CBR600 appreciation thread
Discussion
Maybe there's an element of confirmation bias going on in my head, but there seems to be so many threads in appreciation of the CBR600 recently. I am completely in love with mine that I've had for just over 4 years and 40kkms.
I've also got a 2021 highly modified Z900, which on paper is a better bike in every way, but it just doesn't please me the way the CBR does. So much so that I'm looking at selling the Z and getting another CBR. Mine's a 2000 model F4 (FY) approaching 80kkms, the last of the carby models. It's a bit banged up from having been knocked over and a bit corroded living in a beachy suburb, so cosmetically it's imperfect, mechanically it is perfect.
The smoothness of the I4, the fuelling, the comfort (I'm 185cm), the reliability, the narrowness for filtering, the aggressive induction noise, the lumpy tickover, the flickability, everything. There's never been a more relevant time on today's roads for these bikes. A pussycat below about 8krpm, which is good for today's speed-enforced roads, while still sounding and feeling like you're going a bit quick, and a totally mental thing above it right up to and beyond 13krpm. All in comfort and smoothness. Hard (yet not hard) to believe such a comfortable bike in its day was the 600 supersport champion.
I've never ridder an injected CBR, but I do know the smoothness and power delivery of the carby 600 is perfect. I can't imagine the Fi is any better. 110bhp or so and less than 200kg is plenty enough for today's roads, especially the way it is delivered. While the Z is undoubtedly faster, the CBR is scarier, or not scary, depending on what you want from it in the moment.
I'm sure folk could post similar threads about other bikes, notably VFRs, but for me the 22 year old CBR6 is all the bike anyone could ever want or need. I reckon anyone who has/had one will agree. Here's my baby in better years:
I've also got a 2021 highly modified Z900, which on paper is a better bike in every way, but it just doesn't please me the way the CBR does. So much so that I'm looking at selling the Z and getting another CBR. Mine's a 2000 model F4 (FY) approaching 80kkms, the last of the carby models. It's a bit banged up from having been knocked over and a bit corroded living in a beachy suburb, so cosmetically it's imperfect, mechanically it is perfect.
The smoothness of the I4, the fuelling, the comfort (I'm 185cm), the reliability, the narrowness for filtering, the aggressive induction noise, the lumpy tickover, the flickability, everything. There's never been a more relevant time on today's roads for these bikes. A pussycat below about 8krpm, which is good for today's speed-enforced roads, while still sounding and feeling like you're going a bit quick, and a totally mental thing above it right up to and beyond 13krpm. All in comfort and smoothness. Hard (yet not hard) to believe such a comfortable bike in its day was the 600 supersport champion.
I've never ridder an injected CBR, but I do know the smoothness and power delivery of the carby 600 is perfect. I can't imagine the Fi is any better. 110bhp or so and less than 200kg is plenty enough for today's roads, especially the way it is delivered. While the Z is undoubtedly faster, the CBR is scarier, or not scary, depending on what you want from it in the moment.
I'm sure folk could post similar threads about other bikes, notably VFRs, but for me the 22 year old CBR6 is all the bike anyone could ever want or need. I reckon anyone who has/had one will agree. Here's my baby in better years:
Im all over this thread, this bike is the reason im biking again.
Like the op,mines not perfect, the fairings are showing age but can be fixed, the engines a little lumpy, but I can get it dyno'd, its just the perfect road bike and I have no idea why anyone needs anything quicker, ive even felt my body postion changing and getting lower on roundabouts, I have nothing but praise for this bike, except a few parts now seem to be made of unobtainium.
Like the op,mines not perfect, the fairings are showing age but can be fixed, the engines a little lumpy, but I can get it dyno'd, its just the perfect road bike and I have no idea why anyone needs anything quicker, ive even felt my body postion changing and getting lower on roundabouts, I have nothing but praise for this bike, except a few parts now seem to be made of unobtainium.
Edited by A500leroy on Sunday 2nd October 11:39
I bought a secondhand CBR600F-N back in 2007, can't remember what I paid for it but it wasn't a lot.
It was a bit battered and bruised and had clocked up 30K+ miles. It was a grey import so had the speed warning light on the speedo.
It was my first proper, IL4 four stroke after a succession of RDs, KR1s NSRs etc. It felt quite fast, really easy to ride.
