Honda 919 (Hornet 900) Review 2002-2007 - Specs, History, Riding impressions
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- čas přidán 26. 05. 2023
- In this 12th "Blast from the past" episode, we're taking a look at Honda's 919 (Hornet 900). Designed to compete with the Bandit 1200, ZRX1200R, and FZ1, the 919 was never the quickest, the sharpest, the fastest, the best looking, or the most powerful super-standard. But, in typical Honda fashion, it just might have been the best bike of the bunch. Having owned a burgundy 919 (like the one in the photos here), I will be talking about the history and specs of the 919. I will also be giving my riding impressions of the bike and how it compared to the Bandit 1200, ZRX1200R and FZ1. What was the Hornet 900 like to ride? Let's find out together!
- Auta a dopravní prostředky
I've owned a 2005 (black) and currently own a 2003 (gray) Honda 919, and I must say this review is 100% spot on. The key features, as stated in the review, are: dependability and low maintenance , ease to drive, and "everything you need" with no frills. I've been riding Hondas for 56 years, and the Honda 919 is my dream motorcycle.
Right on, Terry! Thanks for the feedback. The 919 is a great bike. Cheers!
It's the best! Right on brother!!!
@@joshuatatum1318 👍🏻
I had an 2006 CB900F for a few years, as it had always been a bike I had wanted since I started street riding on my dad's Honda XR250L street-legal dual sport. The first street bike that I owned personally was a 1984 Honda CB700S Nighthawk, one of the really hot and high revving 'tariff busters' of the mid-80's. So I grew to love UJM's, and if you wanted something from Honda larger and faster but of the same design philosophy as the venerable Nighthawk series? The CB900F was the obvious choice, and so it had been a bucket-list bike for me until I eventually got one myself back in 2019.
I owned and rode that bike a ton, putting a few thousand miles on it every year. Outside of some issues that needed to be ironed out during the first year, since it was super low mileage and suffered some issues from being largely stationary for a time, it otherwise ran like a champ with zero maintenance issue thereafter (which amounted to replacing the thermostat and flushing the coolant). The bike had stupid levels of power for a street bike, and accelerated effortlessly with little roll of the throttle. Mine still had the stock factory exhaust, so it was an absolute sleeper. The bike was torquey enough to be lugged around at 45mph in 6th gear at 3,000RPM no problem. But it would happily gun it up highway on-ramps and reach merging speed in 2nd gear, and would happily purr while it did so. Fantastic bike, handled well, and always had more than enough power for whatever you wanted to (legally) do. There are better track-day specials out there for sure, but that's not what the 919 was ever trying to be.
But this story does have an end, as I did end up trading it in at the end of 2023 for a new Honda CMX1100 Rebel. Why? Well, because I had almost died the year prior. A minivan took a left on a green light at an intersection, turning right into the path of my 2017 Honda CB1100EX, totaling the bike and putting me into the hospital for a month to recover. A year later and with all of the insurance claims settled, I was finally back to riding at the tail end of summer. Both of my wrists had taken a lot of damage (needed to be bolted to internal titanium rods levels of damage), so not only do I lack my prior strength and mobility, but they're also now way more sensitive to stress, flex, and vibration. It only took one long road trip visiting my parents for me to make up my mind about swapping out the 919 for something a bit more comfortable for extended riding. So between the cruiser seating position that doesn't have me supporting my weight with my arms, the softer suspension that doesn't transfer every bump in the road through the handle bars, and the super convenient cruise control? I've never been more comfortable on longer rides. I will always remember my 919 fondly, but it just no longer aligned with what I needed at the time.
