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Here you'll find information about the Honda Hornet 900. The latest addition to the awesome Hornet series of bikes. 
Model InformationThe Hornet 900 previewed at the NEC in Birmingham in November 2001 and was released for sales in late december 2001. No updates to the model yet as it is too new. Hornet 900 Colour infoThe Hornet 900 is currently available in the UK and Europe in the following colours: 2001 onwards - Iron Nail Silver, Candy Tahitian Blue, Mute Black Metallic. 
In Japan: 
In USA: 
2001/02 SPEC
Model DetailsThe recent upsurge in the retro naked bikes market has certainly contributed to the success of the Honda Hornet 600. But it has to be said, success in the main part is largely due to the quality of the bike at the budget price and the cult following. From the word go Hornet owners were modifying their bikes with all manner of kit and it wasn’t long before someone worked out that, with a little modification, the Honda 900 Fireblade engine would slip in. Surely Honda could build one for general release? After all, Suzuki had their 1200 version of the Bandit. Soon rumours that the Honda Blackbird was going to appear in a naked form circulated and that it would be called the Hornet 1100. This was scuppered when Honda released the bike soon after as the X11. It wasn’t the cult bike they’d hoped it to be and Hornet owners were still searching for that extra oomph at a budget price, something the X11 certainly hadn’t managed to pull off. All this changed when the Hornet 600’s biggest rival, the Yamaha Fazer 600, was rumoured to be going up to a 1000cc version based on the R1 in late 2000. Honda had to keep up and immediately answered our prayers by building the Hornet 900 based on the proven 1998 Fireblade engine. Not only that, they billed it for sale at under £6k – a grand and a half cheaper than the Fazer 1000. 
Hallelujah! The nail on the proverbial head. 
The Hornet 900 debuted at the NEC bike show and was on sale in the shops by the end of 2001. The good news for our friends across the water in the US of A was that they would finally get their paws on a Hornet having been deprived of the 600. The Hornet 900 was also released in the States in 2001, but under the name Honda 919. Same bike, different name. Americans finally got a taste of ‘Hooning’, a name us Hornet owners over here give to the experience of riding the 600. With the bike on both sides of the Atlantic the Hornet scene can only get bigger. You’ve only got to look at the aftermarket spares available to realise that the bike is here to stay.
The Hornet 900/Honda 919 is based on the same mono-backbone frame as the 600 with some extra strength added to cope with the extra forces from power output and braking.  On first glance, it doesn’t look much bigger. It’s when you step up to the beast that you notice the changes – twin exhausts, broader tank, chunky clocks and that all important 919cc Fireblade powerhouse. I was lucky enough to have a Demo bike for the day back in December 2001 courtesy of Tippetts of Surbiton. You can read my review and first impressions by clicking HERE. 
A quick shufty at the stats and you’ll see that the 900 is only 18kg heavier than it’s sister 600 and there’s not much change in the ride height, length and width. The ride height sits just 5mm higher than the 600. What you will notice in the specification, is that the Fireblade motor uses fuel injection instead of carbs, improving low down acceleration at the sacrifice of top end performance. Saying that, when you consider Hornets are naked beasts, then it’s probably a good thing, unless you want your arms stretching to the length of a baboons. 
Click HERE. to see what Honda UK say about the 900 Hornet. Click HERE. to see what MCN said about the 900 Hornet at the time of launch. So what do they cost?UK list price for the 2001/02 Hornet 900 RRP: £6350.00 inc VAT Hornet 900 LinksHonda UK. Honda US. |
