DavidH1172

Simple question: What's faster.........a Honda 919 or a Superhawk? Thanks

bluesman

As ex-Honda Hornet owner and member of probably biggest "model club" of them all Hornet's Nest I can confirm: on 0-60 drag 919 will eat SHawk alive. Easily (it beats even "donor" CBR). On quarter-mile 919 will be tad faster because of not-snappy clutch, unlike VTR.
Top speed - SHawk is tad faster because 919 got no fairing.
Roll-on - I think about same...except famous VTR 50-80 rollon but then even GSXRs seem to be behind SHawk on that 50-80

icebud

I agree with bluesman about the Hornet! And I would like to know also why do you change your Hornet for a VTR!? What was your motivation behind this change as it's not the power!?

Every years, Honda Canada make some "ride with us" event where we can go and ride many Honda bikes. And before to buy the F4 of my girlfriend we went to try some bikes. Unfortunatelly for me, the CBR1000RR was not in the list and the RC51 also But I tried the CBR600RR and I don't like it, I had the impress to drive the face on the road, too small front end! I've also tried the Hornet 599, REALLY don't like it too, no torque, no power! At least where it should be for a naked bike in the lower and mid range. After this one, I was very not tempting to tried the Hornet 919 but I step on it nevertheless to compare and WOW!! What an awesome bike!! I think Honda's engineers have done an awesome job wit the "old" CBR900RR engine to give it a lot of torque in the lower and mid range, this bike power is very fun and amazing. I had a lot of difficulties to stay on two wheel during the test ride Honda staff members look me with bad eyes's!!

I've also tried the Z1000 on a same event from Kawasaki Canada and "in my opinion" the Hornet is a very more "fun" bike with more torque in the low and mid range RPM. The Hornet have not the butt kick at 9000RPM and the high speed power of the Z1000 but I think this is not the the "essence" of a naked bike, they are suppose to have a lot of torque in the lower and mid range RPM to make them fun to ride in city and have enough power to ride 160-180Km on the highway, pass these speed with their "no" fairing protection it's painfull and useless to ride. Ok, ok! i've not ride these two bikes during a long term period but trust me, I've test them enough to be kicked out of both event 8)

The two things I don't like of the Hornet it's its overall look: not enough agressive and too 80's ( you know taste... ) and its suspensions: same poor class as the VTR. In fact, the ideal "naked bike" should be a Hornet engine in the Z1000 body or for those who love the twins engine as me ( maybe I will be kill to say something like this! ) the VTR engine in the Z1000 body

Cheers

Rollingalong

Here is a fairly serious Hornet :wink:

http://www.mcnews.com.au/Riders/Stev...002_Hornet.htm

bluesman

Well, now don't you dare to say that about Hornet 600
I did not stepped of Hornet 900, I stepped off Hornet 600.
That's perception difference.
I LOVE Hornet 600 and quite cold to Hornet 900.
I tell you why. In Europe and UK in city even 900 sometime too heavy.
And - 600 is pure hooligan bike, you just must rev it. But - it does have very considerable power in middle for 600, could be that bike you tried had all those catalyser gimmick or was not been ran in... Don't know.
Hornet 600 usually makes (without any performance tuning) 86 BHP at rear wheel and can do 0-60 in 3.6 sec, record being 3.29 with slightly tuned engine.
It weights nothing - my bike was 175 kg after changing exhaust and suspension components and some other things...
It was easily kicking a..e off CBR600F from traffic lights to about 100 kmph (60 mph), it perfomed beatifully in Alps and it was hitting 224 kmph (real!) with small windscreen.
600 have considerable "kick" at about 6500 rpm, but way more grunty than CBR600F.
BTW - for example - 600 bike with no midrange - try new Fazer 600
If you want to know all all about 600 and 900 - go to Hornet's Nest message board, friendly bunch of great people.