For short joyrides, errands, or commuting around town, I have a 2023 Honda SCL500 Scrambler. Small, light, excellent gas mileage, and just enough power to be a zoomer in traffic. It follows the Mazda Miata philosophy, in that it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. For longer rides, I have the 2023 Honda CMX1100 Rebel. Comfortable, powerful, but still flickable in the corners (I scrape my boots on the road with the Rebel more than I did with the 919), and is a more than capable devourer of highway asphalt. The 2006 Honda CB900F just sat in this middle ground between the two, capable of filling in either role, but arguable not as singularly capable as either for their more narrow use-case. If you had to pick one bike to do everything, the 919 makes a compelling case in the way that most all UJM's do. But I am fortunate enough to be able to afford two different bikes for two different uses, and they're just more usable for me than the 919 was. Also, Honda's new slipper assist clutch that is in both of the new bikes makes them far easier and more comfortable to shift than the 919 was (even after getting a new clutch cable installed prior to trading it in), a consideration that unfortunately now carries a premium for myself post-accident.
Still, in comparison to the other naked super-standards of its era? It was the best looking, hands down. None of the mini-fairing bullshit. Just a engine, frame, tank, light, and 2 wheels. Some might call it conservative, but I would call it classic (I do genuinely missing not having analogue gauges on my 2023 Honda's). It was a motorcycle equivalent of a 5th gen Ford Mustang (the first of the neo-retro ones to look like the classic 65' fastback), but Honda beat them to market years before their facelift in 2005. The bike was low maintenance, with a bulletproof engine, made more power than anybody actually needed, and was built with a classic style that still looks attractive to this day. It might not have been the James Dean of motorcycles, but damn if Honda didn't get close, because the 919 will always be cool.
Right on! Thanks for sharing the memories and insights on the three bikes. Cheers!
Best expression of the love and appeal for this bike I've read in some time. I too feel for my 06. Still taking me down every back road and highway in America. I've owned it since 2010 and have lived in Arizona, Montana and now Georgia (second time). It has made a couple cross country trips from Montana to Florida and back. Then to southern California with a return under her belt. Just as bulletproof as they can be. By a wide margin my favorite bike. I believe I'll park it in my living room as a display piece the day I can no longer ride it because it isn't going anywhere. Just a part of me and my many happy places that live eternally grateful in my mind.
This is one of the most beautiful bikes ever made.
Right on!
I left my long winded reply on this very point. BEA...utiful!
@@joshuatatum1318 rightfully so
Cheers Jon done the 919 proud, all accurate info as I own a 2002 one, great work horse that can easily kick from canter to gallop, easy to maintain and ill keep it in my stable till I'm gone, great over all Honda product
Right on Wayne! Thanks for the feedback!
I have not had the pleasure of riding a 919. As always you have done a thorough review. Thanks Jon!
Thanks Russ!
From CB150, CB305, CB750K1, CL350, CBX to CB919. 70,000 miles on a 2007 (red!) without any problems. At 76 it feels heavy, but so do I.
That's quite the list of cool Hondas you've owned! The 919 is a difficult one to replace. Cheers!
I owned a 919 for many years put 28,000 miles on it. Wonderful bike! I thought it was very fast and handled very well. I was trading up from a 650 but I now have a Triumph Street triple RS and the Honda felt faster and had way more midrange punch. The mice ate the wiring harness and it died on the road. It now sits in my basement and looks sad. I could never understand why this bike was so under appreciated. Only people who have never ridden it could think that. Like all Honda products, it was as reliable as the sun. Until the mice killed it, I never had the slightest problem.
I agree - they're great, underrated bikes! You could buy a used harness for it...
i own one, and i think the reason people didn’t like it is because the oem suspension set up is not good if you like to ride it hard, but for normal cruising it’s just fine with oem suspension.
id like to add that i have a 2007 model, so the most updated version of the suspension from honda
i did race tech gold valves, heavier springs, and just a fresh rebuild overall obviously when adding those upgrades,
rear shock i have yet to upgrade as i don’t know what i would like to upgrade it to yet, but rear shock is too soft just like the front suspension was
@@ag096 Right on!
@@ag096 Only the ZRX of that time had sporting suspension. The 1200 Bandit, FZ1, and CB919 were too soft for aggressive riding in stock form.
This was the bike I finally fell in love with after buying and living with some other bikes that i never really clicked with. I ended up getting t-boned on my CB919 and the bike obviously was destroyed. Broke my heart I absolutely loved that damn bike. It NEVER let me down while still being a fun and comfortable ride. Some say its boring to look at but with some minor mods I got plenty of compliments on it.
Very cool 😎! I'm glad you made it, even if the bike didn't. Thanks for sharing the memories! Cheers
Love my 07. Scored one this year with 8k miles. Great bike, great review.
Thanks! I'm glad you liked the review. Cheers!
Yep I remember the 919. Never a real head turner. Enjoyed the video Jon and RIDE SAFE OUT THERE!
Thanks Henry, you too!
P.S. Don't know about your 919 but the one in this garage was made in Italy! Had that be known it might not now be in the garage. Good thing, as it's a terrific machine!
Interesting, I knew the later CB1000R was made in Italy. I hadn't heard that about the 919. Cheers!
Great Clip!
Thanks!
really interesting mix of old and new design and parts
I agree!
I have a Kawa ZR750 Zephyr. Another retro style bike of the 90s and early 2000s.
Very cool! I really want to ride the Zephyr 1100. It is hard to find a clean Zephyr of any size locally. Kawasaki was WAY ahead of its time with that retro line of bikes. How do you like the 750?
I'm late to the party.
I got 2 of these. The front forks (2004->2007) are NOT FULY adjustable, only rebound and preload, not compresion. The rear shock is only rebound & preload (via spring). (OEM suspension)
Most handsome, proud, simplistic, reliable of any bikes I've come across. Maybe not the fastest, but they sure make me happy.
(reading ahead... Peter Herridge, geta couple hungry cats? Hope you can diagnose the harness. Pity, like to see it on the TT Course one day -NOT as a racer mind! So few Hornets here)
Thanks for the clarification, John!
I have a 2007 919 with 80000 + on it that I daily everywhere Love it! great great bike!
Right on, Doug! My friend had one with similar mileage - awesome bikes.
Very nice looking ride , i see it every 1st Sunday parked in the same spot. Wish my 04 was that clean, but mine has 64,000 miles on it 😁
It's a nice one. Cheers!
It certainly isn't as vanilla as you make it out to be. Of all the other bikes you've compared it too this one has the most passionate following. I'm one for sure. I've made a couple cross country rides on mine over the last decade of ownership and besides the terribly uncomfortable seat it has been the most enjoyable and dependable bike I've ever owned. It has been more reliable than any vehicle I've owned as well. And she is far better looking than those other bikes. The Kawasaki is a cool retro treat but the 919 is a beaut! The tank is in my opinion the best looking one on any bike EVER! I've been around bike my whole life and other than a few Harleys, Triumph or BSA's, I've never know any group of bike owners more smitten with their past or present 919's. They often say it was their favorite bike or how much they regret having sold it. Many go on to purchase a second one because of how much they miss their old ones. For me, I'll never sell mine. I've had over a dozen bikes in 30 years and none of them ever evoked my emotions when riding or just admiring it like this one. I don't believe I'll ever fall in love with another ride like I have with my 06. You sir are the exception to the rule for us Honda 919/ Hornet lovers.
Take it easy 😉. The 919 is a great bike. I'm glad you like yours as much as you do. As you've said, they have a very loyal following and are very reliable. Looks are subjective. I really like the candy red one in the review pictures. However, the paint on the flat black bikes, the finish on the engine, and the finish on the pipes all make the 919s look grubby over time. I'm fine with the styling, just not the finish. Cheers!
Great bike.The rear suspension canister mod is easy to do and so much better to ride.
Right on! Thanks for the tip!
