Six-hundred of one…
I have come to realise that I must own the most disliked/forgettable 600cc motorbikes ever.
I often see questions posted on social media sites asking ‘Just passed my test / Need a commuter/allrounder — what shall I get?’
Among all the obligatory Mickey-taking, more often than not, the recommendation is a Suzuki Bandit or Yamaha Fazer. Both are very good options, I’m sure. Now I see that RIDE is also getting in on the act (October issue) by suggesting several bikes up to the task - Bandit, SV650, V-strom, Fazer, Hornet or even a CB500X. But never a mention of my ride of choice.
I have a 2004 Honda CBF600 which I’ve owned for almost five years. I realise that it’s each to their own and all that, and that many readers will probably scoff at this letter, while they’re polishing their latest rocketship. But is a CBF600 such a ‘bad’ bike after all, to be overlooked so much?
Cheaper tax, economy around the 60mpg mark, three-figure licence-losing speeds achievable (on my mate’s private runway). For me, it’s the perfect all-year-round do-it-all bike. So if you have just passed your test or need a great commuter/ all-rounder, don’t dismiss it. Pete Wing
Thanks Pete – and rest assured we know the CBF600 very well indeed. Deputy editor MFG spent most of 2004 on one, riding 12,000 miles in total including a road trip to Morocco. And he knows all about its licence-losing potential too — he spent a month taking the bus to work after clocking a three-figure speed of his own on the A1(M). Whoops…