Menus
- 1,800-kilometer test
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- Contact
- In the city
- Highway
- Departmental
- Braking
- Comfort
- Duo
- Convenient
- Consumption
- Conclusion
1,800-kilometer test
Unveiled in 2004, the Honda CBF 600 offers a basic motorcycle, versatile and accessible to young drivers. In 2008, it benefited from a makeover with a new engine including injection and developing 77 horsepower (from the 2007 CBR 600 RR / Hornet and lighter by 5.3 kg), a larger tank (+ one liter ), a fuel gauge, a new frame (lighter than 5 kg), CBS combined braking, HECS3 emission control system and a slight facelift. The objective is always to offer a versatile road, accessible to all, and to pose as a real rival against the Bandit and Fazer..
Discovery
The CBF 600 is in line with the CBF 1000 with a classic line, which failing to trigger passions, is long-lasting. It shouldn’t go out of style quickly. The double frontal optics give it a soft, nice look.
Note the backbone, placed above the engine.
Double height flat seat (adjustable in height in 3 positions), passenger handles, side and central stand, ABS, tie-down hooks, screen (adjustable in height) … everything is included and with the finish.
In the saddle
The wide handlebars of the CBF fall naturally under the hands, without having to bend down. The position is almost upright, even giving an impression of height. Both feet touch the ground for the pilot
of 1.70 m; even the 1.60 pilot can touch the ground with the tips of his feet. The CBF 600 is accessible to small riders.
The rather large reservoir tends to spread the thighs apart. The legs are barely folded over the footrests.
The dashboard offers the counter
speed on the left and the tachometer on the right with a red zone at 11,500 rpm. Mostly analog, some information is displayed digitally: partial double trip,
totalizer and clock. Good point, it displays at the same time the partial trip (on the left) and the time
(to the right).
The gasoline gauge on the right is completely analog. On the left, the ABS and HISS coded key warning lights. The partial trip is reset beyond
of 1,000 km. The warning is triggered easily.
Rectangular mirrors offer an excellent field of vision, very wide.
Their adjustment is easy to adapt easily to the pilot. They maintain all their visibility at high speed.
Contact
The engine snorts in a discreet and serious way. Clutch, start. Knees fit comfortably around the tank.
CBF takes off slowly.
The box is soft and precise. In a word, she quickly forgets herself.
In the city
The CBF agrees to run on all gears, including 1,400 rpm at 30 km / h in 6th gear without complaining. At 50 km / h, it is still only 2,200 rpm. If at this (these) rate (s), the times are nonexistent, it is quite possible to wind quietly without the engine banging and without any risk of stalling. This is called extreme flexibility.
That said, the first accepting to go up to 90 km / h, and the second up to 130 km / h (not in town), the CBF is rather appreciated between the 3rd and the 4th, even under 5,000 rpm. / min.
We will notice just at times, when we are under 4,000 rpm, slight holes in the acceleration, as if she needed to take a breath before leaving. We must then wait, or stay above 5,000 rpm and on a report below.
The maneuverability is at the rendezvous, especially since the weight of 223 kilos (all full facts) and the wide right handlebars, allow all maneuvers from the lowest speeds. The turning radius is satisfactory, even if the CBF does not have the best radius in the category.
Highway
The CBF voluntarily engages on the motorway. At 130 km / h, it is only 6,000 rpm in 6th gear, i.e. 5,500 rpm from the red zone. At this rate, it is just at the limit of the power needed for rapid overtaking. So do not hesitate to drop one or two gears if necessary, especially since the gear ratios of the 3rd, 4th and 5th have been shortened to offer better times, while the 6th is really very long..
Above 130 km / h, it takes 20 km / h every 1,000 rpm and can display a theoretical maximum speed of 230 km / h (on the German motorway).
The bubble offers real and excellent protection at almost any engine speed, even at shameful speeds. Suddenly, she turns out to be an excellent traveler, available for long journeys like a GT.
The protection of the body is also good, the fairing protecting well despite the appearances of the wind and the cold, further reinforced by the slight warm breath from the engine … ideal in cool weather, a little less as soon as the first heat arrives.