I have a 919, as well as just over a couple of dozen other bikes. In a way, my 919 replaced a Nighthawk 700S. Sadly, it also replaced a Bandit 1200S. I hated to see them go but even a nut like me has cull the herd and those three fit a similar size weight sporty category. I ended up with the 919, but I was looking for an affordable FZ1 at the time. I'd still like to compare the 919 to FZ1 back to back, but the ones I could afford were a little rough. Someone mentioned the seat discomfort, but I went back to OEM seat after trying a Corbin for a while (really heavy too). High frequency vibrations through the handlebars make my hands tingle and puts the finger to sleep. Reving the engine of a ZRX1200R at a stand still was enough for me to know that it wouldn't work out for me. I know that was only one sample, but it was bigger and heavier than my 919 and wouldn't have beat it out. The closest bike to it that I own now is the SV650, side by side, even though it's so much lighter and has a louder pipe and that V-twin sound. The SV650 is slightly preferable on a tight twisty mountain road, but I would keep the 919 if one had to go. I met another rider that owned many sport bikes including the Bandit 1200 and SV650 who told me he sold his FZ1 because he couldn't make himself slow down on it. Short of an FZ1 replacing my 919, it's on my half dozen keeper list.
Right on! The 919 is a great all-around motorcycle. I've owned several FZ1s as well. It would be fun to ride the 919 and FZ1 back-to-back. If I remember correctly, the FZ1 gets higher marks for performance, but it can be harsher to ride. Both are great bikes. Enjoy the collection. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 The FZ1 is not off my wishlist. It has about 40+% more horsepower. It hasn't been a priority because I found myself going too fast on the Bandit 1200 S in a straight line And I'm not getting any younger! And I told myself I had to sell bikes to pay for the FZ1
@@papatorr3669 Right on! That's a good policy.
A brilliant bike one of the best
Right on!
I have a cb1000r 2021. Honda must have looked at the 919 and designed the cb1000r 2018 bike around the 919 as the similarities are unreal. Yes modern technology and a beautiful neo classic theme but it s a modern 919. I love my black edition ❤. The new hornet which is due out this year in my view is a backward step. I loved the looks of the 919 when it came out but I d just passed my test and did nt have the balls to buy it lol 😂 great video on a brilliant Honda naked bike that’s around 20 years old.
Thanks, Dave! I would like to try the newer CB1000R. I'm sure it's brilliant as well. Cheers!
Great mid level bike. Aftermarket headlight cowl and belly pan transforms this bike into a looker. CBR900rr four into one header bolts right on. Best pipe for sound and power was 2 brothers end can. These mods makes this a wheelie machine that gets looks.
Right on!
The SV although it was only a 650 is such a great machine
You can check out my SV650 review here:
czcams.com/video/mN6_NVA9ams/video.htmlsi=hh2KkEriXUiMrIJ8
I had a hornet 900. Did 16,000 miles commuting in central London. Easy to ride, perfect commuter. I loved it. Only criticism would be its it’s a bit boring in looks and ride.
Right on Andy! It could be described as a tad vanilla.
2 small things: 1) 110hp, a little more than the 100 you mention, 2) the front forks don't have compression damping, just rebound and preload. That being said, I quote Catalanskrr below "This is one of the most beautiful bikes ever made." I've 2 2005 silver models in mint, but with many mods but std engine config (PCIII was added to each). Real easy to work on, maintain and mod. They are quite quick and are unusually nimble - especially in corners. A flyscreen for any highway/motorway riding helps alot. The only imrovement Honda should have made in 2004 would have been chaging to USD forks - they didn't. I'd strongly recommend center stands - on any bike where allowable.
MIne are NOT for sale. 😛
Right on! Everyone I know who has a 919 absolutely loves it. On the right road, it is a formidable sporting weapon. And it's just a great example of the UJM. Cheers!
