All Duels – Duel CBR600F Vs ER-6f: two cheap road bikes? – Towards the highway … and beyond!

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Duel CBR600F Vs ER-6f: two cheap road bikes ?

All Duels - Duel CBR600F Vs ER-6f: two cheap road bikes? - Towards the highway ... and beyond!

Do you really have to break the bank to go on a motorcycle vacation? To find out, Site attacked Mont Ventoux on two small streamlined roadsters: the Honda CBR600F released in 2011, and the 2012 version of the Kawasaki ER-6f. Duel at the top !

Towards the highway … and beyond !

On the Autoroute du Soleil, the CBR600F and the ER-6f take turns nicely and remain stalled just below 140 km / h. At this speed, the Kawasaki (under 6,500 rpm) consumes almost 1 l / 100km less than the Honda (7,000 rpm), so much so that both ask to stop for a refuel in the same place despite their different tank capacity.

While the Red gobbles up 15 liters of Super (for 280 km traveled), the Green is content with 12.5 liters and brings a smile to its driver, who was a bit exhausted when he got off the bike because of his sore legs….

The gap between the saddle and the footrests of the Kawa is indeed too small not to tire after two hours … And it is all the more regrettable that at this stage of the trip, it is this is the only major fault of this motorbike on the expressway.

The saddle of the ER-6 (revised in 2012) is for example much more welcoming and enduring than that of the CBR600F. The semi-handlebars of the small "Fireblade" quickly prove to be wearing out due to their low placement and their sensitive crackling from 5000 rpm, which ends up giving ants in the hands. The tremors of the twin in the posterior become almost bearable !

Less high than those of the Kawasaki, the tank and the windshield of the Honda require its pilot to literally wallow forward to isolate himself from the wind. To gain comfort and save fuel, we find ourselves in dab … at 140 km / h. The position does not fail to make some motorists smile: it’s already won !

From a protection standpoint, the ER-6f is much more effective. Adjusted to the highest by Kawasaki France, the screen protects the shoulders and even the helmet provided the chin is lowered a little. Completely satisfied with this high position, we did not need to take the Allen key out of the tool kit to test the other two positions (- 6 cm for the lowest).

At the second refueling, however, 240 km further, the tester of the ER-6f pouted again: the leg pain was added to a stabbing pain in the right wrist! The change of driver unfortunately confirms the observation: too bent, the handlebars pinch the outside of the wrist…

Right palm turned towards the sky or elbow wedged under the sternum – even left hand relaying the right for those who manage: all means are good to try to calm the pain which accompanies the biker until the exit of the highway…

700 km on a motorcycle, it wears out, it wears out…

In the end, if the Kawasaki wins in this marathon event, it is only a few lengths. At the end of the same day on the motorway, the ER-6f traveler will be less broken than his comrade on the CBR600F … but he will be happy to be able to stretch his legs and rest his wrist !

Once we arrive in Vaucluse, our two motorcycles get rid of their bulky luggage and set off on the small, bendy roads at will! The quality of the tarmac is not always there and often requires improvisation…

At a leisurely pace, the ER-6f demonstrates appreciable agility, aided by its wide handlebars, reduced wheelbase, 160mm rear tire and neutral front end. Its suspensions erase most of the imperfections of the road, while its lively and full engine prompts you to raise the tone.

The driver of the little Kawa therefore twirls from one turn to another with ease, while the "driver" of the CBR600F must already play shoulders to register his bike in the countless curves. On the Honda, the handling / stability compromise slider leans more towards stability.

Reluctant to go below 2500 rpm, the Kawasaki twin-cylinder benefits from 4000 rpm stimuli that the 4-cylinder driven with the same nonchalance cannot counter. On the Honda, it is therefore necessary to resort to the gearbox – the selection of which is smoother and shorter – to stick to the rear wheel of the ER-6 !

On bumpy roads, the ER-6f is easier to steer between traps, but when they become too numerous, the CBR600F shows better handling and allows for more efficient attack..

While the "Panigale-style" shock absorber – but without the links – of the Kawa sometimes struggles to provide traction to the rear tire (Dunlop Roadsmart II), that of the Honda keeps the S20 (original BT12) glued to the bitumen. We can therefore take advantage of the 80, 90 or even 100 horsepower of the engine. !

At this point, the valiant twin is forced to let go of the relentless 4-legged. And the observation only becomes more pronounced on a smoother road, such as the one leading to the summit of Mont Ventoux: taking advantage of perfect weather conditions, the two motorcycles – and their testers – have a blast. !

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