2006 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Reliable Revver, Light Handler
The 2006 CB600F closes out the first Hornet chapter, and its heart is a 599 cc liquid-cooled inline-four with CBR600F DNA. Peak power is 97 hp at 12,000 rpm, torque is 46 lb-ft at 10,000, so the whole personality lives in the top half of the tach. Around that engine Honda kept things deliberately plain: an upside-down fork, a 296 mm front brake, a 180/55-17 rear tire, a 6-speed box, chain drive, and almost nothing else. No ABS, no traction control, no ride modes, no screen. In a class that loves to advertise, this one just revs.
It rides light and honest. At 437 lb wet with a 31.1 in seat, it never feels like a handful in town, and the 56.5 in wheelbase keeps it quick to change direction on a tight road. The engine and gearbox are the kind of Honda hardware that shrugs off years, and parts availability makes it cheap to keep sharp. Best suited to a rider who enjoys working the gearbox and wants a naked bike that stays fun at legal speeds. The honest caveat: leave it standing for months without fuel stabilizer and the carbs will gum up and run rough, and the front fork offers no adjustment at all.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 97 hp (71 kW) @ 12,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 46 lb-ft (63 Nm) @ 10,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 599 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 296 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.5 in (1435 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) |
| Wet weight | 437 lb (198 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 gal (17 L) |
| Top speed | 130 mph (210 km/h) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Carburetor clogging and rough running
Poor running, hesitation, and difficult starting can occur if the bike is left unused for extended periods without fuel stabilizer, due to blocked jets and gummed-up carbs.
Where this Honda CB600F Hornet pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the CB600F Hornet is actually built for.
On a tight canyon road this thing is in its element: light steering, real lean angle, and an engine that rewards you for using the top of the tach. Just accept there is no ABS backing you up.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If you ride the same corners over and over to get them right, the Hornet is a good teacher. It gives clear feedback and lets you work on gearbox and line without punishing mistakes.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
A cheap, dependable weekend bike that makes Hill Country speeds feel lively. The 4.5 gal tank covers a decent loop, but with no wind protection the long slab stretches out there get old.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2002–2006
Rev It Hard, Ride Easy
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Successor · 2007–2010
Reliable Revver, Light Hands
Competitor · 2006–2010
The Six-Hundred That Screams
Competitor · 2003–2008
Reliable, Flickable, Costs Nothing
Competitor · 2005–2008
Italian Style, Street Manners
Competitor · 2007–2009
Reliable Revver, Ready Daily
Competitor · 2007–2013
Reliable Fun, No Frills
Competitor · 2005–2006
Naked Muscle, Fairing Added