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CBF500 v CBF600
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I'm visiting a dealer to look at one of each of these. The 500 has done
4500 miles on a 55 plate and the 600 has done 7000 miles on an 04
plate, and would be =A3200 more. For a new biker like me, thinking
mostly of motorway commuting and occasional owners club ride-outs, is
there much to justify going for the 600?
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A small herd of extra horses, 15 mph on yer top speed and getting there
is a mite quicker.
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There doesn't seem to be much difference between them... the 600 is a
4-pot, has 20hp more, has marginally less ground clearance, has a
marginally higher seat and weighs 10kg more, but that's about it
AFAICT...
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The 600 is a perky beast!! you say 20bhp, look at that as a %age and
the torque curve through the revs.
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The two bikes are chalk and cheese. The 500 is a worthy but dull
commuter, but fairly uninspiring. The 600 is the low spec version of
their supersports bike, and as such will be much faster, better
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Did you mean that? I thought it was planted right in the commuter
market?
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Well, they may be marketing it as a commuter, but it is the CBR600
underneath, isn't it. It may have cheaper suspension etc, but I'd
still expect it to outperform the 5000 in every regard.
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handling, and basically a lot more fun. Of course, as Wessie points
out, it'll cost more to run.
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Erm, isn't that the CB600F (Hornet)?
The CBF600 appears to be a 4-pot commuter.
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I say, you do seem to be correct.
I guess I was getting confused by the two versions of the CBR they
used to sell.
I'm frankly amazed that they can get as few as 76bhp out of that
motor.
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Please ignore this post. I was talking bollocks.
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Perhaps you should add it as a quote to your sig, to replace the
"argue's"? Doubt you'll catch any more with that now.
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Heh, But it's Champ that wrote it.
But I do need a funky catchphrase.
Suggestions from the floor? I choose the best one, 'cos it's my sig!
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Cab - All Hail Me.
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Nice. Amusing *and* clever.
Where did you steal it from?
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The Ladybird book of obvious suggestions.
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"Can you call me a cab?"
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How do you think I chose the moniker "Cab" for the NG?
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So, you need to decide what you want. Is it just a work horse for
commuting, or do you actually want to enjoy it?
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20bhp more in this context is 30% more: I think you might notice the
difference.
Running costs for the CB500 will be a lot lower. Tyres especially will be a
lot cheaper and more durable. However, if it is the unfaired variant then
it will be less comfortable on your motorway commute.
Do more than visit the dealer. Try to get a test ride (not necessarily at
the same dealership) as you might find one or both bikes uncomfortable: get
each up to motorway speed as that's where you will be using it. Do some
research on prices and haggle. It's a buyer's market and dealers will be
desperate to shift stock. If you can't get a cash discount start looking at
items in the clothing dept. to be included in the purchase price. At 7000
miles the 600 is close to the 8000 mile service: negotiate this into the
purchase price.
Personally, of the two I'd have the 600 as I've ridden both bikes in the
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past. The CB500 is a >worthy bike but I'd only consider one as an urban
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past. The CB500 is a worthy bike but I'd only consider one as an urban
commuter. Once motorways are involved I'd prefer the potentially faster
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I've not ridden a CBF 600. But the CB500 (I've not ridden the CBF
version) is *much* more than an urban comuter.
The trick's keeping at least 8,000 rpm on it : )
Um, and buying an 'S' or fitting a screen.
However, given the choice indicated I'd also consider:
Tyre options -I suspect but I'm not sure the 600 can fit stickier rubber
options than you'll get for the 500. Then again if you're going
scratching do you want a CBF for that job anyway?
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I know the CBF500 comes with a 120/70-ZR17 front and a 160/60-ZR17 rear if
that helps, can't remember what makes though.
Thinking of getter either a CBF500, KLE500, ER-5 or ER-6n myself at the
moment.
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Yeah, I was thinking of all of those Kwaks too (and the Versys),
although I would have gone for the ER-6f rather than the naked one. The
KLE500 is dirt cheap now... they're £4k rrp but you can get one with 0
miles from kawasakidirect for £3k. I was really tempted... it's just
that the place selling the CBF500/600 has offered a decent trade-in on
my Varadero 125 (which I bought from them) and I'd rather just get shut
of it like that than have the mither of selling it privately.
Cheers,
Tarby
Kawasakidirect are also selling the ER-5 for £2499 I see.
Nothing that suits me in the Suzuki or Yamaha range at the moment, so it'll
either be a Honda CB500, CBF500 or a Kawasaki ER-5, ER-6 type thing.
Just sold my Enfield Bullet so anything is gonna be quick to me :-)
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Yeah, I was thinking of all of those Kwaks too (and the Versys),
although I would have gone for the ER-6f rather than the naked one. The
KLE500 is dirt cheap now... they're =A34k rrp but you can get one with 0
miles from kawasakidirect for =A33k. I was really tempted... it's just
that the place selling the CBF500/600 has offered a decent trade-in on
my Varadero 125 (which I bought from them) and I'd rather just get shut
of it like that than have the mither of selling it privately.
Cheers,
Tarby
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Regards, David
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Resale - its worth paying 200 quid more now to sell for 400 quid more -
relatively - later, but its not worth spending more to get relatively less
back. Where's TOG gone?
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600. Overtaking will be less stressful for a start. However, in reality I'd
much prefer a big twin over the 600: makes about the same power but in a
less buzzy fashion e.g. Yamaha TDM900.
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A bit of scope for aftermarket improvement?
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TIA
Tarby
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