Grotty Hornet

[MarkJ]

This Hornet was my first bike, I bought it for £1200 back in 2006, since then it's been ridden year round every year since and it's taken its toll, not that it was rust free to start with. Previous owners had dropped it but not too badly. After I got my mitts on it I crashed it once at a trackday at Cadwell in 2007 and dropped it twice at the beginning of 2010 in the snow.

Late last year I bought an RSV to replace it as it was getting a bit tired, come January the battery was flat enough I had to bump it every morning and after work. I managed to eek it over till the beginning of March when I could use the RSV and its been sat in the garage since.

I now need to do something with it, but am undecided. I can either:
a) Sell it how it is, not worth much
b) Do it up and ride it on the road, needs a bit of work doing so not that cheap
c) Turn it into a track/race bike

It needs a fair bit doing to it:
The calipers have bound and need cleaning despite having new seals end of last year and being cleaned in January.
The stanchions hit the tank as various crashes have put a dimple in the lock stops on the frame and bent the lock stops on the bottom yoke
The paintwork on every panel is scratched and a mess
Back of swingarm is scratched from a previous owners off
Needs a decent headlight putting on it
Paint is peeling off the wheels
Front discs are warped

So, the pics.

Wheeled out the garage:
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1220640x480.jpg
Notice that the calipers are hanging off the handlebars because they were bound so badly

Engine is covered in muck and salt
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1222640x480.jpg?t=1305240511

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1226640x480.jpg?t=1305240513

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1225640x480.jpg?t=1305240548

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1224640x480.jpg?t=1305240546

Washed it, doesn't look much better tbh
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1229640x480.jpg?t=1305240532

Bottom yoke and frame is rusty, and has been for years
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1230640x480.jpg?t=1305240534

Exhaust is pretty horrible but the pictures make it look worse than it is, it's all surface gunk
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1231640x480.jpg?t=1305240679

I don't think they'd be that easy to get off
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1232640x480.jpg?t=1305240540

Shock has always been in a state, chain has gone rusty
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1234640x480.jpg?t=1305240545

Stanchions hitting the tank
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1236640x480.jpg?t=1305240545

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1227640x480.jpg?t=1305241097

So, opinions? I'm tempted to turn it into a track bike and enter it in a streetfighter series, but might work out cheaper just buying another bike. I do quite fancy a project, could powdercoat the frame, fork sliders and swingarm and get it repainted and make it look semi presentable.

[lethalonie]

easy fix all that mate. they make ace track bike. and also hold there value really well. loads of track trick bits up on ebay. there used to be a hornet cup event so loads of mod details about. get on the hornets nest site mate. whole world of mods out there.
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"HANG UP THE PHONE AND DRIVE JACKASS"

[hmmmnz]

if it were me,
id pull the exhausts, brakes, etc clean her up,
get a belly pan, and fender extender, and get er back on the road for winter,
do the bare essentials and then ride her,
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Gazdaman]

Do it, strip it apart, powdercoat the main bits (frame, swing arm, yokes, shock linkage).

Clean up everything else while it's off (so much easier to do).

Put it all back together and it'll be mint again.

Gaz

[0l0dom0l0]

[potato]

The state of that!!

You should be ashamed of yourself!

[Slacker24seve...]

Jesus, makes mine look concourse standard!

Still, not much that won't clean up with the assistance of a powerhose, gunk, a dremel and autosol.
____________________
Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[MarkJ]

[Teflon-Mike]

Looks much like my 750..
Only the calipers aren't hanging off the handlebars....
did them last time I tried to move it.
Now the back one is under the stairs!
Do you think honda actually put SALT in the allow to make them sieze up like that?!?!?1

Personally..... summer rebuild..... loads of powder coating....... as Winter Hack...

Track the RSV
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[DrDonnyBrago]

I'd rather not be the one to try and undo those downpipes - snapped studs a plenty I reckon.

[MarkJ]

Yep, I'm pretty much consigned to the fact they're going to snap. Is it even worth trying to soak them in plusgas or shall I just snap them and get the local bike shop to drill them out?

[0l0dom0l0]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I suddenly feel much better about my CB, thanks!
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[jack_p92]

i would defiantly take it down to a garage and just get them to get the oxy acetaline (however its spelt) on them and take them out.
Will save you money and time in the long run.
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DT125 Supermoto

[Welshd1k]

sell it to me to use
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Current >Cb600fx hornet, ns125rk90 21.7bhp@wheel<
Sold >,zxr400 h2 (33bhp kit) rd350 n1 rd350 lc2<

[potato]

[Frost]

"Grotty Hornet" - They're not THAT bad a bike really are they? I thought as i clicked the link.

Fuck.
Me.

I wanted to point a sand blaster at it as soon as i saw it Like others have said, strip it, blast it, powder coat bits and reassemble. You'll increase the resale value by more than you spend. It might cause you to feel some love for the thing too.

[MarkJ]

some of these comments have made me proper laugh Dom, what's the brick acid trick? Looks like it's getting stripped and powder coated now at the very least.

I spent a good four hours on it today, didn't read any of the replies since I last posted till now.

