Honda CB919 Write Up/Review

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GlennO87 G So here is my write up and review on the Honda CB919 Hornet or if your an aussie CB900F Hornet. A while ago my friends all got road bike so i have had decided to sell my Yamaha WR450F and join them. The hunt was on. Being born missing a vertebrae in my back. Super sport bikes after around 20 minutes start to kill my back so it was into the more upright market. But i still wanted a good amount of power to. I test rode a VFR800 brand new. Was to far forward and to me lacked torque for my liking and was just to smooth. I also wanted a V4 or a V Twin. My search was narrowing and i was thinking about importing a Vmax. I over looked the CB900F Hornet because to the eye. It is pretty average. I went looking for a naked 08 Suzuki 1200 Bandit at the shop but it was already gone. But over in the corner was a black 06 CB900 with oil leaks that the shop had not bothered to clean up, dual leo vince pipes and looked like it had been used to ride around fire brakes on a property and occasionally crashed into the bushes. Yet i tested it. I took off from the drive way and i was sold within around 200 meters. I opened it up and this thing had more punch than an angry father not wanting to be a dad. When i came back i was pretty decided that this was the bike i was going to get. But was not gonna buy that over priced oily heap of crap with 25,000kms for $7500 aussie dollars. I kept looking and came across one in rose red which i didn`t want. 7500kms brand new condition for $7500. Went up to the shop and rode it and i was sold, i didn`t want the red but could not look past the kilometers. I could touch the ground which was nice seeing i`m only 5'6. Then i bought her home, possibly the cleanest hornet on the planet. One good thing, it has Oggy Nobs fitted already to! It had been dropped in the garage i would say with a small scratch on the engine case handle bar end and as you can see a small scratch on the rear tail. It came with Bridgestone BT56s which have about as much grip as a virgin putting on his first condom and the brakes were as squishy as a 55yr old mothers rack. That was fixed with some Ferodo pads which are very nice! It now has Michellin Pilot Road 3s which are AMAZING. So after all my ranting what is this bike like. One word. Fantastic. It will putt around town like a naked little 250 bike. The weight depending on where you read is 200kg. And the bike is very flickable. I recently went to a track day and was surrounded by all the top 1000cc and 600cc jap bikes. My hornet stuck out like a sore thumb. Sitting there with a de tuned old CBR919 motor in it. I was parked next to a Aprillia RSV4 Carbon. All $42,000 dollars worth. I was in over my head. What am i doing here. Then we got on the track. Well the hornet apart from three guys who were sliding there bikes into corners. Spanked the living hell out of everyone, i even lapped people on the hornet and i am a average rider and had never done a track day before this. It turned in effortlessly and powered out of corners perfectly. But when it comes to pulling her up the old CBR600 brakes do the job, but could be better. This bike is a 'bits-a' parts bin bike. And does have its limitations. I was scraping the peg on it, over taking Ducatis, CBRs, Ninjas, GSXRs all those fancy names, on this bland as hell old hornet. Conclusion.... The hornet is an amazing bike. It is an eye sore. Untill you ride it, you will be hooked. The slighty up right position is very comfortable for long trips or around town. The motor has a good amount of power and enough torque to pull even in 6th up big hills if you want it to. It will power wheelie first gear when ever you like if you hit the throttle hard. The 919cc engine is smooth as a whistle and makes some great growls. Putt around like a 250 or open it up and watch the speedo climb quick enough to make you question your license and hit the brakes. The bland old Hornet is not a sports bike. It is not a tourer, it isn`t even a commuter. It doesn`t really fit in. But one thing it does do. Is everything, and boy does it do it well, it is a commuter and a 250 when you want it to be, and a sports bike with enough power to be a blur as it goes by. Or just a cruise to work bike. These bikes are very over looked and if you ever get a chance to ride one i highly suggest you do. Juicy bits. Great 919cc motor. Good brakes, but if you push it you will find the limit on this bike fairly fast. Comfortable upright position. Great sound out of the twin exhaust. Does everything you want it to. Decent on fuel for a big bike. For you Americas. 5 gallon tank will get you 170 to 180 miles with a bit of happy wrist now and then. Sour bits. Looks a bit dull and like a rush job. Pipes, rim tape, fender eliminator and some other bits could turn it around. Which is the plan. Good quality bike, typical Honda, just not put together well. Gear box plays tricks on you sometimes. Stink like fuel from those pipes so close to your back. Seat after about 2 hours makes your ass numb. Front gets twitchy over 200kph and shakes a bit under heavy acceleration due to no dampener. Great bike if you understand what it is. It is an all rounder. And a great one. I hope i didn`t bore you to much!!! Glenn #1 · Dec 10, 2012 (Edited) So here is my write up and review on the Honda CB919 Hornet or if your an aussie CB900F Hornet. A while ago my friends all got road bike so i have had decided to sell my Yamaha WR450F and join them. The hunt was on. Being born missing a vertebrae in my back. Super sport bikes after around 20 minutes start to kill my back so it was into the more upright market. But i still wanted a good amount of power to. I test rode a VFR800 brand new. Was to far forward and to me lacked torque for my liking and