2023 Hornet Twin, the future?

[FogDucker]

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.

NEEDs vs WANTs......
Go riding when all you NEED is between your crotch.
A proud owner of CB650F - May 2023

 

[Redrocket]

One of the reasons I bought my CBR650R is that it has few gadgets, basically just ABS (mandatory anyway here) and TC, the simplest system I’ve come across. I am quite happy riding bikes with neither of these. I do look at a lot of reviews. For sure the reviewers look at gadgetry spec v price, but there are plenty of reviews that praise the simplicity of simplicity of some bikes too, admittedly usually naked retros. I know I’m p*ssing in the wind anyway….
I doubt that Honda will make these 4 cylinder bikes much longer - too expensive compared to a CBR750 with a me too 270
degree twin and a load of tech.

 

[xorbe]

Setting aside that a twin is not a triple or inline-4 ... I do suspect that the Hornet 750 will sell well. I have 3 other twins in my collection, Speed Twin 1200, Monster 937 SP, and Ninja 650R. imho the Speed Twin is biased too much for low rpms, so it's not as fun through the rev range, it's a short shifter. I *really* like the Ninja 650, but sometimes it leaves me wishing for 10-15 more hp. Monster is also very good, but the nearly liter sized engine and rear cylinder make it a warm experience unless you can keep on the move. Relatively, it looks to me that the Hornet 750 is going to hit a nice sweet spot of engine size/heat and power and decent sound through the rev range. Everyone wants the "frantic" sound of inline-4 and triples, but after a while riding the 180° Ninja is easy on the ears. I am not entirely sold on how 270° twins sound. I prefer the Monster and Hornet sound over the Speed Twin / MT07. Guessing it's a combination of bore/stroke + exhaust design.

I don't know what to predict about the future of Honda's inline-4 650. Globally it will probably live on. And Honda does weird things like offer the Fury year after year even though you've never seen one on the road.

 

[Bran]

slightly off topic, I have a2017 civic sport car, the dash has been light up for months and no bugger will touch it, the gizmos provided to cars and increasingley bikes is unecessary, and takes away the skill and pleasure for me. maybe im just old

 

[Redrocket]

I agree. Hopefully the light doesn’t mean an MOT failure…

 

[Cláudio Nogueira]

The screen thing is odd to me alright. Its literally the last thing I look for in a motorbike. I dont look at it much.

I guess that's what the kids want these days? I sure they would say "that screen slaps" or something to that effect.

Hello.

For me, motorcycling is about the liberty and power sensation, the wind on the chest.
I don´t care about changing modes and fancy TFTs. All I need is to know what speed, gear, fuel gage, engine temp and rev counter. I don’t care about connectivity on my bike, technology as taken more of my live than I wish it would have. Let me be free of that at least on my bike.
But this is my opinion, prove that there are different opinions is that seems that the majority enjoys all this gadgetry.
I have the opposite opinion about safety electronics. Obviously ABS and traction control are a must and saves our bacon countless times.

 

[Redrocket]

Neither ABS nor traction control is a must, especially the latter on low powered bikes. How did we manage the first 30 odd years of riding without either yet didn’t keep running into things nor skidding out of control. They are both desirable but not essential IMHO. If one keeps activating either one is not riding properly.

 

[CBR650r82]

I attended some increased experience training sessions on the bike, where they practice situations you never wish to get into, these situations occur very rare, and when they do happen they are probably caused by someone else. In those situations systems like ABS are there to increase your chance to survive. Try an emergency braking situation doing 50km/h with ABS and without, the difference in stopping distance is shocking. And the difference will only be bigger when the speed increases.

I drive motorcycles for 22 years, never needed the systems but am happy to know there is extra help in case I need it.

 

[Bran]

ABS prelongs stopping distance to the truly gifted drivers/ riders, however you are less likely to drop a bike with ABS.

 

[User28]

ABS and Traction control are a god send when you need them , and if they are adjustable then even better , i like the old ride by your pants feeling ,with my right hand controling the power modes and cruise control and speed limiter with the. Best mod i ever had was to get a good fitting pair of gloves and change the colour of my cb650r dash to black on white , still very happy with my cb even after 13 months and 10000 miles won't change back to a twin for the foreseeable future

 

[Cláudio Nogueira]

ABS and Traction control are a god send when you need them , and if they are adjustable then even better , i like the old ride by your pants feeling ,with my right hand controling the power modes and cruise control and speed limiter with the. Best mod i ever had was to get a good fitting pair of gloves and change the colour of my cb650r dash to black on white , still very happy with my cb even after 13 months and 10000 miles won't change back to a twin for the foreseeable future

I´ve been testing several bikes, from different styles and brands. The more I test, the more I like my CB650R.

Today, It´s the right bike for me and the 4 pot is what seals this relationship. It´s addictive. I really like the way it sounds and performs.
Hope my CB runs well for a long time since I arrived at a point where I must spend some money in parts and maintenance.
Warranty is ending, time to get my hands dirty.

