All Duels – Duel CBR650F vs CBR600RR: enemy sisters? – Circuit test: Carole’s verdict

Posted on by admin

Duel CBR650F vs CBR600RR: enemy sisters ?

All Duels - Duel CBR650F vs CBR600RR: enemy sisters? - Circuit test: Carole's verdict

Updated in 2013, the CBR600RR saw a CBR650F land this year in its box. Should Honda’s – real – Supersport fear competition from this new sports bike? To find out, Site confronted them on the road and circuit.

Circuit test: Carole’s verdict

As the CBR650F and CBR600RR do not have an on-board chronometer, the Site editorial staff will unfortunately not know if it has passed "under the minute to Carole" on their handlebars … But one thing is certain: if it failed with the 600RR, it necessarily failed with the 650F.

Without even resorting to a timesheet, the observation is obvious: a confirmed rider – MNC testers do not pretend to be real pilots! – turns significantly faster when riding the Supersport. Several factors come into play…

The first and most tangible on the track is the terrible reach of the RR! By maintaining his little 599 cc high in the towers, the pilot of the "double R" leaves no chance for the pilot of the "simple F": the cavalry tumbles past 8000 rpm while the pot roars more beautifully..

The driver of the CBR650F may pull the gears above 11,000 rpm, nothing helps: his – old – boyfriend moves away irresistibly! "What I put in the straight line, my poor man! We feel that your brèle is less powerful and heavier", will not fail to underline the owner of the RR at the end of the first session.

Thanks to Circuit Carole !

The MNC editorial team would like to thank the entire Circuit Carole team for providing us with its infrastructure, allowing us to carry out this comparison in the best conditions. !

  • For more information :

For his part, the driver of the 650F can claim to have lost precious meters in the first straights by stumbling against a too hard selection. But the excuse is not very clever and is especially valid for a time, the change of gears on the fly and full load is possible on condition of being sufficiently firm..

The ratios of the box of the RR, closer than those of the F, facilitate all the relaunching of the engine which finally shows on the circuit its true face … In these optimal conditions of safety, the 87 horses and 211 kg of the streamlined roadster are no match for the 120 hp and 186 kg of the Supersport. Or 106 hp, rather…

Franco-French clamping requires, the last 2000 laps of the CBR600RR tachometer are to be avoided. We still take great pleasure in whipping this 599 cc. Note also that with him, the impression of being stolen by the French State is less than on more pointed motorcycles like the R6, or much more powerful like the S1000RR or ZX-10R.

To get the best out of their "little 600" and try to improve their pace on the track, the trackers would no doubt have appreciated that Honda had originally equipped its Supersport with a shiftlight system. And "backpackers" would have liked it to be adjustable, in order to adapt it to the French version of their homologated motorcycle. !

Fortunately, the RR’s centrally positioned analog tachometer lets the rider know exactly where it is at a glance. The F’s digital tachometer is much less practical because it is shifted to the left and less readable, especially at the start or end of the day when the sun can hit the screen directly..

On the contrary, the lack of a gear indicator light will upset inexperienced bikers or those who are venturing out on the circuit for the first time! The others will continue to manage their gear changes by ear, like in the good old days.

The Supersport Rvanche

At the controls of the CBR600RR, MNC reaches higher maximum speeds than on the F: the 200 km / h mark is largely crossed at the end of Carole’s two straights, but not with the F. As a result, the brakes have more much to do on the Supersport.

On the Parisian circuit where three heavy braking follows one another, the right lever of the "double R" ends up showing signs of fatigue, while that of the "single" F is ready to continue, despite the rather high outside temperature. at the end of the morning: between 25 and 30 ° at sight … under the armpits !

The CBR650F is not a better braking machine, however. During heavy braking in particular, the ABS (non-disconnectable series) creates interference: the distances then lengthen by a meter or two depending on the bumps, and makes the pilot miss the point of the rope..

On the CBR600RR, it is precisely at the chord point that you can deviate from its trajectory, the fault of the injection being a little too abrupt. As long as the pilot hesitates and plays with the gas, and it is several decimeters that he deviates from his traj ‘…

It is not only on the mechanical level that the "double R" supplants the "simple F": the sportier position of the pilot also finds its full meaning on the circuit, allowing the pilot to settle down wonderfully. Hands, wrists, elbows, torso, pelvis, buttocks, knees, ankles: all limbs and joints naturally follow the contours of the motorcycle.

The chemistry is incomplete aboard the CBR650F. The higher handlebars, in particular, forced to break the inner wrist to properly bend the arm and lower the bust as much as possible. Likewise, the footrests are a little too low, limiting ground clearance in curves..

Even beginners risk getting their boots rubbed. Especially beginners in fact, since they often do not fit their feet enough and do not dare to wiggle their hips to the maximum, thus increasing the risk of rubbing boots or footrests..

The CBR600RR also stands out from its rival by its agility. The machine is so incisive that to ward off any steering under acceleration, Honda fitted it with an electronic steering damper which makes the steering perfectly loose in the paddocks, but locks it in when needed on the track..

Curve entries are faster on the RR. On his handlebars, the pilot crosses the pif-paf "Bravo" then performs the climb to the left double "Delta" with disconcerting ease … limit annoying for his comrade who fights a little more on the handlebars of the F !

The dimensions of the "road" are more generous than those of the "sport" (wheelbase and caster angle mainly, see the technical sheet at the end of the article), which promotes stability. But beware: the CBR650F does not necessarily pass for an anvil !

Moreover, if according to the Honda scale the F weighs 25 kg more than the RR, on the handlebars we would rather estimate the difference at around 15 kg … And this difference would be significantly less with equal equipment, since the C-ABS sportsman weighs, remember, 10 kg.

Stuck to the ground and to the trajectory that the pilot submits to it, the phenomenal front axle of the CBR600RR traces ultra precise curves. The F, whose softer fork varies the turning radius more, is less rigorous and reacts more strongly to the grip and release of the brakes. It is nevertheless reassuring for beginners.

At the exit of the curve, same story: the pure pistarde allows you to go around earlier and stronger than the sports road. The CBR600RR tows perfectly, so much so that the lack of traction control goes unnoticed … in the French version. We further regret the absence of an antidribble which would have kept the rear axle perfectly in line during the most hasty downshifts..

The pilot is a little less serene at the controls of the F. The support of his rear wheel on the tarmac does not seem as solid and reliable as with the RR. A short escape from the S20 in the parabolic thus damaged Site‘s capital confidence during the penultimate session..

In the ultimate outing – hot tires, bikes and riders – it becomes clear that the CBR600RR remains the princess of the track within the Honda lineup (the Fireblade being the queen). In addition, its position is certainly "sporty" is not wearing and its excellent front end works wonders both on the circuit and on the road..

The price of the machine is therefore up to its performance. The cost of ABS, as well as its weight, are on the other hand much too high, especially since the arrival on Hypersport motorcycles of Bosh or Nissin systems half the price and ultra light..

Conversely, the floor price of the CBR650F is precisely its most powerful asset! Its engine, as full as a "nine … hundred", is undoubtedly in second position, followed closely by the excellent general behavior of the bike and its sporty appearance..

Unfortunately, this brand new Honda is criticized for its driving pleasure on the road that is far from extraordinary due to its insufficient protection and, above all, its omnipresent vibrations … The world number one had not accustomed us to this, this "dear" CBR600RR can attest to this !

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *