Honda CBR 600f

robin7 · 26 Nov 2014 at 14:15

So, anything I should know?

I had a 125cc scooter when I was 17 and I'm in the process of finishing CBT/getting my license. Been looking around at bikes and was offered a CBR600f. I chatted to the examiner from the CBT about it for a while and he said it was a great bike and I'd be fine etc as long as it's not the RR version.

So my two questions are: Is he right? Obviously he's got first hand knowledge since he's seen me drive (he also told me once I've done my module 3 to book my test as he's positive I'll pass if that helps haha). But is there anything I should look out for?

Secondly just trying to find out if this is a decent deal. The bike is a totally mint CBR 600F (2012 manufacture, 2013 registered) with 3700km.

Also it has a brand new set of Bridgestone S20 Evo tyres, and the following mods: Akrapovic exhaust, official tinted screen and rear under panel, wheel hugger, asv levers, tail tidy and integrated tail lights, honda tank pads and a few other small things I belive.

The guy selling it is a friend of mine who I know very well, and I can see the bike is mint/very well taken care of. He doesn't 'want' to sell it, however he just got promoted (he's a police man), and said if I wanted it as my first big bike then he'd buy himself some crazy new 1000cc BMW that he can't justify right now.

Anyways, the price offered was 5k. It seems to be fairly cheap for this bike considering everything on it, however I don't really know much about bikes at all.

I should add I'm in Gibraltar hence it's km's not miles, and it would effect resale value (positively I guess?) since there are literally no other CBR's for sale at the moment (of any kind). There's not usually many bikes of any kind for sale privately, and dealers usually not such a great deal.

Anyways just any info on the bike and if that sounds reasonable would be appreciated.

robin7 · 26 Nov 2014 at 14:23

Oh, I should add that I have taken it for a drive and it was lovely haha. But compared to the bikes I've driven before, it's not surprising

Tefal · 26 Nov 2014 at 15:54

The new (post 07) cars are nothing like the old ones.

The old cars were good sports bbikes for the road the new ones are just a cb with a fairing.

Wucked · 26 Nov 2014 at 20:15

Its a decent choice for a 1st proper bike. Its easy to ride and its quick, but not silly quick. Its a Honda too, so it should have good build quality and decent reliability. Tefal is right, its not as sports focused as the earlier models. But that's probably a good thing in your situation.

Still, 5k gives you quite a few good options. Its worth looking around at other bikes before you commit to anything.

TallPaul_S · 26 Nov 2014 at 20:50

Not sure what the motorbike market is like in Gib, but in the UK, with 5K to play with, that buys you a hell of a lot of nice bikes.

Ducati Monster 696/796/hypermotard
Aprilia Shiver/Dorsoduro
Honda CB1000R
Yamaha MT07
Triumph Street Triple
Brand new KTM RC390
and so on...

Kreeeee · 26 Nov 2014 at 22:13

For that money I'd be heading straight for the street triple.

robin7 · 27 Nov 2014 at 11:20

Sadly here in Gib we have a lot less bikes on the market at any one time. Never seen a street triple for sale ever haha... although there must be a few.

I'm not all too fussed on naked bikes though really. I prefer the sportier, fully faired look. I sat on a monster 696 I saw for sale (£3,800, but I don't know age or mileage etc) and it felt quite small really. Could just be in my head but it did feel small. The CBR is fairly small in any case (both feet flat on the ground with ease), but it does feel bigger.

Anyways, I'm totally open to suggestions. I think I'll start going to have a look in some garages as well, as private sellers are few and far between.

Tefal · 27 Nov 2014 at 14:32

robin7 said:
Sadly here in Gib we have a lot less bikes on the market at any one time. Never seen a street triple for sale ever haha... although there must be a few.

I'm not all too fussed on naked bikes though really. I prefer the sportier, fully faired look. I sat on a monster 696 I saw for sale (£3,800, but I don't know age or mileage etc) and it felt quite small really. Could just be in my head but it did feel small. The CBR is fairly small in any case (both feet flat on the ground with ease), but it does feel bigger.

Anyways, I'm totally open to suggestions. I think I'll start going to have a look in some garages as well, as private sellers are few and far between.

could you noit buy in uk and drive it back

robin7 · 27 Nov 2014 at 16:18

Tefal said:
could you noit buy in uk and drive it back

Yup I could, but import duty on a second hand bike is 30% I believe (at least is on cars).

