Menus
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- Contact
- Highway
- Departmental
- Comfort
- Brakes
- Consumption
- Convenient
- Conclusion
We were used to undressed sportswomen who turn into roadsters. Honda does the opposite by offering the CBR 600 F, a Hornet that is dressed in a fairing. In fact, the history of the CBR 600F dates back to the 80s with the 600F … a sporty one, but versatile.. The objective here is the same: to offer a machine halfway between a roadster and a sports car … at all levels: look, protections but also price !
For Honda, Hornet and CBR 600F were designed at the same time, with the idea of going beyond a simple fork crown for the roadster. The little news therefore gains a real full fairing, but also a new, more opulent tank. Only this tank explains why the center of gravity is found significantly higher than the Hornet. For the rest we find the aluminum frame, the inverted fork, the aluminum swingarm and all the characteristics common to the Hornet, both in terms of power and adjustment and even in terms of mapping. The suspensions are identical but with modifications in the settings … Only the fork gains 40 mm … used to fix the half-bracelets.
Discovery
Difficult to find at first glance a Hornet, except at the rear, end or at the level of the exhaust. For the rest, there is a Honda touch for the front optics, closer to the VFR or other CBRs (125 and 250) than to the 600 RR. The tank itself is rounder, domed, more imposing. When approaching, we especially notice the half-handlebars bracelets.
In the saddle
We find the seat height of the Hornet and the feet are therefore almost flat for the pilot of 1.70m. If the fairing gives a slightly higher weight, it is only six kilos … with a C-ABS model at 211 kilos. We find the instrumentation with fully LCD screen of the Hornet, complete, with speedometer, tachometer in the form of a bargraph, gasoline gauge with 6 sticks, clock, totalizer, partial double trip but above all an on-board computer, with consumption, number of kilometers per liter.
The bust leans slightly forward, and we are in an almost sporty position but without going as far as the position of the 600 RR. In fact, the position is exactly intermediate between the roadster and the hyper sport.
The mirrors placed on the fairing are very wide and offer a good vision.
Contact
The box is soft and precise and the CBR leaves on a trickle of gas. We find the driving behavior of the Hornet … and the same sound. Copy and paste ? Not really, because the position is different, like the protection. The weight carries more on the front in a natural way. Result, at low speed, in town, the position is less comfortable than the Hornet, more upright. On the other hand, on the engine side, we find this docility and this ability to wind quietly on the last report at 1,500 rpm while resuming quietly without the slightest hitch. The position being different, there is perhaps a reduced handling and a less playful side between the lines, but due to the position of the pilot.
Highway
The CBR 600 F soars vigorously, with rage, rising rapidly through the towers. In fact, the speeds change, without noticing it, so much the pressure on the helmet is clearly deviated by the encompassing fairing. If at 6,000 rpm, the CBR is still only 120 km / h, it takes 20 km / h every 1,000 rpm without flinching to the red zone and with excellent protection. This time, the position can be dabbed and the pilot can hide entirely behind the bubble for shameful speeds. The stability then proves to be excellent even at these high speeds. Suddenly, long motorway journeys become possible, without the fatigue of a 600R, by a less exclusive position.
Departmental
If the CBR 600 F has found comfortable ground on the motorway, it does not disdain to return to small roads … quite the contrary. The more tilted position gives more support on the front axle, offering more stability at high speed, but locking the steering a little more for small quick sequences. You just have to be more fluid in terms of driving, and improvise less as the Hornet allows..
Comfort
A rather well studied position, a bubble that does its job very well, a comfortable saddle without being soft and long days on the road are almost forgotten. It’s not a long-haul roadster, but it offers superior comfort to many roadsters. Only the suspensions adjusted a little more dryly than the Hornet, reinforced by a higher support on the front lead to relieve the rear more easily in the event of bad surface and solo driving. The duo recuperate for comfort.
Brakes
The 600 F inherits the braking of the Hornet … without any modification. We therefore find a good feeling and power, easily dosable, even by a beginner.
Consumption
In mixed consumption during the test between motorway route and small roads, consumption was around 5.6, i.e. a range close to … kilometers and therefore identical to that of the Hornet.
Convenient
There is no room under the saddle. On the other hand, Honda offers a 19-liter bag to be fixed on the saddle..
Despite very good protection, Honda offers a high screen … for older children. In the meantime, the current bubble does not generate any turbulence at the level of the helmet and is therefore very efficient and pleasant.
Conclusion
The CBR 600 F goes beyond a simple fairing on a Hornet. Look, handling, protection are all features that distinguish it and make it a different motorcycle in its own right. On the other hand, compared to a sports car, it has a less exclusive position and a less explosive engine than an RR allowing more duo trips. Another advantage is that the price of insurance will be the same as a Hornet, and therefore much cheaper than a sports car. Only the price can cringe a little at € 8,490, which is two thousand euros more than a Hornet, but also two thousand euros less than an RR. In fact, it is above all the promotional price of the current Hornet which distorts the situation, while the prices of the two models should be much closer. On the other hand, the choice of C-ABS only costs an additional 500 euros, compared to the 600 euros generally observed with the brand..
Strong points
- Sporty look
- Getting started / easy to drive
- Braking
Weak points
- too easy ?
Competitors: Suzuki Bandit 650 S, Suuzki 650 GSXF
Honda CBR 600 F technical sheet
available in black, black and red, black and blue.
User reactions and testimonials on the
motorcycle guide
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