was just to smooth. I also wanted a V4 or a V Twin. My search was narrowing and i was thinking about importing a Vmax. I over looked the CB900F Hornet because to the eye. It is pretty average. I went looking for a naked 08 Suzuki 1200 Bandit at the shop but it was already gone. But over in the corner was a black 06 CB900 with oil leaks that the shop had not bothered to clean up, dual leo vince pipes and looked like it had been used to ride around fire brakes on a property and occasionally crashed into the bushes. Yet i tested it. I took off from the drive way and i was sold within around 200 meters. I opened it up and this thing had more punch than an angry father not wanting to be a dad. When i came back i was pretty decided that this was the bike i was going to get. But was not gonna buy that over priced oily heap of crap with 25,000kms for $7500 aussie dollars. I kept looking and came across one in rose red which i didn`t want. 7500kms brand new condition for $7500. Went up to the shop and rode it and i was sold, i didn`t want the red but could not look past the kilometers. I could touch the ground which was nice seeing i`m only 5'6. Then i bought her home, possibly the cleanest hornet on the planet. One good thing, it has Oggy Nobs fitted already to! It had been dropped in the garage i would say with a small scratch on the engine case handle bar end and as you can see a small scratch on the rear tail. It came with Bridgestone BT56s which have about as much grip as a virgin putting on his first condom and the brakes were as squishy as a 55yr old mothers rack. That was fixed with some Ferodo pads which are very nice! It now has Michellin Pilot Road 3s which are AMAZING. So after all my ranting what is this bike like. One word. Fantastic. It will putt around town like a naked little 250 bike. The weight depending on where you read is 200kg. And the bike is very flickable. I recently went to a track day and was surrounded by all the top 1000cc and 600cc jap bikes. My hornet stuck out like a sore thumb. Sitting there with a de tuned old CBR919 motor in it. I was parked next to a Aprillia RSV4 Carbon. All $42,000 dollars worth. I was in over my head. What am i doing here. Then we got on the track. Well the hornet apart from three guys who were sliding there bikes into corners. Spanked the living hell out of everyone, i even lapped people on the hornet and i am a average rider and had never done a track day before this. It turned in effortlessly and powered out of corners perfectly. But when it comes to pulling her up the old CBR600 brakes do the job, but could be better. This bike is a 'bits-a' parts bin bike. And does have its limitations. I was scraping the peg on it, over taking Ducatis, CBRs, Ninjas, GSXRs all those fancy names, on this bland as hell old hornet. Conclusion.... The hornet is an amazing bike. It is an eye sore. Untill you ride it, you will be hooked. The slighty up right position is very comfortable for long trips or around town. The motor has a good amount of power and enough torque to pull even in 6th up big hills if you want it to. It will power wheelie first gear when ever you like if you hit the throttle hard. The 919cc engine is smooth as a whistle and makes some great growls. Putt around like a 250 or open it up and watch the speedo climb quick enough to make you question your license and hit the brakes. The bland old Hornet is not a sports bike. It is not a tourer, it isn`t even a commuter. It doesn`t really fit in. But one thing it does do. Is everything, and boy does it do it well, it is a commuter and a 250 when you want it to be, and a sports bike with enough power to be a blur as it goes by. Or just a cruise to work bike. These bikes are very over looked and if you ever get a chance to ride one i highly suggest you do. Juicy bits. Great 919cc motor. Good brakes, but if you push it you will find the limit on this bike fairly fast. Comfortable upright position. Great sound out of the twin exhaust. Does everything you want it to. Decent on fuel for a big bike. For you Americas. 5 gallon tank will get you 170 to 180 miles with a bit of happy wrist now and then. Sour bits. Looks a bit dull and like a rush job. Pipes, rim tape, fender eliminator and some other bits could turn it around. Which is the plan. Good quality bike, typical Honda, just not put together well. Gear box plays tricks on you sometimes. Stink like fuel from those pipes so close to your back. Seat after about 2 hours makes your ass numb. Front gets twitchy over 200kph and shakes a bit under heavy acceleration due to no dampener. Great bike if you understand what it is. It is an all rounder. And a great one. I hope i didn`t bore you to much!!! Glenn See less See more 5 Sort by Oldest first Oldest first Newest first Most reactions #2 · Dec 10, 2012 Great read Glenn Which circuit was it? #3 · Dec 10, 2012 Barbagallo....same as you i would say! #4 · Dec 10, 2012 Yep, but Collie is more fun 0 Reply #5 · Sep 4, 2024 Great review. 12 years later, still is a good read. lol #6 · Sep 12, 2024 One point I disagree with, again as ShuggsTR states 12years old thread, it's NOT a BLAND looking bike. They have a "proud" look (especially with Rental HI bars). They are so easy to maintain. With a center stand, there's virtually no task one can't do. I have 2 of the 2005 models. Both have steering dampers and Nitron rear suspension. Brakes are spot on with SS braided lines and Galfer discs... Akrapovic exhausts and other simple, but stylish, replacement bitz. You can actually see the bike, engine&all! It may not be built for the TT, but I guarantee it'll bring a smile when you crack the throttle and get your knee out. Probably the most underrated bike in the past 25 years. Justy 2centz worth. Insert Quotes Post Reply

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