Honda CB 599 Hornet reviews

I am the first and only owner of this Honda CB 350. It has been fun bike to ride. I have enjoyed many trouble-free miles. I have had no problems. It has never been laid down and has had no crashes of any kind. It has always been garage kept and covered. It has not been ridden and properly stored for 14 years as I am unable to ride anymore. The engine still turns over. It will need new tires and possibly some other work in order to pass state inspection. Clean Pennsylvania Title and current registration. Show less

I’ve had my 2014 Honda CB1100 for a while now, and it’s been a solid, dependable ride. What drew me to this bike in the first place was its blend of classic styling with just enough modern touches. It’s got that vintage look but doesn’t make you feel like you’re sacrificing performance or reliability. Speaking of reliability, this bike has never left me stranded. I’ve kept up with regular maintenance, replaced the battery, and recently put on new tires, and it’s been running smoothly without any hiccups. The engine crash cage I installed also gives me that extra bit of confidence when I’m out on the road. When it comes to quality, Honda did a good job with the overall build. The bike feels sturdy and well-made. However, I’ll admit the stock seat wasn’t the most comfortable for long rides. After a few trips where I found myself squirming after a couple of hours, I swapped it out for a Corbin seat, which made a world of difference. If you’re planning on doing some serious riding, that’s one upgrade I’d highly recommend. Performance-wise, the CB1100 is just what I was looking for. It’s not a high-speed monster, but it’s got plenty of power for city rides and handles itself well on the highway. It’s a versatile bike that can do a bit of everything, which is exactly what I needed. Great for starters and enthusiasts. Comfort-wise, it’s pretty good overall, especially with the new seat. The upright riding position is comfortable, but again, if you’re doing long-distance rides, you might want to make a few tweaks here and there to suit your needs. Not having cruise control options could make long-distance traveling slightly less enjoyable. All in all, I’d recommend the 2014 Honda CB1100 to anyone looking for a bike that’s reliable, versatile, and easy to maintain. It’s not going to blow you away with raw power, but it’s got that classic charm and solid performance that makes it a joy to ride. Show less

I bought my CB1100 new from the local Honda dealer in 2014. It replaced my 2007 BMW F800. For the first few years I used it as a daily driver (I didn't own a car at that time), commuting to work, and for weekend excursions with friends (Harley riders) into the winding roads of the Texas hill country. First of all, the CB 1100 is a beautiful motorcycle with the street cred to hang with my Harley buddies. Second, the performance is astonishing. The in-line four pulls strong off the line and doesn't quit. The power delivery of this liter bike is smooth at all engine revs, and there is more of it than I ever use on city streets and highways. This bike never squawks or complains about anything. I can relax and enjoy the ride, or when I want to quicken the pace, my CB1100 is right there with me, eager to go. As a daily commuter the bike is very comfortable and practical. I'm average height (5'-10") and can say it is easy to put both feet flat on the ground. The idle speed is a quiet and gentle purr. In first gear the bike just rolls happily along with almost no throttle input. Twist your wrist, though, and the massive engine comes alive instantly. What fun! Reliability has been great; no problems as all. Fuel mileage is solid at about 42 miles per gallon, and usable range is around 150 miles before you feel like it's time to refuel. What could be better? This bike checks all the right boxes for riders like me who love to enjoy the open road, sharing good times with other motorcycle enthusiasts. Show less

Wanted something easy to do maintenance on that was cheap. For me a Sunday driver was what I was looking for and this hit the bill. Show less

I first owned a 2006 Kymco 250cc Venox. I had it for two years and I would still have it if I had a garage. I really did not need "more of a bike" as many say they do...believe me you can get in enough trouble with a 250cc...on to the 599. I found my 2006 Honda 599 at a local shop in 2010 with 1800 miles on it and for $4500. This is by far the best decision I have ever made and has everything you could want. I have had it up to 144 mph. If this is not fast enough for you and you call this "not enough", you might want to think about actually getting onto two wheels. I will agree compared to a CBR600RR it lacks in the adjust-ability of the front and rear shocks and the true top end speed, but I just don't have the need for playing around with all that stuff. The bike is simple, a real looker and loads of fun to ride both in the city and on the highway. I rode her up to Vermont for a cup of coffee last week and averaged about 132 mph. on the highway and even the riders on cruisers gave me the thumbs up. Show less

