24 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS DECEMBER 10, 2003

ROAD TEST

RIDINGPOSITION THE 600F has a much morerelaxed riding position thanthe racy RR. Its clip-ons arepositioned above the top yokeand the footpegs, which arerubber topped to isolateengine vibes from the rider,are positioned lower. Thesoftly-padded seat is lowertoo, which makes it a betteroption for those riders whowould have to use tip-toes totouch the floor on the firmerand higher RR seat.

The F’s higher handlebarsalso mean it is easier to getthe leverage necessary tomuscle the bike around, andthis is helpful when threadingyour way through town traffic.It assists when making fastdirection changes at speed,too.

WEATHERPROTECTION YOU are much better shieldedfrom the elements on the600F. Its screen sits slightlytaller and because the seat islower – you sit ‘in’ the bikerather than perched ‘on’ theRR – the F is much moreeffective at keeping off windand rain. The tank shape alsocontributes to keeping yournether regions protected fromthe weather.

Both CBRs use the samemirrors but they give quitedifferent views because of thedifferences in the bikes’ ridingpositions. Both show morerider elbow than we like, but ofthe two, the F gives amarginally better view.

RIDE QUALITY THE RR’s suspension is set upfirm as standard, and isalmost ‘track-ready’ rightfrom the crate.

Its suspension technology isMotoGP inspired. The rearremote ‘Unit Pro-Link’ linkagedoes away with a top shockmount which frees space tohelp centralise the RR’sweight, resulting in betterhanding. Beefy 45mm forksadorn the front end.

The 600F has far moreconventional suspensiontechnology and is altogethersofter than the RR. This givesa more relaxing ride andhelps instil the rider with bagsof confidence – especially inthe wet.

Like the RR, the 600F hasfully adjustable suspensionthough, so it’s easy to set upfor fast road riding and trackdays.

J HONDA CBR600RR 93% J HONDA CBR600F 90%

THE brilliant newCBR600RR mayhave trouncedthe competitionon the road andthe track, but

Honda is still bringing theevergreen CBR600F toshowrooms next year.

The F might not be asfocused as the RR but thatmeans it has far wider appealto those who not only enjoythe odd track day, but alsowant to go touring, commute

and have less to spend. So tosee exactly where the F canscore over the RR, we testedthe two models head to headfor the first time.

Even at a glance the 600Fand 600RR are obviously verydifferent machines: the RR is adead ringer for ValentinoRossi’s 2003 MotoGP bike,while the years have turnedthe F from cutting edge to softand cuddly.

With the 600RR, Honda haswell and truly spoiled us. It has

got looks to die for and theperformance to match.

The power from its 599ccmotor is crisp and smooth anddespite a heady 15,000rpmredline and serious top-endpunch it still has good low andmid-range power.

But handling is the RR’s acecard, combining unflappablestability with razor sharpsteering.

In its short life (it has onlybeen available in dealers sinceApril) it is already dripping

CBRCBR

Honda’s CBR600RR may be our Machine ofthe Year, but the older F still has its virtues...

When the F is betterthan the RR

v

DECEMBER 10, 2003 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS 25

PERFORMANCETHE 600F’s power delivery issilky smooth all the waythrough the rev range to itsgiddy14,250rpm redline (theRR redlines even higher at15,000rpm) – although thereis a slight dip in power at4000rpm. The F’ssmoothness allows the riderto use every last slice ofpower with confidence.

Although the RR makes anextra 10bhp, in real worldconditions the F is every bit asfast. The softly set-upsuspension actually helps the600F track over bumps andthe tyres to grip the roadsurface on wet days. Thatmeans that when the goinggets tough, the throttle can bekept pinned while the rider onthe harder RR needs tothrottle off.

EXHAUST/STORAGE THE RR has the latest inmotorcycle fashion statements– the underseat exhaust. Aswell as looking cool andkeeping your bum warm in thewinter it also helps improveground clearance compared toa conventional side-mounteditem.

But the price you pay is thatthere is little storage spaceavailable under the seat. Withthe handbook in situ there isn’teven enough room for amobile phone. With thehandbook removed you’d belucky to fit a Cornish pastyinside.

So the 600F wins handsdown in the storage stakes.With no exhaust plumbingunder the seat there’s enoughroom for stuff like waterproofs,maps and tools.

CENTRESTAND THE 600F benefits from beingfitted with a centrestand asstandard. Although it slightlyhampers ground clearance onthe left side, it is only reallynoticeable at track speeds. The benefits for most peopleoutweigh this anyway. Puttingthe bike on the centrestandmakes routine maintenance adoddle, especially when itcomes to chaincleaning/lubing and givingyour back wheel a thoroughscrub. It also makes parkingmore secure, particulalry onuneven ground.

PILLION OPINIONJUST looking at the twoCBRs side by side tells thestory before you evenattempt to carry apassenger.

The MotoGP-inspiredRR’s pillion seat is a tokengesture. From the pillion’spoint of view there’snothing to hold on to(there’s no grab rail), andyou are perched up high,getting the windblast fullon in the head. The pegsare high, so tallerpassengers will get crampvery quickly.

