Thanks all, some great info and nice piccies - the Hornet is fab, SJB, I like the TCP aftermarket fairing - never heard of them previously but it certainly looks the part. I personally don't dislike the factory Hornet S, but most reviewers find it ugly.
Interesting about the Bandit feeling heavy. Although I've not ridden one, I've sat on them all and agree, it does feel a weighty beast. Hence my interest in the SV which is much lighter. Having said that, so is the Hornet and it feels physically smaller too. I'm not a big bloke, Welsh stock you'd describe me as - short and wide! - so seat height is an important factor. I must say I feel most comfortable sat on either a Hornet or a CBF 600, the close cousin that is widely considered deadly dull by comparison (although I fail to see how 130 mph and 0 to 60 sub 5 secs can possibly be dull!)
Currently riding a 33 bhp ER5 which is great but needs 2 new tyres and the exhaust is a bit rusty. Interested to hear that some bikes take the restriction better than others. Since I only have another 9 months wait to have the restriction lifted, maybe I should hang on until then.
Thanks folks, useful information that all helps.
Baz
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Maybe ask the guys on the Hornet or SV forum how the restriction works, I did DAS so never needed it but I understand that some bikes take it very badly.
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Maybe ask the guys on the Hornet or SV forum how the restriction works I did DAS so never needed it but I understand that some bikes take it very badly.
Carburettored SVs are restricted with the traditional "washers in the inlet" approach.
Later (K3?) fuel injected models require an ECU switch to restrict them.
Both the original Hornet and the "all new for '07" model require an ECU switch to restrict them.
I can understand why an SV might respond better to restricting than a Hornet since being a twin low down torque will remain unaffected and the bike will still be perky. In relative terms, being a four cylinder machine the Honda needs revs to make real power (6000RPM and onwards) and is relatively torque shy below this point. It can still be punted along nicely, and when I first owned mine I would usually ride as such and still find it heart-quickening faster than the GS500E I learned on, but it doesn't "excite" in the banzai way it does when on song.
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As a Bandit 600 owner I ought to stick up for them, I suppose - certainly nothing wrong with the build on mine, and it's led a hard (but scrupulously well-maintained) life of 51,500 miles in 6 years, 2 of the 3 previous owners being friends of mine. It has a Scorpion can fitted, which I am told is probably good for another couple of bhp over the standard item, but irrespective of that it certainly doesn't lack for poke even with my 16.5 stone on the back.
The new liquid-cooled 650 model is supposed to be more agile than the outgoing oil/air-cooled variant - certainly all the bike testers seem to like it. Can't say that I have ever noticed a lot wrong with the handling on mine, though, nor does it now feel especially heavy (although having done DAS on an ER5, I did notice the difference a bit at first).
What I do agree with is the fact that if your legs are a bit shorter a Hornet is going to be much more comfortable - I'm 6' 6" and not exactly lightweight and whilst I have always liked Hondas my legs felt uncomfortably scrunched up just sitting on one in the showroom. The Bandit does give me a lot more room.
I shall probably change bikes sometime in the next year or so but only because I fancy something a bit newer, >1000 cc and preferably with a fairing.
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Just a little tip that addresses the problem of shabby looking black downpipes on the original Fazer 600.
Apply ZEBO grate polish or similar and buff up to a nice sheen.I did this on my bike every few months and the downpipes still looked like new
when I sold it 5 years later.
Good to see that the rivalry between the Fazer and the Hornet still exists,BUT every comparison test of old gave it to the Fazer.
Oh and don't believe everything thats said about the "Legendary Honda Build Quality". There is many a VFR owner with rotten downpipes and collector boxes and quite a few with fried voltage regulators.
Come to think of it, a VFR would make a cracking first and last bike !
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>>Good to see that the rivalry between the Fazer and the Hornet still exists,BUT every comparison test of old gave it to the Fazer.
Alive and very well, though my "shabby quality" Fazer comments are based on real life as a biking newbie in 1998 when both Hornet and Fazer were new to market and before such rivalry existed. Even if it did exist, I wouldn't have known.
A nice tip with the ZEBO, but I still prefer to have no maintenance stainless steel downpipes in the first place! ;-)
Typical of magazines seem to follow a trend, what you write about the tests is true. What is also true is that the same magazines now give the nod to the Hornet when conducting "retrospective" or "second hand bike" tests and the Hornet is now a "rated" machine.
Each to their own though, and thank heavens we all differ in our opinions.
After nine years I have absolutely no regrets.
Just a very big smile.
In fact, with the sun now out and the missus and sprogs away for the day, I feel the need to leave the home office and go for a ride.
See ya!
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I think you need to take a good look at all the bikes listed above - bikes are a more personal taste than cars. Take a look at the owners/club web sites for these bikes.
I would also look at the Suzuki DL650 (the baby V-Strom) and the Honda Deauville. The Deauville often gets slated by the bike press in the UK, but it's a very capable bike - except perhaps for the stunts brigade :-)
These are especially good if you want to carry stuff
Do come back and tell us which ones you like, and which ones you don't
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I would also look at the Suzuki DL650 (the baby V-Strom) and the Honda Deauville.
You mean the Honda Dullsville?
Sorry, couldn't resist! ;-)
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You mean the Honda Dullsville? Sorry couldn't resist! ;-)
Yeah, and the Suzuki DulL 650!
At least the Deauville is fairly well rated by the press.
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Just thought of another candidate and that is the Kawasaki Z750 either faired or unfaired. I had one on loan for about 6 weeks and during
that time I rode it to Scotland for a couple of days, also did a "run what you brung" day at Elvington drag strip.
