New Hornet

[ChrisW]

Don't judge, not my bike.

In its defence it was clearly the 'here's every option' example. I had to strip loads more off before the photo.

[Bustaspoke]

We were passing Bill Smith's in Chester earlier on so I called in to ask when they'd be getting one of these in...and they already had one.

Their demonstrator arrives Tues and should be available Thursday so I might nip over and have a go.

I'm thinking of taking a ride down there for a closer look & a demo ride next month,just waiting for the weather to start getting decent

[ChrisW]

We were passing Bill Smith's in Chester earlier on so I called in to ask when they'd be getting one of these in...and they already had one.

Their demonstrator arrives Tues and should be available Thursday so I might nip over and have a go.

I'm thinking of taking a ride down there for a closer look & a demo ride next month,just waiting for the weather to start getting decent

I'm probably being overly-optimistic about the weather next week...

[ChrisW]

Right then. I was out to get a photo for the riding challenge & realised that not only was it a sunny day but I was ten minutes away from a Honda dealer so I called in and asked for a go on a Hornet.



Here’s what I thought:

I should mention that it had the Sport Pack (QS, Screen, Rear Cowl, Footpegs) and an SC Project rear can so the price would have gone from £6.9k up to £8.6k.

I had a bit of a demo of the mode controls etc. There are four modes which are switchable on the fly - Sport, Standard Rain and Custom - TC is bound up the modes, not separately switchable. I stuck it in Sport and left the quick shifter on as, again, that was a delve into settings to change.

First impressions were still as good as when I had a sit on one in Bills Smith's earlier in the year. It looks good if a bit bland (still don’t like the red bits), parts look nicely finished - and yet, as soon as I set off it felt cheap. I don’t understand exactly why. For example - I’d not paid the slightest bit of attention the bars & their clamps whilst looking around the bike but riding with them was different, the cockpit just felt a bit cheap.



Engine: Like the GSX-8S it was a little bit flat low down, not especially perky / grunty. It does have anti-wheelie for some reason, maybe that was it. Starts to wake up in the mid-range and revs well to the top. Feels agricultural at first but smooths out as the revs climb. Apparently also has engine braking control but there was still some there (no bad thing really).

There was bit of persistent buzz through the bars and my right hand went numb, it’s worn off now…

Comfort: The seat is far-too soft. The specced seat-height is probably irrelevant as you squish the seat foam by what feels like a few inches as soon as you get on it. Also the seat vinyl was really grippy, I like at least a little bit of slide.

You feel like you’re very much sat in the bike and there is NO room to move front to back. The leading edge of the pillion area isn’t covered by the seat and as it’s so close you bang into if you get a spurt on. It made me think of medieval jousting saddles.



It also felt like the front half of the bike was higher than the back half, almost ADV like (I’m exaggerating to make the point). Wind buffeting was pretty good. Did have that optional screen, mind.

Suspension: Firm, harsh & crashy over grids, small pot-holes etc. Stable at speed, bike felt longer than it is. A bit remote. I felt I had to man-handle it into corners a bit. Tyres are great.

Riding Modes etc: I put it in Sport and never noticed the TC light flashing (not sure where it would have appeared tbh). I tried switching to the other modes out of interest but couldn’t really feel any difference in poke. The quick-shifter is fine which is handy because the clutch lever felt like it was an inch from the handlebar and I swear the bite point kept changing.

Brakes: Yep, fine. Nice feel, progression. Front ABS didn’t intrude and the rear let me lock the wheel a bit before kicking in.

Sound: I’d have liked to have tried one with the standard can. Really didn’t like it, sounded like a rough single. Obnoxious for no reason.

Niggles:

• The switchgear is HUGE, especially the LHS. There’s only the starter on the RHS, maybe move some stuff over there? Bars also felt a touch narrow.

• The front indicators are DRLs and you can see them when you’re riding so I was constantly reflexively cancelling them.

• I snagged my leg on the grippy rubber piece on top of the rear cowl ever time I got off. Why is it grippy rubber?

I really didn’t like it & wouldn’t have one. It sounds like a CB125R with a Black Widow (standard can might be better) and you have to thrash it like a small in-line four to have fun. Towards the end of the ride I was getting that feeling you get when you’re in the last few miles of a really long trip and you just want to get off the bike as soon as possible.

I wondered if I was just in a bad mood or maybe a bit tired but I really enjoyed the ride back home (…again, which is probably why I’ve had the same bike for five years).

[Gregor]

Honda calling that a screen is a bit of a stretch

[Taipan]

Great review. Thanks for posting it.

[The Spin Doctor]

Not what I'd hoped to hear, to be honest... but objective... thanks!

[ChrisW]

Yep, I was disappointed. Here's a hi-res image in case anyone's interested.

https://i.imgur.com/gZvQE9F.jpeg

[Dodgy69]

Nice read @ChrisW , might be too planeJane honda . Stick with Yamaha.

[matt]

Nice review.
What bike do you usually ride by the way ?
Mt07?

[KungFooBob]

Nice review.
What bike do you usually ride by the way ?

Yo mama!

<soz>

[ChrisW]

Nice review.
What bike do you usually ride by the way ?
Mt07?

Yep.

[ChrisW]

Honda calling that a screen is a bit of a stretch

Not disagreeing but that photo just show the 'brim', it does cover a bit of a gap further down

[Bigjawa]

Riding modes, traction control and anti wheelie on an 80bhp bike?

I think that's the definition of Fur Coat/No Knickers.

Typical Honda being too clever by half.

[KungFooBob]

My 2015 50bhp Guzzi V7II had traction control.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Once you've fitted the sensors and black boxes for ABS - which of course is a forced requirement on new bikes - its only a hop, skip and a jump to having TC and Anti Wheelie, which is probably why you see it so often now?

[Bigjawa]

Once you've fitted the sensors and black boxes for ABS - which of course is a forced requirement on new bikes - its only a hop, skip and a jump to having TC and Anti Wheelie, which is probably why you see it so often now?

I know, it just seems very gimmicky.

I've now owned 3 bikes with ABS, I've never had it kick in on the road, but I've forked out hundreds to get it repaired. It's getting nuts now.