From a rider’s standpointyou would only want to getsomeone on the back ifthey needed anemergency lift home. thepillion crushes you into thetank and makes movingaround very difficult. Thepassenger’s knees alsocause a total eclipse of the

already poor mirrors.It’s a very different story

on the 600F. Its sportypretensions mean it isnever going to rival a PanEuropean or BMWK1200LT in the comfortdepartment, but it ispossible for a pillion totravel all day in relativecomfort.

For starters there’s agrab rail so you won’t loseyour passenger when youaccelerate – and theywon’t mash you into thetank under braking either.There’s plenty of legroomfor the pillion, and roomfor the rider to shift about,too. Rear view through themirrors isn’t affected,either.

THANKS to DoblesMotorcycles (020-8668-8856) for the CBR600F

CONTINUES OVER

RR pillions are perched higher with less legroom...

...than those on the 600F. Rider is less cramped, too

with success. The RR won our600cc supersport group testearlier in the year, not tomention clinching both theWorld and British Supersportschampionships.

The final icing on the cakewas becoming MCN Machineof the Year – the first time a600cc bike has claimed thetop prize.

But none of that makes the F

an also-ran – far from it. Ittakes anything you throw at itin its stride. It will grind outthe daily commute in relativecomfort and transport you andyour other half on a Sunday inthe country.

And the F has a demonic sideof its own as well. It isblisteringly fast (just 2mphslower than the RR) and itsfully-adjustable suspension

lets you set it up for fast roadand track work. And for someit is easier to unlock thepotential of the F than the RR.It’s not just the slightly softerpower delivery; the moreupright riding position andsofter suspension instil loadsof confidence.

There’s no doubting the RR isthe most, but sometimes, forsome people, less is more...

The F has far wider appealto those who not only wantthe odd track day but also gotouring, commute and haveless to spend

‘

’

BY MICHAEL NEEVESPICTURES

HOWARD BOYLAN

26 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS DECEMBER 10, 2003

ROAD TESTCONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

SECONDOPINION

PERFORMANCE

TONY HOARE, 29, is incharge of putting togetherMCN’s product pages. Hisidea of biking bliss involvespacking a rucksack andtouring long distances.

Neither CBR is a bikehe’d normally go for, muchpreferring machines suchas the Fazer 1000 whichblend great performancewith comfortable ridingpositions and half-decentwind protection.

“I really loved the RR. It’sa special bit of kit andlooks amazing. There’sloads of instant power,even from low down andthe brakes are good too.

“But the F is more mykind of bike. It’s reallycomfortable and thescreen is better at keepingoff the elements, too.

“I have far moreconfidence in the F’s frontend and although its powerisn’t quite as instant and itdoesn’t seem quite as fast,it’s more than enough.

“I’m not keen on thebrakes though. On the RRthere was always plenty ofpower in reserve, but onthe F they just lacked thatextra little bit.”

OVERALL LENGTH: 2010mm

WHEELBASE: 1395mm

RAKE: 24°

HEI

GH

T: 1

115

mm

WID

TH: 6

95

mm

OV

ER S

EAT:

182

0m

m

FUEL: 36mpg, 18 litres , 143 miles

SPECIFICATION:Engine: Liquid-cooled, 599cc (67x 42.5mm), 16v dohc 4-stroke in-line-four. Fuel injection, six gearsChassis: Aluminium twin sparFront suspension: 45mmtelescopic forks, adjustable for pre-load, rebound and compressiondampingRear suspension: Single shockadjustable for pre-load, reboundand compression dampingTyres: 120/70 x 17, front. 180/55 x17, rearBrakes: 2 x 310mm discs with 4-piston calipers, front. 220mmdisc with 2-piston caliper, rear

PROS l MotoGP-style looks to die for l Screaming top-end but excellent low and mid-range power too l Fantastic handling

CONS l More uncomfortable than F on long journeys l Pillion seat is a token gesture l Poor view from mirrors 93%

HONDACBR600RR£7149 OTRAvailable: Now. 24 monthswarranty and 12 months AAroadside recovery, SmartWater security marking. Colours: Red, blackNew for 2003: Existing modelInsurance group: 15 (of 17)Info: Honda UK; 01753-590-500

TRAIL: 95mm

WEIGHT: 169kg (373lb)

720mm

790mm 430mm

OVERALL LENGTH: 2065mm

WHEELBASE: 1390mm

RAKE: 24°

HEI

GH

T: 1

135

mm

WID

TH: 6

85

mm

OV

ER S

EAT:

176

0m

m

FUEL: 37mpg, 18 litres , 150 miles

SPECIFICATION:Engine: Liquid-cooled, 599cc (67x 42.5mm), 16v dohc 4-stroke in-line-four. Fuel injection, six gearsChassis: Aluminium twin sparFront suspension: 43mmtelescopic forks, adjustable for pre-load, rebound and compressiondampingRear suspension: Single shockadjustable for pre-load, reboundand compression dampingTyres: 120/70 x 17, front. 180/55 x17, rearBrakes: 2 x 296mm discs with 4-piston calipers, front. 220mmdisc with 2-piston caliper, rear

