Good video Dan, I am 75 years old and I just sold my BMW R1200 RS SE that I had from new 7 years ago, getting a bit stiff now so I just bought a Honda CB 500 Hornet, which is probably just the type of bike I now need, it seems to be a great wee bike after the test run, so looking forward to getting the new one in a couple of weeks time.
@@jamesballard6564 It's turned out to be the best wee machine ever, it's light and maneuverable plus great mileage compared to the BMW, I should have changed to the 500 years ago.
I appreciate Honda's new direction, but the sound of the 4 cylinder was just pure evil. It made you want to open the tabs every ducking time. 😍 Great vid as always!
I have a cb900 and it sounds a bit like a sewing machine until you wind it up just a little and then the induction noise and the pipes both sound amazing.
Hi Dan will be buying one in the next couple of weeks. Have had Honda's since i was 17 years old and loved every one, a long time. The weather put me off but things are starting to improve in the UK at last. Cheers.
I had a similar experience on the CB500F. I had one as loan bike while my CRF1000L was in for a service. I was blown away at how fun the smaller bike was on the twisty lanes cornering and carving with ease put a massive grin on my face. If your not limited to an A2 licence, the extra power for not much more money with the Hornet would be irresistable.
You said it yourself at 2:52 - the CB650R is the spiritual successor of the Hornet. I'm one of the guys that just can't imagine the Hornet without that defining sound of the 4 cylinders - aggressive, thrill inducing. Its design is also much less European this time in my opinion (as emphasized by small-ish, hard-lined headlight and the pikachu yellow). But from your review, this looks like a great fun bike to ride. It just feels like something else to me. Great video, cheers!
Two GREAT bikes, this and the 8S. What is a glaring miss is neither even OFFERS cruise control. The right do-it-all size, with kit like the touring pack they would be a perfect weekend getaway rigs. I think the Hornet looks great.
Cruise control, can't say I've ever needed it in the UK, I can imagine if you live in the States with long boring roads but that's not what this type of bike is about.
Another great video Dan, I agree with you that the new Hornet is brilliant, I absolutely love mine. I’ve done nearly a 1000 miles on mine and come back with a big grin on my face every ride.
Good designs have staying power. I had a BMW F800 for 11 years. Great commuter and you could add bags. Heated grips, and reasonable price for it's day. It was a total package, so easy to live with, especially due to the belt drive, which I had doubts about but was very durable.
I’ve just got one of these as my first full licence bike from a Honda cb125f and I have to say… I love it… being a small girl in my 40’s it big enough for me!! haven’t had to lower the bike because it’s quite narrow, but I do have the sports seat… and it’s probably as heavy as I can go (will probably struggle a bit with luggage!! But above all it is super fun and a pleasure to ride!!! Don’t regret a penny that engine wants to play….
I demo'd one a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed the great torque off the bottom its so usable, its your friend on the twisty roads just keep it in 3rd or 4th and wind it back and then let the engine braking control the bike in the bends, its not as good looking as a cb650r but the motor is a peach.
I owned the first 600 Hornet when it came out, 1998. Nice bike, had fun on it. I now own the Transalp (same engine as this Hornet). TBH I prefer the twin over the straight 4.
My mate bought a 600 roundabout 2003ish he let me have a go ! Think I had some thousand thing at the time (I've had them all R1, Fireblade etc) But I got on his Hornet and I have to say it was amazing. I was quicker and safer because of the weight of the bikes at the time. I just felt the riding position was brilliant. I never bought one because a Gizzer 1000 became available at the right price ! Need to speak to the bank manager (wife) and get finance sorted out ! I'm 60 on the 23rd of this month so happy birthday to me 😃
Great vid as always, Dan. It makes the wait for my Hornet (In Grey) harder as I just want it now as the weather is slowly turning into something pleasant! I've been told July, so not tooooo far away! :)
Great vid Dan , upon first seeing the new Hornet (in pictures) I thought it looked like it had been made in China Tbh , then I saw one in the flesh , i changed my mind looks great . I'm also a previous owner of the Hornet (1998) and I can honestly say it was the best bike I've owned , so much fun ,although the tank range was awful , im glad Honda have continued the fun factor with the new one . Great stuff
Great vid as always Dan. That Hornet looks so much fun. I'm a big fan of this kind of bike; sub or around 100bhp. You can wring the neck of bikes like these, have all the fun, get somewhere near the edge of it performance envelope, but not end up in court! That price too! It will be interesting to see how it handles a year of riding.
Looking forward to a test of the GSX8S in England. My first impression is that that's the one for me, but concerned that it wont rev out so satisfyingly. I prefer a balance of speed and torque, but perhaps a sprinkling more speed.
I went from riding an rf600r i4 supersport, to a versys 650 parallel twin. While screaming on the supersport was a blast. I realllllllyyy enjoy just being able to be in 5th/6th gear at 3k rpm, roll on the throttle, and grunt out of anything. Much more accessible power than having to be screaming at 12k rpm for it
I think/hope the next version of this bike will be the perfect one. Honda seems to have nailed everything apart from the styling. I do think they'll sell enough of these to warrant putting a bit more effort and risk into the next version.