I've owned a bunch of bikes, but I stopped looking since I've had this one. Never a problem. In the years that I've owned it I've replaced the tires a few times, plugs, oil, filter and one dead blinker bulb. Biggest issue is the battery. Leave your light on by error for 10 minutes and you are looking at a push start. It's real fussy about starting with a cold engine on a hot day until you figure out how to caress the choke. The exhaust is pretty much pure death. You don't want to stand behind one while it idles. The tank is a small. You'll stop many times for gas on a highway run, but you'll want to anyway as the legs get a bit cramped from the rear-sets. It's brilliant in the city. Decent low end off the lights without the need to rev to the moon. It runs nice and quiet in 'stealth' mode at about 5 to 6k rmp, but if you wick it up a bit it wakes up and screams a nice song. It'll lift the wheel from a start for the first couple gears if you get in the power. The wind from this 'naked' is not an issue until you hit about 140kmph. You can ride around all day at 'normal' highway speed without much trouble. The buffeting is less on this bike then many bikes with screens. (DO NOT BUY A MINI SCREEN, you'll rip that junk off to reduce the buffeting if you do). It could use about 10 more HP, but couldn't they all once you get used to them? If you are a larger person (I'm only 135lbs) you'll maybe want to consider the 919 for the extra juice. All in all, I have zero regrets with this buy and I'm too afraid to sell it to buy a new one which will probably not be as fine as my 599. :) In yellow of course :) Show less

2004-599, my second bike. Purchased new in 2005. Now with 45,000km. Used for everyday commuting, never a problem, just the usual wear items changed (brakes, tires, chain) and regular oil changes, otherwise all original. You cannot beat Honda reliabilty. I've been riding for 0ver 20 years (first bike was an '83 Honda CM450E, retired in 2005, still ran, but I wanted an upgrade, tired of front drum brakes!) I prefer standard naked street bikes! Hate cruisers and not a big fan of super-sport bikes. The 599 is a great bike, period. Show less

From a stable of 6 bikes from various classes, and the father of a motorcycle mechanic, I've sampled quite a fare of bikes in the last 30+ years. I purchased this new in 4/06. It has been reliable, comfortable and exhilarating ever since. My son raced it at a local drag strip and was able to get consistent 11.9 second passes at @ 118 mph, so it's no slouch either. And in the hands of an experienced rider this ride should give sport bikes fits - especially in the corners. Yeah, there is some old technology in there, but it works fine for me, and I can find it in the parking lot amongst the sea of Harleys and sport bikes. It is a true motorcycle by my measure. Show less

I have ridden this bike for approx a year and 3 months. I have ridden it on 2 rides that were over 400 miles in one day. First, I'll comment on the reliability of the bike. that's perfect. Enough said. Second I'll comment on the performance. I am 46 years old and I enjoy speed, in fact I enjoy very spirited riding. I have ridden motorcycles since I was young and consider myself to be a very experienced rider. This bike will allow 99% of all riders to maximize their ability. Those that ride beyond the limits of this bike truly need an RR style bike. Third, I'll comment on comfort. Coming from a cruiser this bike is not extremely comfortable. Coming from an RR style bike, this thing is a cream puff. The nice thing about the bike is that even though you are canted slightly forward, once you get moving (30 mph or better) the wind coming over the bike really supports your chest. The Honda mini-shield (I have a 2004 model) does wonders for smoothing the air flow. The bike is extremely comfortable riding long distances on the highway. The wind supports your body weight and you can seemingly ride forever. Your butt will suffer with the 2004 model however after about 2 hours solid in the seat, but I understand that the 2006 model is a little better. I'd like to get an aftermarket seat for the bike. Fourth, I'll comment on the quality of the bike. It's perfect. Enough said. Show less

My 599 is my very first bike. I have never ridden anything before, I got on it in the parking lot of Hayden and killed it about 3 times and then I just took off. Very easy to learn how to ride. I think I made a very good choice on the 599 for my first bike, I LOVE IT. I've put just over 400 miles on it in my first 4 days of riding. It has a lot of power and yet very clean to ride. I plan on keeping this bike for 2 years and swithcing up to the Honda ST1300, the bike that I really wanted but decided it wouldn't be a good idea to spend so much on my first bike. I love Honda. Show less