Have Honda got it wrong ?

[rictus01]

Honda gave up on the cbr600f version in order to just produce the more "hardcore" RR in 2008, but have now come back with a new version

old CBR600F (2007)
http://www.bikebits4you.com/images/2006_honda_cbr600f41_VALE_SO_low.jpg

Current CBR600RR
http://www.autoevolution.com/images/news/2011-honda-cbr-models-gets-new-colors-25072_1.jpg

New 2011 version
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196557_10150120619434135_621884134_6664616_7329617 _n.jpg
http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/sporttourer/#!/cbr600f/

Suzuki were the kings of the cheap fully faired version of a roadster in the guise of the GSX600F/750F up until 2005-6 and it's new incarnation as the GSX650F.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/938/images/SUZ_GSX_750FX2-01.jpg
http://www.virginmedia.com/images/gsx650f-400x300.jpg


Even Yamaha's newly redesigned XJ6 Divi comes in a couple of hundred quid cheaper with full fairing and ABS
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/264598/images/02yamaha-xj6-f.jpg


Honda made the 600F as more a practical sports bike rather than a faired budget one, so it wasn't seen to be in the same class.

Now however this new version is based on the Hornet and not on the current RR, is it going to be seen as a fully faired Hornet or a true CBR :smt102

Discuss

Cheers Mark.

[mister c]

Went to the open evening to show off the new CBR range on Thursday & Honda are keeping the RR & pitching the new F on riders wanting the "sports bike experience" without the hardcore race machine ethics, so basically it's a soft sports bike for newish riders.
To be honest I prefer the styling of the new CBR250 to the 600, looks a lot nicer, except for the exhaust.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/273612/images/01honda-cbr250.jpg

[-Ralph-]

Yes they got it wrong, they've missed out on a lot of sales since 2007 by not having a F model, and they realise that. The F is a damn good bike and there is room for both in the range. Not sure the new one looks right, but that's a different discussion.

[Dicky Ticker]

And a lot lot cheaper to run and maintain.I looked at the fuel consumption everything,tyres,insurance,depreciation and price for brand new
To be honest with all the downers on biking of late and quite happy to go about at legal speed limits I wonder if it is worth keeping the ST or change down to the 250.
The only thing that concerns me is that it feels small in comparison and lacking in "Presence" if that is the word


After market exhaust required which would probably be lighter.

[Baggy]

I have though about going to a 250 as well but not sure on how it would cope with a pillion.

I had a 57 plate hornet before the SV1000 I have now, if it's a faired hornet it will be a very good bike

[Sean_C]

This bike was on my next bike list until I had a sit on one yesterday. The handle and pegs positions are far less racy than the RR, but still far too uncomfortable for somebody of my shape.
I think they look great in red white and gold though.

[kellyjo]

Have had a 99 600F for a week and its a great bike, cant fault it in any way, so smooth and balanced.

Will probably test ride a new one to see how it compares.

[STRAMASHER]

For me, yes. Considering an "original":rolleyes: CBR600F as an sv replacement for a year round hack. (Has everyone not to own one at some point anyway?):)

Its only a cbr600f in name. The old one will destroy it everywhere. Dressed up hornet built in euroland. The originals were proper top of the line hondas (ie viffers/blades), not (as much) built down to a price as this new howler.

New one: donated budgety engine and frame and boak inducing exhaust system. No centrestand (or option of fitting,) no grabrail, bum-basic sussies. Titchy fuel tank.

Auld yin:Won all sorts of races yet could take full luggage and two folk in comfort.

Different class of bike. Nothing budgety about them.

[carelesschucca]

If you ask me (which you probably don't) Honda have been getting it wrong on styling alone for the last few years, I can't remember a faired bike by them coming out for about 3 or 4 years thats not been hit with the ugly stick...

I haven't really taken enough interest in their bikes to look at performance and other stuff...

Their Nekid bikes ain't too bad though but thats a different matter...

[Stig]

I have though about going to a 250 as well but not sure on how it would cope with a pillion.



I've taken Foxy pillion on her Ninja 250 and found it more than capable.

[andrewsmith]

If you ask me (which you probably don't) Honda have been getting it wrong on styling alone for the last few years, I can't remember a faired bike by them coming out for about 3 or 4 years thats not been hit with the ugly stick...

I haven't really taken enough interest in their bikes to look at performance and other stuff...

Their Nekid bikes ain't too bad though but thats a different matter...

I do have to agreed with you on that. The most attractive of the faired bikes is 600rr and then I'm not sure on it.