Lovely looking bike. About time the Hornet didn't like like a budget bike. I really don't understand why they don't put a screen on a tourer. Something simple like the one on my VStrom 650 would work perfectly and make long distance tiring do much more enjoyable. That twin engine sounds gorgeous. Love the colour
I love the howl of my 1982 CB900F but also appreciate the capabilities and advantages of my 2024 Transalp. I also own a 2003 919 Hornet. Love them all for different reasons. Hooliganism traits amongst my three? The 919 wins that contest. Easiest to ride? The Transalp. The most comfortable for 2-up rides? The 82 CB900F.
I have both the Cb650R Full Power and the Hornet 750 Full Power. Absolutely LOVE the CB650R look, 4 cylinders sound and engine Smoothness. But she is heavy and needs a bit to put her on the Angle. Absolutely HATE the Hornet 750 Look and the 2 cylinders sound. But Man she is so much fun!! That peppy engine and the bike agility... So yeah...I own both in the end^^
One thing I’ve realised is that bike sizing and what will be comfortable is such a personal thing. I hear that this bike will be uncomfortable for taller/larger riders, yet I am 6 foot 7, long legs and torso but learnt to ride and passed all of my tests on it comfortably. Personally did not feel like it was a small bike at all!
I like this one and am seriously thinking on getting one later this year I am not a fan of the angular look of the modern generic style bikes but this one looks neater somehow not so front end bulky if you get what I mean , and the price for what you get is pretty good certainly a winner for Honda I reckon ,as this isn't far off the Inter 650 price .👌👍Nice one Dan .
How does the Hornet compare to your SV650? I run both a SV650S & 675R Street Triple & I'm thinking about P/Xing one of them against either the Hornet or the GSX8.
Great video ! You didn’t mention how it stacks up against your SV650. There are very good deals 💷 on the SV at the moment, some being pre registered. Perhaps in the next one …..🤔
I've never bought an 'new' bike since the 70s, as used are such value for money in comparison.. However price makes this is a tempting 'new' bike, without doubt.
Great video Dan, be nice to see how the Suzuki compares on the same roads but you cannot complain about the quality of the hornet for the price. It’s a no brainer to be honest 👍🏻
Still can't get my head around the apparent adoration for this configuration of engine. That is, parallel twin with 270° crank. 25 odd years ago, Yamaha had a bike called a TDM850 which eventually morphed into the TDM900. Style wise it looked like a large, overgrown trailie and was, I suppose, a precursor to today's Adventure bikes. You'd see a few on the roads but they were far more popular on the Continent. There was also a road going version known as a TRX850. A lovely looking machine with a trellis frame. This bike, and the TDMs, was powered by..... a 270° parallel twin........and NOBODY would touch it with a barge pole. Now? Everybody's raving for a p-2/270°. 🤦♂️ Talk about fickle. I have no doubt that this is a great bike. Truly. I, however, simply refuse to be part of the herd. Just no individuality today.
I remember both bikes well, particularly the TRX850. It was a great bike which was very underrated & clearly way ahead of it's time, too far seemingly. I always wanted Yamaha to bring it back after they discontinued it as it was a great looking, fun & inexpensive bike & at the time was something different. However it never sold well as it was just too much of an oddball & it never really fitted in at the time. It was essentially a budget Ducati 900SS & while it matched the Ducati in spirit & performance, it didn't have Ducati on the tank, the classy Italian styling or a booming V-twin which were all vital ingredients. Alas. Although I guess they finally will bring it back in spirit with the inevitable MT08, albeit a much uglier version lol. If Yamaha had the balls to do a TRX style modern classic version of the MT, I think it could sell well in the current market.
@@Englishbikerdan Valid and fair points. Variety is, indeed, the spice of life. Perhaps that's why I own machines that are over 20 years old, are very rarely seen now but ignite enthusiastic conversation at meets, usually amongst a sea of 'bikes with beaks' and also cruisers. That was my point, nothing more. If one is happy to ride a bike that everyone else owns, than fair enough. In a year's time, no one is going to give a damn if someone turns up on a Honda 750 Hornet.......however, they might..... in 20 or so years' time. Why? Because it's different. Digressing somewhat now but do you also run a channel that's dedicated to scale modelling? I'm sure it was you I saw sometime last year. If it was, is it still running?
@@markfranks1329 I couldn't agree more. All I ever see these days are adventure bikes, they all look the same and appear to have become the SUV of the motorcycle world. All my bikes are 20+ also and all have far more character.
I’m glad I found your channel, I’m torn between wanting the hornet and the gsx8s I’ve been on my z400 for about a year and im a little big to be on it and love the naked riding positions
I went today to buy some earplugs at the local dealership.. I shouldn't have done that, as I ended up testing new Hornet while there... Now I am constantly just thinking that I should get one, it was too much fun to ride. Never buy earplugs, it's too risky.
Here's a boringly practical question.... can you lock the panniers and lock them onto the bike to stop someone clicking them off and walking away with your gear? Thanks, another top video Dan, thanks for posting.