That bike did a best time for the quarter mile of 11.55 secs which for a bog standard shopping bike was excellent and put quite a few other bikes to shame.
The only thing that really bugged me was the vibrating mirrors.
Good bike though., and a lot of fun.
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I really like the look of the Z 750, it appeals to my rebellious side. Sat on one and it fits fine. Did wonder if it might be a bit too much after an ER5 and I'd be through the nearest hedge though. I suppose the same can be said for the Hornet and indeed all the others .
Someone mentioned the V Strom, I tried that and its a bit too tall. Nice bike though.
Still homing in on a Hornet I feel.
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My commute recently went from a few miles round town to 30 miles of mostly A road and motorway. The ER-5 I had just couldn't cut it any more so I upgraded to a Fazer 600. I may have gone for a Hornet except I have heard stories of sub 100-mile tank range on them, and I need 120+ to manage fill-ups only every second day. Not a problem on the Fazer. To be honest, after a couple of nervous rides I settled down nicely on the Fazer and it doesn't seem too powerful at all now. An 80-100bhp 600-650cc bike is the next logical step from a 500cc twin. Though I agree that a twin cylinder 650 (ER6 or SV650) with more torque may respond better to restriction than a high-revving 600 IL4.
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>>I may have gone for a Hornet except I have heard stories of sub 100-mile tank range on them
As I wrote above, this is very true, but only if you cane it for mile after mile.
I work from home most of the time but the "office-office" is a 130 mile round trip with two routing options; Twelve miles of wonderful A422 to Banbury, then 45 or so miles of M40 to High Wycombe plus filtering through traffic to Loudwater, or the same route to Banbury and then some lovely A and B road riding via Buckingham and (on the super A413) Aylesbury before going on to High Wycombe.
With an 80 MPH cruise on the M40, a return journey (so 130 miles) on the former route is achieved on one tank without going to reserve.
A normally swift return journey on the latter route (approx 1/3 motorway and the rest A and B roads) will have me switch to reserve at about 115 miles, though if I'm in the mood (easy on a Hornet ;-) and ride very swiftly this will drop to about 105 miles.
It is only when I am continually using serious horsepower - usually on A or B roads where I choose to enjoy the prodigious acceleration with tacho never below 6000RPM and usually above 7000RPM, rather than more boring roads with high cruising speed - that I can drag the range under 100 miles.
I entirely agree on you logical progression step as I have also inferred above; the Hornet has "grown with me" and I'm sure your Fazer is doing the same.
Happy riding! :-)
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Re the Z750, it is an excellent bike, a very strong engine that could take a much higher state of tune in its stride, it is often over looked as a 600 alternative because it has little if any extra outright performance over the 600's and instead is seen as a poor mans Z1000. However its 25% extra capacity over the 600s gives it a healthy slug of torque at low revs and it still has that high rev zing that SjB clearly relishes on his Hornet.
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>>I entirely agree on you logical progression step as I have also inferred above; the Hornet has "grown with me" and I'm sure your Fazer is doing the same.>>
Re logical progression, in fact you simply do not need anything bigger than a 600 but for perhaps v-high speed continental cruising. In car terms changing your 600 for a 1000+ is like changing your F430 for an Enzo, even a 600 has so much performance in hand in any real world circumstances. My last bike was a ZX7R 750 sports bike with all sorts of trick tweaks (full titanium exhaust, factory single seat, OZ racing wheels etc) making it pretty stella though arm aching in traffic. I had decided to change it for a Hornet 600 however took my ZRX1100 in p-ex, the 1100 is also tweaked (because it is so easy to do) making 120bhp at the wheel and loads of torque however it can be harder work in slippery conditions where a flick of the wrist can brake traction even at low revs and would not be any "faster" than a Hornet 600 or Fazer A2B, albeit perhaps a little more relaxing where the torque rockets you past slower traffic rather than needing revs.
All good fun!
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>>the Hornet has "grown with me" and I'm sure your Fazer is doing the same
Yes, you are right in what you write cheddar, but I was actually referring to something completely different that in another way I had already written earlier; the Hornet (and no doubt Fazer) are fantastic bikes at flattering and soothing a newbie with ink still wet on their licence whilst still being able to entertain and excite the more skilled rider in even more measure.
I have consequently never come close to being bored with the Hornet, but something else you touched on is very true and did very nearly result in a change of machine; although 600 cc and over 400 bhp per tonne laden is truly ample for sane road use, I did come close to swapping for a Hornet 900 even though in terms of outright performance there is nothing to choose between the 600 and 900, and the former is a little more fleet of foot; until the twins arrived at least, a lot of my riding was two up with the missus on pillion and weekend away or holiday baggage, so the extra amount of lazy torque appealed. Now back to solo riding I'm glad I didn't as that 7000RPM+ rush still makes me smile! (to be honest though, she is almost, ahem, how can I put this, back to being able to fit in to her form fitting leathers, so I don't think it will be long before we at least take a Cotswolds trip for a few hours)
Roll on France on June 14th and our run down to Millau and Montpellier.
Can't wait, even though two of the group will be riding their new machines; the ZR7 has been chopped in for a GS (which model I know not, yet) and matey with the SP2 has just supplemented it with a brand new R1200GS loaded with all the kit under the sun. A Blackbird, the same FZ6 Fazer I mentioned above, and my Hornet complete the group.
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Yes you are right in what you write cheddar but I was actually referring to something completely different >>
A great thing about language is that one can mean exactly the same and say completely different even though it makes sense in its own right which this sentence now probably does not so I better stop now ...........
Needless to say SjB I think we are of a like mind!
PS: I also bought a Hornet 900, realised that the 600 is much more characterful then didnt get one of those either - doh!
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