Honda have done a suzuki essentialy and took a basic bike and give it a fancy dress. If they did it the other way 600rr into 600f it would be a seriously capable bike, but then it would be posisitioning and building off ss600 aint a cheap concept

[Quiff Wichard]

I've taken Foxy pillion on her Ninja 250 and found it more than capable.

thats only a combined weight of about a feather and some dust though Si

would it take me and the "OLD" PLOWSIE !

[Baggy]

I've taken Foxy pillion on her Ninja 250 and found it more than capable.

I think the Ninja 250 being a v twin will be better than the single cylinder CBR250

Do you think the Ninja 250 would cope with a combined 25 stone?

I think I need at least a 600

[ixlr8]

I think the Ninja 250 being a v twin will be better than the single cylinder CBR250

Do you think the Ninja 250 would cope with a combined 25 stone?

I think I need at least a 600
Ninja = parallel twin, and no, it wouldn't (~26 hp) and I'd say you do for combined weight(>60 hp).

[-Ralph-]

My XT600 has 43bhp, and about 30 at the rear wheel. It manages nearly 30 stone no problem, though it does produce a lot of torque. Still what power you NEED all depends on how you define what you need. If you just want to stay a step ahead of the traffic a 250 will be fine. A 71bhp SV650 with 30 stone on board will still level peg with a Subaru Impreza until over 100 mph. You don't NEED that. The pillion limitations on most small bikes is suspension and size.

[JamesMio]

My XT600 has 43bhp, and about 30 at the rear wheel. It manages nearly 30 stone no problem, though it does produce a lot of torque. Still what power you NEED all depends on how you define what you need. If you just want to stay a step ahead of the traffic a 250 will be fine. A 71bhp SV650 with 30 stone on board will still level peg with a Subaru Impreza until over 100 mph. You don't NEED that. The pillion limitations on most small bikes is suspension and size.

Ah, but what about when you take a pillion?















;)

[yorkie_chris]

Got to remember the old CBR600F WAS the top of line 600, competing with RFs and GPXs and stuff.

New one looks nasty, and if it is built on hornet then it will be nasty too. Hate working on those bloody things.

And a lot lot cheaper to run and maintain.I looked at the fuel consumption everything,tyres,insurance,depreciation and price for brand new
To be honest with all the downers on biking of late and quite happy to go about at legal speed limits I wonder if it is worth keeping the ST or change down to the 250.

Half of these so called practical bikes are so small there's nowhere to hang/strap a load of stuff to.

Where are the superdreams and other halfway useful hacks these days? Sacrificed at the altar of poofy style design?

[Iansv II]

I believe they have.. for the reasons you said :)

[Ceri JC]

I saw this in MCN a few weeks ago. Nice to see it's real and not just a product of their fevered imagination. It's the first new model Honda I've really fancied for years. 90% of the sportsbike of an SS600, 200% more practical. Looks ideal as a sportsbike for the road.

[Baggy]

I hope Honda do a 0% deal on the 600

[Lozzo]

Where are the superdreams and other halfway useful hacks these days? Sacrificed at the altar of poofy style design?

Move with the times grandad... the Superdream was a crap bike in the late 70s and didn't get any better with the advent of time. God rode one as a teenager and hated it, as did every teenager forced to buy a Superdream by their wallet wielding parents rather than the RD250LC that they really wanted

[-Ralph-]

Move with the times grandad... the Superdream was a crap bike in the late 70s and didn't get any better with the advent of time. God rode one as a teenager and hated it, as did every teenager forced to buy a Superdream by their wallet wielding parents rather than the RD250LC that they really wanted

I rode a super dream for a short while because it was in the barn, not turning a wheel, and the other bikes at my disposal had either been sold or were off the road, it worked, and it was free other than the petrol!

Tell you what though, it was quieter and smoother on journeys than the X7 or a GP100 which were my other choices, both in bits at the time. It lived up to it's super dream name and sent you to sleep!

Then the long term loan of a CBR600F came along in about 1994 as the result of a brand new Fireblade purchase further up the food chain, and my biking life changed forever!

[yorkie_chris]

Move with the times grandad... the Superdream was a crap bike in the late 70s

Says the man with an SR250.

That sort of design idea, simple, fairly crap, cheap, big enough to use for everything... what is there out there with a small engine to do that? Everything now is 600cc or it's some frigging tiny little girls bike that you'd struggle to bungie a pack of fags to the back of.

[Holdup]

I hope Honda do a 0% deal on the 600

No news yet, doubt it will be long though