Honda CBF600S review

A sensible middleweight bike for those who don't have pretensions to tearing around Cadwell in record time
Easy to ride, affordable
Budget brakes and suspension

Sometimes we find ourselves getting caught up in all the hype and bullshit of ‘super-light composite dust caps’, ‘high-compression
mud-flaps’ and all manner of jargon designed to fuddle our tiny little minds. So once in a while it’s nice to see a Star Buy that goes some way back to basics.

Honda’s CBF600S is unashamedly aimed at the budget end of the market and, for those of you honest enough to admit that you have neither the experience nor the finances to warrant spending eight large on a new sportsbike, the CBF600S could be just what you’re looking for.

Using the same pre-ram air CBR600 lump as the 600 Hornet, the CBF600S pushes out 76bhp in a very smooth and controllable fashion. The motor has been re-tuned for stronger torque in the lower reaches of the rev-range making it ideal for new riders who need to be focussing their attentions on traffic and road positioning, rather than frenzied gear changes.

It’s a cracking bike for riders who don’t want their confidence shattered by an intimidating power delivery, but do want a bike that will top 130mph.

With easy handling and the option of stress-free ABS brakes, this could just be the perfect first ‘big’ bike.
Sometimes we find ourselves getting caught up in all the hype and bullshit of ‘super-light composite dust caps’, ‘high-compression
mud-flaps’ and all manner of jargon designed to fuddle our tiny little minds. So once in a while it’s nice to see a Star Buy that goes some way back to basics.

Honda’s CBF600S is unashamedly aimed at the budget end of the market and, for those of you honest enough to admit that you have neither the experience nor the finances to warrant spending eight large on a new sportsbike, the CBF600S could be just what you’re looking for.

Using the same pre-ram air CBR600 lump as the 600 Hornet, the CBF600S pushes out 76bhp in a very smooth and controllable fashion. The motor has been re-tuned for stronger torque in the lower reaches of the rev-range making it ideal for new riders who need to be focussing their attentions on traffic and road positioning, rather than frenzied gear changes.

It’s a cracking bike for riders who don’t want their confidence shattered by an intimidating power delivery, but do want a bike that will top 130mph.

With easy handling and the option of stress-free ABS brakes, this could just be the perfect first ‘big’ bike.

Dryweight (kg)197
Seats0
Suspension Front41mm telescopic fork
Suspension RearMonoshock damper pre load
Tyres Front120/70x17in Michelin
Tyres Rear160/60x17in Michelin
Brakes FrontTwo piston sliding caliper
Brakes RearSingle piston caliper
ChassisRectangular section steel tube
Cubic Capacity (cc)600
Bore (mm)65
Stroke (mm)45.2
Compression Ratio11.6
IgnitionElectronic
CoolingLiquid Cooling
Fuel DeliveryEFI
Stroke TypeFour Stroke
DriveChain