There are times when you do need to keep the in-line four spinning higher to get the sharpest throttle response. Though the power build up is very linear, it won’t produce either the necessary power or torque to give prompt speed gains unless it’s either in fourth gear or lower. In saying that, once the engine is above 5-6,000rpm in the right gear it is sweet and keen - even if it can become a bit buzzy under certain loads. Cane it through the six-speed box and you’ll see around 130mph on the new clocks which should please those the bike’s been built for. They’ll also be happy to learn the fairing is quite protective at higher speeds, with a facility to raise its screen by 50mm to improve wind diversion further still should they need it. Like adjusting the 3-position seat, it’s a bit more of a fiddle than you’d expect, but does allow some fine tailoring to suit the size and preferences of the owner.
Something that can’t be altered so easily though, is the character of the bike. In short, the CBF is bloody boring, and rides on it aren’t really memorable at all. Sure I had a laugh on it, but that was primarily because I was riding fast with mates on some brilliant roads, which once the sun got higher and warmer were a real pleasure to be on. Spending time with the
Honda
on something like the M11 in winter might be a completely different story, and I for one, would think I’d be forced to stop at the services for some relief from the drudgery of it all.
To be fair, the CBF isn’t for the likes of me. As Honda staff admitted, it’s not really for biking enthusiasts either. It’s more for those who simply want to sample the benefits of two-wheels; congestion/parking-beating and economy. As far as those issues are concerned though, the last one is trickier to argue. The price of the bike hasn’t been fixed yet, but it’s expected to be around £5500 when it goes on sale in mid-January. That’s just too much, especially when you consider the similar-spec Bandit 650SA is around £750 cheaper, does everything the Honda can do, and is significantly more fun to ride. A non-faired, non-ABS bike will also be available though, and that will only cost around £4449.
Honda would argue the
Suzuki
is a different sort of bike and should be compared more to the Honda Hornet. But I’d say the Bandit is a worthy competitor to the CBF with higher levels of that all-important style and attitude that will make it more attractive to buy, own and hang on to. The appeal of the new Honda can be boosted further with a range of official accessories including a selection of luggage, an alarm, and heated grips and, very usefully, crash bars – always handy for a novice.
STAT BOX2008 Honda CBF600S
Price: £5,500 (est.)
Performance: 130mph
EngineType: liquid cooled, 16-valve, dohc, in-line four
Displacement: 599cc
Bore x Stroke: 67 x 42.5mm
Compression: 11.6:1
Power: 77bhp @ 10,500rpm
Torque: 44ft-lb @ 8,250rpm
Carburation: PGM-FI electronic fuel-injection 32mm throttle bodies
Gearbox: six-speed
SuspensionFront: 41mm telescopic fork, adjustable preload
Rear: cantilever monoshock, adjustable preload
BrakesFront: twin 296mm discs with three-piston ABS/CBS calipers
Rear: single 240mm disc with single-piston ABS/CBS caliper
Wheels/TyresFront: cast 6-spoke alloy / Michelin Pilot Road, 120/70-17
Rear: cast 6-spoke alloy / Michelin Pilot Road, 160/60-17
ChassisType: Die-cast alloy backbone
Rake/trail: 26 degrees / 110mm
Seat
height: 770/785/800mm
Wheelbase: 1,490mm
Fuel capacity: 20litres
Dry weight: 222kg
Contact: 01753 590500, www.honda.co.uk
