By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Kawasaki Z750 (MY2004) vs Honda CB600F Hornet (PC 41)
Kawasaki Z750 vs Honda CB600F Hornet: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
Roll on the Kawasaki Z750 and you'll feel its midrange shove build into a top-end rush. The Honda CB600F Hornet pulls softer up top.
So which one do you buy?
The CB600F Hornet has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Narrow edge: CB600F Hornet
The CB600F Hornet edges it for the daily grind. Thank a smaller footprint for that. It's a small gap, not a reason on its own.
What makes each one tick
Z750
There's little bite or feel at the brake lever until the front calipers get some heat into them. In normal riding, they're enough. The inline-four's happiest chasing revs at the top.
CB600F Hornet
Low in the rev range the CB600F Hornet's inline-four already runs clean, and it'll spin smoothly all the way to the top end. At corner entry the neutral steering doesn't fight back while the light chassis flicks the bike over. The chassis stays composed mid-corner. The padded seat's still welcome when the commute ends.
Nils rode the CB600F Hornet 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 481 lb (218 kg).
- The Z750 makes more peak power: 110 hp (81 kW) vs 102 hp (75 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Long days aren't what these two do best. Plan shorter legs and plenty of stops.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both miss here
If this is your first motorcycle, keep looking. Neither one makes learning easy.
Traveling with luggage
Look elsewhere
If touring with luggage is the plan, keep looking. Neither one was built around it.
There's no real gap on twisty roads. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Z750
What owners say
Strengths
- Rev-happy, superbike-derived engine
- Outstanding value for performance
Trade-offs
- Budget suspension lacks composure
- Adequate but wooden front brakes
- Prone to cosmetic corrosion
- Uncomfortable seat for longer trips
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
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Z750 | CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.1 in (815 mm) | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Wet weight | 481 lb (218 kg) | 381 lb (173 kg) |
| Z750 | CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 748 cc | 599 cc |
| Power | 110 hp (81 kW) | 102 hp (75 kW) |
| Peak power at | 10,500 rpm | 12,000 rpm |
| Torque | 55 lb-ft (75 Nm) | 47 lb-ft (64 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,200 rpm | 10,500 rpm |
| Z750 | CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18 L) | 5.0 US gal (19 L) |
| Z750 | CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | Telescopic | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 300 mm | 296 mm |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Z750 | CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
