XJR or Hornet?

[alun111]

I've been after a hornet 6 for a while now and I was dead set on it until I was round my mate's house tonight and after talking about how dificult it's turning out to be to find a good hornet for the price I want and get it back home etc etc he said "well, why don't you get an XJR?" (My favourite bike altogether - looks wise)

I looked on the obvious places and the 1200 seems to be about the same price as a hornet 6, similar age. I also got an insurance quote for the xjr 1200 (97 model) and it turned out only £30 more!

Quite tempted now!

My question is what is the xjr 1200 like to ride, how reliable etc etc. Would you say it's a better bike than the hornet 6? Equal acceleration/top speed or higher?

What would you go for?

Also... do you think it's wise going from a bandit 400 vv straight to an xjr 1200?

Anything to look out for when buying an xjr? any downsides to the bike? I've seen a nice tidy 97 xjr 1200 for £1800, what do you think?

Thanks for any advice you can give me

[colin1]

depends what you want

i suspect that the xjr is more of a grunty muscle bike, while the hornet is an agile nippy, revvy thing

so depends what riding style you prefer

i've not riden either, so hopefully someone will be along shortly who has, and if not, maybe im the best help u are gonna get
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[Deano]

a hornet is a lovely bit of kit for what it does, I dont know about the xjr1200 but as long as you have the head to be sensible about how you get to grips with it then you'll be fine.

I think you only get problems jumping from bike to bike when the rider is just silly with it, if anything you would find it alot easier to ride due to the extra power.

[KLR600]

Muscle bikes FTW.

The XJR will have bags of torque compared to the Hornet but won't be as agile. Mind you, I'm not having any trouble at all on my ZRX1100 with handling, almost got my chicken strips down to nothing and I'm loving the torque compared to my old XJ600.

Depends how ride aswell, with a big torquey bike like the XJR you'll be able to leave it in top and ride the torque if you're lazy like me or want to just take it easy whereas something like the Hornet is going to need to be in power to do anything.

Try and get a test ride on both and see which one suits you is the best advice I could give.
____________________
Now: '00 Kawasaki ZRX1100R - Past: '84 Yamaha DT125, '89 Kawasaki KLR600, '97 Yamaha XJ600N
<My Bikepics Page> <My Yootoobes> <My Websites> <My Photos>
<Take Cool Photos!>

[kawashima]

The weight of 2 bikes are too different. If you don't like heavy bike, I suggest hornet 600.

[TUG]

XJR's are a really good bike as is the Hornet, but tbh i'd have a hornet first and an xjr last due to the weight.
____________________
Haz ER-5, innit!

[alun111]

[TUG]

[Fran]

I had a xjr1300 and I got it for 2k. It was a cracking bike and I had only had 600's before it so it was a jump both in weight and size. If you want an xjr, dont go for a 1200 as they are not as desirable as a 1300 and also theres no difference in the weight etc. You wont have any trouble getting parts and theres plenty of dedicated forums that have lots of keen members willing to help you if ever you need it.

I am biased I know, but imo hornets really have no comparrison to an xjr, and at the end of the day, you turn the throttle - just because its a bigger engine it dont mean your going to kill yourself.

Ps my insurance was £250 with no ncb

Good luck finding a nice xjr btw, I cant seem to!

[m0l0t0v]

Hornet's are sweet. Good acceleration, good cornering (bar the low pegs), awesome fun, wheelie machine, stoppie machine, looks good, sounds good, girls like it.

My driving instructor has an XJR1300, and it looks nice, but I do prefer Hornet, possibly because of the wiehgt. I'd imagine top speed to be higher on the XJR and acceleration aswell maybe. Cornering would be down on the Hornet though.

Hornet, in blue and you won't regret. Don't get red as it voerheats and dies, yellow is only fast during daytime (still not as fast as blue), orange... well let's not talk about them.

Blue however...




I'm so full of shit sometimes

My insurance is with Devitt, 2 years no claims, 19 years old, '99 Hornet 6, TPF&T, £328 a year AND I can legally ride other bikes.
____________________
'99 Hornet 600 , VFR 400 NC30 '92 , Kasawamasaki GT 550 , '98 Hornet 600
**\Tarmacsurfer/** said: It's that immaculately manly coiffure of yours isn't it. One glimpse of your virile locks and the punters can't wait to buy whatever it is you suggest, as it might let them be just a little bit like the Adonis that is our very own Molly Doovydoo said: Its not my fault I can't get it up properly, I just wasn't blessed

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[m0l0t0v]

____________________
'99 Hornet 600 , VFR 400 NC30 '92 , Kasawamasaki GT 550 , '98 Hornet 600
**\Tarmacsurfer/** said: It's that immaculately manly coiffure of yours isn't it. One glimpse of your virile locks and the punters can't wait to buy whatever it is you suggest, as it might let them be just a little bit like the Adonis that is our very own Molly Doovydoo said: Its not my fault I can't get it up properly, I just wasn't blessed

[JakeyR]

Hornet ftw.

Im not biased.
____________________
Banned till April 2011.

[J.K.R]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I'd say get the hornet, but I am biased.
____________________
My Flickr

[Madmanx]

My mates got the 1300 xjr and it is a wonderfull bike ,very grunty and loads of torque.
He is a big lad @ 6ft7" and 20 stone , put him on that and me 6ft 15 stone on the Hornet and the 600 will whip ass.
I,d go for the Hornet but not being bias depending on your size.(Hornets are more fun)
I like them both
____________________
https://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll9/manxhornet/Hornet001.jpg

[alexhornet]

get a hornet!!

i am biased!!