Honda Hurricane 1000?

[bpreynolds]

I have recently been scoping many older sport tourers to add to the garage. My idea is to get something as a specifically solo mount for me that would allow me to munch many miles while still keeping a smile on my face and a song in me heart. I’m about 140lbs wet and in order to do the latter, the bike would need to be smaller than the larger sport tourers like the FJR and such which for me and my size, I’ve just found too heavy. Gimme a break, I’m puny.

I’ve looked mostly at Triumph Sprints but I’ve long entertained a lingering fancy with Honda’s CBR 1000F (Hurricane). Anyone here have any experience with these and can report?

[krglorioso]

You need a smaller garage.

[bpreynolds]

You need a smaller garage.

  ;D Or an attitude adjustment.  As my wife often asks, “Why can’t you just be happy with the ones you have?” and I always respond “But I am happy with the ones I have. I’d be happier even with another one beside them.”

[mgmark]

Nice bike; big, heavy, fast.
You could also look at the VFR800. Nice bike also, not as large or heavy, goes fast, goes far, comfortable.

[andrewdonald1]

Nice bike; big, heavy, fast.
You could also look at the VFR800. Nice bike also, not as large or heavy, goes fast, goes far, comfortable.

 :+1 :+1

[rocker59]

I can't imagine the headache of trying to source parts and service for a Honda built 1987-1988.

No way I'd want one for my touring bike.

The CBR1000F Hurricane was not among the lightest of sport-tourers, weighing around 520-lbs.  It did have 130bhp, so was a fast machine.

If light is a major factor in your decision, there are lots of bikes out there you can sport-tour on that weigh less than 500lbs and are more serviceable than a nearly 27-28 years old Japanese bike.

[jas67]

 ;D Or an attitude adjustment.  As my wife often asks, “Why can’t you just be happy with the ones you have?” and I always respond “But I am happy with the ones I have. I’d be happier even with another one beside them.”

 ;D

As for your original question, check out a VFR750/800.    The 750's (1986-1997) are carb'd, the 800's (1998-2009, then 2014- "Interceptor") are EFI.
The 1998-2001 are considered by many to be the best, though owners of the 2002-2009 models seem very happy with their bikes as well.
I own a 2001 VFR800, and consider it to be an almost perfect sport tourer.  It's only detraction is that it is chain drive, so, for really long trips, you'll be doing chain maintenance along the way.   The BMW F800ST/GT (listed below) are belt-driven, so, in that respect would be better, but, the 360 degree parallel twin sounds lame compared to a V4.

The early CBR1000 Hurricane are quite heavier than the later CBR1000RR.

Other bikes that should meet your criteria:
BMW F800ST / F800GT
BMW R1200R
Honda CBR600 F4i (or the earlier, carb'd F4) -- these have a more relaxed riding position than the CBR600RR
Honda CBR650F
Kawasaki Ninja 1000
Kawasaki  Z1000
Kawasaki Ninja 650
Kawasaki Versys 1000 (new for 2015)
Kawasaki Versys 650
Suzuki GSR-S1000 / GSR-S1000F (new for 2015)
Suzuki GSR-S750 (new for 2015)
Yamaha FJ09 (just announced)

There are many, many lighter weight nakeds that would make great sport tourers, just add bags:
Aprilia 750 Shiver
Ducati Monster (any/all of 'em)
Kawasaki ER6n
Suzuki SV650 / SVF650
Triumph Street Triple
Triumph Speed Triple
Yamaha FZ07
Yamaha FZ09
Yamaha FZ6, FZ8, FZ1

Many people are very happy touring on "Adventure Touring" bikes (though, these are best for taller riders).
Some if the lighter ones include:
Aprilia Dorsaduro
BMW F700GS, F800GS
Ducati Multistrada
Kawasaki Versys 650
Suzuki V-Strom 650

There are plenty more...

[Sheepdog]

I liked all the big CBRs...particularly the Blackbird. A friend rode a silver 1000 Hurricane back in the late '80s and covered a great deal of real estate with it. He always spoke highly of his bike...

[Aaron D.]

Doesn't the Street Triple do all that?

[bpreynolds]

Doesn't the Street Triple do all that?

 This is funny. Dear, I’m not sure where or how you came up with this Aaron D. moniker but you really should have told your loving husband before you went and joined the board without telling me. Listen wifey, I take out the trash, I rub your back, I have a birthday next week, can’t a guy just give himself something nice??? Please.

[redrider]

This is funny. Dear, I’m not sure where or how you came up with this Aaron D. moniker but you really should have told your loving husband before you went and joined the board without telling me. Listen wifey, I take out the trash, I rub your back, I have a birthday next week, can’t a guy just give himself something nice??? Please.

Silly Rabbit, did you not know women keep score? Watch their eyes dart around the room at any event involving gifts or prizes. I sometimes wonder how much social crap is manipulated by those psychotic, hormone driven banshees. (I just had a tooth extraction and the meds are starting to kick in. I call it the Mel Gibson Moment of Truth.)

[Railroad Bob]

I kept a big Hurricane for a couple of years, riding it in the LA Metro area.
It was flawless until something odd happened at about 11,500 miles.  The
rear axle somehow seized in its aluminum swingarm carrier, spinning in there
and generating enough heat to melt some metal.  Happened on the I-5 Fwy South
at speed; the bike just started s-lo-ww--i-n-g down until it flat froze on the side
of the freeway.  Could not even push the bike!  Luckily I was near an exit ramp
and got to a phone to a rescue squad  (Triple A.) 

The bike was a few months out of warranty, but the Honda ppl in Torrance felt
it was so unusual, they goodwilled the repair job.. Or, I think I paid for the parts
and Honda paid for the labor.  It was a tough dirty repair job; really challenged the shop.
Getting the stuck parts out required big hammers, and lots of brute force.
I sold the bike soon after the incident.

I liked the Hurricane 1000; mine was the silver/gray color.  You had to get used to
the "Pillsbury Doughboy" look though.  Almost a bit like the old Ducati Paso; you sure
couldn't see much of the motor on those bikes!  Once I let it "roll off the sidestand" in
the driveway;  that damaged a lot of the plastic bodywork and broke the clutch lever.

[redrider]

I remember the TV advert-"Even the Ninja must hide from the Hurricane" with that sideways look to the left.

Riding in a group, the guy in front of me banked to the left then right and the heft got the better of him. The bike drifted left and the tires smacked the rider in front of him dead square in the wheels. Exit stage left into the ditch with two broken collar bones. On one guy. First and last ride with those nutters.

[rboe]

Over on the Honda CB1100 forum (the new one, not the classic) several of the guys think very highly of the VFR800; but I'll offer up the CB1100 as something to consider. Does not have the hooligan factor the Griso has, feels much lighter on its' feet than the Griso (even though they are similar in weight) and torque up the whazoo. Some shops still have 2013's so some discounting is done.

[slopokes]

 :+=copcar  royal enfield gt 535-- at least you wouldn't shoot your eye out :BEER: :BEER: :BEER: :BEER:

[father guzzi obrian]

I had a 1990 CBR1000, great sport touring bike, comfy and good for the long haul and no problems with it. Go for the 1990 or newer, wider modern wheels, real forks etc.  Much better handler than the Hurricanes, same basic engine, but more refined chassis and suspension

[Two Checks]

And the Ninjas are SPORT bikes. That's why Mama K made the Concours.

[rocker59]

I had a 1990 CBR1000, great sport touring bike, comfy and good for the long haul and no problems with it. Go for the 1990 or newer, wider modern wheels, real forks etc.  Much better handler than the Hurricanes, same basic engine, but more refined chassis and suspension

Or, move on up to a CB1100XX...

But, the OP wants "light" and all of these are over 500-lbs.

If I wanted a light sport-tourer, I'd be looking at a Ducati ST 2/3/4.

450-lbs and a sporting Italian soul.

A friend has had an ST3 for years, now, and it has been a great bike for him.

The ST4S ABS would be the pinnacle of the line.  Great bikes.

[Aaron D.]

This is funny. Dear, I’m not sure where or how you came up with this Aaron D. moniker but you really should have told your loving husband before you went and joined the board without telling me. Listen wifey, I take out the trash, I rub your back, I have a birthday next week, can’t a guy just give himself something nice??? Please.

Well let's hope for a happy ending, shall we?
A girl can dream..

[Nic in Western NYS]

Or, move on up to a CB1100XX...

But, the OP wants "light" and all of these are over 500-lbs.

If I wanted a light sport-tourer, I'd be looking at a Ducati ST 2/3/4.

450-lbs and a sporting Italian soul.

A friend has had an ST3 for years, now, and it has been a great bike for him.

The ST4S ABS would be the pinnacle of the line.  Great bikes.

The ST2 and ST4s are great bikes in keeping with what the OP was asking for. Never rode an ST3.

[bpreynolds]

Well let's hope for a happy ending, shall we?
A girl can dream..

LOL.  Well played, Aaron  ;D Seriously, it's not like I haven't tried turning the Striple into a sport tourer - and I keep trying.  I submit exhibit A.  A challenge is the seat which I've already had modified to relative benefit but nothing worthy of big mile, sport tourer days.  Even with Spencer's mod around 170 miles and my arse is shooting white flags to infinity.  A seat is relatively easy to fix if you want to spend the dollars, so that's not the biggest issue with the Striple not being an st for me; rather, the biggest issue has been finding a screen that will mount to the bike and be effective for long ride days without turning my neck into jello and giving me a complete bobble wobble - finding a screen that will prevent this and not change the sweet front end handling of the bike.  The Spitfire pictured here is the closest thing I've tried to succeeding but it needs another 2-3 inches probably to send breeze over helmet.  I tried a taller screen but it proved just too heavy and made the front end much less responsive and reliable.  Today I received a Madsted Engineering screen setup and am gonna try it but I can already tell you that it's gonna be too heavy even before I mount it later tonight.