I have a 2006 919(red of course). It's almost as fast as my ZRX. I really love both bikes. I put a Procom module in the 919 and changed the stock bars to Renthal. The stock bars/mirrors/foot pegs are horrible. I never mis-shifted after swapping the pegs(a common problem). Have fun all.
Thanks Mike! Those are great tips for 919 owners!
what pegs did you switch too?
@@erikdanielczyk7666 I found red "moto style" pegs on e-bay. They are sold by many sources there. I have them on both my bikes(green on the ZRX). It is amazing how I can move my foot around for different balance in cornering. They are much more comfortable also. Have fun!
@mikemet1744 can you give me more information on the module and the foot pegs. I am thinking of buying one and would live to know more about those upgrades. Thanks
I will get that to you Monday buddy!@@grahmpike9032
I've got an 04' in the matte uranium green....there's so many mods on it I can't list them all, but I'll note the most impactful:
I've got the suspension almost perfect by dropping the fork 10mm through the triple tree and mixing 10w and 15w fork oil weight to 50/50 in addition to putting a Hagon adjustable rear shock on it. The limitation is actually the frame now, so it's as good as it's gonna get, which is still much better than stock.
The guy that had it before me(I'm 3rd owner) put a CBR900RR header on it with a custom mid-pipe that uses a 900RR aftermarket silencer. It looks great(the rear sub frame is thin and sharp looking without the OEM underseat silencers) and lost 20lbs....while adding around 7 more HP all up top.
It's awesome....I've had a lot of bikes, but this one has been the best value and all rounder of all of them- it did take some work to get it there however.
It's fun to tastefully modify a bike and "dial it in" to suit your riding style. It sounds like you did a great job with your 919! Cheers!
Buying a 2007 with 4k miles on it this afternoon.
Nice!
I still owe the 919 2006 model with 47000 km. Always fun, fast
Nice!
Thanks for a great review! What’s it like for passengers? Do those hot pipes get in the way?
I don't know, I never rode it as a passenger 😉! I'm sure it was ok for short periods of time if the passenger didn't have long legs. I'm sure the pipes got warm on a hot day though. Cheers!
How do the newer 919s stack up to the 94-95ish CB1000s? I always preferred the looks of the latter.
The CB1000 is huge, heavy and slow in comparison to the 919. It may fit taller riders a little bit better.
Another trip dowm memory lane for me. Mine was silver. Great bike but a bit buzzy in the handlebars.
It's hard to get away from some buzz at certain rpm on a 4-cyl bike.
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Agreed
I would argue that the CB1000 Big One made from 1991 through 1996 (when it was replaced by the CB1300) also compete in the this segment. Even more so, the X-11 made from 1999 through 2001, featuring a slightly detuned XX Blackbird engine. AFAIK, USA never got neither the CB1300 or the X-11, but they were sold through most of the world. The X-11 smoked every other naked bike of its time.
I'm envious of some of the bikes that are available in Europe that we don't get here. Now I want a X-11!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Always loved them, and the instruments are perhaps the coolest ever.
@@64faffi Cool! I'll check it out.
I really need help with restoring mine, if you could give me some pointers I’d really appreciate it thank you
Just focus on one system at a time. If you have specific questions, you can post them and see if someone can help. A bike-specific forum would be a great resource for you. Good luck with the restoration. Cheers!
hey Jon, i`ve been watching your past vids for awhile now because you are honest and knowledgeable and someones opinion that i would trust. It is my 2nd year of riding, im still learning each time i get on the road and need to improve my slowing down before turns, i`m a safe driver, not seeking speed, i just like to cruise and escape. I went from cbr250 to inazuma 250 to vulcan 500 and now i can get a hornet 919 from a trusted gentleman here. Maybe its the way you rode the hornet in the other video but it looks maybe too fast for a guy with my experience, maybe its just that your so used to riding, you made it seem easy. Do you think the 919 is good for me ? im just thinking if i pull on the throttle just a bit, its gonna fly, thats my impression from the vid. i can get a 2013 honda cb500f too from some other seller or a triumph thunderbird 900 from the same gentleman as the hornet. so thats why im asking. Thanks brah !!!
