All Comparisons – CB650F, Bandit 650 or XJ6: in line, the small 4-cylinders! – Three Japanese women faithful to the four-legged

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CB650F, Bandit 650 or XJ6: in line, the small 4-cylinders !

All Comparisons - CB650F, Bandit 650 or XJ6: in line, the small 4-cylinders! - Three Japanese women faithful to the four-legged

The arrival of the Honda CB650F reminds us that ten years ago, the 600 cc inline 4-cylinder was the benchmark architecture among mid-displacement roadsters. For the occasion, Site released the Suzuki Bandit 650 and Yamaha XJ6. Comparo !

Three Japanese women loyal to four-legged

Dominated by the brand new in this spring 2014, by the in 2013 and 2012, and by the "big" the seven previous years, the medium-displacement roadster sector in France was before that the preserve of in-line 4-cylinders 600 cc…

You have to go back to 2004 (!) To see a motorcycle of this type point at the top of sales in France: the and then paraded far ahead of the, the and the (read our).

Ten years later, when the XJ6 was eclipsed at Yamaha by the MT-07, when Suzuki established its best scores thanks to its GSR750 and no longer its Bandit 650, and that the triumph in the French "charts" (5th in 2013 ), Honda remains faithful to "its" four legs by introducing on the market a new !

The all-new Honda

The Hornet "CB600F" is leaving the Honda catalog just as the CB650F hits dealerships – several weeks late – but make no mistake: this is by no means a torch transmission. Those who are waiting for a new "Hornet" still have to wait … a few months ?

At the Tokyo Reds, the names of roadsters are currently misleading. Indeed, it would be more correct to estimate that within the range of the world number one, the CB650F replaces the late CBF600. To make no mistakes, it is better to consider the latest Honda born as the sister of the CB500F !

When you see this new "Cebe six-and-a-half", you are struck by the family resemblance: "it’s the spitting image of his little sister", would exclaim the" Grandma CB750 "- the 4-legged! – while contemplating her distant descendants.

Looking a little closer, however, we realize that some features differ: on the CB650F for example, the radiator scoops are longer and thinner, while original fins appear on the sides of the headlight..

We especially note that the number of disc (s) at the front – with petals, too stylish! – Doubled. The same goes for the manifolds of the pot which switch to four elements, carefully aligned and leading to a low exhaust. This assembly and the engine casings are extremely close to those of the Hornet … hence the risk of amalgamation.

The rear part of the CB650F is even more distinct from that of the CB500F. The finely brushed aluminum swingarm, hugger and 180mm tire give the CB650F a premium motorcycle feel that the CB500F doesn’t – neither does the Bandit or XJ6, by the way. !

Made in Thailand, this CB650F is not a cheap motorcycle and the finish is flawless. Even the black plastic parts "imitation carbon" are illusion, much more in any case than those placed under the saddle of the Suzuki, which do not fool anyone. !

Some will deplore the abandonment on the Honda of the C-ABS system, in favor of a simple non-combined ABS. But all the others will point the finger at the technical sheet (on the last page): the addition of the "anti-waffle-to-the-con" system limits the weight gain to 2 kg, or 208 kg fully loaded. Or again, the minimum value of this comparative MNC test !

Honda is not the only manufacturer to remain faithful to the 4-cylinder in-line: Suzuki is just as much and the best selling Yellow of Hamamatsu in France is none other than the GSR750. Collateral victim of this success, the "little" Bandit no longer fills the cash drawer as much.

The good old Suzuki

Passed to water and inflated to 650 cc in 2007, the "GSF" underwent a last operation in 2009: a facelift – of the face in particular – which did not go unnoticed. At Site elsewhere, we persist in thinking that the Bandit 650 would have done better to keep its headlight and round mirrors: presented on Suzuki’s official site as a "safe bet", this bike would have every interest in grafting its old lights and mirrors, in order to ride the retro wave that is currently raging in the motorcycle industry – and well beyond !

By regaining its good face from the 90s, the old – top – Suzuki model would legitimize the presence of the big orange indicators (white on the XJ6, tinted on the CB650F), its imposing rear mudguard and its bulky exhaust. . which will continue to appeal to men who, it is well known, prefer large motorcycles !

