New Honda Hornet revealed

[gareth_r]

Transalp 750 revealed at EICMA.

https://www.visordown.com/news/new-bikes/new-honda...

[PT1984]

The new 2023 cb650r has been announced. Silver plastics are now black…… I still think it’s a more desirable machine than the Hornet.

[Fundoreen]

I am curious how the honda with approx the same size and configuration engine has so much more power than the yamaha and suzuki.
Its normally the others that spew the billy big bks power figures in the press releases.

[TheInternet]

Bore/stroke part of it? Suzuki presumably makes more power than the Honda at lower revs.

Honda - 87mm x 63.5mm
Suzuki - 84mm x 70.0mm

[Ecosseven]

TheInternet said:

Bore/stroke part of it? Suzuki presumably makes more power than the Honda at lower revs.

Honda - 87mm x 63.5mm
Suzuki - 84mm x 70.0mm

Yeah , looks like it. The Suzuki makes 8bhp less but 3NM more and both at slightly lower revs than the Honda, although the Honda weighs around 12kgs less. There won't be much in it on the road.

Will be interesting to see how the price of the Suzuki compares with the Honda. Regardless of what you think of the styling the Hornet does look good value for money.

[carinaman]

Some engine noise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_VVqQCf8F8

[stu67]

PT1984 said:

The new 2023 cb650r has been announced. Silver plastics are now black…… I still think it’s a more desirable machine than the Hornet.

Yes agree that the 4 pot is a nicer thing. Saying all this Honda have form in this type of thing, back in the early 70's they had the CB350 twin which was a perfectly competent machine, then they brought out the CB350 Four, which was a jewel of a bike. They didn't need to build it, Mr Honda wanted to build it. Actually in general performance terms it was no better than the twin but it's the one to have now.

[PT1984]

The CB650r with the Hornet tech would in my eyes be the perfect mid capacity machine.

[FurballS2000]

My thoughts exactly...

The screen and up/down quickshifter, ride modes etc in the 650R would have been my choice.

Also not a fan of them removing the bronze from the engine and making it black, although it works on the stealthy all black version.

[Bob_Defly]

Ecosseven said:

TheInternet said:

Bore/stroke part of it? Suzuki presumably makes more power than the Honda at lower revs.

Honda - 87mm x 63.5mm
Suzuki - 84mm x 70.0mm

Yeah , looks like it. The Suzuki makes 8bhp less but 3NM more and both at slightly lower revs than the Honda, although the Honda weighs around 12kgs less. There won't be much in it on the road.

To be fair, they'll both keep up with a SuperDuke.

[ChocolateFrog]

The more I think about it the more I dislike it.

It's a bit of an insult to the Hornet name, which when I was 17 was an object of desire and aspiration to me.

I actually wanted a 900 Hornet, even though they were not as well received, ended up with a bandit 1200 because because it was significantly cheaper.

Bur in the age of Blackbird vs Hayabusa, Africa Twin vs Tenere and Hornet vs Fazer vs Bandit I always admired the Hondas.

[PT1984]

Did anyone get to see the Hornet in the flesh at the bike show? Any better looking? Reviews are coming out. Positive so far.

[Ecosseven]

motobob and 1000PS have added reviews on YouTube from the European launch in Spain. A lot of bike for £7k and will be interesting to see how it compares with the new GSX-8S from Suzuki

[Fundoreen]

seen a few actual reviews now rather than the usual youtube plonker reading out the spec.
I would thing that a choice between honda or suzuki may come down to which brand you are loyal to. May be why they make such similar bikes. A sort of japan monopoly.
I would guess most people will be happy with either bike.

[Ecosseven]

The reviews seem reasonably positive. A few niggles / issues but probably nothing that will greatly impact sales. I still think for the spec the price is very reasonable. Will be interesting to read the suzuki reviews when they come out.

[bongtom]

You know they are called a Hornet because of the buzzing the engine makes at certain speeds?

[spareparts]

Can't argue with the formula used by lotus... light weight, simplicity, power.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/honda/...

[xeny]

Ecosseven said:

One thing I was surprised about was the 160 section rear tyre. For a 90bhp machine I assumed it would be a 180 section.

For commuting I'd rather have the narrower tyre, it copes far better with rippled road surfaces without upsetting the bikes lane position, which when you're filtering is a good thing.

[carinaman]

I watched the Neeves MCN video before the weekend. Interesting stuff about the tippy toe feeling and the back and forth rocking.

About a third of the way through I am liking the Bennetts Social review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTyC5q09rIk

I liked the CB 750 refence, which was another SOHC engine even if it wasn't a twin.

[Ecosseven]

I've watched the following reviews and they are mostly positive. I would say the MCN probably picked up on most of the negative points such as snatchy throttle, twitchy steering, etc although Michael Neeves does admit that for most people, most of the time these shouldn't be an issue - it's just a case of getting used to the bike. I don't think that Honda would produce a bike that had dangerous handling and the snatchy throttle seems to afflict most RBW Euro 5 bikes from what I have read in the motorcycling press.

I'm waiting to see the reviews for the GSX-8S and the price. The Hornet at £6,999 is excellent value in my opinion and most of the reviews seem to agree.

Bike Social - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTyC5q09rIk

MCN - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMaBR6o9vCY

Visordown - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McZZCm-xuRI

Motobob - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDQ1Bo9pI0s

1000PS (English version) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECrTghWU4pI