New 1000cc Hornet

**Hitcher** · 27th March 2007, 18:35

The X11 was staggeringly popular in these parts. Marketing people. Pah.

**limbimtimwim** · 27th March 2007, 18:50

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Is it just me or does it seem that Honda seriously lag when it comes to new offerings. Having trouble recalling anything really new out of Honda in a long while. They even seem to be slow to update old models and generally only tickle them up a little when they do.

I feel the same way. They are boooorrrrinnnnggg at the moment. Where is the SV650 competitor? The SV650 is in generation two, probably heading for a makeover sometime in the near future. What about a proper hyperbike, ZX14 style? Or a balls out V4 sports bike? If honda made one of those again, I'd be there with the requisite pile of money and firstborn to get one.

Thought from what I have read (but not experienced..) the current CBR1000 and CBR600 are signs that Honda might have got it's groove back. The new 600 hornet is at least an attempt at being adventurous. They even let Italians design it...

**Jimmy B** · 28th March 2007, 08:34

Originally Posted by Kendog

I have seen this pic before. Tis a guess of what Honda could do and has been written off by many as not going to happen.

I hope the 900 gets a revamp, like the 600 has just had. Would like the new CBR1000 engine (tuned for torque not top end), upright riding position, great brakes, suspension etc and naked.

Honda, you reading this??

I still reckon Honda were heading down the right track with the X11, as Hitcher has mentioned on numerous occasions it was a dead duck despite being the quickest naked bike ever produced at the time.

I think the Hornet looks more appealing to most people so, in my opinion, an X11-Hornet hybrid using the Blackbird engine would be fantastic. Even the comics that slagged the X11 could not get away from the brutal performance offered by the X11, courtesy of the 'bird engine.

Using the CBR1000 motor could make it too Fazer like i.e. bias still towards top end rush at the expense of, albeit slight, bottom end grunt.

**WickedOne** · 28th March 2007, 18:48

Saw this a while ago (not sure where I saw it but did save it), I would buy one at the drop of a hat....

Along with a revamped CB600F Hornet, Honda is expected to dump the old CBR engine in the CB900F and bring out a heftier version of the CBF1000 engine for a brand new CB1000F Hornet. Styling will be more adventurous than the CBF hopefully. A CBF1000 engine means the latest generation Fireblade genes, but with much more than 100bhp this time. To bring it up to the level of the competition from Yamaha FZ1 and Kawasaki Z1000 it needs more than 130bhp. Our best guesses is a max power output of around the 140bhp mark. We also believe that the bike will get a very similar chassis to the CBR1000RR to really make an impact on the big nakeds market. Honda has got the CBF1000 for the sensible types so no problem to make the big Hornet both powerful and sporty.

**WickedOne** · 28th March 2007, 18:51

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**Mr. Peanut** · 28th March 2007, 19:06

Fuck Japanese bikes are ugly.

**ceebie13** · 30th March 2007, 07:57

Originally Posted by MrPeanut

Fuck Japanese bikes are ugly.

Hail, oh master of the sweeping statement!

**jeremyb** · 7th April 2007, 22:23

Oooh thats ugly!

**pritch** · 15th April 2007, 09:05

Originally Posted by limbimtimwim

Where is the SV650 competitor?

Eh? The 600 Hornet is generally rated better than the SV650 in the tests I've seen. Not that the SV650 is bad, the Hornet just edges it out, and all the other 650s (except the Speed Four when it was current).

The Hornet 600 had an update to the current CBR engine as well as usd forks etc but the 600 had carbs so had to be updated to meet emissions controls. The CB900F already has injection so there is not the same pressing need to update it.

In Europe, of course, they also have the choice of the made-in-Italy CBF1000.

On the other hand the whole Honda range has been around for a long time now.
How about a V4 CBR1000RR?

**limbimtimwim** · 17th April 2007, 12:51

Originally Posted by pritch008

Eh? The 600 Hornet is generally rated better than the SV650 in the tests I've seen. Not that the SV650 is bad, the Hornet just edges it out, and all the other 650s (except the Speed Four when it was current).

I was thinking a 600ccish twin. The old Bros doesn't count, it is not in production. And it has 3 valves per cylinder... The Hornet 600 is really a competitor to the GSR600, the FZ6 and the Z750. Some people don't like 4 cylinders, and my eye sees shitloads of SV650s out there, and more Kawasaki ER-6 thingies than Yamaha FZ6es and Kawasaki Z750s despite the ER-6 being a newer model, so people are voting with their wallets on that one.

And blue-wing don't sell it here anyway. I had a go on a 600 hornet once, it was better than a 919 Hornet because it wasn't as good. If you follow. Kinda like a vacuum cleaner with a seat and two wheels.

The Hornet 600 had an update to the current CBR engine as well as usd forks etc but the 600 had carbs so had to be updated to meet emissions controls. The CB900F already has injection so there is not the same pressing need to update it.

And they have probably fucked it in the process. Leave the CBR600 engine in un-altered for gods sake.

On the other hand the whole Honda range has been around for a long time now.

Yes, and it is the most boring range of motorcycles out there at the moment.

How about a V4 CBR1000RR?

That would be called an RVF1000. They don't make it. They won't. There is more of a chance of a MotoGP replica being made than that. Because Honda is boring us to death these days. Perhaps I could find a VF1000R and shove that engine into a old Foxeye Fireblade frame to make life interesting.

Hmm..

Project.

**TONO** · 17th April 2007, 13:08

I ride a Suzuki because I have always liked Suzuki or Yamaha but everybody seems to always be bagging Honda, why? they do their job and they certainly get the results on the race tracks.....is it because they are the oldest/biggest/ what?

**limbimtimwim** · 17th April 2007, 13:34

Originally Posted by WeeStromer

I ride a Suzuki because I have always liked Suzuki or Yamaha but everybody seems to always be bagging Honda, why? they do their job and they certainly get the results on the race tracks.....is it because they are the oldest/biggest/ what?

For me, I think it is because it is hard to generate lust over the current models.

I like lots of past Honda models, my old RVF

, the RC30 and the RC45, the original model GL1000, the CB750, an 80's XL250. Always thought the SP1 and SP2 were cool.

I mean, do many watch SBK and dribble all over the fireblade?

Do I still want a RC45? Hell yes.