danksy Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 +++Yesterday I had an interesting day riding a couple of different bikes. I eventually decided that an SV650 or bandit 650 weren't really for me, the bandit was a bit too heavy for a first bike, and the SV650 styling didn't really appeal. My personal preference is contra to Yamaha's styling so I decided that I would focus on Honda. Primarily because Honda have a cast iron reputation for build quality, warranty and that their 600's have great engines. So in order I rode... Honda CB600FA Honda CBR600RR Honda CB600FA I thought I would ride this bike first because the riding position is similar to the ER500 that I learnt to ride on, and it would give me a bit of time to get used to the smoothness and power of the 600 that adorned it! And had a 20 mile route of dual carriageway, motorway, trick roundabouts, town driving and a few country roads. Riding position The riding position is comfortable affording great visibility all around and the mirrors aren't overly obtrusive. Instruments/Clocks The digital speedo took a bit of getting used to, but was actually fairly easy to read. Performance. The thing that blew me away was the acceleration, having come from a riding school's 500. It wasn't just the speed of acceleration, but the smoothness! It was nice and smooth up until about 5k revs, then it picked up more, and more until I bottled it at about 10k revs. This bike is more than quick enough for me! The other thing that impressed me about the bike is that it really doesn't seem to matter which gear you are in! It will happily ride around in 6th gear from about 25mph (and go to 150) if needed, without any fuss. This bike has a similar engine to the CBR600RR, but tuned for more torque but less power. Controls/Balance I found the gear selector, brakes and clutch very easy to use. The brakes were much better than the standard I had been used to before, and the fact that they were ABS gave me a bit more confidence as a new rider. The bike was very compliant and smooth to ride, I could see no trouble riding this bike for an hour at a time. Summary. Comfortable riding position, flexible and powerful engine with easy to use controls and good visibility. CBR600RR The CBR certainly looks the part in red and black which was the colour combo that I rode. Riding position. This is the first sportsbike that I had ridden, so it felt a little strange to be crouched over the tank, but actually reasonably comfortable. Straight away due to the riding position I felt more connected to the bike and the road. The mirrors took a bit of setting up so that they were right for riding in town, but also on the motorway sections. I felt that the mirrors were never right for both. Instruments/Clocks I didn't spend too much time looking at these, because I was focussed on the road and other road users so much. Performance Given that the CBF and the CBR have a similar engine (RR tuned for a bit more power) i was expecting a similar performance. I was not ready for how quickly the CBR accelerated over 5k revs, it seemed significantly quicker than the CBF. I think much of this is because when riding you sit with your head a good 30cm lower down than on the CBF, and further forward. That said, where it scored a bit lower than the CBF was that it was fussier about which gear it was in (I could see the CBF flattering a new rider in this regard!). I had my chin down on the tank and cranked the throttle right back and was grinning from ear to ear, but didn't really have the confidence in the mirrors to place other road users. Overall I think I rode the CBF quicker with more confidence than the CBR, but the CBR was faster overall by a country mile. The CBR brakes seemed to be a big improvement over the CBF, but the salesman assured me the setup was the same.... probably a perception thing due to me being further over the front wheel and lower to the ground? The chassis of the CBR seemed a bit more twitchy to a beginners balance and throttle control, which made me a bit nervous, but the speed that it reacted to countersteering input was great Verdict... So.. I rode both, and before I went out I had no real preconceptions as to how much faster a modern 600cc would be than the ancient ER500 that I was riding previously. Looks wise and performance wise the CB600RR has the CBF beaten everytime, but in my mind as a beginner's bike is just a bit too much. The small mirrors and the lower low down torque(comparative to the CBF) made it less usable. Both bikes are more than fast enough for me, but weirdly I could see me riding the CBF with more confidence due to the visibility and more forgiving chassis. Not forgetting that the CBF600 is about half the price to insure (and £2k cheaper) So I went back to the showroom to talk about the demo CBF that I had ridden (57 plate 2k miles) which was up for sale at £4,800. Unfortunately when I was out on the CBR a guy that had been in previously snapped it up. Being the end of the quarter etc. I managed to get the bike for dealer cost price (he showed me the price list ) plus a full tank of fuel. Also it is on 0% finance for 2 years, so the £500 or so I will earn on the interest that I would have otherwise paid out goes a long way to covering the difference in price. They are also going to fit some crash bungs on for me! So here it is.... I pick it up on Wednesday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Sounds like a good first bike to gain experience on. No point having something that goes like stink if you're not feeling 100% confident riding it. Any way the bike you've chosen looks the nuts and will be superfast anyway. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Nice. I do like the look of the new Hornet. What colour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted June 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 The same as the one up above bub. It's like a pearlescent white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mb Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Nice looking bike & sounds like a great choice I think you will get a lot more out of it than a "fast" bike as you build confidence + am sure it will step up when/if you later want to be a hooligan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Sounds like you got a top deal : dealer cost crash bungs full tank 0% loan You sure you didn't buy it from a charity?!?! I guess my bike fits in between the two you tried but you can't get mine new any more (excluding one or two possibly still knocking around) so out of the two I think you made the right choice. The RR (even if you managed to be comfy) is not what I'd call a novices bike. I reckon at this rate we could not only do a TSN bike meet but we could also set up the Honda chapter as well Welcome on board Nick. Now find your local advanced club and start learning how to ride. It's really paying dividends for me and for £50 a year you can't go wrong! p.s. Autosol is normally £5 for two tubes from bike shops Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelsea Mick Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Good choice of bike Nick I sat on one last year at the dealers when thinking about trading in the RR but was really after the CB1000R which wasn't going to be released until July this year. Very nice and comfy position. Didn't get to ride it but can imagine it's all good as the 600 Honda engine is a good all round engine in the different state of tunes it comes in. You'll enjoy the Hornet looks fab So when we having a TSN bike meet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewcam Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Looks nice that danksy. I hope you have hours of fun on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Good choice of bike Nick You'll enjoy the Hornet looks fab So when we having a TSN bike meet? all come to the Essex meet on the 10th+++ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelsea Mick Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 all come to the Essex meet on the 10th+++ Hmmm.... Might be a bit of a pain flying back from The Netherlands for a few hours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted June 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 I managed to insure it for £218 from Cheap Motorcycle Insurance - Compare motorbike insurance, moped, scooter & bike insurance the most expensive quote I had was £9,000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Insurance is crazy! £218 is amazing for a newbie on a 600. Mine was around £500. Most expensive I had was £60k+ When are you getting it? I guess not in time for Windsor this week? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Just used your link and it's still £285 after holding a licence for a year! How do you get your bike and insurnace so cheap?!!?!?! :notworthy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Nice one danksy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Good choice.... Nice looking bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted June 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 Just used your link and it's still £285 after holding a licence for a year! How do you get your bike and insurnace so cheap?!!?!?! :notworthy: My Mrs as a named rider (5 years NCB on a bike) Also it's in a locked garage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted June 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 Oh and I have completely clean licence and 6 years NCB on a car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukeboy749r Posted June 24, 2008 Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 Good choice and well done on being ballsy enough not to be swayed that you 'needed' the more powerful bike. Also, your insurance was a steal! I paid £1,700 for my first bike four years ago... Now it's down to £300 mark - so you're doing really well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted June 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 Also, your insurance was a steal! I paid £1,700 for my first bike four years ago... Now it's down to £300 mark - so you're doing really well! How much :eek::eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiAudiSline Posted June 24, 2008 Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 Good mini review and good choice of bike, 90bhp is plenty to go ballistic on as you found out on the test, should hold its value ok too when the time comes to sell. I've just sold a naked bike, as was right pain (literally) on long runs, but of the two I think you made the right choice, should also be a riot on track days when the time comes. Enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted June 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Good mini review and good choice of bike, 90bhp is plenty to go ballistic on as you found out on the test, should hold its value ok too when the time comes to sell. 102 (cough) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Allegedly :coughcough: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted June 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 76KW on the log book.... but to be honest i wouldn't know if it had 70KW or 100 KW It's plenty fast enough for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiAudiSline Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Or *COUGH* 65KW :-) Fast Bikes/ Bike 2008 tests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Or *COUGH* 65KW :-)Fast Bikes/ Bike 2008 tests. Honda web site says : Max. Power Output 75kW/12,000min-1 (95/1/EC) Max. Torque 63.5Nm/10,500min-1 (95/1/EC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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