Hornet 742T

Advantages: Great VFM new or used, heaps of performance
Disadvantages: Small poxy fuel tank, soft front end, clunky gearbox

...Why and how We bought our Hornet: After a 7 year 40,000 mile love/hate relationship with our big V-Twin, came to an abrupt end on Easter Sunday 1999 (total write off), We, bike-less with £4000 of insurance money and savings burning a hole in our pocket, were looking for something reliable, easy to maintain and preferably a half or no fairing as we were sick of spending hours removing the previous bike's panels just to check the oil level or spark plug gaps!!. Oh, yes, it also had to cruise at the 'Ton' 2 up and be fun to ride. We chose the Hornet because it looked great, the finish was better than its rivals (Fazer, Bandit, SV650), and the price at £3900 OTR (Tilsons of Stockton) was £500 lower than anyone else was offering locally. Handling & ride: Fun, Fun, Fun, this bike brought out the hooligan far more than any of the other... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Cheap to insure, pretty nippy, rarity value
Disadvantages: Rare! Parts hard to find, costly if you find them!

...What can I say? The 250cc Honda Hornet was the first of the Hornet range although nobody seems to know it! Many have never heard of it, or say "Sorry, 250? Never knew they made one." when you tell them as it's a Japanese domestic model, and never imported to the UK officially. It was demand for these 250 models that made Honda think there was a market in the rest of the World for these funky streetfighter bikes with their fat tyres (even on the 250 it's a 180x55/17 back tyre)and they decided to produce the 600cc version, and then the 900cc one, but they're different stories! The thing that appealed to me most was that the insurance was so much cheaper than for the 600cc version, and the bikes are virtually identical apart from the engine. Many parts are shared by the two bikes but it's the ones that aren't shared that are hard... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: fast bike which drives good in all conditions
Disadvantages: cant think of any

...was to change the exhaust which gave the hornet about 10 bhp more and it also meant that you didn't have to change gears all the time if you want to accelerate quickly. This bike is cheap in the incurrence which is a big advantage. so my conclusion is that if you want a nice fast bike which still gives you an experience fro life this bike is the right one to buy.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful