Honda Hornet (600) - known issues???

[PiperCub]

Chaps

 

Looking at a couple of examples of a Hornet 600 locally. Both cheapish (£700 & sub £900), one better than the other. For a hack bike.

 

Anyone had one and can advise if there's anything to be aware of aside from the usual abuse/wear/crash damage? Do they have any OMG!-issues? From what I've read they seem pretty reliable & solid things. 

[Dave_Q]

Yep should be pretty solid, try and get a good look at the downpipes/ collector box as if they're anything like CBR600s (same engine) then the exhausts rot, new stainless downpipes are 250 or so and new ones from Honda about double that.

[PiperCub]

I read that exhausts can be a real bastard to fit for some reason (upswept design??? Did one on a TDM and it was a PITA). The based-on-CBR600 gives me confidence too. 

[Jazoli]

They don't really go wrong at all, I had one for a while, a mate has one, as have others I know, I can't remember a single failure on any of them (apart from running out of fuel regularly, only a 16 litre tank, 90 miles when cracking on)

 

I read that exhausts can be a real bastard to fit for some reason (upswept design??? Did one on a TDM and it was a PITA). The based-on-CBR600 gives me confidence too. 

 

No, its only the silencer that is upswept, the rest is just bog standard easy to work on Honda

[PiperCub]

Thanks - I'd seen alot of complaints about the small tank size (tho' looks big - guess it's all space under the tank), that's not an issue for me as my shoulder injury precludes riding that far in one go anyway! 

Assume they have reserve-position? Or is that me being old-fashioned again?

[hairnet]

pre 03 16 litres post 03 - flush taillight 17 litres - post 03 change to digital odo

 

very late 06 usd forks completely digi dash - rare and dont buy one with a broken dash as its all linked to the hiss

 

post 03 built in italy not japan and come with ducati electrics - bonus is it doesn come with honda reg rec - ducati

 

the headers can be a pita to change if never been off studs can be an arse

 

reg rec go on them for fun - normal honda

 

red ones are fastest

 

faired ones are ok but the panels arent cheap if you need one

 

have had 4 600s and 2 900s been all over europe on them

 

and no its all carbs under the tank - they are slightly odd to work on cos of spine frame - check plugs have been changed as no 3 is under the spine and people dont change them leading to misfires

 

edit end cans are easy to fit - had scorpion on one bike and a mivv x cone on 55 plate - it screamed -- red lined it riding past creg ny baa in 07

 

no cat on pre 04 - look for bump as it passes thru swing arm

[michael1703]

Carb or injection?

[PiperCub]

The ones I'm looking at are both 98 so carbs. 

[hairnet]

s reg ftw

 

[hairnet]

 

marts was a 99 my 2001 had in that pic been ridden up from manc to newcastle straight from the showroom had 150 miles on it - cleanest it ever was

 

ps ooh cool tat i once ownded

 

 

 

even infected the old man - he didnt keep it long as hes short of leg and bought a cb400

[hairnet]

 

a month afer i bought the yellow one

 

 

after local dealer fucked it up on a simple service it was moved on and i bought a new 900

 

that we went to normandy on

 

[garethj]

I had a 600 Hornet as my first big bike in the late '90s, rusty downpipes was the only worry. I could get about 100 miles before switching to reserve and the only other issue was like any unfaired bike they're hard work above 90mph for any length of time.

 

Tidy handling, nice and light and a lovely kick when you accelerate past 9000 revs.

[Bren]

Even though its a honda you can tell one that's lived outside.

[Longblackcoat]

Cam chain & tensioner will need doing (or will already have been done) but it's not hard to do yourself.

[Jazoli]

I didn't keep mine long as the power delivery was a whole load of nothing then 85bhp at 9000rpm, not the most relaxing way to make progress, although it was probably a bit unfair as I'd just stepped off a ZZR11.

 

My old one

 

[twosmoke300]

I found the 600 very buzzy with crude pogo stick suspension ( nearly new bike too ) and the 900 pretty meh . Like a blade engine with its nuts cut off .

[Guest Hooli]

I had a mate with a 600, it drank an amazing amount compared to my RF600 at the time.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

I didn't keep mine long as the power delivery was a whole load of nothing then 85bhp at 9000rpm, not the most relaxing way to make progress, although it was probably a bit unfair as I'd just stepped off a ZZR11.

 

My old one

 

The ZZR spoils you. Massive torque from any rpm in any gear.

 

I've heard the 600 hornet is a peach while the 900 is a bit underwhelming for what it should be

 

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