The Hornet 900 files!
Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:12 am
Had the first service done yesterday. Fitted a set of very flat Renthal alloy bars and a noice set of clear indicators. It is now looking a little less grandpa, and a little more streetfighter! 
An interesting thing I discovered about Honda suspension adjusters yesterday. Unlike other Japanese bikes I have owned, turning the rebound adjusters to almost full on the Honda actually makes a difference!
I firmed everything up on Sunday night, and had not yet ridden it. So after the service I returned home via upper Beaconsfield and thru the Dandenong ranges. Well I nearly died on the very first hairpin It tipped it in and the front immediately chattered it's head off, and made a B line for the bushes! I managed to stand it up slow it down and tip it back in again and make the turn, but man the shutter speed was definately set for sport
I pulled over and backed off some rebound, and VOILA! Different bike again. Amazing it actually works!
So from there I enjoyed the new feeling of being Jean Michaelle Bayle on my new Hornet! Riding it like a dirt bike for a few turns, then turning back into Jamie Robinson and getting off the bike and chin on the bars, elbows out I had a ball!
Those Renthals make the bike feel as though it has power steering now! Light as. But you also have to be carefull not to disturb the bars mid turn either, as if you hang on to it too tightly it sets up an oscilation, with the bike wiggling and shimmying it's way thru the turn. But once tipped in if you lighten the bar pressure it is not an issue.
They are very very very wide, so I may yet cut them down a few Cm's. However I am going to ride 1000k's with them like they are before I make that decision, as often it is just a familiarisation thing.
But is has totally transformed the ride postion. I am now leant a little further FWD, and I reckon it's damn near pefect. Not too farr fwd, but enough to balance the wind pressure. And the screen doesn't cause any more or less buffetting than it did with the high bars!
But the MX bars do encourage silly antics! I can see this bike allowing me to lose some money and possibly a few points too!
The additional rear preload has certainly helped in stiffening up the bike and allowing more rapid changes of direction without the suspension wallowing around and bouncing into the next turn. Now you can flick it from full lean to full lean, without any adverse effects.
An interesting thing I discovered about Honda suspension adjusters yesterday. Unlike other Japanese bikes I have owned, turning the rebound adjusters to almost full on the Honda actually makes a difference!
I firmed everything up on Sunday night, and had not yet ridden it. So after the service I returned home via upper Beaconsfield and thru the Dandenong ranges. Well I nearly died on the very first hairpin It tipped it in and the front immediately chattered it's head off, and made a B line for the bushes! I managed to stand it up slow it down and tip it back in again and make the turn, but man the shutter speed was definately set for sport
I pulled over and backed off some rebound, and VOILA! Different bike again. Amazing it actually works!
So from there I enjoyed the new feeling of being Jean Michaelle Bayle on my new Hornet! Riding it like a dirt bike for a few turns, then turning back into Jamie Robinson and getting off the bike and chin on the bars, elbows out I had a ball!
Those Renthals make the bike feel as though it has power steering now! Light as. But you also have to be carefull not to disturb the bars mid turn either, as if you hang on to it too tightly it sets up an oscilation, with the bike wiggling and shimmying it's way thru the turn. But once tipped in if you lighten the bar pressure it is not an issue.
They are very very very wide, so I may yet cut them down a few Cm's. However I am going to ride 1000k's with them like they are before I make that decision, as often it is just a familiarisation thing.
But is has totally transformed the ride postion. I am now leant a little further FWD, and I reckon it's damn near pefect. Not too farr fwd, but enough to balance the wind pressure. And the screen doesn't cause any more or less buffetting than it did with the high bars!
But the MX bars do encourage silly antics! I can see this bike allowing me to lose some money and possibly a few points too!
The additional rear preload has certainly helped in stiffening up the bike and allowing more rapid changes of direction without the suspension wallowing around and bouncing into the next turn. Now you can flick it from full lean to full lean, without any adverse effects.
Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:21 am
Sorry I don't see anything in that picture.... Next thread.. Nothing to see here people... 
Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:39 am
Dan wrote:Sorry I don't see anything in that picture.... Next thread.. Nothing to see here people...
No no you're wrong. There's an arse end of a dog there at the extreme left, or is that what's in the middle
Just kidding... Very Nice Strika. Even if it is a H....Ho.... you know, one of them.
Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:56 am
The arse, two legs and dog dick you can see in the left of that picture, actually is the "real" Strika! That is Strika, one of my two black Cocker Spaniels! 
He loves the car, and would come on the bike if it meant he was with me! He prefers Kawasaki's though and has taken to pissing on the wheels of the Honda every night! Top dog that one
He loves the car, and would come on the bike if it meant he was with me! He prefers Kawasaki's though and has taken to pissing on the wheels of the Honda every night! Top dog that one
Wed Feb 01, 2006 11:38 am
i must of missed the thread where u bought a honda...good lad...u had a zx6r before didnt u??
looks good mate...i looked at one of them, but i like the z1000 more..and couldnt find one..
looks good mate...i looked at one of them, but i like the z1000 more..and couldnt find one..
