Honda Hornet vs Kawasaki ER6 vs Triumph Street Triple

[JoshZyman]

Hello guys and girls,

I am interested in buying my first 600 cc bike and I need some opinions about some models I looked into. Here they are:

- Honda Hornet 600cc (in-line 4-cylinder)
- Kawasaki ER6 650cc (Parallel Twin)
- Triumph Street Triple 675cc (in-line 3-cylinder)

I am looking into nearly-new bikes: second-hand with less than 10.000 km.

I would like to know which one fits my needs best:
- to fit me well, as I am 1.78 m tall (5.84 feet)
- to be cost-friendly to maintain and repair in service (I do not have time/energy/knowledge to do it myself)
- to have ABS and Fuel Injection
- to be comfortable to ride alone
- to be comfortable to ride with passenger for at least 200 Km
- to have a good mileage
- to not get bored with it after 6 months or 1 year

[Conzar]

Hornet or Triple
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[beardface]

Triple.
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www.soundcloud.com/bodren

[Robster]

Mate's got a Street Triple R for the past 3 years and loves it dearly, a 2010 model in Black with gold wheels and lettering

Take it easy though, tis a bit of a monster

[dydey90]

Of the three, the Triumph has the best reputation.
What sort of license do you have though? If you only have an A2 licence then you can't have a Hornet or a Street Triple.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[clancy]

Get the triple

Only ridden early 2000 hornet but it was rather boring so would avoid
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KLX 300r

[JoshZyman]

[dydey90]

I mean everybody who rides one seems to jizz their pants when they talk about it.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[JoshZyman]

[Az]

[wots]

If you can't afford it, get the Hornet, if you can get the triple.

ER6 isn't comparable to these to be fair, both quicker and nicer bikes.
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Currently: Yamaha DT 125 LC2,Repsol Fireblade, and Bumblebee MSX 125

[recman]

From a test ride, the Hornet was very easy to ride. Superb handling, felt very well built with a smooth power delivery.
I did have a very short experience with an ER-6 in as much as I rode it around the training school yard but didn't make it onto the road because the instructor wanted the other pupil to use it as he seemed to be strugling with thier XJ6 but again, it felt easy to ride with decent low speed handling.

I bought a Triple.

/thread.

[Polarbear]

I owned a street triple r and wifie has an ER-6.

The reason I got rid of the street triple was it was crap for touring. Other than that it was brilliant. Light, fast, sounded wonderful and to be honest, on windy roads there weren't many sports bikes that could get away from me. You felt like a sail approaching 3 figures mind.

The ER-6 is mind numbingly boring, underpowered and vibey but my missus loves it. I don't.

Never ridden a Hornet but a friends son has one and I haven't heard him say a bad word about it.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Polarbear]

[bikertomm]

I got a Hornet as my first big bike.

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/20130820_192915_zps388446c1.jpg

I always kinda wanted one, and it came up at the right price.

So far, for what it is, I can't fault it. Given me invaluable lessons and smiles per miles.

I love it

I'd put money on the triple being a better bike to blat around on, but the hornet is a nice user friendly option as a first big bike. Not that it bothered me. Still give it some and you get 86 in first.


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Pigeon]

Love the Striple. 6 months and nearly 3k miles and I'm not bored. In fact the opposite. Occasionally a little more mumbo would be nice and a bigger petrol tank, but that's about it.

But the MT09 is out too, and I'd check that out as well. It might be too new to have not hit second hand market yet in any great number though.


I've got a 70bhp SV too. It's fun and I enjoy it, but it doesn't do exciting. The ER6 might fall into the same category as it's also around 70bhp.

[JoshZyman]

[clancy]

Out of curiosity, why is abs such a big factor for you?
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KLX 300r

[JoshZyman]

[Polarbear]

It was never an issue with my 2012 model and I can't remember the last time the ABS cut in on either of my present bikes.

You say it rains a lot, but to be honest with modern rubber you have to be something quite excessive to get yourself in the shit.

I don't mind having ABS and I don't mind not having it.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[pinkyfloyd]

I'll throw in a curveball

https://www.metropolismotorcycles.com/greenwich/files/2013/08/yamaha_262466_2013_yam_xj6n_eu_mnm3rb_stu_0071.jpg

Down on power than both the Stripple and Hornet but comfy for well over 240 miles in one day (done last week). Reliable. Fuel economy is fantastic. Cost me around 1.5 tankfulls for the 240 miles. (£27).

Light when you get going and a friend who owns a Stripple R came back with a huge grin after a little ride. His exact words. "You can tell shes lacking top end power but she has plenty of grunt and you can throw her around like a 125."

I've had mine for just over a year, was told I would soon get bored. Still love the thing. Should it be riding for fun or conducting CBT's on she is perfect.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[clancy]

[barrkel]

ABS is mostly useful in cities in rain. It's pretty rare that I activate ABS outside the city.

My experience of ABS from the SH300 (excellent) made me want ABS in my next big bike (and my VFR has ABS). However, in practice I don't ride my big bike nearly as often in the rain, and when I am riding in the rain it's usually when I'm touring and I'm not taking as many risks, especially in foreign towns. So it's no longer an absolute requirement for my next big bike. Nice to have, and I would value it at ~500 GBP, but not a requirement.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[JoshZyman]

I just spent today's lunch break at the local Triumph dealer and almost fell in love. Luckily for my wallet the break was over and I had to leave, but I already checked the conditions for a test-drive.
Is it normal to pay for a test drive? Where I live it's 15€ for 1 hour.

I will also ask for a test drive with the Hornet followed by the XJ6.

I hope the new bikes are not very different from their older version from 2011-2012. (The Triple doesn't have ABS on models earlier than 2013 )

[wots]