray then.

Paitience laddy, he's waiting for them to be sent to him

( borrowed camera etc ). Tomorrow.

**NZsarge** · 13th January 2008, 19:45

Originally Posted by MGST

Paitience laddy, he's waiting for them to be sent to him

( borrowed camera etc ). Tomorrow.

There is also a new 600cc Hornet that's been released overseas, I don't know if it's here yet but it might be worth enquiring about.

Edit: Sorry, hit quote by mistake. By the way they seem to be raving about that new Hornet 600 in the UK press too.

**HornetBoy** · 13th January 2008, 19:50

Originally Posted by NZsarge

There is also a new 600cc Hornet that's been released overseas, I don't know if it's here yet but it might be worth enquiring about.

Edit: Sorry, hit quote by mistake. By the way they seem to be raving about that new Hornet 600 in the UK press too.

yea thats the one i read about in the latest superbike mag i think,they look awsome ,i like the new fairng style theyve come up with.

cache have you looked at a triumph street tripple 675 ?

**Zapf** · 13th January 2008, 20:19

Originally Posted by Macstar

On another note, I've read a lot of forums on the Hornets that have said they need better front forks, braided lines, an extra tooth etc but I think the brakes and suspension are fine. I totally agree about the exhaust though!

So yeah, the Hornet isn't a rioting racer but it is very quick through the corners and would give a lot of sport bikes a good run for their money.

Re the forks, it depends on your weight. If you are around 70ish Kg +/- u should be get it to a good state. Its the rear shock that needs work.

And yes, it gives 600's a good run for their money in the tigher stuff.

**SVboy** · 13th January 2008, 20:23

I was the same as you-looking for a new bike-tried the Hornet-the good qualities were obvious-but it did not light my fire either. I ended up with a Suzi gsxr 600k7-much more impratical, less comfortable-more maintainance------and I love it to bits[bad choice of words!]. Keep test riding-you will know when you find the right bike..

**pritch** · 13th January 2008, 20:28

Some people deride the Mickey Mouse ears on the 919 Hornet, and it is true they are not the most elegant mirrors in motorcycling. They have one redeeming feature though, they actually work! Which is not nearly as common as you might expect.

It is true that the Hornet forks are somewhat soft.
It is also true that they are adjustable, there is even a screwdriver in the toolkit. Although I would recommend that you use a screwdriver specially selected for fit as aluminium doesn't like "nearly right" screwdrivers.

Braided lines are a good upgrade but I didn't do that one because at the time we had that slight problem caused by the inability of the LTSA retards to express themselves clearly. That oops has hopefully been put to bed now though.

Maybe it's not too soon to start writing to Santa mentioning words like Galfer and Hel...

**Cache Wraith** · 13th January 2008, 20:29

Originally Posted by NZsarge

There is also a new 600cc Hornet that's been released overseas, I don't know if it's here yet but it might be worth enquiring about.

word is it's made in Italy and wont be arriving here, but all the reviews I have read have been pretty good and I think its a sweet looking machine.

**Trudes** · 13th January 2008, 20:31

That is true about the mirrors, however I have to say that one of the best investments I made on mine was the mirrors I got! They are awesome, you can see everything on both sides and behind, and they look nice. But yeah, if you can't afford, at least you can see out of the stock ears, unlike a lot of stock mirrors.

**HornetBoy** · 13th January 2008, 20:33

Originally Posted by pritch008

Some people deride the Mickey Mouse ears on the 919 Hornet, and it is true they are not the most elegant mirrors in motorcycling. They have one redeeming feature though, they actually work! Which is not nearly as common as you might expect.

yea agreed their,like most things too look good ya have to sacrifice performance,replaced the mouse ears today and yea its very hard to get used to mirrors that are 1 quarter the size of the ones youve been useing for the last few years gets me bloody crossed eyed trying to focus on them lol ,but i suppose ya get used to them and as Mrs Kendog says they work a hell of alot better in the view angle department

**Trudes** · 13th January 2008, 20:36

Originally Posted by Hornet250Boy

yea agreed their,like most things too look good ya have to sacrifice performance,replaced the mouse ears today and yea its very hard to get used to mirrors that are 1 quarter the size of the ones youve been useing for the last few years

I got these and they are the best mirrors, no compromise!!

**Gremlin** · 14th January 2008, 01:46

imho, You cannot get a brand new bike better than the cb900 for the same price.

I've ridden a zx10 and cb900 a lot, and have gone through a certain off camber left hander I know very well at indecent speeds around twice the limit. On the 10, I had my hands full, keeping it stable and on track/tyres gripping. On the cb900, at the same speed, I thought, jeez, if only I had more power... then I looked at the clocks

Their only problem is that ground clearance is not the greatest, and you can touch the pegs down reasonably easy, if you're riding it that way. That said, around the point the pegs touch down, the 180 tyre is close to the edge, so not a bad design really. Besides that, they are excellent bikes. Best tip is to swap the bars to mx bars (wider) and replace the rear shock with something like ohlins. The total cost will still be cheaper than any other option, and will be a fantastic package.

**NZsarge** · 14th January 2008, 07:34

Originally Posted by Cache Wraith

word is it's made in Italy and wont be arriving here, but all the reviews I have read have been pretty good and I think its a sweet looking machine.

Pfft, that's just typical is'nt it....

Honda NZ.....Wakey wakey!

**vifferman** · 14th January 2008, 08:20

Originally Posted by Cache Wraith

Albeit it's generally a very well reviewed machine (the unsung hero), the Hornet didn't totally light my fire when I took it for a test drive.

There's your answer.
Don't buy it: keep test-riding. The right bike is out there, and you can have fun finding it.

Oh - and when you do buy the bike of your dreams, that makes you feel excited just looking at it, ride it. We bikers don't drive our bikes - that's what Mrkns do.

**Macstar** · 14th January 2008, 14:11

Here's some snappies of my new Hornet at Kawakawa Bay (thanks MGST for the camera and for emailing these to me!). 700kms old now...!

One thing I don't like about my Hornet is how ridicuously sensitive the throttle is. Every time I go over a medium to large bump in the road the jolt on my wrists moves the throttle a little - but a little means quite a lot on the throttle and it can make quite a snatchy ride at times. I'll ask the dealer at the 1000km service, maybe I need a little more play to be set in the throttle?

P.S. I've ridden other fuel injected bikes before so I don't think that is the problem

Anyway: As people have said, each to their own - get something that you really want. I bought the Hornet as it was a good compromise and as a result had lowish expectations, but it is increasingly impressing me.

**Cache Wraith** · 14th January 2008, 15:44

Originally Posted by Macstar

Here's some snappies of my new Hornet at Kawakawa Bay (thanks MGST for the camera and for emailing these to me!). 700kms old now...!

Anyway: As people have said, each to their own - get something that you really want. I bought the Hornet as it was a good compromise and as a result had lowish expectations, but it is increasingly impressing me.

Nononsense,classic good looking naked bike. Best in black too.