Honda CBF600 (2004-2007)

I have owned this bike for a few weeks now, im getting approx 170 miles from a tank but that was before a service of K/N air and oil filter, iridium spark plugs and oil change so i expect a few more miles. I have just been on an advanced riding weekend in Redmire, Yorkshire and all i can say is Boring? i think not MCN are so off the mark this is truly an amazing bike. I own the 2004 and HISS is not included but FUN is!! Ridden properly this opens up around 6rpm and it moves! i kept up with a Triumph rocket and left another for dust in the corners. The handling is amazing twice i took a corner a little hot and it forgave me...only just. You can lean the bike more than you think you can given the upright position. The half faired version of mine offers excellent weather protection. Yes id like more grunt from a 1000 version but my 600 has 0-60 in 4 seconds faster than almost all cars

The MCN review frustrates me. Sure this isn't a Sports bike, but that doesn't mean it's bad. I started riding this year - aged 33. I wanted something really reliable, predictable and smart. I bought the Honda because of what I read - a good sensible bike. That does not mean boring though. I LOVE this bike - in-line 4 engine with a Scorpion can sounds awesome. So much better than a V twin Kawasaki ER6. I regularly ride a friends ER6. Nowt wrong with it but feels like a much smaller, much less refined, less well built bike. I wouldn't want one. The CBF is the Merc E Class whilst the Kawasaki is the Astra GSi! You get the idea. I'm 6ft 2 and the CBF fits me well. Do yourself a favour and try one - you might just be surprised. The only comment I would make is that the 600S looks so much better than the naked version. Review based on a 2005 CBF600SA

What can I add that the review hasn't already said? It's a great bike to begin on, I personally don't notice the weight at slow speed but that might just be me, I learned on a CBF500 and bought this after passing so i'm not used to anything else (lighter). I bought it because I liked the riding postion after trying a shop full of various makes, Maybe i'm biased because of what I learned on, but I feel it's important to feel comfortable when you are starting out on your own. I can't deny it is a little gutless in 2nd gear, but once you get up to 3rd, you can get a decent poke out of it when needed, you won't be able to keep up with the big boys, but if thet's your thing, you wouldn't be buying one of these. As for it's ridability, I live in the central belt of Scotland and have no bother jumping on this for hours at a time, heading north and riding through all of the challenges the north of Scotland's roads have to offer. Short hops or long hauls are comfortable and it corners as well as you would expect it to, just turn/lean in and round you go. The great thing about this is it's forgiving, miss a gear, no problem.. just keep chugging away until you build up your road legs. Need to take a pillion? easy, plenty room on the back and the grab rails do the job. Want to store a decent heavy chain and padlock with you at all times? fine, it'll fit under the lockable pillion seat with room to spare. Want to tie down something huge using the bungee? err, maybe give that a miss. As for the fuel economy, I think they are being a bit cautious with 49/50 Mpg. I'm sure I am getting another 5/10 Mpg out of it because the numbers just don't add up when i'm at the pumps, which is a good thing. Basic maintainence is a doddle as well, Haynes do a manual for this which pretty much tells you everything you must do, how to do it and when you should do it to keep it running smoothly. I have no doubt i'll trade this up next year for something a little more sporty but for my first year of riding, I am finding this to be a fantastic bike that takes me where I want to go, maybe without frills, but certainly without grumbles.

Until a year ago I was very content being a fair weather Scooter rider till some chav in Larkhall swiped it and burned it out, then I decided it was about time I put my license to good use so took a refresher and pciked on of these up 3 mths old. Yes it is a bit heavy and not as powerful as most but with some coaxing I've been having lots of fun in and around Bath. If I had the choice I would have bought the faired machine as the difference a screen makes is impressive, starts every time even if I haven't rode for a few weeks, will probably trade up to a 1300 muscle next but there is still plenty of fun to be had on it.

I stuck with Honda for my 2nd bike. Not quite as good (economy,turning ease) for the sub 30mph stuff as the 125 but otherwise is a good commuter. Nice and stable at speed but still fun working on those corners. Engine is presumably designed to be drippy at low revs for beginners but it does pull well higher up the range and overtakes are easy enough. Excellent engine braking from the inline 4. Managing 50 - 55mpg. Nicely finished and good dials. Quite a low bike which is just as well because its heavy and I can only just lift it up- My wife has no chance! Yes,its a good 'un just dont expect too much attention at the biker's cafe!

