Finally some new text on our favorite bike. Both magazines did a rundown on the best naked middle weight bike. Superbike gave it first place over the Kawasaki Z750 and the Yamaha FZ6. BIKE magazine had it first for two of the testers and third for the last tester, but it was compared to a Suzuki Bandit 650, a Kawasaki ER-6N and the Ducati Monster 695. If you guys get a chance check each mag out, they have some pretty good rudowns on our bikes.

Smitters

Yeah, but both are British mags and not many people over on this side of the pond care for nakeds still.

Absolutely. People here generally don't understand nakeds. It's an enigma.

Funny I read that article in one of those two mags a couple of days ago, and remember feeling annoyed that the quoted horse power for the Hornet was so low... no where near 95hp..
I wonder if the Hornet tested is a late 2007 model for Europe detuned (and cheaper), for beginners... (sold alongside the new 2007 Hornet).
In this guise the Hornet lost out two the other two bikes.. :(
Oh well I guess it can't win them all :)

You'll also find an article in last month's TWO Wheels Only... and guess what... it was the favourite in the test as well. Oh ya, that's right. :D

quoted HP was 95 how much HP do you think the 599 has? 95 I dont think is even at the wheel probably at the crank and even lower than 95 at the wheel.... so what did they say it was ?

I picked up Motor-Cyclist's September bike of the year issue on my way to Deep Creek this weekend. It gave motorcycle of the year (2007) to a naked bike. The KTM 990 Super Duke. This is one slick machine. The CBR600RR took second place. Best Naked bike winners were the Ducati Hypermotard and runner up Triumph Street Triple.

The KTM 990R Super Duke

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/3900/ktm990superduker10gzw2.jpg

Man.... that KTM is one tight machine!!! :drool

The KTM 990R Super Duke

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/3900/ktm990superduker10gzw2.jpg
Looks a lot like:
http://www.air-and-space.com/20031018%20Miramar/PICT0127%20F-117A%2088-842%208FS%20left%20front%20m.jpg

Best Naked bike winners were the Ducati Hypermotard and runner up Triumph Street Triple.


Wouldn't the Hypermotard be more of a... supermotard? It's built to be even more versatile (light doses of dirt) than a naked streetbike, like the Speed Triple or 'Duke...

Wouldn't the Hypermotard be more of a... supermotard? It's built to be even more versatile (light doses of dirt)...
What? Dirt? :crazy

Well, it's definitely what the designers and whoever came up with the name had in mind... I don't mean hardcore offroading, but that's what the class of bike is supposed to do...

Like an SUV in the burbs Baby!

http://www.visordown.com/i/a/747/ruben-xaus-small2.jpg

...the biggest selling point of that issue... can't say no to that on the cover...

...manufacturer Ducati announced their entry in the class with the "Hypermotard" machine which has more in common with streetfighter-type motorcycles than realistically being considered a true supermoto bike capable of surviving jumps and crashes...

I've been drooling over this machine ever since I saw a pic of it about a year ago.

:drool

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/3900/ktm990superduker10gzw2.jpg

I've been drooling over this machine ever since I saw a pic of it about a year ago.

:drool



Yea this is the first time I have really read up on it and it sounds like a great machine. They said the perma-grin factor is amazing and it is one of the best bikes ever tested which is impressive. Plus it's made by Australians which I find kinda unique. A V-Twin at 444 lbs. wet and the standard 990 has 104 hp. I bet it's a blast. Still faithful to the 599 but it's fun to look.

Austrians, actually... even a little more unique.

...manufacturer Ducati announced their entry in the class with the "Hypermotard" machine which has more in common with streetfighter-type motorcycles than realistically being considered a true supermoto bike capable of surviving jumps and crashes...

Sounds like a bit of an identity crisis to me...

I think it's makin' it's own identity... it be all street.
Looks fun but I'm not the guy to ride like this...zoom zoom zoom...
Super Duke 990 Video (http://www.990superduke.com/fileadmin/990superduke/media/impressions/vid/vid_1.php?disclaimer=true)

I too drool over that bike...and hope to have a chance to ride one since a dealer close by is now a KTM dealer :D

My favourite line about the Hornet in the last SuperBike was :

"...the Hornet is the understated, cool bloke that all the ladies are interested in."

I am warming to the new Hornet but one thing I am having a lot of trouble with is that exhaust... Gawd... it's ugly.

"...the Hornet is the understated, cool bloke that all the ladies are interested in." Just like me. No, really... :wink:

for the record, I don't think the 599 has anywhere near 95hp

I've never had mine on a dyno, but I have had my 98 GSX-R 600 on one and it registered 97 and 105mph and my 599 is nowhere near as quick or as powerful as my GSX-R

granted the GSX-R has been setup just for track and has a larger rear sprocket, but the first time I rode my 599 after riding the GSX-R on the track the difference was obvious.

The 599 is setup and geared differently so just running thru the gears doesn't give a complete picture.

I'm not diminishing the 599, all bikes have their place and purpose, but I honestly don't think the 599 has anything over maybe 80-85hp and that's with a Leo Vince SBK exhaust.

Your bike dynoed 97 at the wheels. Factory claims are going to be flywheel numbers. I think you're about right for the wheel HP, though.