Hi Jon, the 919 would be an adjustment for you in seat height and weight as well as power. From what you're saying, I think you would be the most comfortable on the CB500F at this point. When you get bored with the CB500F, then it may be time to transition to a bike like the 919. Throttle control is significantly different on the bigger bikes. Just a little bit of input results in a lot of speed. Good luck in your search!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 thanks man ! your so awesome !! God bless u
i ended up getting a katana 750, was too fast for me so i sold it, i got a triumph thunderbird 900 but it kept dying on me while riding and downshifting so i sold it. now i got a 2011 honda shadow RS and its the best bike i ever had.
@@ringolams I'm so glad you found the right bike for you! Cheers
you motivate me to not only be a better rider, safety and smartness but also as a human being, to get back to my true healthy self, martial arts, tekken, family and love. your so awesome man !! Love@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538
Would this be a good first bike? Reason I’m asking is I just bought house and the previous owner decided just to leave one of these the garage. It’s been sitting for years and doesn’t start. I’m an auto mechanic and am going to get it running and do some maintenance. I know usually it’s smarter to start in a smaller bike.
If you rode manual-shifting dirtbikes or quads, it gives you a head start. The 919 isn't particularly wild, but I would recommend starting on a smaller bike until you're comfortable with the clutch, throttle, shifter and brake interactions on a bike. In PA you can take a free rider safety course where they let you ride their smaller bike to learn on. I highly recommend this. Best of luck with it!
Hey, my first and only bike to date is The 2004 Hornet (only year for Green so a Green Hornet). I don't ride aggressively but I do like to get away from traffic at lights and the acceleration if perfect for that. I do recommend it as a first bike. Unless you want or need a bike that is lower to the ground, I can't see how it wouldn't be a next step up. It is such a pleasure to ride in the city because it is a very easy bike to handle. It's not going to do anything scary if you don't ask it to. Mine got knocked over and I'm trying to find a parts bike to that I can keep it.
What a sexy bike
Right on!
I have 3 ZRX 1200s and 2 Honda 919s. Got to disagree on the comparison to the Kawasaki. No way is the ZRX suspension sportier or firmer than the Honda's...
The ZRX suspension is fully adjustable while the Honda was non adjustable in the front at first and later preload only adjustable up front. Fully adjustable suspension is sportier (associated with sport bikes) in my mind. If we're talking firmer, are we talking compression damping or spring rates? Without knowing the setup and year of your bikes and without making sure we mean the same thing with our terminology, this is a tricky conversation. Chassis geometry also plays into handling feel, as does rider weight, height, etc. Lots of variables. It would be fun to ride them back-to-back and discuss this over a pint! Cheers 🍻
But you didn't mention the issues on front fork oil seals durability!!
I've not seen any fork seal issues on these that are more excessive than on any other bike.
owned my first for 13 years, on my second after selling the 1st for good money and getting a low km 2008 registered one , never touched a fork seal , aprox 130000km on the model now .
I still own a 2006 Candy red 919 hornet with 125 Thousand k’s on it with Power command and set of staintune exhaust that sounds awesome and Wilbur Rear shock adjustment set up I’m going for a 150 Thousand k’s ‘ and once I get there see if we can get the 200,000 Thousand kilometres and no rebuild yet still goes hard the staintune are awesome Hasn’t got the same power as my 96 Kawasaki ZZR 1100 ‘ but The hornet is a great bike
Yes, they are! That motor was incredibly reliable in the CBR900RR and even more so with the milder tune of the 919. Cheers!
does the power commander make that much difference ? we had a courier in the local town with 250000 km on his , not really touched
@CarkeekW If you change the exhaust to a full system, then a Power Commander is highly recommend. It will benefit a stock bike but not as much. Cheers!