Tefal · 27 Nov 2014 at 16:20

wow

30% of initial price or what you pay? get seller to make you a nice fake receipt for 300 quid

robin7 · 27 Nov 2014 at 16:22

Tefal said:
wow

30% of initial price or what you pay? get seller to make you a nice fake receipt for 300 quid

It's based on what 'they' value it at. My uncle brought in a brand new Boxter S which they valued at 12k because the book didn't have the new one in it... lol.

But then I've heard of people getting great deals in Spain (economic collapse means some cheap bikes/cars) and then getting shafted bringing it in.

I'm going to stay on the lookout for bikes. My idea was to spend around 3k for my first bike, give or a take a bit (like the monster if I could have got it for 3.4 or similar). But then when my mate offered me his CBR, I thought I'd find out a bit more about them, as I love the look.

Tefal · 27 Nov 2014 at 16:35

robin7 said:
It's based on what 'they' value it at. My uncle brought in a brand new Boxter S which they valued at 12k because the book didn't have the new one in it... lol.

But then I've heard of people getting great deals in Spain (economic collapse means some cheap bikes/cars) and then getting shafted bringing it in.

I'm going to stay on the lookout for bikes. My idea was to spend around 3k for my first bike, give or a take a bit (like the monster if I could have got it for 3.4 or similar). But then when my mate offered me his CBR, I thought I'd find out a bit more about them, as I love the look.

buy some smashed up fiarings for a tenner on ebay, go buy lovely bike replace fairings with ****y ones, have mate bring the nice ones back/post them.

have bike valued as basically worthless due to damage ^_^

repalce when you get it home

robin7 · 15 Dec 2014 at 09:07

So I passed my Mod 3 and I'm now looking seriously for a bike.

Seen a load of different ones, and now I'm back from my holiday I'll get around to posting them up on here to get some opinions (if you guys don't mind).

I'm really at a loss as to what I actually want to get though. I like the 'racer' look hence really liking my friends CBR, however as it's so new I'm worried I'll drop it and cause serious damage.

Also have seen a 'cheap' Honda Hornet (cb600f) for 2k, it was 2007 with 33k km on the clock. So perhaps that's a more sensible option as a first bike as it wouldn't be the end of the world if I dropped it? Less fairings to replace etc. Then again I saw CBR fairings on ebay for the 600F and they were pretty cheap if I needed to replace them. I imagine both bikes should be fairling similar in terms of experience? Or is there a big difference between a 2007 CB600F and a 2012 CBR600F?

ElliorR · 15 Dec 2014 at 09:45

Congrats on passing your mod 2.

robin7 · 15 Dec 2014 at 10:02

ElliorR said:
Congrats on passing your mod 2.

Mod 3!

Which in Gibraltar is essentially a license, as I can drive any size bike in Gibraltar on it. It's only if I go into Spain that I need a full license. But hopefully that won't be too much of a problem. The examiner I had told me to get a few weeks practice on a bigger bike and then book my test and I shouldn't have a problem.

ElliorR · 15 Dec 2014 at 10:08

Damn it

robin7 · 15 Dec 2014 at 10:12

ElliorR said:
Damn it

Haha. It's weird here, as I had a bike 7 or so years ago and they only introduced the CBT last year. Before then when I last had a bike you just had to walk in, pay £5 and then they hand you your learners license. So having driven a bike before, and having a car license, made the CBT here laughably easy. I suspect it might be harder/different in the UK though. I'm glad I had to do it though as it gave me some good practice on a geared bike (had a 125cc scooter previously).

ElliorR · 15 Dec 2014 at 10:14

Nowhere will be easier than America where you just get on a bike and do an easier mod 1, at your leisure, at most by the look of it.

tom_e · 15 Dec 2014 at 10:16

robin7 said:
I suspect it might be harder/different in the UK though. I'm glad I had to do it though as it gave me some good practice on a geared bike (had a 125cc scooter previously).

As long as you've got 2 brain cells to rub together and a bit of balance it's stupidly easy here as well.

robin7 · 15 Dec 2014 at 10:26

ElliorR said:
Nowhere will be easier than America where you just get on a bike and do an easier mod 1, at your leisure, at most by the look of it.

I was amazed when I was in NY and my cousin told me her driving test was in an auto but counts for manual cars also... like how is that allowed? lol

tom_e said:
As long as you've got 2 brain cells to rub together and a bit of balance it's stupidly easy here as well.

Haha fair enough then! Balance was the worst for me for the first 5 minutes on my Mod 2 as I've not even ridden a bicycle in the past few years so was a tad wobbly but was fine after that. Funnily enough driving my mates CBR 600f was easier than the little 125cc in the mod 2/3. His bike was so much more forgiving and easier on clutch control.