Old, the Bandit is not necessarily outdated. It should therefore be noted that it is the only one in this comparison to have a gear indicator, more useful to beginner virgins than are the consos displayed on the all digital instrumentation of the Honda (analog tachometer on the Suz ‘and the Yam’).

The engine temperature is missing on the Suzuki, just like the "coded" key. Fortunately for its owner, the Bandit has a U (short but not necessarily specific) under its saddle, and above all arouses less envy than the roadsters of the 2010s. !

Less radiant than the CB650F or the XJ6 -, especially in their HRC (+200 euros) or Race Blu colors! -, the Bandit 650 has a very wise wardrobe: white, gray or black. At MNC, we hear marketing and sales managers from here explaining that this is what customers like best..

The customers targeted by the Bandit are above all looking for a good price: displayed at 6,249 euros on the Suzuki site, this MILR (Motorcycle I’d Like to Ride) can be lifted in certain dealerships at 5,500 euros! That’s around 1000 euros cheaper than its rivals: the all-new CB650F costs 6599 euros and the XJ6 6799.

At this minimum price (in small 4-cylinders), we pay a little less attention to the finish, up in the Bandit but not at the top for all that: the injection cover, much too small, is the perfect one. illustration … We regret the absence of an ABS version which can prove to be invaluable, both physically and financially. Count 300 euros more at Honda, 500 at Yamaha.

To celebrate the arrival among us (meow) of the Honda CB650F, Site did not content itself with releasing the Suzuki Bandit 650 from its early retirement: the Motorcycle Journal du Net also invited the very last Japanese 4-cylinder roadster in 600 cc line: the Yamaha XJ6 !

The old Yamaha reference

Cubing exactly 599 cc, the Yam ‘gives 50 cc to the Honda and 53 to the Suz’. Logical, therefore, that the small "XJ" is the least powerful and the least torquey of the three motorcycles: 77.5 hp against 87 hp for the "CB" and 85 for the "GSF", and 59.7 Nm against respectively 63 and 61.8 Nm.

The 2013 update of the XJ6 was particularly light, so that it remained very close to the original model launched in 2009. It must be said that at the same time, the research and development office of Iwata was working on two projects. capital: the MT-09 and the MT-07.

Driven by the 3-cylinder CP3 and the twin-cylinder CP2 (CP for "Cross Plane", like the engine of the R1!), These two new Yamaha "road’stars" have swept their rivals, but also their sisters FZ8 and XJ6.

Very popular with motorcycle schools and new licenses in recent years – like its two competitors of the day, it can always switch to "A2 mode" -, the XJ6 no longer reaches the sales podium today. France but deserves all our – and your! – Warning.

The frame of the XJ6 is "diamond" type … but steel – not diamond … – like that of the CB650F. Its "non-inverted" telescopic fork has nothing to envy to those of its competitors of the day. On the other hand, its two front discs are a little smaller (298 mm) and bitten by 2-piston calipers (4 on the Honda).

Like the Bandit, the XJ6 also has a rectangular section tubular steel swingarm that looks a bit "cheap" compared to that of the CB650F. Still, the whole is perfectly consistent, and the general appearance of the bike is still as distinguished..

The XJ6 is a clever "diversion" with its mini fairing which covers the entire top of the engine and completely conceals the injection system. We also appreciate that the handlebar wires and cables quickly disappear into the frame! Only the central ABS placed in front of the shock absorber is a little gas factory.

Some bikers will also note that the leaky brake light, very fashionable when it was released, is less so today than that, quite flat, of the Honda, whose rear part is almost truncated. The Yamaha doesn’t seem as compact as it used to be.

Finally, the XJ’s belly pan may be cute, but it’s too small and doesn’t cover the pot style exhaust. However, having already heard Iwata’s small 4-cylinder purring then hissing, Site is happy to pass the sponge on this last point..

Let’s get down to business and take control of these three roadsters: to find out which of these Japanese motorcycles faithful to the 600 cc inline 4-cylinder (or almost!) Is the best, click on the next page !

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