Topic: Honda 919

[dummkauf]

The Honda 919 has made my list of bike's that I'm researching for my next purchase(probaly this winter or next spring sometime) and I'm curious what the folks on this site think of it and any personal experience you may have with it.

So far every review I have found online has been all good, so I'm curious if this holds true for any current owners of the bike as well, or if there are any good reasons to stay away from it?  I'm assuming there has to be atleast a couple owners on this site

Would any current owner's out there recommend it, would you buy another one yourself, and if not why?
I am also looking to buy one that's a couple years old; are there any years to avoid?
Any known issues with the bike to look for when buying used?
Any other random info you may have about the bike?

What I like about it thus far:
- Currently I am riding a 500cc so I am looking for something with more power for my next bike and the 919 meets this requirement
- looks like it has a nice comfy seat good for long rides and my daily commute, but yet has enough sportyness to it for my weekend joy rides. 
- Geared for low end power.  I don't race and have no intention of racing on public roads so I much prefer my power between 0-70mph to get up to speed as quickly as possible   and could really care less about top end acceleration
- Good gas mileage
- Seems to be the modernized version of my CB750 I am working on for my cafe racer project, which would be kind of cool to own the old and the new
- It's a naked bike!  I am currently riding a naked bike so the wind won't be an issue for me.  Note that I am only looking at naked bike's.
- I am assuming it has Honda's reliablity which would make it a reliable, trouble free vehicle.
- A lot cheaper than the other naked sport bike's I've been looking at.

My list of potential new rides as of right now:
1.) Honda 919
2.) Triumph Speed Triple
3.) Aprilia Shiver SL750
4.) Buell Firebolt
5.) Buell Lightning
6.) Ducati Sport Classic Biposto
7.) Ducati Monster

Just doing some my homework right now, and still need to see if I can arrange some test drives, or wait for a demo day, of the various bike's but any info on the honda would be great!

[rbmgf7]

i know a guy down the road that owns one. says it's pretty darn comfortable especially on the hwy. he's not into "crotch rockets" but he made this one a exception. plenty of power.

the triumph would be one of my ones to own. those things are super bada$$

[unkle fester]

don't forget the Suzuki SV650.......tons of torque......comfortable......loved mine....v-twin...naked.......brand new 6 grand.....can't beat it........

[dummkauf]

I see you have 2 Buell's on the list; have you ever checked into the City X?

I thought that the lightning was the City X??
I think they just quit calling it the City X at some point and just went with lightning, or just refer it is an XB9SX on the Buell forums I hang out at.  That 500cc'er I'm riding now is the Buell Blast which is a fun little ride and I am still debating hanging onto it for a commuter since it gets great mileage but I just don't see myself riding it that often with a new bike in the garage

[dummkauf]

don't forget the Suzuki SV650.......tons of torque......comfortable......loved mine....v-twin...naked.......brand new 6 grand.....can't beat it........

That's a nice bike, and I may have to see if I can find one I can take for a test ride, but I initially excluded it since I've been looking in the 750+ engine sizes.(yes I know cc's aren't everything)

[DarkRider]

Whats the Blast like to ride? The City X was a more streetfighter version of the Lightning. It has handguards and headlight guards as well as a shorter seat if i recall right.

[dummkauf]

Whats the Blast like to ride? The City X was a more streetfighter version of the Lightning. It has handguards and headlight guards as well as a shorter seat if i recall right.

It's a Blast!!!  sorry....had to

I love it, it's a little small so unless you're a shorter person(I'm 5'11") I wouldn't recommend taking it on too long of a trip.  I've maxed almost 300 miles in one day on it once and was a bit cramped after that.  Otherwise it handles very well, it's light and can turn on a dime. It's also a single cylinder thumper so you aren't gonna win any races or impress anyone, other than Buell enthusiasts, with it but that's not why I got it.  It's great if you're lookinf for a cheap commuter.  I have an 01' that had 2,700 miles on it when I got it and I only paid $2,000 for it.  I get in the mid to upper 60mpg's when I commute to work during the week(mostly freeway) and get mid 50mpg's when I'm out and about with it on the weekends with the throttle wide open. Another very nice benefit of using it for a commuter are the tires are small and you don't need a high speed rating(top speed 96mph).  I replaced the stock dunlop's with Pirelli's(much  much much better tires) and the rear cost $60, front cost $40....and no those aren't missing any 0's

The only mods I've done to it is replaced the stock handlebars and mirrors.  I got a set of superbike bars for $12 online and strongly recommend these bars for the bike.  Handles much better, plus they don't stick up as much so they vibrate a hell of a lot less than the stock(they call em' thumpers for a reason) and I personally think they look better.  There's a couple of pics of the new bars up on my site right after I installed them at http://www.thesandmann.com/index.php/motorcycles/buell-blast/35-buell-blast/47-new-handle-bars  The vibration also goes away once the RPM's go up.