You can secure the panniers to the bike, there's a little dial inside each one and you get small combination locks for the zips. It's not foolproof, but it might put off chancers. I'd only ever have my clothes and non-expensive items in them though. If someone wants to nick my pants, fine. :D
The manufacturers can easily win on styling. All they have to do is design so that the aftermarket can make easy-to-install bodywork, as with the Grom. In other words make the plastic areas out of more and smaller pieces, and make them easy to remove. Especially that beaky stuff on the front of the Suzuki.
Some comments on the rearwheel. It's good the width is 160. Makes it easier to flick. Thank you for this. I for one sold my lovely CB650R due to high reving, stressing sound! Now I ride a single. 😄 Yes, my bike! 690 Duke!
@@cassius348 Yeah... it's not strange that he sold the 4-cyl, it's that he went to a single cyl :P I could not stand the vibrations of a thumper after the smooth ride of a 4cyl. (and the looks compared to cb650r especially). But it's his choice of course. You can get bored of everything.,
@@cassius348 He he! For me, and engine with more than 2 cylinders sounds stressfull. I loved the bike, but I could not relax on it. Not as much as I want to. But the thumper I bought instead does that. And it's a hooligan if I want to. I had a 3 cylinder Triumph once. It had to go! Nothing wrong with the bikes, it's just me!
160/60 is a very appropriate tire size for a bike like this. I never understood why the MT-07 got a wider wheel and 180/55 tire other than looks. It’s heavier and slower to turn in.
@@Englishbikerdan I can remember in the 90s Kawasski had a ZX9 after much Research theh Deemed The Best Tyre Size was a 180 But then owners insisted on Squeezing on a 190 Tyre then Complaining their ZX9 was Steering SLOW! BIgger Tyres not always Better
If you do get a long-term loan, I'd be interested to know (real-world) tank range and mpg, plus how useful those (quite small) panniers really are. I'm guessing it might be better to get aftermarket luggage for touring.
All the manufacturers are doing parallel twins because they're cheaper to make, make good power, fit in a variety of chassis, and everyone is copying Honda now in building one frame that can be used in 5 different bikes.
I would argue that this idea of having multiple bikes using the same frame has been around for many, many years and used by plenty of manufacturers. Not sure who was the first.
I like the looks actually, and this bike seems to be a great option all things considered. I have owned several different parallel twins and love 'em. :>)
Hi Dan, Love the videos!! Can I ask what's your audio setup for when your riding your bikes? I'm curious as to how you get such incredible audio quality whilst on a bike with the helmet on.
Thanks for the review Dan! Really interested in this bike (and naked bikes in general), but will be commuting mostly on motorways. Wondering what it's like at motorway speeds and whether the wind gets draining after a while?
Surprisingly there's very little turbulence at 70 MPH. Mine doesn't have any screen but I guess 30 minutes or so at motorway speed would be doable without any big issue. At 80+ my helmet exerts an upward lift which would limit my enjoyment. I've seen I think Puig offer a sport and a tour screen option that might be worth a look.
Ok, so it's brilliant, has touring package, & is giggly fun to ride. Got it... I'm still left wondering, what us the riding position like? Mid foot controls? What's the final drive? Shaft/chain? For a "noob" to this class, these are the kinds of things I need to know. Sorry for the dunce cap interjection, but I really want to park my cruisers for a bit & join the li'l ripper club. Thank you, sir!
With the current prices, I will mos tlikely end up getting a hornet. Suzuki GSXS is too expencive and the CB650/1000R are overprices af. However, the "touring" pack I believe is utter garbo. You can get better quality bags from SW motech and that more space too. Thank you for the video.
Cool! Loved my CBR500R so looking forward to test riding the Hornet. Sorry but for a mid sized Four the GSX S750 beats the CB650R, apart from looks of course. Can't wait for your 8S review. And ride them myself when available here.
Australia needs that beautiful yellow colour. We only get the black or white with a red frame. Probably the 2 worst colours IMO. The red doesn’t match the forks which kills my OCD.
This hornet i super unstable about 170 km/h. Front randomly starts floating left and right a lot. Sems like it is to light, the shock travel is to big and it is to short wheelbase. Maybe some wind shield would help with that pushing the front more to the ground, but im not sure.
After not riding for several years and wanted to get back on the road with something that I can have abit of fun on and do some commuting on at a semi budget price I keep coming back to this bike. Would you agree it ticks the boxes for these things? Many thanks
If only the inline 2-cylinders didn't sound like lawnmowers... The only exception to this rule, that I have come across so far, is the current 1100 cm² Honda engine they use in several models.
I rode this bike last week back-to-back after ktm's duke 790 and was a bit disappointed. I expected more based on all the hype. Especially the brakes disappointed as they seemed to have lot less power and feel compared to ktm.
You have to remember the Duke 790 was a bike designed to compete against the Street Triple, which is really a league above the naked middleweight category. There's no doubt the 790 Duke is a good bike though, but it's more expensive. And if you want any of the tech, that's extra.