Departmental
The CBF gladly finds the departmental,
to stay in sixth and quietly wind up or down two or even three gears, to start
to play within the virolos, taking advantage of the maximum torque above
of 7,000 rpm. Because under 4,500 rev / min, the CBF is rather soft, even hollow, and slow at times. We feel a first better from this first step, then a much better character beyond 7,000 rev / min, speed from which, the engine begins to roar in a more sporty way. So don’t hesitate to whip it to get the most out of it..
Whatever the pace, the CBF remains exemplary of behavior with disconcerting ease, giving the impression of having an autopilot installed at times. In fact, the CBF goes exactly where the gaze goes, without the need to consciously place it or counterbalance it. It really connects wide or tight turns with real ease, effortlessly and in a particularly smooth manner, giving the driver confidence very quickly..
Without prompting to turn the handle, its stability and ease, allow you to climb regularly, without being afraid by disconcerting reactions.
At the category 600 level, in 2008 it became one of the easiest to drive..
Braking
The CBF offers excellent braking, reinforced by the combined CBS. Pressing the rear brake engages both the rear and a front brake piston: effective and particularly safe. As a result, it is impossible to block from the rear, and you could almost drive using only the pedal..
The front brake offers a first part of leverage without reaction, then an excellent bite. If the feeling is not really there, everything is effective and allows you to brake hard, even in wet … on condition that you do not hesitate to pull the lever very hard; anyway the ABS is there and watching. Moreover, day by day, we forget it because you really have to push the bike to its limits to see it engage. It therefore remains discreet but effective.
Comfort
The saddle is firm but the shocks do their job very well. Suddenly, the defects of the road are effectively erased. The CBF therefore turns out to be average in terms of comfort, even if the 350 km break is appreciated. There is always the possibility of making adjustments, in preload at the front and at the rear since the 2008 vintage..
The bubble effectively protects up to illegal speeds,
and does not cause a stir.
Duo
The two-stage saddle offers a high view of the passenger. The wide handles are well placed. The rubberized footrests dampen vibrations quite well. All this allows you to consider long routes for two.
Convenient
The CBF offers a space under the saddle, allowing to slide a lock
and rain pants.
The kickstand folds out and folds easily, no matter what
the ground, offering good stability. The original central stand is appreciated.
Consumption
The CBF is undoubtedly one of the most fuel-efficient 4 cylinders in its category, with an average consumption of 4.5 liters per hundred during the test! With a minimum consumption of 4.15 liters / 100, it is almost difficult to make it consume more than 5 liters per hundred unless you have a really muscular drive in the mountain passes. It then rises to 5.5 liters / 100.
Reservoir well filled, the gauge needle is placed on the first dash after 150 km, the second after 200 km, the central after 250 km, the left one after 320 km, and the zone red is approaching after 360 km! The needle passes under the red bar at the same time as the 400 km! There are then still 3 liters in the tank and more than 50 km of margin! The CBF is a real camel that makes all the 600 cm3 models pale in terms of autonomy, and rightly so..
Conclusion
Really easy to learn, driving alone, light, sober, with good protection, the CBF 600 is a real roadster, comfortable everywhere and for everything. Honda has succeeded in offering a good all-rounder motorcycle, accessible to new licenses and benefiting from the latest technology (engine, ABS-CBS braking, etc.) for a well-placed price at 6,990 euros.
It is difficult to find the slightest flaw in it, even if its line goes everywhere can put off the biker who is looking for a motorcycle a little more out of the ordinary. Its 77 horsepower is ideally suited for the novice rider who does not want to be scared and who wants to start riding in complete safety. When used higher in the towers, it still offers a good margin of progress to those who also want to have fun on the departmental roads and in the passes..
The CBF 600 is now an essential reference in the category with an excellent price / performance ratio..
And if the desire takes to ramp up, the CBF 1000 will then be there, with an identical style and ease of driving, more trunk … which the 600 lacks, but which has a reduced budget for it. from 2500 euros !
Strong points
- Getting started / easy to drive
- Protection
- Braking
- Autonomy
Weak points
- All-purpose aesthetics
- Low revs
Competitors: Ducati Monster 696, Suzuki Bandit 650, Yamaha FZ6 Fazer
Honda CBF 600 technical sheet
available in gray, black and red.
User reactions and testimonials on the
testing forum
User reactions and testimonials on the
motorcycle guide
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