And not to sound like the nasally, whiney butt that I am, there's the issue of the Striple being almost too light.  There is an optimal level to weight and stability I'd like to find.  The Striple will hum along at 90 all day but it will require more energy to keep it there.  I do love the triple engine and the older Sprints have that and a great weight number so I really need to find a ride on one.  The VFR as well, I suppose.  I like Ducatis but I've owned two previously and probably won't go back.  Just not my steed.   

[travelingbyguzzi]

Best mile eater I ever had along those lines was an'84 FJ1100. Very comfortable for me. 1000 mile days were common. I was much younger then.

[jas67]

If I wanted a light sport-tourer, I'd be looking at a Ducati ST 2/3/4.

450-lbs and a sporting Italian soul.

I am so ashamed that I didn't think of the ST2/3/4, though, I was mostly thinking of current models.   Great bikes, all three.  I have a good friend with an ST2, and another with the ST3S -- Ohlins Goodness!

My friend's ST3 has termis on it -- sounds fantastic!

[rzimmerman]

2nd best sport tourer I ever owned. 04 Sport.


Best sport tourer I ever owned. 1999 Triumph Sprint ST 955i

[bpreynolds]

Very, very nice RZ.  I love that triple engine.  And parts seem a plenty.  There is a guy from the ADV board who is selling his one owner 2001 Sprint with around 13k miles at a nice price.  Of course, the older Sprints are all over the place so not difficult to find one per se.  I do know the engine and horsepower were beefed up on the 2003 (and older RS models) to the 130 from the 115, but I can't imagine I am anywhere near the rider to warrant the extra ponies.

[segesta]

Re: the VFR800. A lot of owners prefer the pre-VTEC version (pre 2002?) to the VTEC version, which apparently acted nutty when the extra valves actuated at ~7000 rpm.

[jas67]

Re: the VFR800. A lot of owners prefer the pre-VTEC version (pre 2002?) to the VTEC version, which apparently acted nutty when the extra valves actuated at ~7000 rpm.

I love my 2001 (last year before VTEC).   It has nice linear torque from 4k to 11k RPM.    It is almost deceptively fast, because there is no rush or surge of getting "on cam", or anything like that.

For those who don't follow Honda, in their cars VTEC is their variable valve timing system.   On the VFR800, it isn't really variable valve timing, it is just a system that deactivates half the valves below 7,000 RPM to improve low end torque.   At least in the 2002-2009 bikes (I can't speak for how it works in the new 2014 model) it is pretty much a binary system.  When it activates, all four valves (per each cylinder) are activated, resulting in a sudden increase of power output not unlike a two stroke getting "on pipe."

I haven't ridden the 2002-2009 bikes, so, I can't speak of how it is first hand.    Some seem real annoyed by it, yet others are quite happy with their VTEC VFR800's.

My best advice is to try to get a test ride on each before deciding what to buy.    In the end, buy what speaks to you.   ;-T

[radlefty]

I have nothing to offer about the Hurricane, but I can tell you that my 2007 Sprint St was a phenomenal sport-tourer and the only bike I've ever regretted selling. The 1050 motor is awesome, the ergos were perfect for me and 600+ mile days were relatively easy and it corners better then my abilities allow. I've got a year left of warranty on my K1300s and I'm thinking of going back to a Sprint after that if Moto Guzzi doesn't come out with an updated Lemans.

Biggest gripes people have about the Sprint are crappy highlight, poor rectifier/regulators that usually need replacing sometime after 20,000 miles ( replaced mine at 28,000) and suspension upgrades if you really like to attack the corners.  I'd highly recommend taking a test ride to see if it fits your needs. I really liked my Norge and I enjoy the Kbike but the Sprint just seemed to fit that perfect combination of useable power, good ergos and just all around great SPORT-tourer.  

[rocker59]

I never understood why Honda sent the Interceptor down the path that they did.

From a racebike in '82/'83 as the V45 Interceptor to an almost anonymous mid-size sport-touring bike with no luggage in the VFR800.

I thought the V45 Interceptor was cool back when I was new to streetbikes and riding my 1983 CB650SC Nighthawk.

[bpreynolds]

Which is the bigger shame, the history of the VFR overall or the money, dollars, and development that went into the 1200 only to drop it from the line so soon?  Not a fan of the humpback tank on them but boy oh boy are they finished with some of the most gorgeous paint I have ever seen on a bike.