Fortunately I don't worry too much about appearance, besides they both look good to me. I just want a good bang for my buck. I guess that's why 90% of the time I buy used. I have had very good luck with used bikes. I have several motorcycles now, but I'm very interested in these two bikes. After watching several videos I think lean more towards the Suzuki, but like you said you really can't go wrong with either one.
When 2 bikes,the Hornet vs Suzuki 8s is so closed in every performance aspect the price will be deciding factor but then again a lot of people will also decide of personal preference factor
I'll still take my 2006 919(called the Hornet over seas). It's almost as fast as my ZRX1200 and handles a little better(with a few mods, bars etc). Have fun all.
@@Englishbikerdan i fixed mine a couple of days ago, put it in an airtight container with a dehumidifier pot. Remove everything out of GoPro tho (battery cover, battery, SD card)
7:10 the Suzuki and the Honda both have that cheap plasticky insectoid transformer-look, makes sense to me that the same people who hate one would also hate the other. I think manufacturers could win by finding their own design language and sticking to it. Ducati, Aprilia, KTM and even Kawasaki can do it, why can't Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha?
I had a 2022 cb 500f and it was the perfect motorcycle. I realized after I traded for a 2021 cb 1000r. Now I have to go buy another one and I’ll keep it forever
Really good video. I’ve ordered the 1000SP but I now realise I should roadtest the 750 before committing. I agree with what other people have said about the ‘insectivorous’ design of the 750 and the Suzuki and this does put off older riders like me. The new Hornet 1000 is much more grown up but has performance which is superfluous to my needs. So I’m simply not sure…..
Good video Dan, I am 75 years old and I just sold my BMW R1200 RS SE that I had from new 7 years ago, getting a bit stiff now so I just bought a Honda CB 500 Hornet, which is probably just the type of bike I now need, it seems to be a great wee bike after the test run, so looking forward to getting the new one in a couple of weeks time.
How is the hornet working for you?
@@jamesballard6564 It's turned out to be the best wee machine ever, it's light and maneuverable plus great mileage compared to the BMW, I should have changed to the 500 years ago.
@@johntaggart1176 thanks for the reply. At 50 I'm considering it as my first bike.
I appreciate Honda's new direction, but the sound of the 4 cylinder was just pure evil. It made you want to open the tabs every ducking time. 😍 Great vid as always!
Yeah idk what your memory of the hornet is but I have lots of friends riding old hornets and they sound like blow dryers.
Horses for courses I think. The P-Twins sounds like V-Twins.
I have a cb900 and it sounds a bit like a sewing machine until you wind it up just a little and then the induction noise and the pipes both sound amazing.
That 4 into one header is absolutely gorgeous
Yeh, the other day I was pulling into a dual carriageway and by the time I looked down I think I may have very slightly exceeded 69mph 😅
Just picked up a 2023 CB650R black Edition. I absolutely love it.
Hi Dan will be buying one in the next couple of weeks. Have had Honda's since i was 17 years old and loved every one, a long time. The weather put me off but things are starting to improve in the UK at last. Cheers.
Nice one Colin, it's a really fun bike!
I had a similar experience on the CB500F. I had one as loan bike while my CRF1000L was in for a service. I was blown away at how fun the smaller bike was on the twisty lanes cornering and carving with ease put a massive grin on my face. If your not limited to an A2 licence, the extra power for not much more money with the Hornet would be irresistable.
Even with A2 license you can limit the bike to 48hp so you can ride it until you gain your full license
Insurance would be my concern. Once you cross the 600cc threshold the cost skyrockets.
Test rode. Brilliant. Ordered.
You said it yourself at 2:52 - the CB650R is the spiritual successor of the Hornet. I'm one of the guys that just can't imagine the Hornet without that defining sound of the 4 cylinders - aggressive, thrill inducing. Its design is also much less European this time in my opinion (as emphasized by small-ish, hard-lined headlight and the pikachu yellow). But from your review, this looks like a great fun bike to ride. It just feels like something else to me.
Great video, cheers!
I prefer four cylinders and looks of CB650R but Hornet is much more comfortable bike for me. I was pleasantly surprised.
Two GREAT bikes, this and the 8S. What is a glaring miss is neither even OFFERS cruise control. The right do-it-all size, with kit like the touring pack they would be a perfect weekend getaway rigs. I think the Hornet looks great.
I think at the price point, cc doesn't seem to be a requirement for most riders, but it would be nice to have as an option.
Cruise control, can't say I've ever needed it in the UK, I can imagine if you live in the States with long boring roads but that's not what this type of bike is about.
Still hoping Honda plans to bring these to North America 🤞🏻
Loved my Hornet 600 back in the 90,s . A lot to choose from these days around the 700/800 cc though , but the price is competitive on this bike.
Another great video Dan, I agree with you that the new Hornet is brilliant, I absolutely love mine. I’ve done nearly a 1000 miles on mine and come back with a big grin on my face every ride.
I've already put more than 2k km into mine, and love it! :)
Nice work, glad you're enjoying your new steed!
Hi would you suggest it to a beginner or it's too much and its better to go for KTM 390,or something from Hondas 500 hundred line?
