The bike that started it all: 1987 Hurricane cBr600
Though it looks similar to the original version, there were significant Bupgrades for the updated CBR such as upside down forks, radial brakes and nearly 15 pounds less weight. If ever there was any doubt that the 600RR was a track-focused bike, this solidified its stance as a true "RR."Average used price: $5800-$6500
The all-new bike has proven to be a serious weapon. Even Triumph's amazing Daytona 675 has struggled to stride next to the Honda's increased midrange and astonishingly light weight bike. Some might argue that the styling has taken a step back in aggressiveness, but the new bike is notably more comfortable than previous versions.Average used price: $8200-$8900.
About a decade ago, buying a 600cc sportbike meant accepting a secondplace status amongst the "fast" motorcycles. That all began to change with the introduction of Honda's 2003 CBR 600RR. The CBR has been around in one form or another since the original Hurricane introduced back in 1987, but for the 2003 model year, Big Red saw the 600 market heating up so it left the drawing boards with a revolutionary new middleweight machine.
Gone was the relatively conservative styling of the previous CBR 600F4i, replaced by a sleek, angular motorcycle sporting a four-into one exhaust system that exited beneath the tiny passenger perch.
Out back, the CBR grew a triangular braced swingarm of the sort previously seen only on expensive racebikes, proving that Honda meant to dominate this highly competitive streetbike class. The liquid-cooled, in-line four cylinder 599cc powerplant could be revved to a screaming 15,000 RPM, and the engine was smaller overall thanks to a gearbox stacked atop the engine's crankcases; the rear Showa shock was also innovative and bolted directly to the swingarm instead of the crankcases- revealing the fact that the CBR was developed alongside Honda's RC211V MotoGP racer which shares a similar setup. Like all Hondas (with the exception of the somewhat jerky RC51) the fuel injection is flawless, offering a bold, progressive surge from just over 3,000 RPM to its peak.
When introduced, testers raved at the flexibility of the revamped CBR motor, which is said to offer superior low-rev throttle response to Kawasaki's 37cc larger ZX-636. And, although the Honda may lose out when the throttles are wound against the stops, in real-world street riding situations, we'd vote for Introduced with plenty of fanfare in 2003, the CBR600RR offered an alternative to the literbike race replicas thanks to its impeccable track manners and performance-focused MotoGP attitude. A stacked gearbox was an all-new design concept for Honda, as was the underseat exhaust. Average used price: $4800-$5400
Used And Reviewed
The phrase "bulletproof reliability" and Honda are nearly synonymous these days, and even after five years, there's little that goes wrong with a CBR600RR, unless the motorcycle in question has been abused in some way.
A poorly-maintained model or a motorcycle that's been wheelied mercilessly will typically suffer from notchy steering head bearings, noticeable for a stiff feel at the handlebars and a reluctance to turn at just about any speed. When dropped, the spindly aluminum rear subframes can bind up faster than a Russian gymnast, and the futuristic, angular bodywork is attached by a series of mounting points that can snap or damage easily, making proper re-fitment of the fairings nearly impossible. This is another way to suss out a crash-damaged machine as the body panels-which are not cheap to replace-will have gaps and uneven edges between them. But if a used CBR600RR has escaped these types of infractions, it's generally an easy-to-run machine which requires little maintenance due to service intervals spaced an impressive 4,000 miles apart with no major service until 16,000 miles.
We've found that most CBR600RR owners like to do occasional trackdays, and if they haven't yet, they plan to do so in the future. Additionally, stunt-minded wheelie merchants don't tend to be attracted to the Honda as much as the performance-oriented enthusiast is. Slip-on pipes are a popular modification as well as aftermarket sprockets for altered gearing.
Coming Soon...
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