Honda Hornet

Looking at picking one up as a Wee replacement. I'm never going off road so if
I can have a practical cheap around town bike this seems to fit the ticket
perfectly. I've ridden one and really like it. Anyone here with any
experiences/input.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:44:17 +0800

I recall various people moaning loudly about tyre costs.

Big sporty tyres aren't a "cheap commuter" option.

You want a practical cheap around town bike, get a Honda VTR250.
Cheap rego, cheap insurance, low fuel consumption, can scat around
Eastern Creek with a surprising turn of speed if piloted with
aggression.

Zebee

 

Make sure it's a later model VTR.....says he who owned an early VT and spent
a fortune on maintenance.

 

Scat around eastern creek? No, he won't be doing that!
H

 

You mean the later model VTR that has nothing in common with the other
model?

H

 

Yeah, what he said

H

 

Well, I had the original 600 Hornet, with the 16" front wheel, for
almost 10 years.

It was, and still is, a lovely bike to ride.

Admittedly, I had the front forks tweaked, and an Ohlins rear
shock/spring fitted.

It had only two shortcomings, one was the price of tyres made it an
uneconomic commuter bike, and the other was fuel consumption/range. It
had quite a small tank, and used petrol at what, at times, could be an
alarming rate.

I recently had a chance to ride my old Hornet, and, with almost 100,000
on the clock it was still a lovely bike to ride. It's best feature is
that it has distinctly two modes. Ride it with the revs under five
grand and it is a pleasant, tractable and reasonably docile beast.

OTOH, ride it keeping the revs up over eight grand, and it's a wee rocket!

Its performance seems to be fairly close to that of the 675 Street
Triple, but my Hornet had the advantage of reasonable passenger
accommodation, compared to the striple.

Dunno if any of this applies to the current, fuel injection Hornets.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

The 600 Hornet or the 900 Hornet?

I rode the 900 version and liked it quite a lot, it was a do anything
(well except for heavy dirt) sort of bike (which suits me).

The riding position was great, the seat was comfy, the styling was good
(not over the top like some of the newer nakeds) and it went well.

They are great value for money too, you could do a lot worse.


G-S

 

Wouldn't the DL650 be just as good an around town bike but with better
economy ?

 

and I've got one for sale... 07 VTR250 for $3500 and its only got
01500km on the clock

bullet-proof little bike

mh

 

Had one but after a load of 1000s I couldn't go back. Tyres aren't a major
worry. I was thinking more cheap to buy. Currently commuting on a CBR1000RR
street fighter.

Fraser

 

Bit of a hike from Perth. : ) I've done an 800km in 24 hours ride on my VTR250
with a pillion but would never do it again.

Fraser

 

900. Man, you guys don't know me at all......

Fraser

 

900. After riding one I had similar experiences. Good cheap all rounder. I'm
not doing any dirt stuff on the Wee and I can get a Hornet and pocket 4 grand
so I am thinking I would be mad not to.

Fraser

 

At 33 km/h?

Theo

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:18:58 +0800

Haven't done long pillion rides I admit, but I regularly did the
700 odd km between Adelaide and Melbourne on the 250 GPz and even
the Infamous MZ!

Doesn't take 24 hours, takes about 10 with breaks.


Zebee

 

What would be an easy time for Sydney to Perth? No sightseeing but
with enough breaks that you don't need a chiropractor when you arrive
there?

 

At 33 km/h?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

100 most of the way then a drink and a nap then back again the next day. Two
up downhill we hit 130 at one point. It was scary.

Fraser

 

you say that like you think we want to...

... judging from the above answer, and given your recent "big bikes are
crap around town" thread, you're greatly lacking in consistency and
credibility

Nev..

 

Three and a half days.

Theo