@@hiddenMistInForestI would! It’s my first bigger bike and I think it’s very forgiving!!!
Good designs have staying power. I had a BMW F800 for 11 years. Great commuter and you could add bags. Heated grips, and reasonable price for it's day. It was a total package, so easy to live with, especially due to the belt drive, which I had doubts about but was very durable.
Glad this has more leg room than the 800r,; but not as comfy as the cb500x
I’ve just got one of these as my first full licence bike from a Honda cb125f and I have to say… I love it… being a small girl in my 40’s it big enough for me!! haven’t had to lower the bike because it’s quite narrow, but I do have the sports seat… and it’s probably as heavy as I can go (will probably struggle a bit with luggage!! But above all it is super fun and a pleasure to ride!!! Don’t regret a penny that engine wants to play….
I demo'd one a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed the great torque off the bottom its so usable, its your friend on the twisty roads just keep it in 3rd or 4th and wind it back and then let the engine braking control the bike in the bends, its not as good looking as a cb650r but the motor is a peach.
I owned the first 600 Hornet when it came out, 1998. Nice bike, had fun on it. I now own the Transalp (same engine as this Hornet). TBH I prefer the twin over the straight 4.
This is the kind of bike I'll keep forever
That’s what we all say, until the next new one comes along😂
My mate bought a 600 roundabout 2003ish he let me have a go ! Think I had some thousand thing at the time (I've had them all R1, Fireblade etc) But I got on his Hornet and I have to say it was amazing. I was quicker and safer because of the weight of the bikes at the time. I just felt the riding position was brilliant. I never bought one because a Gizzer 1000 became available at the right price ! Need to speak to the bank manager (wife) and get finance sorted out ! I'm 60 on the 23rd of this month so happy birthday to me 😃
Your only sixty once!
Ride for the smiles.
Great vid as always, Dan. It makes the wait for my Hornet (In Grey) harder as I just want it now as the weather is slowly turning into something pleasant! I've been told July, so not tooooo far away! :)
The Grey looks really good in person! Hope it's not too long to wait for you!
The grey my favorite too, enjoy your new bike
@@steveparish9210 thank you! 👌👌
I’ve got the grey on order,got to wait till august tho 😫
I just love this bike! Great review as always matey 👍
Lovely to see the village where I was born on this video, you drove past the end of the road where we used to live.
I just bought a yellow one yesterday 😍😝
Great vid Dan , upon first seeing the new Hornet (in pictures) I thought it looked like it had been made in China Tbh , then I saw one in the flesh , i changed my mind looks great . I'm also a previous owner of the Hornet (1998) and I can honestly say it was the best bike I've owned , so much fun ,although the tank range was awful , im glad Honda have continued the fun factor with the new one . Great stuff
Yeah, I did 111 miles on this yesterday and I still have half a tank left. 61mpg is pretty good for sporty, yet mostly legal riding.
Great vid as always Dan. That Hornet looks so much fun. I'm a big fan of this kind of bike; sub or around 100bhp. You can wring the neck of bikes like these, have all the fun, get somewhere near the edge of it performance envelope, but not end up in court! That price too!
It will be interesting to see how it handles a year of riding.
Cheers dude! Will be an interesting year on it! Especially after that V4 Street Fighter! ❤️
Looking forward to a test of the GSX8S in England. My first impression is that that's the one for me, but concerned that it wont rev out so satisfyingly. I prefer a balance of speed and torque, but perhaps a sprinkling more speed.
I went from riding an rf600r i4 supersport, to a versys 650 parallel twin. While screaming on the supersport was a blast. I realllllllyyy enjoy just being able to be in 5th/6th gear at 3k rpm, roll on the throttle, and grunt out of anything. Much more accessible power than having to be screaming at 12k rpm for it
I think/hope the next version of this bike will be the perfect one. Honda seems to have nailed everything apart from the styling. I do think they'll sell enough of these to warrant putting a bit more effort and risk into the next version.
I suspect Honda will bring out a Retro
Version the GB 750cc has been
Rumoured Round Headlight etc ..
I thought the new Hornet looked ugly, but once I saw it in person, it's actually not bad
@@charlozammit2819it's not horrible but it just looks fucking boring and outdated
Very underrated motorcycle
Lovely looking bike. About time the Hornet didn't like like a budget bike. I really don't understand why they don't put a screen on a tourer. Something simple like the one on my VStrom 650 would work perfectly and make long distance tiring do much more enjoyable. That twin engine sounds gorgeous. Love the colour
It's not really a tourer, but you can certainly add extras to make it easier to tour on. I'm sure there's a touring screen option out there somewhere.
I love the howl of my 1982 CB900F but also appreciate the capabilities and advantages of my 2024 Transalp. I also own a 2003 919 Hornet. Love them all for different reasons. Hooliganism traits amongst my three? The 919 wins that contest. Easiest to ride? The Transalp. The most comfortable for 2-up rides? The 82 CB900F.
I have both the Cb650R Full Power and the Hornet 750 Full Power.
Absolutely LOVE the CB650R look, 4 cylinders sound and engine Smoothness. But she is heavy and needs a bit to put her on the Angle.