Wed Feb 01, 2006 2:09 pm
neka79 wrote:i must of missed the thread where u bought a honda...good lad...u had a zx6r before didnt u??
looks good mate...i looked at one of them, but i like the z1000 more..and couldnt find one..
I wanted a Z1000, but my fav Kwaka dealer couldn't afford to take the trade, and the rest were off the pace $$$ wise, and quite frankly were a Pack of rude C---S!
So I trundled off to se what Yam/Suz/Honda/ducati/Cagiva could do for me. I ended up with the best deals off two Honda dealers. So I bought the Hornet. I would have been happier staying green, but meh!
The Hornet is a ripper so I am happy in the end!
Wed Feb 01, 2006 9:10 pm
Strika wrote:neka79 wrote:i must of missed the thread where u bought a honda...good lad...u had a zx6r before didnt u??
looks good mate...i looked at one of them, but i like the z1000 more..and couldnt find one..
I wanted a Z1000, but my fav Kwaka dealer couldn't afford to take the trade, and the rest were off the pace $$$ wise, and quite frankly were a Pack of rude C---S!
So I trundled off to se what Yam/Suz/Honda/ducati/Cagiva could do for me. I ended up with the best deals off two Honda dealers. So I bought the Hornet. I would have been happier staying green, but meh!
The Hornet is a ripper so I am happy in the end!
cbr919 motor out of 96-99 cbr.....same suspension etc as the 929 i think now....
good bike....have fun...
Wed Feb 01, 2006 9:14 pm
I won't wax Lyrical on here about it....But it's Horn!
Wed Feb 01, 2006 9:28 pm
yes pre-load is certainly a friend to all naked bike riders,
they do set em up a little soft outa factory,
maybe they think we are all tea-totolling poofters!!!
so what was your best final front suspension settings?
they do set em up a little soft outa factory,
maybe they think we are all tea-totolling poofters!!!
so what was your best final front suspension settings?
Wed Feb 01, 2006 10:30 pm
hoffy wrote:maybe they think we are all tea-totolling poofters!!!
haha speak for urself..oh u are??
Wed Feb 01, 2006 10:58 pm
Well adlest its black
thats a start ....... hehehehe
thats a start ....... hehehehe
Wed Feb 01, 2006 11:31 pm
Looks horn mate, cant wait to chase it all the way in from Mansfield in a coupla weeks.
Cheers Brett
Cheers Brett
Thu Feb 02, 2006 7:09 am
hoffy wrote:yes pre-load is certainly a friend to all naked bike riders,
they do set em up a little soft outa factory,
maybe they think we are all tea-totolling poofters!!!
so what was your best final front suspension settings?
1 extra ring of pre-load, and rebound 1 turn from max. (NB; Max really is max, and the fcuker doesn't return! It was pretty funny)
Thu Feb 02, 2006 3:53 pm
neka79 wrote:hoffy wrote:maybe they think we are all tea-totolling poofters!!!
haha speak for urself..oh u are??
you dont agree with my views on naked bike suspension set-ups outa factory? Thats ok,
What other things dont you agree with, honda boy? finding a blade forum obviously
.... now they would be a bunch of tea-totolling poofters!!!
Thu Feb 02, 2006 4:16 pm
Ok, I have my bike back with all the bits working as they should be again!
Final suspension setting are as follows. Front Pre-load 2 1/2 rings showing, rebound one full turn from max.
Rear pre-load, 4/7. And rebound One full turn from max.
I just went for a ride and it was much betterer!
The front now is balanced with the back, and they absorb bumps but don't get to wallowie in the process. Noice!
Stiffening the rear suspension has made it a little harder to wheelstand. Which I guess when you think about it it is logical, as more rear preload will raise rear of the bike slightly while riding it! hence putting more weight over the front. it still comes up over the small bumps and the two speed humps in my street!
So who s riding this weekend?????? I may be talked into it!
Final suspension setting are as follows. Front Pre-load 2 1/2 rings showing, rebound one full turn from max.
Rear pre-load, 4/7. And rebound One full turn from max.
I just went for a ride and it was much betterer!
The front now is balanced with the back, and they absorb bumps but don't get to wallowie in the process. Noice!
Stiffening the rear suspension has made it a little harder to wheelstand. Which I guess when you think about it it is logical, as more rear preload will raise rear of the bike slightly while riding it! hence putting more weight over the front. it still comes up over the small bumps and the two speed humps in my street!
So who s riding this weekend?????? I may be talked into it!