I had a problem with the choke so I whipped the carbs off, lo and behold there were restrictor washers on each carb inlet, needless to say they went in the the bin, once I got a new set of inlet rubbers. It felt really quick after that.
I thrashed that bike mercilessly for 5 years, it never missed a beat.
The only problems I had were, water in the oil, I replaced the seals in the oil cooler which fixed that.
As a matter of course I replaced the CCT.
Very sad to see it go, I wouldn't have sold it but circumstances meant It had to go, along with four other bikes!
It had over 60K on the clock and still ran like the proverbial sewing machine.
It was a bit battered and bruised and had clocked up 30K+ miles. It was a grey import so had the speed warning light on the speedo.
It was my first proper, IL4 four stroke after a succession of RDs, KR1s NSRs etc. It felt quite fast, really easy to ride.
I had a problem with the choke so I whipped the carbs off, lo and behold there were restrictor washers on each carb inlet, needless to say they went in the the bin, once I got a new set of inlet rubbers. It felt really quick after that.
I thrashed that bike mercilessly for 5 years, it never missed a beat.
The only problems I had were, water in the oil, I replaced the seals in the oil cooler which fixed that.
As a matter of course I replaced the CCT.
Very sad to see it go, I wouldn't have sold it but circumstances meant It had to go, along with four other bikes!
It had over 60K on the clock and still ran like the proverbial sewing machine.
I can add to this .
Back in Aug, there was a thread here Cheap(ish) middleweight options for a returning biker , in which Podman said he had a CBR600F for sale.
Long story, very short, he sent me some pictures, did a little video tour and I bought it, sight unseen. I got a bike delivery firm to pick up up and it arrived on the 18th Aug.
I'm a returning biker, been riding since I was 18 but last rode a bike 8 years ago when I threw my 2000 R1 down the road. I wanted something cheap but fun and the CBR600F has delivered in spades.
It's 108bhp - so better than many of the current 600/650's that are produced for the A2 market and then derestricted. It's obviously not as as extreme as the R1 / GSXR / CBR RR crowd but I'm surprised. Its more racy than I expected. The carbs are old school (mines a 2001, so just before they went to injection). And the suspension is a bit soft but its revvy the gearbox is a peach and the brakes work pretty well once they're warm. Matey across the road has an 18 plate BMW S1000RR - it really shifts, but it doesn't get as far away from the CBR as I thought.
Podman was a gent and he wasn't kidding when he said it was clean. It's in better condition than most 3 year bikes, let alone a 22 year old! All I've done is remove the tank bag cover (which is very useful) de-sticker it and polish.
Future plans are small, I have a couple of fairing bolts missing and I'm probably going to replace the front brake lines with braided lines. The rear tyre is getting a little worn. Its been perfect for getting me back on a bike for relatively little money.
Back in Aug, there was a thread here Cheap(ish) middleweight options for a returning biker , in which Podman said he had a CBR600F for sale.
Long story, very short, he sent me some pictures, did a little video tour and I bought it, sight unseen. I got a bike delivery firm to pick up up and it arrived on the 18th Aug.
I'm a returning biker, been riding since I was 18 but last rode a bike 8 years ago when I threw my 2000 R1 down the road. I wanted something cheap but fun and the CBR600F has delivered in spades.
It's 108bhp - so better than many of the current 600/650's that are produced for the A2 market and then derestricted. It's obviously not as as extreme as the R1 / GSXR / CBR RR crowd but I'm surprised. Its more racy than I expected. The carbs are old school (mines a 2001, so just before they went to injection). And the suspension is a bit soft but its revvy the gearbox is a peach and the brakes work pretty well once they're warm. Matey across the road has an 18 plate BMW S1000RR - it really shifts, but it doesn't get as far away from the CBR as I thought.
Podman was a gent and he wasn't kidding when he said it was clean. It's in better condition than most 3 year bikes, let alone a 22 year old! All I've done is remove the tank bag cover (which is very useful) de-sticker it and polish.
Future plans are small, I have a couple of fairing bolts missing and I'm probably going to replace the front brake lines with braided lines. The rear tyre is getting a little worn. Its been perfect for getting me back on a bike for relatively little money.
Great thread, I will add more of a write up when I have time.
Here is my 1996 F3 model.
90 miles around Lincolnshire today 
by Rick Phillips, on Flickr
Here is my 1996 F3 model.