Absolutely HATE the Hornet 750 Look and the 2 cylinders sound. But Man she is so much fun!! That peppy engine and the bike agility...
So yeah...I own both in the end^^
Great watch Dan…. Always enjoy seeing you ride around our neck of the woods and guessing where you’re headed. Stay safe mate, Cheesy
I can't believe the mt07 has been dethroned. Wow
One thing I’ve realised is that bike sizing and what will be comfortable is such a personal thing. I hear that this bike will be uncomfortable for taller/larger riders, yet I am 6 foot 7, long legs and torso but learnt to ride and passed all of my tests on it comfortably. Personally did not feel like it was a small bike at all!
I am waiting for GB750 retro with same engine ❤, hope it happens.
That would be great. Is it in the pipeline or just a rumour?
So do I! The CB650R looks with the 750 hornet engine is my perfect bike.
I like this one and am seriously thinking on getting one later this year I am not a fan of the angular look of the modern generic style bikes but this one looks neater somehow not so front end bulky if you get what I mean , and the price for what you get is pretty good certainly a winner for Honda I reckon ,as this isn't far off the Inter 650 price .👌👍Nice one Dan .
How does the Hornet compare to your SV650?
I run both a SV650S & 675R Street Triple & I'm thinking about P/Xing one of them against either the Hornet or the GSX8.
I'll do a vid soon!
how does the engine feel and sound compared to your SV650?
Great video !
You didn’t mention how it stacks up against your SV650. There are very good deals 💷 on the SV at the moment, some being pre registered.
Perhaps in the next one …..🤔
I've never bought an 'new' bike since the 70s, as used are such value for money in comparison.. However price makes this is a tempting 'new' bike, without doubt.
Great video Dan, be nice to see how the Suzuki compares on the same roads but you cannot complain about the quality of the hornet for the price.
It’s a no brainer to be honest 👍🏻
Looks like fun, guess were not getting the hornet/trans Alp here in the states at least not this year 😢
Dan are you sure the twin is producing 90horsepower? I thought it was far less than that?
Honda says 92hp
@@FrenchyRider574 75 it is then.
There is no difference between 92 at crank and 75 at wheels Frenchy 🤦♂️
I actually think this bike looks good.....in the red/white colour scheme.
Still can't get my head around the apparent adoration for this configuration of engine. That is, parallel twin with 270° crank. 25 odd years ago, Yamaha had a bike called a TDM850 which eventually morphed into the TDM900. Style wise it looked like a large, overgrown trailie and was, I suppose, a precursor to today's Adventure bikes. You'd see a few on the roads but they were far more popular on the Continent. There was also a road going version known as a TRX850. A lovely looking machine with a trellis frame. This bike, and the TDMs, was powered by..... a 270° parallel twin........and NOBODY would touch it with a barge pole.
Now? Everybody's raving for a p-2/270°. 🤦♂️ Talk about fickle.
I have no doubt that this is a great bike. Truly.
I, however, simply refuse to be part of the herd.
Just no individuality today.
I remember both bikes well, particularly the TRX850. It was a great bike which was very underrated & clearly way ahead of it's time, too far seemingly. I always wanted Yamaha to bring it back after they discontinued it as it was a great looking, fun & inexpensive bike & at the time was something different. However it never sold well as it was just too much of an oddball & it never really fitted in at the time. It was essentially a budget Ducati 900SS & while it matched the Ducati in spirit & performance, it didn't have Ducati on the tank, the classy Italian styling or a booming V-twin which were all vital ingredients. Alas. Although I guess they finally will bring it back in spirit with the inevitable MT08, albeit a much uglier version lol. If Yamaha had the balls to do a TRX style modern classic version of the MT, I think it could sell well in the current market.
@@ragerider6283 Very well put. Couldn't agree more.👍
To each their own. I enjoy being a biker and riding all the bikes on offer. If that makes me part of the herd, I'm happy to be here! :)
@@Englishbikerdan Valid and fair points. Variety is, indeed, the spice of life. Perhaps that's why I own machines that are over 20 years old, are very rarely seen now but ignite enthusiastic conversation at meets, usually amongst a sea of 'bikes with beaks' and also cruisers. That was my point, nothing more. If one is happy to ride a bike that everyone else owns, than fair enough. In a year's time, no one is going to give a damn if someone turns up on a Honda 750 Hornet.......however, they might..... in 20 or so years' time. Why? Because it's different.
Digressing somewhat now but do you also run a channel that's dedicated to scale modelling? I'm sure it was you I saw sometime last year. If it was, is it still running?
@@markfranks1329 I couldn't agree more. All I ever see these days are adventure bikes, they all look the same and appear to have become the SUV of the motorcycle world.
All my bikes are 20+ also and all have far more character.
They're a dangerous amount of laughter in this video!!!!!!!
Very nice video Frank. Love the area
Lol nice to hear you enjoy every ride 😂
Dan, are those side panniers lock- on -able?
I was thinking the same thing have to take them off every time you stop.
Considered if the mt07 suspension was fixed, how would you compare it to the hornet??
