Honda’s CB 900 naked machine was released earlier this year . Seaside Motorcycles’ Steven Fisher has started to get some good results from the machine in the FX NakedBike class.
Out of the crate the Hornet comes with a 919cc Fireblade derived engine complete with fuel injection. Well known ex-racer, now turned tuner, Geoff Winzer, went to work on the motor which now makes ‘over 160 horsepower at the rear wheel’, says Geoff with a sly grin.
The 36mm Hornet throttle bodies were swapped for the 40mm items found on the 929 Fireblade, these feed through a heavily ported cylinder head. The airbox has been ditched and the throttle bodies now inhale directly through small intake trumpets.
Fireblade race cams work on standard valves via race-kit springs. A MOTEC engine management system controls the fuel delivery and spark, while a Fireblade radiator helps keep the show nice and cool. Staintune supply the twin high-rise mufflers.
929 Fireblade instruments sit behind a ‘Honda Genuine Accessories’ screen.
CBR 600 fork cartridges have been slotted in to the front of Hornet along with 1kg springs and is shimmed the same as their previous 929 race machine with 10w fork oil.
A heavy 19-kg spring works in conjunction with an Ohlins shock. The shock is actually for a ’97 Fireblade but has been cut and shortened by 10mm.
The machine is still in it’s early stages of race development, which has been only achieved over the past few weeks, but already the bike is recording 1-minute-39 lap times around Eastern Creek with Steve at the controls. There should be a lot more to come.
