By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Honda CB600F Hornet (PC 41) vs Kawasaki Z750 (ZR 750 L)
Honda CB600F Hornet vs Kawasaki Z750: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
Roll on the Honda CB600F Hornet's throttle out of a bend and its light chassis doesn't squirm off line. The Kawasaki Z750's engine doesn't fuss at low revs as you wind its throttle open. Then it's rushing hard for the top.
So which one do you buy?
The CB600F Hornet has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Nose ahead: CB600F Hornet
The CB600F Hornet makes slightly more sense as a commuter. It's down to lighter steering and a smaller footprint. Don't read much into a gap this small.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Small edge: CB600F Hornet
Through a string of corners, the CB600F Hornet feels a little more eager. The reason: a sportier chassis. The gap is small, so ride both.
What makes each one tick
CB600F Hornet
It still pulls cleanly down low. A bump at a brisk pace sets the soft fork wallowing with little feedback. The bar flicks it from turn to turn.
Nils rode the CB600F Hornet in Austria in 2007, and in 2009 (NastyNils Testride).
Z750
Upright behind wide bars, you'll find the Z750's four wants to be wrung out. Into a high-speed sweeper, the bike turns in on a basic fork and shock that lack support, and the steering goes vague. With a passenger aboard, the shock's support thins out further. Its comfy seat shrugs off the daily commute.
Nils rode the Z750 in Austria in 2007, and in 2009 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The CB600F Hornet has the lower seat: 31.5 in (800 mm) vs 32.1 in (815 mm).
- The CB600F Hornet has the lower wet weight: 381 lb (173 kg) vs 498 lb (226 kg).
- The Z750 makes more peak torque: 58 lb-ft (78 Nm) vs 47 lb-ft (64 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Look elsewhere
Neither one is built for long-haul comfort. For big miles, look at a proper tourer or sport tourer.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Neither is a natural fit
Neither one is where you should learn. Get a season on something gentler first.
Traveling with luggage
Not their thing
Neither of these was built to haul bags. A tail bag and a credit card is the realistic plan.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
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
Z750
What owners say
Strengths
- Rev-happy inline-four engine
Trade-offs
- Budget suspension limits handling
Known problems to check before you buy
CB600F Hornet
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Z750
- Frame and swingarm corrosion Exposed steel frame components, especially around welds and the swingarm, develop surface rust quickly if not regularly coated with a protectant or kept dry.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| CB600F Hornet | Z750 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.5 in (800 mm) | 32.1 in (815 mm) |
| Wet weight | 381 lb (173 kg) | 498 lb (226 kg) |
| CB600F Hornet | Z750 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 599 cc | 748 cc |
| Power | 102 hp (75 kW) | 106 hp (78 kW) |
| Peak power at | 12,000 rpm | 10,500 rpm |
| Torque | 47 lb-ft (64 Nm) | 58 lb-ft (78 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 10,500 rpm | 8,300 rpm |
| CB600F Hornet | Z750 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 US gal (19 L) | 4.9 US gal (18.5 L) |
| CB600F Hornet | Z750 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 296 mm | 300 mm |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CB600F Hornet | Z750 | |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