[eengler2]

I've owned two Buells '99 M2 and '03 Lightening. Also, ridden my friends 919. Even though the lightening and 919 are both naked bikes they are different animals.

The Buell--virtually no maintenance. hydraulic valves (no adjustments to make) and belt drive (no chain oiling, adjusting). Just gas and go. Also, the 984cc and 1203cc are also different. The 1203 has brutal off idle torque in such a small chassis 52.5" wheelbase, most 600cc sportbikes are 3" longer!!! The 984 doesn't wake up until 3000rpm but it pulls to redline at 7500...7500rpm on a harley based twin! Buy one used and you'll get your money back out of it. Look for a deal, and make money, like I did on each of mine. Surprisingly comfortable. I've done over 650miles in a day on mine and a separate 1200 mile 3-day weekend.
 
The 919--smmoooothhhh power. Rolling on the throttle will gently bring the front end peacifully in the air. Relaxed chassis. Will not change direction as quickly as the Buell. Resale?

[fixahonda]

I've ridden a 919 and liked it very much.
They are a decent sized bike so they aren't quite as tossable as the 600RR I was riding at the time, but not too slow as to call it sluggish.
They are very torquey and very fast. These naked bikes with detuned supersport engines are fun. Smooth liquid power delivery with a nice but not ridiculous top end. Cheap to pick up second hand too.

Come to think of it, it was a lot like a baby version of the ZRX1200. Another (almost) naked with a detuned SS motor.

[dummkauf]

I've owned two Buells '99 M2 and '03 Lightening. Also, ridden my friends 919. Even though the lightening and 919 are both naked bikes they are different animals.

The Buell--virtually no maintenance. hydraulic valves (no adjustments to make) and belt drive (no chain oiling, adjusting). Just gas and go. Also, the 984cc and 1203cc are also different. The 1203 has brutal off idle torque in such a small chassis 52.5" wheelbase, most 600cc sportbikes are 3" longer!!! The 984 doesn't wake up until 3000rpm but it pulls to redline at 7500...7500rpm on a harley based twin! Buy one used and you'll get your money back out of it. Look for a deal, and make money, like I did on each of mine. Surprisingly comfortable. I've done over 650miles in a day on mine and a separate 1200 mile 3-day weekend.
 
The 919--smmoooothhhh power. Rolling on the throttle will gently bring the front end peacifully in the air. Relaxed chassis. Will not change direction as quickly as the Buell. Resale?

Don't worry, the Buell's are not out of my site's yet.  I just decided I need to look at some other bike's since currently all I've owned is my Blast.  Although we'll see what I wind up with when I'm done with all of my research and the time comes to buy.

Thanks for the input!

[DarkRider]

Thanks for the Imput on the Blast..have been looking at them for awhile now..Im 6'2 so it might be a bit of a squeeze unless i fit something like a CR high bend handle bar or a CR low bend handle bar with risers either way not much of an issue. Over the time i have been looking at the blasts i have managed to find a couple sites that offer some nice parts for them to up the power.

As for the 919 if i recall right its a detuned CBR 900RR fireblade engine in a naked chassis like the 599 is a detuned CBR 600 engine

[dummkauf]

Thanks for the Imput on the Blast..have been looking at them for awhile now..Im 6'2 so it might be a bit of a squeeze unless i fit something like a CR high bend handle bar or a CR low bend handle bar with risers either way not much of an issue. Over the time i have been looking at the blasts i have managed to find a couple sites that offer some nice parts for them to up the power.

As for the 919 if i recall right its a detuned CBR 900RR fireblade engine in a naked chassis like the 599 is a detuned CBR 600 engine

Also, if you are looking for a blast as a project bike talk to some of the harley shops.  I know they use the Blast for their Rider's Edge Course(this is the Harley equivelant to the MSF course) and they usually sell off the used bike's pretty cheap....granted they have usually been dropped numerous times, but the Blast will take a very serious beating and get up still running, or so I've been told by folks who have seriously crashed them anyway.  Also, if anyone is looking for Buell specific info check out http://www.badweatherbikers.com they provided me with tons of info and is to Buell's what this forum is to the Honda SOHC's

Check out the thumper section for Blast info and EZBlast on there has ripped apart and tweaked the blast more than Eric Buell himself(you can also check out his "Dart Maul" and his other blast(can't think of the second one's name right now)

[DCopp]

april shiver no question at all.

[dummkauf]

april shiver no question at all.

Any reasoning behind that?

[eurban]

april shiver no question at all.

April shivers bring may flowers . . .Or something like that.
Guess you meant the Aprilia Shiver?