Honda 919 (CB900F)

[DrtRydr23]

General (or specific) opinions about this bike?

[werase643]

it's a HONDA
it's about damn bombproof

[jserio]

honda does make strong, reliable vehicles. as for the 919, it doesn't appeal to me personally. but to each his own. 

[bombadillo]

check out the ratings of the thing.   
110 horsepower will be a small upgrade from a gs

[slowinthestraights]

I sat on one.. extremely boring riding position. I like my Z1000 much better.. has more power too, and its not really a 1000, more like a 954 i believe

[GeeP]

Very comfortable riding position.  I'm torn between a naked SV and a 599.  Don't really want the extra 22 HP of the 599, but the seating position is totally standard ie bolt upright.  Plus, it's a naked.   

Can't find any used to test ride, they were discontinued this year. 

[DrtRydr23]

I sat on one.. extremely boring riding position. I like my Z1000 much better.. has more power too, and its not really a 1000, more like a 954 i believe

Really? They appear to be almost identical.  The Z1000 might have slightly lower handlebars, but otherwise they seem pretty much the same to me.  The only real difference, besides HP, is that the 919 doesn't look like it belongs in a cartoon.  The gearing probably different too.  If I remember right, the 919 redlines around 9.5k.  I've also heard that it doesn't pull very well above 80 mph.

[DrtRydr23]

Can't find any used to test ride, they were discontinued this year. 

Yeah, I noticed that.  A local dealer had a new 06 for about 7 grand a while back.  There is a guy on ebay selling one used and asking $6500 to buy now.  He said he set the reserve at the trade in value, which is around $4500 according to KBB.  It's too bad they only offer the 06 and 07 models in red.  Not a huge fan of the red.

There are only 4 or so on ebay.  People must like them, or not many people bought them.  Probably the latter, since it's d/c'd.

[GeeP]

  If I remember right, the 919 redlines around 9.5k.  I've also heard that it doesn't pull very well above 80 mph.

Buuull shaZam!!   

Maybe compared to a fully faired 180HP liter bike, yeah...  95HP is still a shaZam! load of power at the wheel for a street bike.  Only too often the press and riders alike judge sport-standards by the same set of rules they judge the latest track-ready rocket.  Unfortunately, not all riders want to break the interstate speed limit in first gear, ride 150 miles between long breaks, or squeeze into the fetal position and hump the gas tank.  So of course, a standard will lose some of the qualitites of a race bike.  However, it will also gain something:  Practicality.   

[DrtRydr23]

  If I remember right, the 919 redlines around 9.5k.  I've also heard that it doesn't pull very well above 80 mph.

Buuull shaZam!!   

Maybe compared to a fully faired 180HP liter bike, yeah...  95HP is still a shaZam! load of power at the wheel for a street bike.  Only too often the press and riders alike judge sport-standards by the same set of rules they judge the latest track-ready rocket.  Unfortunately, not all riders want to break the interstate speed limit in first gear, ride 150 miles between long breaks, or squeeze into the fetal position and hump the gas tank.  So of course, a standard will lose some of the qualitites of a race bike.  However, it will also gain something:  Practicality.   

I never said that it was a bad thing.  I was just listing other possible differences btw it and the Z1000.  I'm not knocking it's drivability.  It's supposed to be geared so that commuting and city riding are much easier than on supersports.  I also can appreciate the ergos of a standard bike.  I've only sat on a 919, but the riding position feels very comfortable.  I think it would be a great bike for my purposes, which is why I was asking for peoples' opinions about it.

The same dealer that had the 06 for $7000 also had a used 599 that had been down on its right side.  It had sliders, so there was no casing damage, but the pipes and tank had some damage.  I would have test rode it, but I took my truck there to buy parts and did not have any of my gear.  It is the only 599 that I have seen that wasn't on ebay.

[bettingpython]

The 919 is the old CBR900RR motor, Yeah it has 81cc's less than a ZZR1000....

Your not gonna miss those 81cc's trust me.

Excellent machine typical honda quality plus a tried and true motor package that is popular in the stunting community because of it's proven durability.

You can never go wrong with a Honda IMHO

[GeeP]

I never said that it was a bad thing.  I was just listing other possible differences btw it and the Z1000.  I'm not knocking it's drivability.  It's supposed to be geared so that commuting and city riding are much easier than on supersports.  I also can appreciate the ergos of a standard bike.  I've only sat on a 919, but the riding position feels very comfortable.  I think it would be a great bike for my purposes, which is why I was asking for peoples' opinions about it.

No, I understand.  Maybe I came across a little err...  harsh.  Wasn't my intent.  It just seems like the motorcycle community bashes naked bikes whenever possible because the performance is just a tad off a race replica. 

Me, I'm torn between an SV-650 and a 599/919.  Haven't been able to get a test ride on any of them, so I'll probably just have to guess which one I'll like the most.  Anybody have a dart board I can borrow?   

[spc]

I test rode a 919.  As far as available power and comfort,  it's superb.  The bike is comfortable and has excellent power delivery from the bottom to the top of the RPM range.  The only complaint I had was suspension was quite mushy, a problem for larger riders.  I've also heard this complaint about the 599.
Hey Geep:  HiltonHeadMotorsports.com  has an 04 yellow 599 and when I requested a qoute they told me 3100.    just figured I'd let you know, don't know if it's too far for you.