Buying advice - CBR600F
Discussion
Did my direct access last week and passed my test on Monday! So very happy.
I'm looking for my first sports bike that I can do the odd trip around the Highlands, the odd track day and very occasionally use in town.
I have dismissed the current sports 600's as being too track focussed for what I need and didn't expect to like the CBR600F when I sat on it in the dealer.
Is this a good all-rounder and is the cam chain problem a big issue?
Also what would you think a good price for a new bike would be? I've seen them as low as £5700, given it's being discontinued and the rrp is £6200.
Any help would be great!
I'm looking for my first sports bike that I can do the odd trip around the Highlands, the odd track day and very occasionally use in town.
I have dismissed the current sports 600's as being too track focussed for what I need and didn't expect to like the CBR600F when I sat on it in the dealer.
Is this a good all-rounder and is the cam chain problem a big issue?
Also what would you think a good price for a new bike would be? I've seen them as low as £5700, given it's being discontinued and the rrp is £6200.
Any help would be great!
It looks a little dated compared to the current line up but I'd love a Honda - one of the reasons from my childhood that I did my test!
I'm going to do a testdrive today.
Options are a new one at £6200 retail. Wonder what discount I could get.... Thinking £5900 or £5800 may be possible....
I'm going to do a testdrive today.
Options are a new one at £6200 retail. Wonder what discount I could get.... Thinking £5900 or £5800 may be possible....
scotia_steve74 said:
It looks a little dated compared to the current line up but I'd love a Honda - one of the reasons from my childhood that I did my test!
I'm going to do a testdrive today.
Options are a new one at £6200 retail. Wonder what discount I could get.... Thinking £5900 or £5800 may be possible....
I'm going to do a testdrive today.
Options are a new one at £6200 retail. Wonder what discount I could get.... Thinking £5900 or £5800 may be possible....
Hmm personally get a second hand one those prices are way too much!
I just bought one second hand off a mate. Pristine late 2003 in silver only covered 5k miles. I got mine for Mates rates (so much less than private sale) but you should be looking at no more than 3500-4000 to get a perfect condition low mileage one say 3-4 years old max. Also note that Honda removed the fully adjustable suspension off later ones!!! May not be a big thing but means it can't be tuned at all.
6x6 said:
I have a 2002 F Sport - the "camchain issue" is acutally just the tensioner. It's only a £45 part and yes they do go, mine did, but it's a relatively easy job to replace if you're mechanically minded.
Most of the time you don't need a new tensioner, they can be wound up a bit and work fine.
mtbr said:
6x6 said:
I have a 2002 F Sport - the "camchain issue" is acutally just the tensioner. It's only a £45 part and yes they do go, mine did, but it's a relatively easy job to replace if you're mechanically minded.
Most of the time you don't need a new tensioner, they can be wound up a bit and work fine.
What? Who told you that?
They are self adjusting. When they start to clatter it means that the mechanism that stops it retracting under the chain's tension has got "weak". The screw in the back of them is for winding it off only before installation. The spring inside is designed to set the tension. Artificially forcing it tighter sounds like a recipie for a snapped camchain or worn guides to me.
sjtscott said:
scotia_steve74 said:
It looks a little dated compared to the current line up but I'd love a Honda - one of the reasons from my childhood that I did my test!
I'm going to do a testdrive today.
Options are a new one at £6200 retail. Wonder what discount I could get.... Thinking £5900 or £5800 may be possible....
I'm going to do a testdrive today.
Options are a new one at £6200 retail. Wonder what discount I could get.... Thinking £5900 or £5800 may be possible....
Hmm personally get a second hand one those prices are way too much!
I just bought one second hand off a mate. Pristine late 2003 in silver only covered 5k miles. I got mine for Mates rates (so much less than private sale) but you should be looking at no more than 3500-4000 to get a perfect condition low mileage one say 3-4 years old max. Also note that Honda removed the fully adjustable suspension off later ones!!! May not be a big thing but means it can't be tuned at all.
If you go secondhand, if you can find out what the oil pressure reading for the bike should be and then get a gauge on the bike. If it's low, walk away. Similarly if you can get a leak down test done.
Steve.
scotia_steve74 said:
Is there anything else that compares to this bike as an all-rounder from Yamaha or anyone else?
The Yam thundercat is a fine bike but out of production now and does a similar sort of thing with slightly more emphasis on comfort and touring. Spend a bit of cash on the suspension and you have a real weapon though.
scotia_steve74 said:
I thought it still had adjustable rear suspension?
Is there anything else that compares to this bike as an all-rounder from Yamaha or anyone else?
Test ride first thing...
Is there anything else that compares to this bike as an all-rounder from Yamaha or anyone else?
Test ride first thing...
I believe elements of the rear might still be adjustable but its not quite the same spec as slightly earlier model years like I have. The front most def has adjustable stuff missing over previous models.
Read more info here www.motorcyclenews.com/nav?page=motorcyclenews.messageboard.forum.thread&threadID=192022#first
scotia_steve74 said:
Did my direct access last week and passed my test on Monday! So very happy.
I'm looking for my first sports bike that I can do the odd trip around the Highlands, the odd track day and very occasionally use in town.
I have dismissed the current sports 600's as being too track focussed for what I need and didn't expect to like the CBR600F when I sat on it in the dealer.
Is this a good all-rounder and is the cam chain problem a big issue?
Also what would you think a good price for a new bike would be? I've seen them as low as £5700, given it's being discontinued and the rrp is £6200.
Any help would be great!
I'm looking for my first sports bike that I can do the odd trip around the Highlands, the odd track day and very occasionally use in town.
I have dismissed the current sports 600's as being too track focussed for what I need and didn't expect to like the CBR600F when I sat on it in the dealer.
Is this a good all-rounder and is the cam chain problem a big issue?
Also what would you think a good price for a new bike would be? I've seen them as low as £5700, given it's being discontinued and the rrp is £6200.
Any help would be great!
Why have you dismissed all the current 600cc machines without test riding any? I think you should have a ride first and then maybe dismiss them.
You say you want a bike for the odd trip around the highlands and the odd track day and very occasional town use......this equates to something like an R6, GSXR 600, CBR600RR....you should have a ride on these first as you may be very surprised, also do not dimiss the Triumph 675 as a very good package.
As has been said don't spend that kind of money on a new CBR 600 F.....if this is definitely the bike you want buy a 12 to 18 month old bike, use it for a 6 - 12 months and then you'll be wanting something more focused.
Obviously the choice is yours but do try other bikes.
scotia_steve74 said:
I thought it still had adjustable rear suspension?
Is there anything else that compares to this bike as an all-rounder from Yamaha or anyone else?
Test ride first thing...
Is there anything else that compares to this bike as an all-rounder from Yamaha or anyone else?
Test ride first thing...
If you do the sort of trips around the Highlands that I do then I'm not sure I'd like a current sports 600: that riding position can't be comfy for all those miles!
Thundercat is an obvious choice but not so many younger ones around on the market so you'd need to really look around for one. Plenty of Fazer and Hornet 600's around and they'd acquit themselves at a trackday perfectly well as would a Suzi SV650. Umm, the usual suspects, really!
The Duc Monster 695 looks nice, might suit you well. Once you get a bike maybe we can meet up around Stirling sometime?
hiccy said:
scotia_steve74 said:
I thought it still had adjustable rear suspension?
Is there anything else that compares to this bike as an all-rounder from Yamaha or anyone else?
Test ride first thing...
Is there anything else that compares to this bike as an all-rounder from Yamaha or anyone else?
Test ride first thing...
If you do the sort of trips around the Highlands that I do then I'm not sure I'd like a current sports 600: that riding position can't be comfy for all those miles!
Thundercat is an obvious choice but not so many younger ones around on the market so you'd need to really look around for one. Plenty of Fazer and Hornet 600's around and they'd acquit themselves at a trackday perfectly well as would a Suzi SV650. Umm, the usual suspects, really!
The Duc Monster 695 looks nice, might suit you well. Once you get a bike maybe we can meet up around Stirling sometime?
The Hornet feels very good when sitting on but I have been hankering after a faired sports bike! Def up for a Highland blast once I get some experience!
Will try the Honda RR but I think the insurance will be the killer on that. They have an 06 CBR600F with 3k miles but it was owned by a young bloke - looks mint and from a Honda dealer but at £4995 second hand I'd rather pay 900 quid more and get a new bike I know it's history (having been burned on a GT3 in Dec I'm a little wary of secondhand!).
The R6 is quite cheap for me to insure, has 0% finance right now but I'm just a little concerned it would be too harsh for me! Any thoughts? Was thinking an 06 GSXR 750 but is that not too powerful for a newbie?
scotia_steve74 said:
hiccy said:
scotia_steve74 said:
I thought it still had adjustable rear suspension?
