By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Honda CB600F Hornet (PC 41) vs CB600F Hornet (PC 36 USD)
Tip the 2007 Honda CB600F Hornet into a bend and it's neutral, light enough that you'll flick it in without a fight. On the 2006 Honda CB600F Hornet, you'll feel the front turn in eagerly the moment you lean. Then it holds that line and doesn't let go.
So which one do you buy?
The 2007 CB600F Hornet has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Nose ahead: 2007 CB600F Hornet
On the way to work, the 2007 CB600F Hornet asks a little less of you. Thank a smaller footprint for that. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: 2007 CB600F Hornet
Back-road fun leans slightly toward the 2007 CB600F Hornet. It's a narrow call, so trust your test ride.
What makes each one tick
2007 CB600F Hornet
Low in the tach, the 2007 CB600F Hornet's inline-four already pulls clean, yet it's happiest spinning hard. Each extra twist of the throttle stacks on more shove, and it doesn't flatten out before the top-end rush. Boots drop straight onto the pegs.
Nils rode the 2007 CB600F Hornet in Austria in 2007, and in 2009 (NastyNils Testride).
2006 CB600F Hornet
Down low, the 2006 CB600F Hornet's inline-four doesn't hurry, since it keeps its peak for high rpm. A bump halfway through a sweeper doesn't knock the chassis off its arc. The saddle's just 31.1 in (790 mm) up, and both feet reach the asphalt at a light. The surge runs clear to redline.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2007 CB600F Hornet has the lower wet weight: 381 lb (173 kg) vs 437 lb (198 kg).
- The 2007 CB600F Hornet has the larger fuel tank: 5.0 US gal (19 L) vs 4.5 US gal (17 L).
- ABS: option on the 2007 CB600F Hornet, not offered on the 2006 CB600F Hornet.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not their thing
As first bikes, both are a stretch. Starting smaller isn't a step down.
Nothing splits them on running costs. Ride both back to back and the decision usually makes itself.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
2007 CB600F Hornet
Strengths
- Handling That Forgives Mistakes
- Reliability You Can Bank On
- Cheap to Run and Service
- Lean Clearance to Spare
Trade-offs
- No Shelter From the Wind
- Fork Without Any Adjustment
- Reg/Rec Can Give Up
- Fasteners and Cases Corrode
- Weedy braking performance
2006 CB600F Hornet
What owners say
Strengths
- Lively and agile handling
- Strong, high-revving engine
- Affordable first big bike
Trade-offs
- Noticeable engine vibration
What they share
- Displacement
- 599 cc
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 12,000 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 296 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| 2007 CB600F Hornet | 2006 CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.5 in (800 mm) | 31.1 in (790 mm) |
| Wet weight | 381 lb (173 kg) | 437 lb (198 kg) |
| 2007 CB600F Hornet | 2006 CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 102 hp (75 kW) | 97 hp (71 kW) |
| Torque | 47 lb-ft (64 Nm) | 46 lb-ft (63 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 10,500 rpm | 10,000 rpm |
| 2007 CB600F Hornet | 2006 CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 US gal (19 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2007 CB600F Hornet | 2006 CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
