New bike or upgrade old one.

Is the Hornet built in Japan, or is one of those bikes in the range that is semi-assembled from a kit of parts in Italy with some locally produced input, like the Deauville is? I've seen some shockingly bad Deauvilles and a few very manky Hornets - Honda build quality is good, but it's not as good as it used to be.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Is the Hornet built in Japan, or is one of those bikes in the range that is semi-assembled from a kit of parts in Italy with some locally produced input, like the Deauville is? I've seen some shockingly bad Deauvilles and a few very manky Hornets - Honda build quality is good, but it's not as good as it used to be.

I think some parts are made in Italy. It's got some electrics from a Ducati! Well, it's got one bit under the seat which has Ducati written on it. Slightly worrying but she's never ever let me down yet. I think the main differences are the thickness of the paint on the original paint job, quality of all the screws and bolts and fittings are a little better than most. Not a huge thing but sometimes it's little things that make the biggest difference.

Originally Posted by HooliganDan

ASM, I would never publically admit getting a Valentine's card from your own mum. It's just not cricket. Must be a weird French thing.

And no, my wife is not up for grabs. I like to hoard my girlies.

I've tried to tell her that...but she always sends one anyway.

She also sent a giant toblerone though, so swings and roundabouts.

Wives are always up for grabs. i will just slipstream Nick19.....

[jambo]

Originally Posted by rubberduckofdeath

I've said this time and time again. If I went into a dealership to buy a new bike and the dealer offered me package 1:

Lightweight, crap screws, bolts etc
Thin paint

Or package 2:

Tougher, higher quality, slightly heavier screws, bolts etc
Thicker, better paint

And said package 2 was £250 more and weighed an extra kilo - I would go with the 2nd one every time.

All well and good but people vote with their wallets. And when a good offering that costs more turns up, people buy the cheap one!

Dan, I'll 2nd some of the other posts, you've got too much cash, buy us a Maxton shock?

Jambo

Originally Posted by HooliganDan

Hmm, the words 'SV' and 'nice' just don't work for me.

Being a Honda means it doesn't rust after 5 mins. My bikes is living testament to that. My SV rusted after a month, the hornet is still looking good after 20'000 miles with not so much as a deep cleaning sesh.

Honda's rule!

Anyway, er. I've found some cool carbon discs. Only thing is they are 1500 smackers for the pair.

I'm inclined to agree with you there, did want a CBR600F but
couldn't justify the extra cost plus the insurance.

The SV is still good value for money though

[Stu]

Originally Posted by HooliganDan

Anyone that has met me will know that I'm a bike slut and need no excuse to buy a new bike. However, after putting a deposit on a new Triumph Street Triple it got me thinking. I REALLY love the Hornet, it's an awesome bike. And with a little cash it could be one of the best naked bikes out there. So, would it be more viable to spend themoney upgrading my existing bike to make to rather special or just bite the bullet and keep the order for the Trumpet?

The mods I would be looking at doing to the Hornet are thus:

Ohlins rear shock: ?550 new
Forks and brakes from CBR600RR: upto ?500 2nd hand
Akrapovic full race system: ?600 new
Steering damper: ?200 - ?300 new
Stage 1 dynojet including maps and air filter: ?350
New rearsets: ?400

I would also be looking at a custom paint job (?700) and also some polished rims (?200).

That's a lot of money but it would be very unique.

Thoughts, opinions all welcome. Oh and I would only use the Hornet for sunny days and meets etc.

Three & half grand
is there no happy medium with you?
As been said - you'll lose a lot more from these mods when you sell (there's no if with you ) than the ST3
But if you took a hard look at those mods theres probably some sense in them.
You need new discs anyway so do the CBR front upgrade, sell you're forks & it shouldn't be ?500. Almost breakeven for the SV to GSXR so should be the same.
$400 for rearsets - you've got to be joking?
$700 for paint - that bike has had two paint jobs already ffs

[Mark_h]

Stu, you are forgetting Dan needs special spark proof paint so it's bound to be quite expensive.

Originally Posted by Stu

Three & half grand
is there no happy medium with you?
$700 for paint - that bike has had two paint jobs already ffs

Hehe. C'mon someone's got to be the .org bike ***** and it may as well be me. Thing is I never want to sell the Hornet. Other bikes come and go but the Hornet stays. Most of the prices I quoted were guesses, I also have no real idea how much this stuff costs 2nd hand. Okay so teh paint job would be somethng that I did in a couple of years perhaps. But I am talking of making the Hornet into a pretty good bike with these mods. I guess I will get the Triple and see how I feel with it. All the bikes I've had apart from the Hornet just dont live upto my expectations. I want something quick, light, naked, comfortable but looks good too and will be reliable. Not much then!

If you fancy something heavily modified and that would stand out why not look on fleabay or similar for something already modified as mod'd bikes dont fetch much if anything more than standard secondhand, I believe there is a nice heavily mod'd bandit on banditmanias website. If it's to your taste ofcourse.

[Mark_h]

Kelly Brook on a skateboard ?