It doesn't get any better In fact, the pictures are very kind, it was actually worse when you saw it in person.

First things first, need to get the radiator off to get a good look at the studs. There was a slimey goo at the bottom of the radiator. The radiator wasn't leaking from anywhere so had me puzzled, anyone know what this is?
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1238640x480.jpg

Right, so, I unclipped the hoses and unbolted it from the frame to be greeted by this monstrosity.
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1239640x480.jpg
That'll be a new fan I'll be needing, then

I then turn around to look at the studs and am confronted by the horror:
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1240640x480.jpg
It doesn't look too bad but the picture doesn't really show up the half inch thick build up of god-knows-what sitting on top of the headers. It was like an oil/mud mix. I spent a while picking it out with a screwdriver then chucked a load of Muc Off on it and gave it a soak with the hose, looks a bit better now.

Another view:
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1241640x480.jpg
The frame brace is in a right state and will be getting a good scrub with the wire brush when the engine's out.

Every bike rally I've been to on this bike has, at some point, had a downpour. The bike then subsequently got covered in mud every time I rode it. This is all I can think the crud is, although god knows how it got behind the radiator and onto the fan.

Forks are a mess also:
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1242640x480.jpg
All the paint has bubbled.

Next task - remove the silencer from the main exhaust system
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1243640x480.jpg
Oh dear.

The silencer link pipe had rust welded itself to the main system, With a bit of WD40 and force I managed to make it twist around the main system but wouldn't come off. Copious amounts of hammering were used. In the end I gave up and started to try and get the headers off so I could come back to the silencer.

Success!
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1247640x480.jpg
Two studs came completely out, three nuts came off and just one stud snapped, but left a good amount protruding so I can get some mole grips on it.

The last picture shows the exhaust off, so you would imagine I got the silencer off? Nope. Once I'd got the stud bolts out I tried and tried to get the silencer to split but to no avail, so I had to resort to taking the swingarm out to get the entire exhaust system out.

No pics of the swingarm out as I had to get her indoors to hold the bike up as it was falling off the single axel stand when I was undoing the bolts. Once the exhaust was out I put the swingarm back on so I can have a rolling chassis.

Swingarm:
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1249640x480.jpg

Exhaust:
https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1248640x480.jpg


And that's where I am. Going out tomorrow so won't get much done on it. Hopefully get airbox and carbs out or something tomorrow.

Finally, some pics of it just before I got the exhaust off, doesn't look too bad where the salt hasn't got to it.

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1244640x480.jpg

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1245640x480.jpg

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF1246640x480.jpg

Excuse the leaves, it's been a windy day

[Shaft]

Christ Almighty, that thing's in a mess, which might tell us something about your personality, but, what I'm more concerned about, is your selection of tools; you can tell a lot about a man by his tools..................

[MarkJ]

You missed the 10 litre petrol container and brick

I did wonder if people would pick up on the axe I was resting it ontop of the exhaust and hitting it to try and free them from the silencer. Honest guv

[alun111]

That is one unloved hornet! I thought mine was bad when I stripped it (it was nowhere near yours). Mine has cost me around £1500 to get near perfect. If you can spray I'd suggest doing it on the cheap as money on parts/powdercoating/professional painting will soon rack up!

Not sure how long you said it's been sat for... you may have rust in the tank, the carbs may be in a bad state, and you may need new tyres if they've been sat on a cold floor unmoved for too long!

That rad is a bit worrying to say the least! It looks like the water inside may have frozen in the winter and burst the rad.. I hope not.

Good luck with finding a new fan.... they're rare. A new fan MOTOR alone is £360+VAT from david silver spares (fuck knows why). If the motor on yours works then you may find a shroud (surround) from another bike that will fit (or make your own).

Catalogue all of your bolts (take lots of pics and then write down what the bolts in each picture are from!). Then get them zinc coated! (or replace with stainless if you want to spend more money!

One more thing.... replace those studs and nuts (for the downpipes) with genuine honda ones as I found aftermarket ones are a bit shitty and just down work as well.

Good luck and I look forward to seeing the updates!
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Summer: '00 Honda CB600F Hornet
Winter: '93 Suzuki GSF 400 Bandit VP Variable Valve
Past Bikes: Lifan LF100-5 Lifan LF125-A Honda C70

[0l0dom0l0]

Holy mother of god .

Good that the exhaust came off good in the end.

The brick acid trick can be found here (have a read through the thread as its quite good anyway):

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=200279&highlight=exhaust+cleaned+thread

Going from this:

https://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx346/ThatHornet/51a59ac0.jpg

to this:

https://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx346/ThatHornet/12240d74.jpg

Good luck!
____________________
CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[MattJ]

Fucking hell, Mark. I can see now why you had it sat at the back of the garage out of the way.

As I've said before, sell it to me for when I've done my test. That way you'll still be able to see it around.

Really though, I had no idea it was that bad.

[N cee thirty]

soo fucking dirty

on par with a digger i worked on from a landfill site
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[CHR15]

im looking for a word like shed, but worse...
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Ste: I'm not entirely sure how you'd go about verbally abusing someone with a potato but I'm sure it's possible.