2023 Hornet Twin, the future?
- Thread starter JDude
- Start date
As someone who still owns an XSR700, just sold a Street Triple, and just bought a CBR650F, for me the triple engine is the best. It's has almost the low end torque of the twin, and the same top end power as the 4cyl (at least when comparing these three bikes) so it is really the best of both worlds without really compromising on either.
In saying that, the Honda 650 engine is fairly under stressed and not playing to its full advantage. But that's what also makes it a great street bike and not a full blown sports bike.
It´s not so much up to number of cylinder but the ratio bore vs stroke and also the firing order.
If we compare very well-known parallel twins, one a flat plane and another a cross plane 270º, they behave and deliver torque and power in a different way, even being both twins.
My nephew have just sold his CB500 and bought a new hornet twin in white, I never have the chance to try is old bike, but maybe I'll ask him to try this cause I'm curious
He wasn't really happy of the engine delivery at some rpm and he want ask for some explanation from the dealer when he go to the shop for finalising the quickshifter conversion
He wasn't really happy of the engine delivery at some rpm and he want ask for some explanation from the dealer when he go to the shop for finalising the quickshifter conversion
Hello again.
Yesterday I finally tested the Transalp.
Completely different experience from the Hornet. Great bike, tooo fast for that suspension tune in my opinion.
Very confortable and wind protection was surprisingly good. I felt the bike was very easy to ride, even with 21'' front wheel. I wasn´t impressed with the light off road track I did. In the asfalt, very good.
I was looking around the bike details and guess what I found: coolant pump weeping hole completely surrounded by blue gunk!! In a new bike! How can this be possible?!
I know Honda says it´s normal. I wouldn´t call it normal, but at least tolerable. But in a new bike?!
Yesterday I finally tested the Transalp.
Completely different experience from the Hornet. Great bike, tooo fast for that suspension tune in my opinion.
Very confortable and wind protection was surprisingly good. I felt the bike was very easy to ride, even with 21'' front wheel. I wasn´t impressed with the light off road track I did. In the asfalt, very good.
I was looking around the bike details and guess what I found: coolant pump weeping hole completely surrounded by blue gunk!! In a new bike! How can this be possible?!
I know Honda says it´s normal. I wouldn´t call it normal, but at least tolerable. But in a new bike?!
Last edited:
- Sep 17, 2020
- Riding Since
- 2016
Hello
Did you feel some vibrations on a new Transalp?
I felt very strong tickeling vibrations in the footpegs, when I rode it. Very excessive and unpleasant around 5-6k revs.
I bought my cbr650r before i heard the rumours about a cbr750r and thought bugger. I love my bike, a few issues but for money and my use fantastic. I would lover another 10-20BHP and even 30 but to be honest on public roads the bike has as much power as I need and is fun without scaring the pants off me. Even on track, I only start running out of grunt on the longer streights and my ability is the short fall.
All manufacturers appear to be going Vtwin, and apart from the top end bikes, are producing 90(ish) BHP. I'm not sure the market is there form much over this in HP, I realy don't need al the gismos, part of why i ride is because there is no satnav, phone calls, etc. I aren't the next vantino but do you need traction control, sports, road and rain mode for a 90bhp bike? no you dont
Mine came with a quick shifter as standard, do I need a quick shifter on the road, no i dont. That said I bloody love it when pulling away from light with some dork in an Audi or BMW car who thinks hes fast!
All manufacturers appear to be going Vtwin, and apart from the top end bikes, are producing 90(ish) BHP. I'm not sure the market is there form much over this in HP, I realy don't need al the gismos, part of why i ride is because there is no satnav, phone calls, etc. I aren't the next vantino but do you need traction control, sports, road and rain mode for a 90bhp bike? no you dont
Mine came with a quick shifter as standard, do I need a quick shifter on the road, no i dont. That said I bloody love it when pulling away from light with some dork in an Audi or BMW car who thinks hes fast!
Hello.
I felt considerable vibration when fully opening throttle at low revs. I could see it on the windscreen!
But I was expecting it, from a cross plane twin. Rather than that I felt the engine is very easy to use and punchy. But as said, bike is too fast for the suspension setup, or it´s my reference that makes me feal that.
It is fast or even faster than a CB650, found it too fast for the suspension long fluffy travel. Didn´t felt very confident at high speeds that are easily achieved on the road.
But as said, in general I liked the bike. Not for me, as today I spend the majority of time in or around town. Today, the CB is perfect for me. Who knows later.
