ROUNDING OFF
Too often, we skip over the frolics of mid-capacity sportsbikes, reaching out for the keys to their litre bike siblings because more power equals more fun, right? Well, not necessarily, as we were reminded on this test. We had a proper laugh on each of these machines, enjoying not just their simplicity, but also the fact that they required a bit of effort to get the best out of them. The rewards on offer were tantalising and pure, putting smiles on our faces for the simplest of reasons. It’s nice to hop on a bike and twist the throttle hard without fear of death or, on the flip side, the engagement of a dozen different tech functions limiting you to the amount of pleasure you can experience. These bikes make a respectable amount of power – realistically, about 110bhp if you were to put them on a dyno – which meant they were nigh-on 100bhp down on some of the fruitiest litre bikes we toy with on a regular basis. But who cares? On the roads, they didn’t exactly leave us hanging... if anything, they egged us on into riding harder and faster, revving them further and higher in the process. None of these bikes are slow. None of these bikes are boring. None of these bikes should be skimmed over if you’re after a road bike for everyday fun. They all delivered when we needed them to.
Which one delivered the most? That’d have to be the Triumph. Tim and I were smitten with the thing. It looked the part, sounded awesome, and performed the best in every respect (… handling, braking, motoring). It was a real treat to ride, and if you’ve never been lucky enough to do so, I’d highly recommend you talk a Daytonaowning mate into letting you have a blast on theirs – you won’t regret it.
What’s next best? This is where it gets tricky. The R6 and CBR are similar scoring performers, but they offer the goods in different ways. I’ll break it down by saying the R6 brings a much more focused, poised and excitable ride to the party. The Honda, on the other hand, just does things well. If you’re planning to ride your 600 more on the road than on track, then the CBR would be my pick of these. It’s more chilled and still plenty capable of getting your juices going. The R6 is that bit more in your face… and on your wrists. It belongs on a track where you can release its potential. It's a cracking bike and probably the best looking of the three machines in this test. It’s also the most cramped of the lot, so bear that in mind if you’re 8ft tall.
But sometimes it’s worth the pain for the
gain on offer, of which the Yamaha has loads to go at. It’s a timeless option. They all are, actually.
As already mentioned, this sector is dead in the water from a new machine point of view, which adds kudos and appeal to these nowextinct offerings. I hope there’s a resurgence on the cards, but it’s less likely as each year ticks by. With that in mind, it’s no bad shout to grab one while you can... while these bikes are still relatively fresh and well cared for. The used 600 market is massive, so you shouldn’t struggle finding the right choice, condition and price point for your budget. And if you pick any of the machines showcased in this test, you’ll be right on the money. They are all worthy weapons.