I have had a 2004 hornet for the past three years and recently got 180 miles before hitting the reserve, mainly on the motorway riding back from Gemany to the UK. At 180 miles I filled up the tank and put in 15 litres to the top - so still had 2 litres of fuel left in the tank before filling, which would have given me another 20 miles before having to panic. Riding around London is where I get the worse petrol economy, I have had as low as 120 miles before hitting reserve. The low fuel warning light works within a mile or two of hitting reserve too. Overall it's been a great reliable bike. As mentioned the regulator rectifier can be a problem, overheating especially in city conditions. The wiring to my reg/rec has burnt out twice now, causing the battery to not charge and the bike to die. I have since fitted a small 12v pc fan to the reg/rec to keep it cool as there is very little airflow through that side panel area.
I have one since 2005 and still in love. Perfect for people like me that have a respect for the bike, limitated drive abilility and cruise carefully as consequence. With its retro style it's always a classic and never get bored about the look. Has a dual behaviour over and under 7000 rpm. If you love to cruise, around 4000 rpm you will enjoy the trip at best. If sometime you are looking for some adrenaline this bike can give you some also, but never bad surprises. Brakes and suspenctions are ok in quite mode, for sure not the best if you constantly push hard and drive sportly.
Yeah it's a very versatile machine. I like the 'dual behaviour' description, it's pretty accurate. You almost get two machines in one. As you say it has limitations if you're wanting to have a sporty ride but if everything I did was sports oriented I'd just move up to the CBR. Glad to hear you're still in love with it.
My 2007 hornet gets to 139 mph I do 120 Friends have taken it to 139 Nimble - excellent breaks !! Comfortable Fun and easy, reliable and affordable. Still. Looks modern with its digital speedometer. I love mine. We are giving her a new paint job. She’s my favorite bike in my stable. Only complaint - we rarely do under 100 and the wind is horrible ! Installing a new Russian smoked windscreen. Yes she lights my fire - who needs to go more than 130 mph 🤷🏻♀️😆
If anyone is interested.. My average fuel consumption on my 2002 600cc Hornet is 5,5 - 6 L/100km. So it's not bad at all. I got the same results with my previous 600cc Bandit (1998). I cruise normally between 3 - 4 rpm in a city. On a highway it's more like 5+ rpm. Obviously if you rip the higher rpms then it eats more fuel.
Great bikes for the era. It does illustrate how bike design has come on, though. The bars, the clocks etc. Bikes are much more economical now, as well. A dispatch rider friend used to have one.
Thanks for a good review. I've had a Hornet for over 5 years and have had many bikes since passing my test 46 years ago. I have several mods - one of the best being a -1 +1 sprocket set for more mid range power. Most grateful for the trip meter tip. I don't know why I didn't think about this but will implement this now. I recommend the 600 Hornet as a daily ride - a Fireblade should also be in your garage!
Yeah I eventually did that after I ran out and thought I'd have to push it. Found the reserve and decided I'd best leave it open. Fair play to you getting that kind of speed though, my neck would never take that kind of wind rush.
As a previous owner of 2 Suzuki Bandits, a Honda Hornet, CBR600RR, Transalp, BMW R1200R, S1000R, R1200GS, An Aprilia Falco and Tuono V4 I can wholeheartedly say the Hornet is the best all rounder I've owned. Modern enough and powerful enough for everything you'd need on the road, effortlessly reliable, comfortable without looking elderly and it's really aged well from a looks perspective. I'll be shortly downsizing my garage in the next few months and a Hornet is among the few bike's that'll be in it.
I have a 1997 Honda Hornet 250 (CB 250FV) . As a Hornet owner for more than 5 years i know how reliable and how it handles..Itz a bonza! Thus I'm hoping to buy a Hornet 900 also ! However this video is the best hornet 600 review video ever watched. Thnx for the video mate ! Hope to see you doing a review on a the 90's 250 Hornet also!
Thanks for the comment man, that's really kind. To be quite honest I'd prefer to upgrade to the 900 as well knowing how good mine has been, I may try and find one myself.
Best hornet review I have seen. Been looking for this as my next bike but the shortcomings in brakes and power may get edged out by the more sporty versions. Anything is an upgrade from my ninja 500 though.
Thanks man, very kind. I like my hornet, pretty much does everything i need with no speciality but if the breaks put you off and you want something sporty then yeah i'd look at something else. I've never ridden a Ninja 500 but if you like yours then you could always just upgrade to the 600 although i'm sure you will have considered that.