I bought my CBF in Oct 05. I had'nt owned a Bike for over 15 years. Mine was an ex demo, with 1800 miles on it and its the Black naked version. It does look a little 'ordinary' from the front and rear but I think it looks great from the side. I'm 5'4'' so it was an easy choice, as stated previously, the seat is adjustable. We're now on 9,200 miles of mainly pleasure riding and I love this "DULL" ? little bike. I've done a number of rallies loaded with camping gear and occassionally a pillion, and in the regular company of a 1200 Bandit, BMW800r and Kawa FZ750. This bike will do most anything you ask of it, its taken me for a weekend blast down to Cornwall and back, no probs. It is very user friendly, comfortable, capable and is anything but 'dull'. I will admit it is no sportsbike and it does wallow a little on some bends but it is mainly very stable and competent. With over 9000 mls now on the clock, mine is loosening up nicely and has lost the snatchy response to the throttle it had when newer. I had the Honda fly screen fitted to mine and the Honda heated grips, (yes I go out all year round). I got caught in a snowfall earlier this year and had no choice but to 'crawl' home. Thanks to this Bike being so manageable, I had few scary moments, but I dont want to repeat the situation. All in all I'd recommend this bike to anyone, ideal for Born Agains and newer riders and shorties. On the minus points, I have noticed the paint coming off the swingarm in a couple of places, in spite of it being cleaned every time it comes home from a ride. The dealer I got it from agreed to have the swingarm changed under warranty in May of this year. At time of writing Nov, and a few calls and visits, it has not materialised. I did notice the same problem on an 07 plate CBF in the showroom, so this may be something for fellow owners to keep an eye out for. The other Bugbear is the lack of a centrestand to make cleaning and maintainence easier. I've just managed to find a used stand on E bay so hopefully 'sorted' there. I'm planning to keep my bike for another year, then hopefully I'll be trading up to the CBF1000. If I had enough money I would keep my bike indefinately. By the way I'm still on the original tyres, just about ! even after many rides over the 'local' Cat & Fiddle

I bought a second hand example a few years ago to use as an everyday bike, and it's been all that I thought that it would be. I also ride a sportsbike, but whilst this does n't produce the same kind of power or handling, it's superb for most things. For those of us who have to pay for our own bikes, it's a good real world choice as an all rounder.

I got my CBF600 from a reputable Honda dealer in Surrey. Main reason I chose it is because of its adjustablity. I am 5'4" so it suited me well in all the low settings it has for the handle bars and the seat. Very stable on motorways and a very useful fairing. Tank rage is very good, 170 mile to a tank on smooth riding. Very good build quality. ABS give you that extra security in times of trouble. Highly recommended for newbie bikers..

Definitely a returning to biking kind of bike but not as boring or as lardy as you might believe from the mcn review above. The main thing is to get a decent exhaust and pay a little attention to where the bike makes it's power. A micron road-legal (or favorite equivalent) will wake things right up without the need to mess about with jetting. Gives the required take off from lights and some headroom above 7.5k (particularly in lower gears). Stock can strangles the bike most noticeably in 1st when for eg pulling away from rest, requires almost immediate change up to 2nd to keep things moving. But a micron will sort all that out and takes ten minutes to fit. For general riding the sweetspot/powerband is round about 6.5k. With a decent can, and the revs around that point, the engine is quite responsive enough to let you know it's there and provides amply for overtakes and corner exits. Miss the power and like any bike it'll take time to catch up with you're clumsy inputs. Main weak point is the suspension. Would perhaps help if there was some tweakability but there isn't and asis the bike is a little wallowy which can be unsettling in tight bumpy corners. I suspect that if you found a way to sort that you'd have a very respectable ride. What the bike does well is: get up in the morning, get you through any kind of traffic as quick as anything (except maybe a scooter), eat mile after mile of open road or twisty and then get you back again. It's a top notch bullet proof road bike. Also hard enough to start (without a key) to be safe from kids (without the need for HISS/alarms etc) and "boring" enough to be safe from professional bike thieves. All in all this is a pretty decent ride, weekend runaround and any distance tourer. If you need a bike that'll scare you at idle this ain't it but if you can tease out what it has to offer there's plenty of fun to be had.

This bike was recommended to me by a die hard biker as easy to handle, reliable bike - ideal for someone coming back to biking. He is right. He took it for a ride today and loved it. So good for returners like me but can bring a smile to the face of more hardened bikers too - that is what I call a good bike! Strengths: Easy to handle, light(ish), reliable, comfortable. Weaknesses:  Can be a bit snatchy (or is just me being rusty), handling is just OK.