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Hornet 600? Hornet 600?
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #16  
Old 14 Apr 2008
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Something of a bad winter riding experience Hornet600, but it was also pretty predictable for winter in Europe, or anywhere else in winter for that matter.
Of course, the same cold temperature & wind chill factors would apply to any "naked" bike, so it is not a specific problem of the Hornet.
Ultimately, if your body is losing heat faster than you are generating replacement heat then you will get cold - I reckon we have all been there at some time or another!

The wind effect on a naked bike can be OK in the middle of summer - in fact it can be a blessing in a heat wave.
The actual wind pressure at speed can also be OK if riding within the comfort zone for such bikes - but yes, as speed is increased there is not a linear relationship in the wind pressure/drag. Nevertheless, a laminar wind flow over the whole exposed body that produces a constant and even wind pressure can be more acceptable than turbulent air coming off poorly designed fairings etc.


Just as a point: if there is feedback to be exchanged about the bike then posting on here rather than using the PM system would let everyone read and learn from it - it is such posts which generate more information from subsequent posts after all.

Cheers,
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  #17  
Old 15 Apr 2008
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Sure thing walkabout. Never really had a faired bike so can't say about uneven windflow but I did put a screen on the hornet which basically turned my helmet into a tumbledrier. double bubble + hornet = ARGHHHH
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  #18  
Old 16 Apr 2008
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Thanks for the useful info.

Hornet600 - How much did it cost to run the Hornet a day whilst touring? What MPG does it do?

Also, are you saying the windshield that Honda do, is not worth buying?
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  #19  
Old 16 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garthunkle View Post
Thanks for the useful info.

Hornet600 - How much did it cost to run the Hornet a day whilst touring? What MPG does it do?

Also, are you saying the windshield that Honda do, is not worth buying?
About 50 mpg but obviously varies depending on how hard you ride it.
Mine came with a small windshield and have simply left it on so cannot comment on what difference it makes.
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  #20  
Old 16 Apr 2008
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Originally Posted by Hornet600 View Post
Never really had a faired bike so can't say about uneven windflow but I did put a screen on the hornet which basically turned my helmet into a tumbledrier. double bubble + hornet = ARGHHHH
I had a mid '90's Ducati SS which did exactly the same, despite it being the full faired model. The screen was just about the right height to rattle your head about at speed and IMHO, the fairing contributed to instability in sidewinds. Looked pretty though.
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  #21  
Old 23 Apr 2008
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My model, a 1998 unfaired 600 hornet, did considerably less than 50mpg and I would really imagine that this is true for most hornets. They are very thirsty bikes! I found that a tank would last me just under 100 miles before needing to go to reserve no matter how I rode it unless I exceeded 90mph. Beyond 90mph it really drank heavily! reserve lasts about 20 miles.

Other running costs I couldn't put in, your tyres last as long as they do on any bike, it doesn't burn oil and basic maintenance is very simple. In my trip the only costs I paid beyond petrol was 1 repair (damn tramlines) and 1 new tyre because of a nail.

the reason the double bubble was a waste of time is because it created 2 streams of air, 1 either side of my head which basically forced my head from side to side. It was fun for about 30 seconds!
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  #22  
Old 23 Apr 2008
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Originally Posted by Hornet600 View Post
Sure thing walkabout. Never really had a faired bike so can't say about uneven windflow but I did put a screen on the hornet which basically turned my helmet into a tumbledrier. double bubble + hornet = ARGHHHH

Its not an exact science and there are fairing/screen combinations that work OK, for me at least.
A very comfortable bike for me was a Honda Blackbird with a double bubble fairing: there are many variables including your own body size of course. I guess this is why there is a big after-market in screens etc.

Yes, buffeting of the head can be a big problem: for instance, a lot of riders seem to get it with the standard screen on the Suzi DL1000 V Strom.
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  #23  
Old 24 Apr 2008
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Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post
Its not an exact science and there are fairing/screen combinations that work OK, for me at least.
A very comfortable bike for me was a Honda Blackbird with a double bubble fairing: there are many variables including your own body size of course. I guess this is why there is a big after-market in screens etc.
I like DB screens. Suits my ZX6 quite well. Happily does 140mph+ without the buffetting being too intrusive. Not sure how useful one would be on a naked bike as the air would be coming up from underneath and behind the screen, taking away the negative pressure effect behind the screen that you would get on a faired bike.

I think all the sports 600's do around about 100 miles per 10 litres as you tend to ride them quite hard. You may as well buy a Bandit 600 if you don't. My ZX6 has an 18 litre tank and I get about 120 or so miles before having to switch to reserve.
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