07 Hornet Ride Experience By Tor Sagen Published: February 20, 2007 Print
There's very little happening when accelerating with full throttle in sixth gear from low rpm. However, what could I expect? It's a small engine with four tiny cylinders in a row and not a big twin. So revs are still needed, but perhaps less so than on the '06 model. The fuel injection is a gem and only once when transitioning off-on throttle around 3000rpm did I notice a very small hiccup. It was so small that I shouldn't really have even mentioned it. For comparison, the fueling is a mile better than Suzuki's otherwise brilliant GSR600.
The 07 Hornet features class leading horsepower too, beating both the GSR, and the Yamaha FZ6. Indeed, it is and only four horsepower short of the new Kawasaki Z750 (106ps) with the claimed 102 horsepower engine. But all that power is found in 10K+ territory, which has a lot to do with the sporty character of the new Hornet. The six-speed gearbox is as smooth as could be expected and the ratios suit both sports riding and short shifting.
Through the twisties, the new CB600F Hornet is a dream to ride. The wide handlebars make turn-in effortless, and the Hornet seems as eager as any sport bike to carve on the edges of its Bridgestone BT-012 tires. I can almost describe the handling as creamy smooth, but sharp at the same time - if that makes any sense! The Hornet always steers where I want it to go, and the line can be changed mid-corner without a hassle.
As far as chassis construction, the new aluminum mono-backbone frame and aluminum swingarm keep everything in place on a hot lap, and also contributes to keeping the weight down. Even the five-spoke aluminum wheels are new and designed to further reduce weight. At 173kg dry (380 lbs.) the new Hornet is the lightest in its class. Mass centralization was a design goal, and along with the stubby exhaust, the new slim seat and tail unit is said to contribute to mass centralization.
The inverted 41mm fork from Showa gives plenty of feedback from the front despite its lack of adjustable damping. The setup is neither too soft nor too hard, and suited to both slow uneven roads and high-speed freeway riding equally well. The rear shock is also from Showa and features a 7-step adjustable preload collar. The brakes chosen for the new Hornet are very conventional looking in today's world of radial-mounted race-spec items, but the 2-piston front calipers provide more than enough power and feel for the job at hand. I particularly liked the way they felt during slow stop-and-go scenarios, such as around-town riding. The Hornet is also available in an ABS version that adds linked 3-piston calipers (and 4kg of weight).
There's very little happening when accelerating with full throttle in sixth gear from low rpm. However, what could I expect? It's a small engine with four tiny cylinders in a row and not a big twin. So revs are still needed, but perhaps less so than on the '06 model. The fuel injection is a gem and only once when transitioning off-on throttle around 3000rpm did I notice a very small hiccup. It was so small that I shouldn't really have even mentioned it. For comparison, the fueling is a mile better than Suzuki's otherwise brilliant GSR600.