What pannier boxes?
Just because it's a Honda❤
I’m glad I found your channel, I’m torn between wanting the hornet and the gsx8s I’ve been on my z400 for about a year and im a little big to be on it and love the naked riding positions
But why would you want to do that?
@@Englishbikerdan want to do what? Are you meaning go from the z400 to the hornet 750
I went today to buy some earplugs at the local dealership.. I shouldn't have done that, as I ended up testing new Hornet while there... Now I am constantly just thinking that I should get one, it was too much fun to ride. Never buy earplugs, it's too risky.
...I had a similar experience regarding butt-plug purchases.
Though the outcome of that particular transaction is too painful to remind myself of...
That left switchblock is a deal breaker. 8S FTW :)
Here's a boringly practical question.... can you lock the panniers and lock them onto the bike to stop someone clicking them off and walking away with your gear? Thanks, another top video Dan, thanks for posting.
You can secure the panniers to the bike, there's a little dial inside each one and you get small combination locks for the zips. It's not foolproof, but it might put off chancers. I'd only ever have my clothes and non-expensive items in them though. If someone wants to nick my pants, fine. :D
Thanks for this!
Thanks for watching. 👌
Curious whether the tour pack or aftermarket packs are better
I had no issues with the tyres personally.
@@Englishbikerdan you mean the packs? They look great, but I might look for lockable cases instead.
The manufacturers can easily win on styling. All they have to do is design so that the aftermarket can make easy-to-install bodywork, as with the Grom. In other words make the plastic areas out of more and smaller pieces, and make them easy to remove. Especially that beaky stuff on the front of the Suzuki.
Some comments on the rearwheel. It's good the width is 160. Makes it easier to flick.
Thank you for this. I for one sold my lovely CB650R due to high reving, stressing sound!
Now I ride a single. 😄 Yes, my bike! 690 Duke!
@@cassius348 Yeah... it's not strange that he sold the 4-cyl, it's that he went to a single cyl :P I could not stand the vibrations of a thumper after the smooth ride of a 4cyl. (and the looks compared to cb650r especially). But it's his choice of course. You can get bored of everything.,
@@cassius348 He he! For me, and engine with more than 2 cylinders sounds stressfull. I loved the bike, but I could not relax on it. Not as much as I want to. But the thumper I bought instead does that. And it's a hooligan if I want to. I had a 3 cylinder Triumph once. It had to go! Nothing wrong with the bikes, it's just me!
160/60 is a very appropriate tire size for a bike like this. I never understood why the MT-07 got a wider wheel and 180/55 tire other than looks. It’s heavier and slower to turn in.
Absolutely, helps with turn in. 👍
@@Englishbikerdan I can remember in the 90s Kawasski had a ZX9
after much Research theh Deemed
The Best Tyre Size was a 180
But then owners insisted on Squeezing on a 190 Tyre then Complaining their ZX9 was Steering SLOW!
BIgger Tyres not always Better
If you do get a long-term loan, I'd be interested to know (real-world) tank range and mpg, plus how useful those (quite small) panniers really are. I'm guessing it might be better to get aftermarket luggage for touring.
I've got one until April next year. I've got some vids coming that will answer some of these questions, so keep 'em peeled!
@@Englishbikerdan Great, I'll look forward to them :-)
@0:39 officially Honda branded SW motech Urbans ... ish. They are a bit different but not by much
All the manufacturers are doing parallel twins because they're cheaper to make, make good power, fit in a variety of chassis, and everyone is copying Honda now in building one frame that can be used in 5 different bikes.
I would argue that this idea of having multiple bikes using the same frame has been around for many, many years and used by plenty of manufacturers. Not sure who was the first.
Which model shark helmer are you wearing? Thanks!
Easily the best color and I love that style.
I like the looks actually, and this bike seems to be a great option all things considered. I have owned several different parallel twins and love 'em. :>)
Hi Dan, Love the videos!! Can I ask what's your audio setup for when your riding your bikes? I'm curious as to how you get such incredible audio quality whilst on a bike with the helmet on.
Thanks for the review Dan! Really interested in this bike (and naked bikes in general), but will be commuting mostly on motorways. Wondering what it's like at motorway speeds and whether the wind gets draining after a while?
I'll report back soon!
Most Naked Bikes are not Great on
Long Motorway Trips wourter. I am
Sure a Screen will be Available to
Help
Surprisingly there's very little turbulence at 70 MPH. Mine doesn't have any screen but I guess 30 minutes or so at motorway speed would be doable without any big issue. At 80+ my helmet exerts an upward lift which would limit my enjoyment. I've seen I think Puig offer a sport and a tour screen option that might be worth a look.
Ok, so it's brilliant, has touring package, & is giggly fun to ride. Got it...
I'm still left wondering, what us the riding position like? Mid foot controls?
What's the final drive? Shaft/chain?
For a "noob" to this class, these are the kinds of things I need to know. Sorry for the dunce cap interjection, but I really want to park my cruisers for a bit & join the li'l ripper club. Thank you, sir!
If you take a look at my previous vid on this bike, it should answer the question regarding riding position. This is a chain driven bike.
