Why are they so cheap?

Hornet 600's that is..

Im getting a bit bored with the Fazer 1000... capable work horse though it
is, I feel its time for something new.

Now, its been fairly well used (and maintained come to that) so Im not
expecting too much for it when I get rid.

And I quite fancy the look of the Hornets. Call me weird, but I sort of
like the unfinished, bolted together look of the engine, with big pipes etc
sticking out...

But why are they so cheap? There seem to be some cracking deals out there
atm.. and this makes me suspicious. Anyone had one and care to vent an
opinion?...

 

guess its got none of them expensive plastic bolt on's

 

Something of a cult bike. Definitely not mainstream. Those who've got
'em love 'em, but it's not everyone's first choice.

Also remember the engine is 10 year-old CBR600 technology, so very cheap
these days. It's just a budget bike.

Also (crucially) the new CBF600 is cheaper, so the Hornet prices have to
be slashed as well or no bugger will ever buy one.

 

They're cheap cos they use 10 year old cbr600 engines. Great fun though and
absolutly rock solid, mine has done 60,000 miles with just consumables and a
new shock. Never gone wrong, never not started. Try www.hondahornet.co.uk
for more info.

 

they're cheap because they're budget bikes. I quite like the look of
the 900, myself. You'll almost certainly notice a big lack of power
compared to a Fazer 1000.

 

has anyone actually done a back-to-back test of the 600 and 900
hornets? Any reviews of the 900 Hornet I've seen have complained that
the engine is uninspiring compared to it's 'blade doner counterpart.

 

Must be able to tune it, though?

 

it's the same engine as in my 'blade, so I don't see why not.

the way bike manufacturers "de-tune for mid-range" with the
sports-tourer versions of bikes - Fazer 1000, Hornet 900 etc. seems
stupid to me.

 

You and everyone else.

 

Making proper power, it could be a lot of fun, I reckon.

What does the Z1000 make?

I declare it hom.

 

Sadly there's often more to it than simply a different mapping - cam
profiles are often different, so 'tuning' would involve relatively
major work.

Aye, especially with the modern litre-engines producing such massive
amounts of torque across the rev range anyway.

Maybe they do it to lower performance and hence attract lower
insewerants premiums and therefore potentially a bigger market?

 

Actually it's from the blade before, IIRC

 

The new for 2005 1000cc Triumph Speed Triple seems like a step in the
right direction.

Good candidate to replace the GSXR.

 

It looks like they've taken inspiration from Whinging Courier's
RatBlade. Either that, or the Pixies have been moonlighting in
Hinckley.

Pics (for those that haven't seen it):
http://www.triumph.co.uk/uk/788.aspx
http://www.rideteamtriumph.com/news.htm

 

I think you don't - it's 919cc rather than 929, but it's the
fuel-injected lump.

 

ugly ugly ugly.

 

no idea - "some".

 

yeah, that's true, on the other hand, a complete motor out of a
crashed 'blade would slot straight in.

maybe they're attempting to market them to people too scared to have
proper sportsbikes.

 

A black one would be good.

 

Is it me or is virtually every new 2005 model as ugly as a hatful of
monkeys' arseholes?

Second thing - and you read it here first. The bike industry is heading
straight for the most ****-almighty crash.