90 miles around Lincolnshire today by Rick Phillips, on FlickrThis thread has the details of the stuff I have done so far to make mine a little better. Cracking bike now for sure. My ZZR1400 is stupidly quick, but this is more fun on the twistiest for sure.
https://pbmagforum.co.uk/topic/78115-cbr600f3/#com...
https://pbmagforum.co.uk/topic/78115-cbr600f3/#com...
AnotherGuy said:
I can add to this .
Back in Aug, there was a thread here Cheap(ish) middleweight options for a returning biker , in which Podman said he had a CBR600F for sale.
Long story, very short, he sent me some pictures, did a little video tour and I bought it, sight unseen. I got a bike delivery firm to pick up up and it arrived on the 18th Aug.
I'm a returning biker, been riding since I was 18 but last rode a bike 8 years ago when I threw my 2000 R1 down the road. I wanted something cheap but fun and the CBR600F has delivered in spades.
It's 108bhp - so better than many of the current 600/650's that are produced for the A2 market and then derestricted. It's obviously not as as extreme as the R1 / GSXR / CBR RR crowd but I'm surprised. Its more racy than I expected. The carbs are old school (mines a 2001, so just before they went to injection). And the suspension is a bit soft but its revvy the gearbox is a peach and the brakes work pretty well once they're warm. Matey across the road has an 18 plate BMW S1000RR - it really shifts, but it doesn't get as far away from the CBR as I thought.
Podman was a gent and he wasn't kidding when he said it was clean. It's in better condition than most 3 year bikes, let alone a 22 year old! All I've done is remove the tank bag cover (which is very useful) de-sticker it and polish.
Future plans are small, I have a couple of fairing bolts missing and I'm probably going to replace the front brake lines with braided lines. The rear tyre is getting a little worn. Its been perfect for getting me back on a bike for relatively little money.
Well said…apart from the AWOL fasteners, didnt spot those ..Back in Aug, there was a thread here Cheap(ish) middleweight options for a returning biker , in which Podman said he had a CBR600F for sale.
Long story, very short, he sent me some pictures, did a little video tour and I bought it, sight unseen. I got a bike delivery firm to pick up up and it arrived on the 18th Aug.
I'm a returning biker, been riding since I was 18 but last rode a bike 8 years ago when I threw my 2000 R1 down the road. I wanted something cheap but fun and the CBR600F has delivered in spades.
It's 108bhp - so better than many of the current 600/650's that are produced for the A2 market and then derestricted. It's obviously not as as extreme as the R1 / GSXR / CBR RR crowd but I'm surprised. Its more racy than I expected. The carbs are old school (mines a 2001, so just before they went to injection). And the suspension is a bit soft but its revvy the gearbox is a peach and the brakes work pretty well once they're warm. Matey across the road has an 18 plate BMW S1000RR - it really shifts, but it doesn't get as far away from the CBR as I thought.
Podman was a gent and he wasn't kidding when he said it was clean. It's in better condition than most 3 year bikes, let alone a 22 year old! All I've done is remove the tank bag cover (which is very useful) de-sticker it and polish.
Future plans are small, I have a couple of fairing bolts missing and I'm probably going to replace the front brake lines with braided lines. The rear tyre is getting a little worn. Its been perfect for getting me back on a bike for relatively little money.
Glad your still enjoying it mate , the wife and me are still missing the bike and im really struggling with replacing it with something more upright for anything like the money in reasonable condition.
I still keep looking at them in the classifieds…
A500leroy said:
Im all over this thread, this bike is the reason im biking again.
Like the op,mines not perfect, the fairings are showing age but can be fixed, the engines a little lumpy, but I can get it dyno'd, its just the perfect road bike and I have no idea why anyone needs anything quicker, ive even felt my body postion changing and getting lower on roundabouts, I have nothing but praise for this bike, except a few parts now seem to be made of unobtainium.
I’ve had 2 in the past and my last one exactly this same one. Loved the bike and still miss it. Like the op,mines not perfect, the fairings are showing age but can be fixed, the engines a little lumpy, but I can get it dyno'd, its just the perfect road bike and I have no idea why anyone needs anything quicker, ive even felt my body postion changing and getting lower on roundabouts, I have nothing but praise for this bike, except a few parts now seem to be made of unobtainium.