💀
If only Honda would put this engine in a half faired sports tourer platform to replace the Vfr800x with cast tubeless wheels.
With the current prices, I will mos tlikely end up getting a hornet. Suzuki GSXS is too expencive and the CB650/1000R are overprices af. However, the "touring" pack I believe is utter garbo. You can get better quality bags from SW motech and that more space too. Thank you for the video.
Cool! Loved my CBR500R so looking forward to test riding the Hornet. Sorry but for a mid sized Four the GSX S750 beats the CB650R, apart from looks of course. Can't wait for your 8S review. And ride them myself when available here.
Yes the sound of that GSX S750 engine is incredible. Top-end rush!
Looking forward to a head-to-head comparo with GSX-8S
how's the vibration compared to cb650r on 5000 rpm and beyond?
Australia needs that beautiful yellow colour. We only get the black or white with a red frame. Probably the 2 worst colours IMO. The red doesn’t match the forks which kills my OCD.
I'm excited for this bike to hit the market but I'm such a sucker for inline 4s. Hopefully the Hornet isn't the replacement for the CB650R
We need you yo do a back to back comparison with the GSX8S!👍
Absolutely, just waiting for press bikes to arrive at Suzuki.
Looking forward to your Cb650R vs Hornet video! But would you recommend the Hornet for a beginner??
This hornet i super unstable about 170 km/h. Front randomly starts floating left and right a lot. Sems like it is to light, the shock travel is to big and it is to short wheelbase. Maybe some wind shield would help with that pushing the front more to the ground, but im not sure.
For me, the tour pack would be more the supermarket shopping pack.
I can confirm beer and pizza fits well.
I love mine.
After not riding for several years and wanted to get back on the road with something that I can have abit of fun on and do some commuting on at a semi budget price I keep coming back to this bike. Would you agree it ticks the boxes for these things? Many thanks
I wish this bike was available in the US. I'd easily sell my CB300F and SF Grom to get this bike. Not my RC51 though.
you had a sv650 right? Why change since it was a brandly new bike?
I still have the SV650, the Hornet is a long-term loan bike.
What u think of the Oxford belize gloves ur sporting????
Any idea when the GSX8S is available for a test ride/ comparrison?
If only the inline 2-cylinders didn't sound like lawnmowers... The only exception to this rule, that I have come across so far, is the current 1100 cm² Honda engine they use in several models.
I wish I had a lawnmower that sounded this good!
Can you please compare the hornet and the SV650 ?
Sure thing!
How does it compare to the new street triple r?
u srs ?
I rode this bike last week back-to-back after ktm's duke 790 and was a bit disappointed. I expected more based on all the hype. Especially the brakes disappointed as they seemed to have lot less power and feel compared to ktm.
You have to remember the Duke 790 was a bike designed to compete against the Street Triple, which is really a league above the naked middleweight category. There's no doubt the 790 Duke is a good bike though, but it's more expensive. And if you want any of the tech, that's extra.
rather buy a used 2018 790 far superior also has a quickshifter
@@geoffbroderick403 not sure how reliable long-term..
Fortunately I don't worry too much about appearance, besides they both look good to me. I just want a good bang for my buck. I guess that's why 90% of the time I buy used. I have had very good luck with used bikes. I have several motorcycles now, but I'm very interested in these two bikes. After watching several videos I think lean more towards the Suzuki, but like you said you really can't go wrong with either one.
No windshield on the tour pack?
Honda CB650R with 4 cylinders or Honda Hornet 750 Twin?
Would recommend the Hornet as a first big bike over the SV?
When 2 bikes,the Hornet vs Suzuki 8s is so closed in every performance aspect the price will be deciding factor but then again a lot of people will also decide of personal preference factor
The 8S is very popular at the moment due to its looks and bigger bike feel according to the new owners who also looked at the Hornet.
I'll still take my 2006 919(called the Hornet over seas). It's almost as fast as my ZRX1200 and handles a little better(with a few mods, bars etc). Have fun all.
In Belgium only around 8000eur with quickshifter. It is cheap
is your Hero 10 having issues with condensation under front screen?
Mine have all done that. Annoying for the price!
@@Englishbikerdan i fixed mine a couple of days ago, put it in an airtight container with a dehumidifier pot.
Remove everything out of GoPro tho (battery cover, battery, SD card)
7:10 the Suzuki and the Honda both have that cheap plasticky insectoid transformer-look, makes sense to me that the same people who hate one would also hate the other. I think manufacturers could win by finding their own design language and sticking to it. Ducati, Aprilia, KTM and even Kawasaki can do it, why can't Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha?
I had a 2022 cb 500f and it was the perfect motorcycle. I realized after I traded for a 2021 cb 1000r. Now I have to go buy another one and I’ll keep it forever
Really good video. I’ve ordered the 1000SP but I now realise I should roadtest the 750 before committing. I agree with what other people have said about the ‘insectivorous’ design of the 750 and the Suzuki and this does put off older riders like me. The new Hornet 1000 is much more grown up but has performance which is superfluous to my needs. So I’m simply not sure…..