A Hyper Hornet from BHC Bikes…
The Nineteen Nineties noticed an actual rise of bare middleweight machines, with producers stripping down their 600cc supersports for streetfighter-style motion. The Suzuki Bandit 600 reigned supreme within the class till the introduction of the Honda CB600F Hornet, higher often called the Hornet 600. The bike boasted the identical engine because the CBR600F, retuned for higher midrange, and the bike even had its personal one-make race collection, the Hornet Cup, which supported the British GP:
“Racers cherished the actual fact it was straightforward to arrange, had a enjoyable engine, and was low cost to run. New riders discovered it straightforward to experience and unintimidating, secure and predictable. Europeans cherished its model, it made Suzuki’s Bandit really feel bland, and the Hornet stays vastly in style on the continent.” –MCN
The Hornet earned a repute as top-of-the-line all-around bare bikes ever made, and the mix of racing pedigree, bulletproof reliability, and low barrier of entry has made them a preferred alternative amongst {custom} builders:
“The bike was a superb start line for a wide-range of specials. The truth that many of the bits and items have been from the CBR vary meant updates have been straightforward to seek out and at present you could find tough ones from below a grand…” –Traditional Motorbikes
Enter our new buddies Ian Ogilvie and Steve Higgins of the UK’s BHC Bikes, aka Bar Hopper Customs. Ian is a former Britain’s strongest man competitor who discovered welding and fabrication from of us for whom “doing issues appropriately and doing them nicely was a ceremony of passage,” whereas Steve has spent a lot of his grownup life working for high-end automotive manufacturers in addition to MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, and Indian.
“[Steve] believed {that a} market existed for good high quality, nice trying {custom} bikes that may very well be offered for a value the place individuals wouldn’t be afraid to place some miles on them, however he didn’t know the place to start out. Then he met Ian.”
For the ’99 Hornet 600 you see right here, the goal was clear from the start — to construct a sharper, leaner, extra centered machine. Nicknamed “Vespa Velutina” after the aggressive species of Asian hornet, the bike encompasses a {custom} 1979-style tank, cantilevered subframe with alcantara saddle, and streamlined cockpit with clip-ons, retro clocks, micro switchgear, Ducati clutch cylinder, keyless begin, and extra:
“If you would like a singular bike we expect the rider must see simply that when it’s at all times in your imaginative and prescient.”
From a efficiency standpoint, the inline-four boasts an ECU improve and {custom} exhaust, whereas the inventory airbox has been left intact for optimum tractability. LED lighting, powder-coated finishes, painted logos, and varied custom-fabbed brackets and tweaks spherical out the construct.
Steve says he not too long ago took it on a 160-mile journey and was stunned on the consolation of the bike, although twisty roads is the place the bike actually shines:
“The challenge, merely, was to make the using expertise extra centered and we’ve achieved simply that. The dealing with is because it seems to be. It pitches in so rapidly it’s actually intuitive when placing it by way of its paces on again street blasts or on circuit. Using it on the town is a cinch.”
The bike was featured on the latest Bike Shed Present in London, the place our photographer Roberto Garagarza (@roga______/) bought these indoor images. Beneath, we speak to Steve from BHC for the total particulars on the “Vespa Velutina.”
Honda Hornet Café Racer: Builder Interview
• In regards to the builders:
Ian Ogilvie was old-school schooled in engineering by individuals from an period when doing issues appropriately and doing them nicely was a ceremony of passage. From turning parts and components out of billet on a lathe to the fragile artwork of welding in all its types. No matter he does to a motorcycle, it’s with the view that it’s for use as exhausting and infrequently as you’ll be able to, however he gained’t speak about you behind your again for those who simply need to park it in your lounge.
What to ask: “What did you deadlift and squat to qualify to compete in Britain’s strongest man all these instances?”