Great review, really thinking about one of these now I've passed my DAS! They look stunning and people swear by them. Would love it if any owners could help me out with a few questions I can't seem to find the answers to on the forums. How do they perform in the cold? Any issues with start-ups? I intend on riding through the winter in London so will need it rely on it firing up every morning for my commute. Thanks for the vid :)
Fantastic video i really enjoyed it well done, can you please tell me what music was playing in parts of the video i liked the sound of it and it sounded similar to the scissor sisters...
I had 2002 model and sold it to buy Kawasaki 636 - 2005 model and now after some time I sold 636 and I want to buy again same model 2000-2002. Great bike
Thanks - nice candid review with some useful detail. I've borrowed a CBX 550 FII but, Deo Volente, I'll have a 600 Hornet one day. What is the best screen please?
Thank you, well mine was an official Honda smoked fly screen which you're best finding on ebay actually (I won't bother copying a link because there's a time limit on each sale) Just type in Honda Hornet Fly Screen and you'll find a few for about £30 easy. Won't make a huge difference on wind protection either way so just choose the one you like the look of for style and you'll have to live with the buffeting because they'll only ever reach your waist anyway unless you get some massive flimsy looking monstrosity. Hope that helps.
Got 130 plus miles on one tank full but also 70 miles on a tank full. 2001 model in black with gold wheels, swing arm and detailing, finished off with black and gold mesh insert belly pan. Looked the dogs.
Great review. I’ve considered get one of these recently for a commuter bike, but I’m also considering the KTM duke 390 (2014/15) and finding hard to decide. My commute to work and back would 40 miles motorway and 20miles through London traffic each day so mileage will soon rack up. Which would you choose? Edit. Street triple could also be a contender as ive owned one previously.
Out of the KTM and this genuinely either could work but I would go for the Honda. The Triumph would also work for sure, I would go for the Triumph if I was sure it was secure where I was parking and if I was looking for something that was also a little more fun for weekend country rides. The Honda is more of a workhorse out of the two.
I think thats what I’ve settled on. Owned a triple a few years back and i was a great bike (63). With the ktm id think once the new toy excitement wears off I think i’d regret the lack if power on the motorway which is 2/3 of my commute. The honda is a nice bike but i don’t think id get the same feeling when i look back at it after a ride.
Lovely review. Might i suggest adjusting your mic. the scratching sound made it a bit annoying...or maybe that was just your voice... Just kidding. Here's a question, have you tried to feel the difference with and without wind deflector on higher speeds? Again. Thanks for the video!
I have the 2006, which I've had now for 10 years. I still love it. It's not my only bike but it's my go-to bike when I just want to hit the back-roads and have some fun. I've personalized it over the years and have many add-on's, just for aesthetics mainly, but did swap out the exhaust for a 2 Bros which made her sound like a completely different beast. Mirrors, led lights, Givi screen, pegs, levers, etc... Just did two or three mods per year and none in the last 2. She's perfect now. Will never sell her. Edit: I have one older bike than the 599, a 1985 Honda Interceptor V4 500 I bought the summer after graduating from HS. Another bike I'll never sell. Guess I'm just into the classics. :)
Yeah the 2007 is still my favourite. I actually did sell mine I'm sorry to say, but it's definitely a bike I'd re-visit, only if I found a 2007 version, or a 900, has to be the round headlight style though, didn't like the face lift version. And I really want to try a V4 at some point, i love trying different engine configurations.
No problem. Naked street bikes are a good place to start just because they have fairly manageable power and the lack of wind protection helps you keep it at legal speed. Honda is always a good choice to start on because of the reliability.
got my 1998 model for €1500 in 2016 🤣 very minor problems. Very easy to fix, too! Rev needle jumping? Instrument cluster removed, no more jumping rev needle! 😂 Aftermarket mirrors rusty? Mirrors removed, no more rusty mirrors! Aftermarket turn signals intermittently failing? Removed turn signals, no more faulty turn signals!
I have the 2008 model, and although I prefer the previous high exhaust set up I do prefer the newer headlamp design and instrument cluster (which includes a fuel gauge by the way.) This bike saw me through Mod 1 and 2, it's easy to live with and does it all. The only thing I find is like all bikes in this category, at sustained high speeds you get not only a face full of wind but feel a bit buffeted around. I'm looking at getting a heavy cruiser that will hold its line more comfortably on the long highway runs, but will definitely be keeping the Hornet as its stablemate.
2:20 The fault is actually the Cam Chain, it is stretched too much for the Cam Chain Tensioner to hold it tight. You can change the CCT but the noise will persist until you change the chain. Also the rectifier is known to fail.
