Hornets:

[deanoet]

Test rode a Hornet 600cc today from the local Honda Garage, bit on the rich side for me at 55 plate £3,295, but it was great fun anyway. In fact it was better than great fun, but anyway.
Only things i noticed, was it didnt like turning in, but that was probably because it was wet and i was bricking it incase i binned it so i was over compensating. Also on white lines it seemed very sketchy compared to my CG, which was a bit weird as it obviously has bigger and probably better tires. May just have been me though, with it being different to what i am used too.

Will be looking to upgrade early next year in time for the summer, the only thing that is slightly putting me off is the (apparent) shocking tank range on them. Had a look on bikez website and they only have a 16 litre tank, my CG125 has a 13.50 litre tank.

Fair enough it will be cheaper to fill up, so the overall cost wont be much worse, but I dont really want to be on first name terms with most garages.

If my maths is correct (using bikez figures), then that would be 124.9 miles, i assume the 16 litres includes a reserve of 20?? miles or so. What is the distance in real world usage? As i assume they quote the "riding like granny" figures.

Is it a problem? Or is it something i will just get used to? I will on occasion use it for distance (blackpool - south wales), how far apart are the service stations... lol

I gave it a quick blast on the motorway on the test ride, and didnt find the wind blast unsettling or annoying at all, so that isnt an issue for me anymore. Admittedly i only went a few miles on the motorway, but i didnt hold back, i was expecting my legs flying behind me holding onto the handlebars for dear life.


So, question 2.
Price.
£3300 is a bit rich for me like i said. I am looking at about 2k, which is around the year 2000.
What should i be looking out for on bikes this age? There is the usual of chain, sprokets, tires etc etc but is there other stuff on older bikes that needs to be checked?
Also mileage, couple on auto trader at that price / age, one with 24k and one with 30k, is that reasonable? High? Low? Dont touch with barge pole??


Like i said, wont be till early next year till i get it, but it cant hurt looking for one now to get an idea of what is what. Can it..
*puts wallet away*

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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[TheDonUK]

I Just brought myself a '98 Hornet on the weekend. I find it is very eager to turn in, might be that mine has renthal handlebars which give the handling a lovely feel. Nor do i find i get any adverse affects over raised white lines... But again mine has fresh tyres, what was the tread like on the test bike you rode?.

The tank range does seem poor, from my own experiences over the last couple of days and from what i have read its around 100 miles before you have to switch to reserve, then another 20 ish miles untill empty, I could get more if i was very sensible but meh... If you are after ultimate fuel economy, stick with your CG... cant really beat it... bar a C90 .

Most of my riding is in and around london so petrol stations arent really a problem for me...

I have only ever owned naked bikes, if anything the wind blast on this is less so than my old GS500 and Bandit 6.

I dont know enough about Hornets yet to tell you what the common signs to look out for are, but im sure someone will be along soon to help with that. I hear the engine is pretty bulletproof.

And i wouldent want to be paying 3300 for a hornet, for the record mine was 1,200 after a friend rebuilt it. And to picture whore :

https://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/thedonuk/P1010824Large.jpg

[MarkJ]

Main problem is the camchain tensioner - you'll hear a ticking from it when the engine is cold and it'll then go away. Nothing else really, the shock can rust up easy so get a hugger on. £3k is a lot for what is an essentially unchanged bike from 1998 (ok I know they made it pointier from ~2000). My bike has done 24k now and it's fine, the engines are apparently bullet proof. The tank range isn't fantastic, going to reserve anywhere between 90 and 110 miles (thrashing vs. steady motorway) but I hear that's not much different to modern sports bikes. The earlier models with the 16" front wheel (mine and DonUK's) were known to turn in faster due to the smaller front wheel, however there is a much more limited tyre choice for the 16" front.

I wouldn't pay £3k for a Hornet, like I say they're more or less the same, get an "older" one for less

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[JonB]

The Don, that hump behind you looks like it'd be mighty fun on a mountain bike.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[TheDonUK]

[JonB]

I'm quite amateur though, so i'd probably crack my nuts on one of the poles.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[nick606]

I was going to make my own thread but i see there is a hornet one already open.

Basically seen a hornet with 40000 miles on it for 1400 could probably knock some off mind.

I've also heard theres a problem with there second gear like the early r6s ?

opinions people

[deanoet]

Thanx for the advice folks, put my mind at ease.
Will keep my eyes open over christmas and look to getting one end of jan / feb

Hope u get an answer nick606

I have been looking at year 2000 ones, for £2000 with 25k on the clocks. If that helps any.
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[MarkJ]

[deanoet]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[MarkJ]

Fair enough, I didn't know the 17" front wheel came in so early!