http://p196.ezboard.com/bhornetsnest56467
Here is page with story of ex-my Hornet sorry - it is Russian, but photos are OK

IMHO 919 (900) is great bike, with loads of easy grunt and power, but suspension and chassis a bit flexy for that engine. No way to compare with SHawk chassis (I mean - with resprung forks, Wilbers shock etc - as I have).
And: I hate heavy bikes (my Storm after mods is 185 kilograms dry weight) As per my requirements - 900 is heavy.
And if I go for 1000 cc class I always go for half-sporty V-twins or V-fours. Love the character and sound.
So - if Honda will make VFR1000 or will make VFR750 to weight less - they will get me, I'll sell SHawk.
My dream bike is RVF750 RC30 or RC45. :wink:

icebud

Oups!!

But, I'm still nevertheless thinking the same thing about the Hornet 600, lol

Well, there is different type of bike for different taste/usage/regulation and law's etc etc. But, I think finding the right bike for each of us it's always compromise...

Maybe Utah996 have right!!: "Money is the root of all problems"

bluesman

Oops..sorry - forgot to post link to my bike page with "evolution" of my Hornet. BTW - 600 is most tuned bike in Europe! everybody having a go at tuning or at least modding So I went for less fuss and more performance....Ohlins...Hyperpro....Goodridge..NEC Motorsport high-pressure racing aluminium radiator etc. etc.
And loudest exhaust on earth
Check it out:
http://www.moto.kiev.ua/?people/113529111101


And - everybody need to fell in lova with bike he likes, so I am just joking
I done about 1000 km on 900, this is why I know both models :wink:

DavidH1172

I didn't "change" my Hornet for a VTR. I just bought a 03' VTR brand new and my girlfriend's brother just bought an 03' 919 with 3400 miles. I am still in break in and we were riding together and his 919 gets up and *%#ucking goes, so I was just wondering. Thanks

DavidH1172
Tacoma, WA

miken996

I owned a 02 919 for about 2 1/2 and 17,000 miles bought the bike in 03 for 6500 bucks with 1,000 miles on it all I can say about the 919 is it is a total sleeper that was what I loved about it yes I smoked superhawks on it and rc51s I even pulled an zz1100 for about 50 yards right off the line and a cbr 954 (600s no matter what brand NOT A CHANCE) netheir bike passed me. I came to the genaral assumption that there where few bikes faster than the 919 from stop light to stop light. The rollon of the 919 is about 3.5 seconds 60-80 (superhawks 5.0) and 0-60 in 2.8 seconds thats fast. And the bike is one of the funnest bikes I have ever ridden power wheelies at 2500 rpm not a tipical inline 4 power band. Also had lightning fast steering, But lack of agressivness egros, bad suspention shakey front end and no ajustment but rear preload 05s are better (superhawk not much better) made my superhawk feel like a moto gp bike. I like the fairing look. when I want to put the hammer down I just tuck and go with the 919 this task was a bit stange and didnt seem right plus I just love the sound of my superhawk and if you could work out the grabby clutch on the hawk it could be close. Both bikes are fun you cant go wrong with either.

rhu5

It's funny this topic came up because these are the two bikes that I am considering as my next bike. I've briefly ridden both and I would be happy with either one. Both are fun bikes but there's just some about a V- twin. My current ride? 1992 VFR750F.

bluesman

check this out (speaking of V-twin vs. inline-4).
https://www.superhawkforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=1458
may be this is the answer

RonVTR

DavidH1172 writes:
we were riding together and his 919 gets up and *%#ucking goes...

Same thing happened to me when I rode my VX800 with some friends riding VTRs... I sold the VX and bought a VTR.

rhu5

Well that settles it. I'll just have to get a SHawk AND a 919 . BTW, a couple of weeks ago I took a spin on a demo '05 Speed Triple. That son of a gun can GO!!!! Have been a fan of the Speed Triple for a while but I'd still go with the Superhawk........and a 919 :wink: .