Your bike dynoed 97 at the wheels. Factory claims are going to be flywheel numbers. I think you're about right for the wheel HP, though.

my GSX-R 600 dynoed 97 at the wheel at like 105 mph.

that's the other thing, the peak hp is only at certain rpm levels and speeds, usually from about 90-110

I love my 599, but I don't think it has anything more than 80-85hp at best, maybe not even that

The SV650 hp is somewhere in the 70s

That's what I said... your Gixxer is probably rated around 115-120 from the factory, judging from the competition (I know the R6S, or former R6, is rated at 123). The only number I've seen for the Hornet is like 94 or 95 HP. At the wheels, stock has dynoed at around 80-85, as you said. In fact, here's a chart from MIVV... I've heard of higher, but we should all know how different dynos and testing conditions will affect numbers...

http://www.mivv.it/risorse/6/20/308/dynochart_H020SC3.pdf

...that's the other thing, the peak hp is only at certain rpm levels and speeds, usually from about 90-110...
peak at 90-110...what gear was that?

My 04 pulled 91hp on a dynojet dyno this past july with an akrapovic pipe, dynojet kit, k&n filter, and down 1 up 2 sprockets.
Paul

My 04 pulled 91hp on a dynojet dyno this past july with an akrapovic pipe, dynojet kit, k&n filter, and down 1 up 2 sprockets.
Paul

I'll simply say this, I'm not going to argue about the hp the 599 has, but I can tell you with certainty that my 98 GSXR 600 has a lot more power and torque than my 599, it's not even close.

The first time I rode my 599 after riding my 600 on the track I was thru the gears on the 599 in no time flat because it simply geared differently and doesn't have the same power a pure sport bike has.

Obviously it doesn't, it's a CBR engine that's been retuned.

It's a fine bike, but it's not a pure sport bike. If you ride one you'll quickly know the difference.

They are all fast enough to hurt or kill you, but if you ride the 599 and then a true sport bike like a CBR or R6 you'll feel the difference.

As for listed hp and dyno, I could care less what the ads say for hp, the only thing that matters is what you can get to the rear wheel.

Ok before this goes off on even more of a horsepower tangent, the article I read was in "Bike" magazine, and the said bike with low horsepower was a "CBF600" (not CB600F), light blue in colour, and had analogue gauges...
In the article the bike was quoted as having 65Bhp at 10,500 rpm :shock:

I would expect a mag to quote around 95bhp for a CB600F, but this CBF600 is a bike I've not seen before...

Hope that clears things up a little... otherwise find the mag and read it yourself! :wink:

I love my 599, but I don't think it has anything more than 80-85hp at best, maybe not even that

The SV650 hp is somewhere in the 70s
Per this article (http://www.ridermagazine.com/output.cfm?id=1201393):
"Assuming the dyno results from our 2004 comparison of the 599, SV650 and FZ6 still apply to their unchanged powertrains, comparing them to the output of the new Ninja 650R leaves the FZ6 at the top of the rear-wheel peak horsepower heap with 90.5 at about 11,800 rpm. The 599 made 83.6 at 11,700, the SV650 (and presumably our 2006 SV650S) about 73 at 8,800 and the Ninja 650R 62.1 horsepower at 9,000 rpm."

Good guess.

...but this CBF600 is a bike I've not seen before...
I think it is the CB600F with a small factory kiddie pool bolted to the front.

Now more to the point...what was the point of all this? :wink:

When I started the thread I had no point just letting everyone know about it. I find it very interesting to watch the progression of a thread. Huh, anyway...

Smitters :popcorn

...I find it very interesting to watch the progression of a thread.
You and me both... :thumbsup

The machine in "Bike" magazine is not a CB600F, but a CBF600 as reviewed here:
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Honda/HONDA-CBF600-2004--current/?&R=EPI-351

:?

here is a PDF of the article in Superbike (Nov/07). Enjoy :)

Superbike Nov 07 Hornet article (http://www.mediafire.com/?4djfvxnzmyn)

here is a PDF of the article in Superbike (Nov/07). Enjoy :)
13.63 MB :shock: Anyway to chop that beast down?

I tried... it's already compressed.

Does anyone have a PDF of the October 2007 SuperBike comparo? At least the Hornet won that one! :wink: Damn Street Triple!!! :twisted:

I had never even heard of the street triple before. I still like the Speed Triple better, but i guess its in another catagory altogether.

I tried... it's already compressed.

Does anyone have a PDF of the October 2007 SuperBike comparo? At least the Hornet won that one! :wink: Damn Street Triple!!! :twisted:

the october superbike is between the s4rs and super duke, is that the one you want?

Oct 07 Superbike Comparo (http://www.mediafire.com/?0cgtdsepryi)

Thanks for the previous PDF, interesting read... I wondered how the Shiver would do after reading of all it's advanced design...
Nice how the bikes have 2,3 and 4 cylinders also...

:thumbsup

Whilst the Street triple "wins" the match up, the hornet is far from shamed, and looks like a nice buy. :)

The machine in "Bike" magazine is not a CB600F, but a CBF600 as reviewed here:
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Honda/HONDA-CBF600-2004--current/?&R=EPI-351

:?


From looks of it Honda just took the 599 engine and put it in a knockoff SV 650 looking body. I guess they are trying to get the 1/2 sportbike 1/2 naked bike market.

Hey there, long time no speak :)

The CBF is a commuter version of the Hornet...detuned engine in a lower spec chassis...with a 160 rear tyre (yuk!)...sells quite well though, has a seat you can alter to suit your leg length and has cheap insurance.

Anyway...my lunchtime day dreaming surf comes to an end and I remember back to the days when my biggest worry was to go suburban or Renthal!

Take care guys

...the days when my biggest worry was to go suburban or Renthal!
Ahhh, good days indeed! Why do we rush so fast to ruin it?

There is some great stuff on the Hornet... past and present in this month's TWO Wheels Only.

Wise words...the real killer is that when life starts to catch up with you a bike is one of the first things to go...but that bike is the best way to escape!