A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME
In 2001, Honda tested the water with a sportier version of the CBR600F…
I n many ways the CBR600F Sport signified the beginning of the end for the supersport class. Honda certainly didn’t intend it to be the pivotal model that eventually led to the demise of a class they themselves effectively started way back in 1987 with the original ‘jelly mould’ CBR, but that’s the way it worked out. How did the Sport topple an entire class of motorcycle? Technically it was the first homologation special and it started the ball rolling for ever more sports-focused supersport bikes that compromised road manners for lap times…
Next level
While supersport bikes have always had a degree of sporting ability, what made them so popular in the 1990s was the fact they were jacks of all trades. Yes, they could be enjoyed on track, but they were also super workhorses that were cheap to buy and run. And in this role, none were better than the mighty CBR600. But Honda wanted a taste of podium champagne and that led in 2001 to the arrival of the CBR600F Sport.
Based around the CBR600F, which was updated for 2001 and released alongside the Sport, the F-S was something a bit more special. While it had the same chassis as the F, the Sport was targeted at track success and as such gained a few trick bits intended to help racers gain those vital tenths of a second here and there.
Inside the motor, the F-S came with dual valve springs to allow it to rev higher, strengthened valve seats, a slightly more aggressive cam and a lighter flywheel. Not massive changes for road riders, but alongside the aluminium cartridges in the forks
and extra bracing on the sub-frame, race teams were certainly left smiling. And they weren’t the only ones…
Some rebel sections of Honda’s traditionally quite conservative rider base had been asking for a slightly sportier CBR for a while and the Sport ticked all the right boxes. Thanks to its split rider and pillion seat the Sport looked far cooler than the F model, something that was further enhanced by a natty red and black Honda wing paint scheme. This was a CBR that finally looked like a proper sportsbike, not a sporty commuter. But crucially, underneath this wolf’s outer clothing there was a true CBR with practicality at its heart. And it is this feature, not to mention a rock bottom price tag and a very high build quality, that makes the CBR600F Sport a great used buy for riders looking for either their first ‘big bike’ or even just a damn fine, and reliable, commuter.
In a modern context, one of the joys of the F Sport is the fact it is physically quite large. This is no pocket-rocket like the RR, it’s a sensible machine designed to fit all shapes and sizes of rider and its clip-on bars are set nice and high while its seating position is spacious and the tank is pleasingly narrow. It feels like a mini sports-tourer, yet one that is light, agile and packing a surprisingly grunty motor.
While it fails to top 100bhp, which was pretty representative of the sector back then, the Sport’s inline four is anything but breathless. As well as being super-smooth it has a reasonable spread of power that makes it nice and relaxing to ride when you aren’t in the mood to bounce it off its limiter. Should you wish for a bit more excitement there is a small zap of top-end, but in general this is a motor with practicality at its heart. And what’s wrong with that?
On the go the Sport’s chassis is more than capable of swift riding. Remember, this bike won a WSS championship with minimal modifications, so it’s no slouch. Over time the brakes will have lost their bite and the suspension gained a bit of slop, but this is nothing that can’t be
cured through a few sensible aftermarket goodies. The most important thing is that the basics are there and all held together by some excellent build quality – which is exactly what you want on a good used bike.
In many ways the F Sport was the last of the great all-round CBR models, as capable on road as track. Yes, the RR looks better and will destroy the Sport on a track, but when it comes to practicality it is so much more limited. It is no coincidence that Honda re-released the F to run alongside the RR in 2011 due to demand for a more chilled-out CBR, but this new generation isn’t a patch on the Sport in terms of character, refinement and build quality. Nope, if you want a fantastic used supersport bike that does it all there is still only one brand to go for – the Honda CBR600F. And if you want the coolest one, buy the Sport. It’s a purchase you won’t regret in a jiffy.
Verdict 8/10
An excellent used buy that perfectly demonstrates the appeal of a supersport bike before this class became obsessed by lap times. + BUILD QUALITY, ENGINE, RELAXED NATURE, PRICE - LOOKS A BIT DATED, SOFT SUSPENSION