Thanks, this was my actually my first video believe it or not. The jacket is a Richa Memphis though not a gold top unfortunately. Don't get the wear this much any more.
Lol yes i know exactly what you mean about the fuel light.. haha.. it went on while on freeway and i didnt even make it to the next exit before having to pull over and switch the reserve
Would you recommend this as a first "big bike"? Done alot of miles in all situations and all conditions on a 125, so 125 wise I'd say I'm as experienced as can be. Want one of these though now
@@RarefiedRoad my dad has one, most the reason I want one and after reading all the good reviews, everyone mentions the tank range 😂 but I know if I asked him the same question he would say no anyway no matter what he really thought so needed to ask soemone else 😂 thanks for the fast reply though! Doing my bike test in November and save for a hornet for next summer :)
wait i have the same one but i get about 290km befor i get to reserve, 260km before the new chain. rest is pretty much stock, exept for the detune, doe to the 25kw kit i have to use for an other year
I'd say you'll be fine on it. I always found it comfortable and I'm about an inch smaller than you. If you've got long legs you might find your knees are a bit too bent, in which case I'd go looking for a Yamaha Fazer or similar.
Rarefied Road yh it happened to me at some lights. in the process of flapping around to put it on reserve the light went green and got beeped by car behind (even tho they could clearly see I was trying to do something with the bike) no hazards so no way of warning. This was when I first got the bike so took longer than it would now lol
these are the best bikes for not a lot of money. I think they are cool. I have a CB400SF, a 2009 white model. I prefer the styling of the CB400SF, but wish I had the Hornet 600 power :)
Came back to comment on this video that convinced me to get my 06 599 to mention that I did get it to 140+ mph, in fact I got it to 146 mph indicated by GPS so I'll be expecting my slow clap now. Sadly I sold the bike just this year to make room for my new street triple because I got tired of dealing with the carbs.
5:08 ah come on... sure, best time to do it is at a redlight or stop, but even on open road, once you've got a feel for where exactly it is located it's very easy to do. Not while going 140mph tho, i agree 😁
Snurre86 This shape was last produced in 2006 then they completely redesigned it. I personally can’t stand the newer shape but have never ridden one so can’t comment on how good (or not) it is
yes you can take it to 140mph. gps showed 227 kph. Slight downhill, warm weather. Very unpleasant experience. Not made to go above 60-70mph for any appreciable distance imho.
Such a beautiful bike ..I currently own one and i love it !! easy to ride, very fun at higher rpm .....my only complaint is that the breaks are ''meh'' at best :(
Drived one 900cc with few mods it's just brutal how it goes and with custom straight pipe sound like dream the only better one was ktm 1290 superduke with much more modifications done to it..so for a low price hornet is my choice because it's cheap, it looks modern, it's easy to manifold, decent mpg,it can be easily driven in town, doesn't have problems with longer trips and it can be a adrenaline rush ,large aftermarket and all that so if you are on budget must be a bike to look into..all in all it's just a great bike..
Yeah I agree completely. It's a really appealing package for a lot of different reasons. I'd love to have a go on a superduke at some point though, that bike intrigues me.
8:00 i am doing the exact opposite of that. I am trying to restore it to absolutely strict "showroom" condition. I want people to see this bike *as it was originally*, as a reference for how this bike was when it came out in 1998. Some of the replacement parts are expensive (€70 for a pair of mirrors? come on 😥 ) but i'm not in a hurry.
140~145 over The Mountain, along the Mountain Mile. 👍 (Nuffin' in focus tho!) edit: just picked up a mint 2005 with 6800miles.... almost up to my spec. so, that's 2 in the shed..... keeping the 2 900 Hornets happy!
Tim, why do you LIKE the bike as opposed to LOVING it? Is it just not your cup of tea? Is it the sporty bike equivalent of the Street Twin? Like, it's nice and competent but just...meh?
It's been a while since I sold this, and even with the distance from it I look back at it fondly. It is a bit of a vanilla bike but I'd happily own one again.
did 140mph, measured by gps, on 100 octane with a back wind and a mild incline... never again. Not pleasant AT ALL. From 100mph upwards it's basically uncomfortable as hell. Most pleasant from 50 to 80.
Come on boys, they do 90 in second gear.. a ton is easily achieved and surpassed. I regularly do it on mine anyway. Although I admit once you get past 125/130 it starts to feel a bit hairy!
Great video. I'm in love with the hornet and would never part way with it. I have honda hornet 2006 cb900f with TRS exhaust. it sounds brilliant. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qB5urR4JaGI.html