Is there anything else that compares to this bike as an all-rounder from Yamaha or anyone else?
Test ride first thing...
Is there anything else that compares to this bike as an all-rounder from Yamaha or anyone else?
Test ride first thing...
If you do the sort of trips around the Highlands that I do then I'm not sure I'd like a current sports 600: that riding position can't be comfy for all those miles!
Thundercat is an obvious choice but not so many younger ones around on the market so you'd need to really look around for one. Plenty of Fazer and Hornet 600's around and they'd acquit themselves at a trackday perfectly well as would a Suzi SV650. Umm, the usual suspects, really!
The Duc Monster 695 looks nice, might suit you well. Once you get a bike maybe we can meet up around Stirling sometime?
The Hornet feels very good when sitting on but I have been hankering after a faired sports bike! Def up for a Highland blast once I get some experience!
Will try the Honda RR but I think the insurance will be the killer on that. They have an 06 CBR600F with 3k miles but it was owned by a young bloke - looks mint and from a Honda dealer but at £4995 second hand I'd rather pay 900 quid more and get a new bike I know it's history (having been burned on a GT3 in Dec I'm a little wary of secondhand!).
The R6 is quite cheap for me to insure, has 0% finance right now but I'm just a little concerned it would be too harsh for me! Any thoughts? Was thinking an 06 GSXR 750 but is that not too powerful for a newbie?
I think that the CBR600F will be perfect as a first big bike. Hey it works for me after ten years of riding as my 6th bike owned!
Personally I think where you are going wrong is buying from a francised honda dealer mate, they in particular will overprice everything. Their prices for new bikes simply takes the mick too.
For example I just had a look on biketrader.co.uk and found a 2004 54 plater 600F covered 5800 miles (trade ad) for £3999.
Also to put in perspective I bought a brand new GSXR600K3 in late 2003 from a francised suzuki dealer for £4995 on the road!
Edited by sjtscott on Thursday 1st March 11:48
What a test ride!
First ride on a proper bike, took the 600F out and a Hornet to compare back to back.
The CBR600F felt right, in every way. The Hornet for some reason felt as if I was sitting on top as opposed to feeling part of the F. Hornet would be great around town but it's the 600F for me.
I'm going to buy new. George Whyte say 5800 and my dealer is 5950, including first service so I'll go with them. Retail is 6499 so I don't feel like it's too bad a deal. There is an 06 bike for 4995 but as I haven't ridden it I cant be sure, so going to buy new.
Anything else I should try to get thrown in?
First ride on a proper bike, took the 600F out and a Hornet to compare back to back.
The CBR600F felt right, in every way. The Hornet for some reason felt as if I was sitting on top as opposed to feeling part of the F. Hornet would be great around town but it's the 600F for me.
I'm going to buy new. George Whyte say 5800 and my dealer is 5950, including first service so I'll go with them. Retail is 6499 so I don't feel like it's too bad a deal. There is an 06 bike for 4995 but as I haven't ridden it I cant be sure, so going to buy new.
Anything else I should try to get thrown in?
6x6 said:
mtbr said:
6x6 said:
I have a 2002 F Sport - the "camchain issue" is acutally just the tensioner. It's only a £45 part and yes they do go, mine did, but it's a relatively easy job to replace if you're mechanically minded.
Most of the time you don't need a new tensioner, they can be wound up a bit and work fine.
What? Who told you that?
They are self adjusting. When they start to clatter it means that the mechanism that stops it retracting under the chain's tension has got "weak". The screw in the back of them is for winding it off only before installation. The spring inside is designed to set the tension. Artificially forcing it tighter sounds like a recipie for a snapped camchain or worn guides to me.
Did you try to force the "weak" tensioner back after you took it off the bike? I've never seen one that could be pushed back, you have to wind them back.
It's not the mechanismn that gets weak it's the spring, they get shorter (plastic deformation) because the material they are made out of is not really up to the job. If you put an extra turn or two on you restore the preload to the same level as a new tensioner, the cam chain doesn't know the difference.
I had an FY back in 99 that started rattling a a round 6k miles, The same bike was still going strong when I sold it with 41k on it and most of them at 10,000rpm +!
Honda dealers replaced loads of these things when the bikes were new, because of the warantee. As I stated originally, most of the time it's not necessary.
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