I'm also reaching the conclusion that I don't like crossplane twins! The power delivery can be brutal, they are imbalanced by nature and that can be felt, and they sound agricultural for my taste. I know flatplane engines are not so punchy, but, who said we all like punchy hooligan engines? Not me. I prefer the linear delivery of an inline 4, but we better be prepared for the idea that they are disappearing from makers lists. Motorcycle makers are on the market to make money, not the please a minority of customers.
Last edited:
These days everyone seems to love gadgetry, connectivity, many buttons and fancy screens.
I've seen many people discussing new bikes mainly around those features.
Maybe I'm getting old, but I don´t care about all that gadgetry. On bikes, everything happens too fast, for being distracted by phone connectivity, modes and on useless features.
Volvo makes the opposite for years. Their IDIS system filters the alerts given to the driver, depending on it´s degree of activity, to avoid distracting him. Motorbike manufacturers seem to be doing the opposite!
Even Yamaha, on this year MT-07, instead of improving front suspension and brakes, that everybody complains about, they decided that the best way to align with competitors, was to improve connectivity and screen! Can´t understand that.
My opinion, obviously.
Last edited:
As a previous MT07 and current XSR700 owner (as well as a CBR650F) I agree that it's an absolute joke they haven't touched the suspension, especially since the MT03 and R3 get USD forks!
- Jun 30, 2019
The BUG head is back! is it only me or do you guys also see the similarities between the New Hornet and the 2018 CB650F?
Looks like an unwanted child of CB650F and CB650R.
My 650F will be very happy when she hears about this!
Haha, yes, the moment I saw the new Hornet I thought of my cb650f. The 650f is way smarter looking though. Such a punchy looking motorcycle. It's got that compact, solid, look to it. Swings and roundabouts right? The trend is tiring of the neo retro look. Our 650F's will be head-turners for a while 😎
I reckon the 1st gen CB650F's are the best looking of the lot (CB500F's, CB650F's and the Hornet). Though the CB650R trumps all of them. Honda pulled of Neo Retro perfectly with that bike, and I reckon the Hornet would have been so much better in that guise.
A good TFT is nice if you're looking at Ducati or Kawasaki. Whereas Triumph has no idea how to use a TFT properly, tiny fonts and less simultaneous info than my analog Kawasaki.
The strong high freq bar vibes though, and mirror blur. Having said that, I have the 765 Moto2 on order ...
The strong high freq bar vibes though, and mirror blur. Having said that, I have the 765 Moto2 on order ...
Not everyone. Just about all my longstanding riding friends decry the trend towards dumbing down riding skills and adding unnecessary features. Most of us would prefer practical additions like centre stands, mudguards that work, radiator protectors and similar things that should be standard. The other day when having my CBR650R serviced for the first time while I waited I had a look at a lovely 1995 CBR600F in the showroom. The build quality of that bike was in a totally different league to what it is on the current CBR (though my 2019 Crossrunner, made in Japan, was high quality too). It had a mainstand, a comfy looking seat and to me looked altogether more practical than the current offerings. Probably as quick too. It had only done 13000 miles. Tempted I was, but you never know if it’s been a track bike with the original plastics put back on.
I just wanted to add to the thought process of if the Cb750 hornet will replace the cb650. In Australia we only get the restricted Cb650f/r. In australia on restricted license (first bike license) we can own up to a 650cc but up to a certain power to weight ratio(called LAMS approved). The Ninja 650 is available in restricted or non-restricted, but the cb650 is only available in restricted. But for honda to still compete in the LAMS market they would still need a 650cc as the cb750, even restricted is not legal as it's above 650cc.
But just know you and your riding friends are in the minority. I’m the same way: lack of a simple ABS or a slipper clutch would not stop me from buying a bike if it ticked all of my other wants but most new riders are people who will look past a 60hp bike if it doesn’t have a TFT display, rider modes, traction control, multi-axis ABS, etc., which to me is nuts.
Watch a few reviews and you’ll see that the gadgets are what’s talked about most. And they act like if it doesn’t have that it’s shit.
The only thing I’m now considering a must have after owning a bike with one is cruise control. If the gauges can be read, be it analog, TFT, LCD, whatever, I’m fine for the most part depending on cost. If you’re talking a 200hp superbike, then yeah, traction control should be included but otherwise the nannie’s are to me a diminishing return because they are prone to failure.