PROS l Comfortable enough for touring and commuting l Cheaper to run l Still fast l Solid, predictable handling

CONS l Starting to look dated now l Brakes are left behind by RR l Handling not as sharp as the race-ready RR 90%

HONDA CBR600F£6849 OTRAvailable: Now. 24 monthswarranty and 12 months AAroadside recovery, SmartWater security marking. Colours: Blue, red/blackNew for 2003: No updatesInsurance group: 14 (of 17)Info: Honda UK; 01753-590-500

TRAIL: 96mm

WEIGHT: 170kg (374lb)

780mm

840mm440mm

600RR 600FSPEED TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE(MPH) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M)

40 0 0 0 050 2.55 51.30 2.55 51.1960 4.95 110.33 5.00 111.5470 7.95 188.79 7.95 197.2780 10.20 274.10 10.30 275.9890 12.50 361.55 12.65 365.22100 15.05 470.08 15.30 477.90110 18.10 612.92 18.45 625.73120 20.85 754.31 21.65 790.28

TOP GEAR ROLL-ON FROM 40-120MPH

THERE’S very little tochoose between thebikes accelerating in topfrom 40mph all the wayto 100mph, since lowand mid-range power isvery similar. However theRR’s superior top endallows it to edge awayfrom the F above theton mark.

600RR 600FSPEED TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE(MPH) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M)

10 0.72 1.55 060 1.2820 1.29 5.27 1.09 4.5830 1.61 10.79 1.61 10.4140 2.29 18.55 2.13 18.5550 2.82 29.54 2.65 28.9260 3.36 42.75 3.24 43.6670 4.05 62.71 4.05 67.0780 4.90 91.44 4.83 93.2690 5.80 125.68 5.78 129.32100 6.97 175.42 6.91 177.39110 8.25 235.43 8.21 238.55120 10.07 329.34 9.91 326.00130 12.18 447.30 12.23 457.00140 15.31 636.99 15.04 626.10150 20.83 996.20 20.56 984.95160 32.02 1776.80

ACCELERATION THROUGH THE GEARS

THE CBRs are almostjoined at the hip in astraightforward, head-to-head drag race. Butamazingly it is the F thathas the edge, albeit by thenarrowest of margins. The F’s soft suspensionmakes it a piece of caketo launch off the line – itjust digs in and goes.Despite trying differentlaunch techniques thefirmer RR wheelies awayfrom the line every time,losing vital fractions of asecond that it is unable torecover from all the way totop speed.

STANDING QUARTER-MILE ACCELERATION

BRAKING FROM 70-0MPH

POWER AND TORQUE CURVES

TOP SPEED

25.25sec 161.15mph600RR

THE RR shows its race pedigree by stopping in ashorter distance than the F. Braking power andfeel are both superior on the RR. The F’s brakesare good, but the RR has moved things on.

THE F is slightly quicker across the quarter mile,since it is the easier bike to launch, although themore powerful RR eventually catches up andrecords a higher terminal speed.

THE more bulbous fairing on the F helps therider tuck in to record an impressive top speed– just 2mph down on the more powerful RR.The rider sits lower in the F too, further helpingto improve the bike’s aerodynamics.

11.40sec 125.76mph600RR

3.29sec 47.30m600RR

11.30sec 126.84mph600F

3.64sec 50.81m600F

35.85sec 159.68mph600F

Terminal speed Time to cover 1/4-mile

Top speed Time taken to reach top speed

Distance covered Time taken

DEALS AND INSURANCEBECAUSE the CBR600RRhas only been with ussince March, you’ll belucky to get much changefrom the £7149 list price.

However you can get

some stonking discountson the 600F. We foundbrand new CBR600F2sfrom Dobles Motorcycles inCoulsdon, Surrey for just£5695 on the road – a

massive £1154 off list price.And although running

costs are very similar, the Fwill slash your yearlyinsurance bill. Here aresome examples:

QUOTE 1: 33-year-old with full noclaims discount, clean licence living inPeterborough. Fully comp: 600RR –£449, 600F – £3411

QUOTE 2: 25-year-old with zerono claims and three points, living inMargate, Kent. Fully comp: 600RR –£888, 600F – £786

The F is more my kind of bike. It’sreally comfy and the screen is betterat keeping off the elements, too TONY HOARE, MCN

‘’

THE CBR600F (foreground)may not have the zap and

MotoGP style looks andhandling of the RR versionbut it does arguably have

more real world virtues

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

RPM 4000 6000 8000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000

bhp/ftlb

POWER- CBR600F 93.50bhp @ 12,500rpm- CBR600RR 100.46bhp @ 13,750rpmTORQUE- CBR600F 41.67ftlb @ 10,100rpm- CBR600RR 41.60ftlb @ 11,400rpm