to hornet or not ?

Phil.S · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

ok heres the problem, i have been gettin online quotes for different bikes and this is getting me confused as to what to buy next.
a nice VFR400nc30 is gonna cost me £200 tpft
a nice hornet cb600s is gonna cost me £250 tpft
and an old cbr600f is gonna cost me £400+ tptf
what do i get,
i prefer the vfr's looks than a hornet but the hornets a 600cc
does any one know the performance difference between them ?
and a cbr600 is a bit too big (i am a shortarse)5ft 4 and am tiptoeing just.
and as much as i want a cbr600 i don't like the extra £200+ on my insurance.
so its hornet or vfr
what do you guys think ?

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Depends what your priorities are...

Ultimate Handling:
vfr400

Friendly engine/riding position
Hornet

General all-round ability
CBR 600

I'd go for the CBR (or ZX6R in my case) 'cos I like having decent acceleration... If I could get insurance that cheap I'd probably be looking at something bigger though :).

Phil.S · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

yeah i know but most bikes are just too damn tall for me,
the ins' prices are good due to my age (32) and area.
i cant even reach the ground on an R1 and the problems are mainly the width of the seats aswell as the height.
has anyone ridden a hornet and vfr and if so what did you think of their differences.
what kind of speed diference is there between them acceleration,top end etc.
NE1 ?

bikerboy · Guest

if i was you i would go with the VFR400 as it's nice looking, fast (anything over a 250 is fast well are you going to do 140 on the road??) it's only going to cost 200tpft!!
i would go for the VFR400nc30!!!!

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Had you considered an SV/Raptor (or even TL1000!)... I know someone with an SV who's pretty short. Because they're a twin they should be a bit narrower. I'm not entirley sure about the differences in height/width though... not something I've really had to consider.

Guest · Posted: 00:12 - 27 Mar 2002 Post subject:

Yeah those Raptors are pretty small- there was a biker roadshow programme where someone about your height went to a fair looking for a low bike and settled on a Raptor. Then just today I went to get parts for my bike and I saw one in the showroom- its tiny! I'm quite short as well (about 5'7") and I thought it would be perfect for me after my restriction ends.

Phil.S · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

yeah i saw that program, but i dont like the look of the raptors.
ne1 know the 0-60 of a vfr nc30 ?
i am a cager aswell so i can only go off this figure as the 1/4mile thing or whatever dont mean owt to me.

Zimma · Wheelie Junkie Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

3.5 ish think...
____________________
-Zimma

Phil.S · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

cheers guys,
vfr400 its gonna be then i have seen the colours i want.
1990 black with silver flashes and vfr in white/red.

Stevo · Guest

Good choice mate, if you can find a nice one? Thats the only problem with traking down rare second hand machines, hard work finding a minter. I reckon that the vfr400 is a good choice after your NSR125, and i doubt that you will be dissapointed. Its a very good handling bike, which means that you should be able to learn quickly, and then be able to use your ability to the full, without ever getting near the bikes limits. A 400cc should be a good step up towards a bigger bike, and if im honest, then it would have done me no harm to have had a smaller, less powerful bike for a year, before i brought my zx6r. I have ridden quite a few times on a CB500S, and i have got quite confident riding this bike, fairly quickly on the road, without ever feeling out of my depth. Most people would benifit from a gradual step upward in performance, between starting to ride, and getting the bike that they really want. I