New hornet 600

Received my new steed today. Waved a sad farewell to the big old V-strom, i'll definitely miss it.

Took the hornet out tonight for a ride. Read the manual before i left. No rev limits are imposed for running in but it recomends you dont do full throttle starts or redline it.

So I went for a pootle, gentle at first to bed everything in. First thing that hit me was this thing is fricking tiny. At 6ft 2 i'm definitely the max height for it!! But its not uncomfortable, seat seems fine and i didnt feel crushed. A few corners revealed that it corners incredibly well compared to the tractor and carries speed very well. Over bumpy roads it gets a little choppy and makes you need a p*** after 40 miles and the suspension feels rock compared to the strom (it isnt really that firm strom must have been super soft).

The steering is much improved and the front wheel being small actually makes it feel attached to the road and the forks dont flex, basically it changes direction like a BMX and weighs about as much as one. In line 4 motor is as expected, i've only ran it up the range once or twice so far and not particularly aggressively but the motor is very linear and feels almost like its electric (this is the biggest difference to the strom obviously) the fuelling is super smooth and there are no hiccups. I expect it will free up nicely when run in and make me grin a lot.

Now far and away the best part, the brakes. I got the ABS one with linked brakes. This was very risky but I had to try them!! I made the correct choice I think. As they've bedded in they stop the bike on a penny, front is unlinked but press the rear and its like applying the brakes in a car, front and rear come on at once, works very well.

The tyres are Bridgestone BT12's never heard of them but they seem ok and overall I'm happy with my first 100 miles of honda ownership!

Glad you like the Hornet mate, I wish I could have kept mine as a 2nd bike but couldnt afford to. Have you got any pictures?

Glad you like it Happy riding

[Nick_69]

I'm finking bout getting rid of the car and getting a hornet as a commuter bike. Hope u like it

Pictures!

Some pics would be nice!

Soon people, soon. I just keep riding it. I love how honda don't make you stick to 4000 rpm. Just says don't banjo the nuts off it everywhere. So I have gone easy so far. 160 miles on it now.

It handles sooooooo well. I have a can on the way from the dealer but may sell it as it sounds great as is!!

Originally Posted by Nick_69

I'm finking bout getting rid of the car and getting a hornet as a commuter bike. Hope u like it

I've had an SV mate and if you still have one and get a hornet to go with it you'll probably not ride the SV much,

[mikerj]

Originally Posted by Jackie_Black

I've had an SV mate and if you still have one and get a hornet to go with it you'll probably not ride the SV much,

Depends on if you prefer the sound and power delivery of a real engine, or something that sounds like an electric motor

Point taken like, i've had both. I like the induction roar and mental top end hit of il4's but twins always sound amazing and pull hard in the middle. I'm looking forward to the bmw straight six motor find its way into a naked in the next 5 years, best of both.