Edited by A500leroy on Sunday 2nd October 11:39
Geffg said:
A500leroy said:
Im all over this thread, this bike is the reason im biking again.
Like the op,mines not perfect, the fairings are showing age but can be fixed, the engines a little lumpy, but I can get it dyno'd, its just the perfect road bike and I have no idea why anyone needs anything quicker, ive even felt my body postion changing and getting lower on roundabouts, I have nothing but praise for this bike, except a few parts now seem to be made of unobtainium.
I’ve had 2 in the past and my last one exactly this same one. Loved the bike and still miss it. Like the op,mines not perfect, the fairings are showing age but can be fixed, the engines a little lumpy, but I can get it dyno'd, its just the perfect road bike and I have no idea why anyone needs anything quicker, ive even felt my body postion changing and getting lower on roundabouts, I have nothing but praise for this bike, except a few parts now seem to be made of unobtainium.
Edited by A500leroy on Sunday 2nd October 11:39
[/quote]
I bought an identical one to this new in 2000, second bike after an ER5. I'll never forget riding down to the dealer on the ER5 then jumping on the CBR for the ride home. I felt like my nose was touching the front tyre.
I put plenty of miles on it and had a blast. I keep thinking about picking one up now to sit alongside my Multistrada.
Great bikes.
I've had at least 4 cbr600's, I think I've had a fh,fl,FM and a fx
The fh and fl were just ridden and used on the track a bit
The FM ended up with FS rear wheel (0.5 of a inch wider) FS carbs ,ram air and airbox,that was quite quite quick and wheelie well ,not that I do that now I'm older
The fx had ktech front forks and a nitron shock and handled beautifully
The fh and fl were just ridden and used on the track a bit
The FM ended up with FS rear wheel (0.5 of a inch wider) FS carbs ,ram air and airbox,that was quite quite quick and wheelie well ,not that I do that now I'm older
The fx had ktech front forks and a nitron shock and handled beautifully
A500leroy said:
Geffg said:
A500leroy said:
Im all over this thread, this bike is the reason im biking again.
Like the op,mines not perfect, the fairings are showing age but can be fixed, the engines a little lumpy, but I can get it dyno'd, its just the perfect road bike and I have no idea why anyone needs anything quicker, ive even felt my body postion changing and getting lower on roundabouts, I have nothing but praise for this bike, except a few parts now seem to be made of unobtainium.
I’ve had 2 in the past and my last one exactly this same one. Loved the bike and still miss it. Like the op,mines not perfect, the fairings are showing age but can be fixed, the engines a little lumpy, but I can get it dyno'd, its just the perfect road bike and I have no idea why anyone needs anything quicker, ive even felt my body postion changing and getting lower on roundabouts, I have nothing but praise for this bike, except a few parts now seem to be made of unobtainium.
Edited by A500leroy on Sunday 2nd October 11:39
My mate bought this for his first bike a few years a go for £750. Was a bit of a wreck cosmetically but it did him well for a year and the only break down was a snapper clutch cable. It was am F3 but someone had badly fitted the F2 rear panels and light.
In 2016 I was looking at buying my first house with my now fiance. We both had a car each but as we were trying to save for a house deposit, we decided to go down to one car so I bought this 1988 'hurricane' for £500 with a years mot. I used it daily for a year and covered 6k miles in that time. It was reliable other than the fuel pump having to be changed 3 times.... in the end I just ran it without the pump and had to fill up every 100 miles. It also needed a new manifold as the old downpipes had gone rotten so I changed it with a delkevic set. I sold it 3 years a go as I have a couple of other bikes and I don't have the time to ride them all. I sold it for £650 which at the time wasn't bad.... looking at prices now I wish I kept it haha
My first bike was a new ‘95 cbr600.
Well, I say new, it was registered ‘new’ for the road after being raced for 6 months or so by Tim Poole. He just put the standard bodywork/lights back on.
Straight onto it from a CG125 learner bike, those were the days! Great bike.
Plus one with my beloved 164 3.0V6 manual
Well, I say new, it was registered ‘new’ for the road after being raced for 6 months or so by Tim Poole. He just put the standard bodywork/lights back on.
Straight onto it from a CG125 learner bike, those were the days! Great bike.
Plus one with my beloved 164 3.0V6 manual
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