 

[User28]

I really feel like we are turning a corner here in relation to engine configurations for ICE motors.

for the worse. Will have to pick up a secound hand sportbike before the only choice is overpriced Ducati or bmws

Well i have changed my bike, i was waiting for the new cb1000r hopefully later this year but no sign , and a friend of mine offered good money for my cb650r, only down side was he wanted now , so i sold it, i decided to test all the new middle weight naked bikes on offer so i tested the cb750 hornet very viby and all top end, mt 07 but had an earlier model and still did not like it vibes all though the frame, aprilla 660 nice super duke 750 was my top choice untill i tested the suzuki 8s as soon as i returned after testing for an hour i ordered a black one , to me its perfect for road riding total fun , no stalling no missed gears and the torque punch is unbelievable, holding on for dear life , its not top endy as the hornet or deprived of low down power as my cb 650r , i will be selling off some items such as a screen, rear passenger sport cover etc as a stock bunch so i will put it in the for sale area soon , well as soon as i have time off the bike
thank,s all its a wonderful site with good people offering good advice keep up the good work

 

[Cláudio Nogueira]

Hello.

A couple of weeks before I tested this, and now I can´t stop thinking about it!

I never felt attracted by this boxer architecture, I always believed that a post pre WW2 solution, that no other motorcycle maker uses, shouldn´t be a good solution. Even worse if air cooled! What a crap
My thoughts were confirmed immediately when I started the bike. It shaked strongly sidewards!
Every time I was changing gear, especially in reductions, there was the bike kicking sidewards! I wonder if that´s why she comes stock with a steering damper. Obviously the engine is very powerful and torqui, as they are known to be.

But in the end, I have difficulties in explaining why I loved the bike and is now near the top of my wishlist. If it wasn´t the scandalous price, I would be getting one. But I'm veerryyy reluctant to spend 20K€ on a bike that doesn’t even have a fuel gage and doesn’t show me what gear I'm in. Nothing, mileages and speed is all you get. But the charm and the raw experience are absolutely phenomenal! What a charming piece of crap

 

[Brian C.]

Hello.

A couple of weeks before I tested this, and now I can´t stop thinking about it!

I never felt attracted by this boxer architecture, I always believed that a post pre WW2 solution, that no other motorcycle maker uses, shouldn´t be a good solution. Even worse if air cooled! What a crap
My thoughts were confirmed immediately when I started the bike. It shaked strongly sidewards!
Every time I was changing gear, especially in reductions, there was the bike kicking sidewards! I wonder if that´s why she comes stock with a steering damper. Obviously the engine is very powerful and torqui, as they are known to be.

But in the end, I have difficulties in explaining why I loved the bike and is now near the top of my wishlist. If it wasn´t the scandalous price, I would be getting one. But I'm veerryyy reluctant to spend 20K€ on a bike that doesn’t even have a fuel gage and doesn’t show me what gear I'm in. Nothing, mileages and speed is all you get. But the charm and the raw experience are absolutely phenomenal! What a charming piece of crap

View attachment 14123

I had a very similar experience, I've loved the look of these and it was my dream Bike. I went to the ABR festival this year and test rode one and was sooo disappointed with it! It's rough as hell at idle and never smooths out, as you discovered unless you rev match on the way down the box that sideways kick is awful and very disconcerting. It never really feels like the engine wants to go, it was surprisingly lacklustre considering it's twice the size on the CBR engine.
Unlike you, its no longer my Dream bike, i feel like I must be missing something to be honest, I now want to try the GS, primarily to see if it is any better.
No disrespect to anyone that owns and loves one, but it really disappointed me, I was amazed!
Cláudio Nogueira - worth bearing in mind that there is an update coming next year (See Here), so second hand prices may take a knock once its out.

 

[Cláudio Nogueira]

I had a very similar experience, I've loved the look of these and it was my dream Bike. I went to the ABR festival this year and test rode one and was sooo disappointed with it! It's rough as hell at idle and never smooths out, as you discovered unless you rev match on the way down the box that sideways kick is awful and very disconcerting. It never really feels like the engine wants to go, it was surprisingly lacklustre considering it's twice the size on the CBR engine.
Unlike you, its no longer my Dream bike, i feel like I must be missing something to be honest, I now want to try the GS, primarily to see if it is any better.
No disrespect to anyone that owns and loves one, but it really disappointed me, I was amazed!
Cláudio Nogueira - worth bearing in mind that there is an update coming next year (See Here), so second hand prices may take a knock once its out.

I'm not convicend that a R Nine T would be a good bike for me. To be honest I don´t believe I would ever decide to buy a motorcycle based on my heart as I’m an engineer 😉

I would easily replace the CB650 for a CB1000. Much cheaper and much more bike.
Thank you for your comment, I was here really looking for therapy 😉

 

[User28]

Well here she is all in black the best colour , i managed to alter tge mounain bracket from the honda cb650r so the screen is a gen honda part and it look blood great on the 8s, cant realy compare bikes as they are worlds apart but the low down and midrange stomp is out of this world ,

 

[Cláudio Nogueira]

Well here she is all in black the best colour , i managed to alter tge mounain bracket from the honda cb650r so the screen is a gen honda part and it look blood great on the 8s, cant realy compare bikes as they are worlds apart but the low down and midrange stomp is out of this world ,

Great bike 👍

I immediately recognized thar screen.
I think you might have started something here