Steve Higgins labored in high-end automotive for many of his grownup life with nearly each luxurious and sports activities automotive model you can identify, however between all that he managed to squeeze in some expertise with bikes. MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi and Indian. Like loads of us, lockdown was a wake-up name to make some adjustments and embrace freedom. What higher expression of that than by way of bikes? He believed {that a} market existed for good high quality, nice trying {custom} bikes that may very well be offered for a value the place individuals wouldn’t be afraid to place some miles on them, however he didn’t know the place to start out. Then he met Ian.
• In regards to the bike:
The machine is predicated on a Honda 600 Hornet and made an ideal donor. The Hornet tank may be very distinct, so to transform the profile we fitted a brand new custom-fabricated 1979-style gasoline tank. We had it painted in sweet pearl over pearl white and made positive the emblem was in paint quite than a decal.
We needed to scrub up the cockpit. We expect this can be a large deal as a result of it’s what is correct in entrance you. If you would like a singular bike we expect the rider must see simply that when it’s at all times in your imaginative and prescient. So on went the clip-ons with Domino throttle and grips with drilled levers. A Ducati clutch cylinder (which is simply beautiful to take a look at) was fitted. Retro clock and micro switchgear together with the keyless go button — a transponder actually finishes the job and that shiny chrome gasoline filler cap is a scrumptious bit of knickknack.
The again of the bike is the place the intense engineering comes into play. Because the alcantara diamond stitched seat is cantilevered we needed to make sure it was robust sufficient to assist the rider safely. We examined it with lengthy rides, again street blasts, and it’s proved good.
The bike was lowered by 30mm so matches all riders. The facet stand needed to be minimize down to verify it’s safe when parked up.
We didn’t go down the pod filter route and stored the airbox as a result of we didn’t need to screw reliability and maintain it tractable, however we did do away with the ugly enlargement tank and fitted a brushed aluminium bottle which works completely.
Tail lamps are an LED strip and that floating headlight is supported by a custom-fabricated bracket. Customized exhaust, in fact. We had the engine covers powder-coated black and the rear spring purple to match the tank, however that’s far as we went. The engine has some sincere street patina and makes the bike look (as it’s) a motorcycle to experience, to not reside in a storage. A set of sticky Supercorsa tyres, and an ECU improve and the job was a superb’un.
• What’s the story behind the nickname “Vespa Velutina?”
Vespa Velutina is a species of aggressive hornet. We thought it suited the bike, particularly because it’s based mostly on a Honda Hornet.
• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to experience the finished bike?
The donor bike was good for the challenge, as they’re so good as inventory machines. The challenge, merely, was to make the using expertise extra centered and we’ve achieved simply that. The dealing with is because it seems to be. It pitches in so rapidly it’s actually intuitive when placing it by way of its paces on again street blasts or on circuit. Using it on the town is a cinch.
The tank is so slim you may get loads of straightforward assist out of your legs to take weight off your wrists which comes with the cafe racer, clip-on territory. The seat sits excessive so may have confirmed a problem to riders with a shorter leg size, however the bike has been lowered by 30mm so matches nicely for all riders. I rode it on a 160-mile spherical journey final month. I’m not going to let you know it makes an awesome tourer, however you’d be stunned what number of miles you’ll be able to put below your belt earlier than you’re feeling the necessity to make a consolation cease.
• Is there anybody you’d prefer to thank?
Our ethos is to maintain suppliers as near us as we are able to. We fabricate what we are able to ourselves and only a few of our components are sourced by shopping for immediately from abroad markets, so all our paint, powder coating, metal laser reducing, saddlery, and UK components provide are all inside a brief distance from us. We’d prefer to thank all of them for his or her assist, encouragement and free recommendation once we want it.
Comply with the Builder
Net: www.bhcmotorcycles.com
Instagram: @bhcmotorcycles
Fb: Bar Hopper Customs
Outside Photographer: BHC
Present Photographer: Roberto Garagarza (@roga______/)
