By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Suzuki GSR600 (MY2006) vs Honda CB600F Hornet (PC 41)
Suzuki GSR600 vs Honda CB600F Hornet: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
Tip the Suzuki GSR600 into a tight bend and it's quick to snap onto its line, then it settles and holds once the road opens up. The Honda CB600F Hornet's steering stays neutral, and it doesn't take much input to flick it between corners. It's composed as the pace climbs.
So which one do you buy?
The GSR600 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: GSR600
The GSR600 nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
The CB600F Hornet has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: CB600F Hornet
The CB600F Hornet edges it for the daily grind. Put it down to lower running costs and simpler maintenance. It's a small gap, not a reason on its own.
What makes each one tick
GSR600
Deep in first gear, the GSR600's front wheel lifts on its own, and the cast aluminum frame and swingarm earn their looks when you're riding. Downshifts without a blip don't unsettle the rear before you lean it in. Bumps find the budget suspension's limits. The stock Bridgestone's still gripping when the pegs touch down.
Nils rode the GSR600 in Greece, Hungary, and Styria in 2006, in Austria and Hungary in 2007, and in 2009 (NastyNils Testride).
CB600F Hornet
The Hornet's engine pulls clean from low revs, and it's smooth all the way up. The brake lever doesn't bite hard enough for spirited riding. Under hard braking, the fork wallows. Up top, the four-cylinder's rushing for the redline.
Nils rode the CB600F Hornet in Austria in 2007, and in 2009 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The GSR600 has the lower seat: 30.9 in (785 mm) vs 31.5 in (800 mm).
- The CB600F Hornet has the larger fuel tank: 5.0 US gal (19 L) vs 4.4 US gal (16.5 L).
- ABS: option on the CB600F Hornet, not offered on the GSR600.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
Big miles aren't where either one shines. You'll be watching for the next rest stop.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Neither one fits
If this is your first motorcycle, keep looking. Neither one makes learning easy.
Traveling with luggage
Both miss here
For a week on the road with gear, both fall short. A proper tourer will carry it with far less fuss.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
GSR600
Strengths
- Front lifts without asking
- Inline-four howl at the limiter
- Flicks in on the lightest input
- Chassis built without a bean counter
- Slim enough for real city work
Trade-offs
- Nothing between you and the air
- Ships lean from the factory
- Brakes didn't get the memo
- Pegs scrape early at pace
- Snatchy low‑rpm throttle response
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
- Displacement
- 599 cc
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 12,000 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| GSR600 | CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 30.9 in (785 mm) | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| GSR600 | CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 98 hp (72 kW) | 102 hp (75 kW) |
| Torque | 48 lb-ft (65 Nm) | 47 lb-ft (64 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,600 rpm | 10,500 rpm |
| GSR600 | CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.4 US gal (16.5 L) | 5.0 US gal (19 L) |
| GSR600 | CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 310 mm | 296 mm |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| GSR600 | CB600F Hornet | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Option |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
