By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
Honda CBR 650F (RC 74) vs Kawasaki ER-6f (ER6f-MY2006)
Honda CBR 650F vs Kawasaki ER-6f: which one you'd rather spend the big miles on.
Roll on the Honda CBR 650F and its inline-four spins up smoothly, but it doesn't rush until the needle swings high. The Kawasaki ER-6f's twin pulls hard through the midrange.
So which one do you buy?
The CBR 650F has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
By a nose: CBR 650F
The CBR 650F is slightly easier to live with on a long day. Slightly.
What makes each one tick
CBR 650F
The CBR 650F sits you upright behind the bar on a plush seat, and hours of commuting don't wear thin. Corner entry shows what the steel diamond frame does: the front tucks in right where it's aimed and stays settled through the arc. Rough roads at pace unsettle it. The engine's top end begs to be wrung out.
ER-6f
The ER-6f tucks a narrow waist under a 30.9 in (785 mm) seat, and its fairing keeps the worst of the wind off on the commute. There's grunt in the middle revs. A bump in a bend doesn't knock it off line, since the long swingarm keeps the compact chassis stable. The trellis frame flicks it from bend to bend.
Nils rode the ER-6f in Sicily in 2006 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The ER-6f has the lower seat: 30.9 in (785 mm) vs 31.9 in (810 mm).
- The ER-6f has the lower wet weight: 441 lb (200 kg) vs 465 lb (211 kg).
- The CBR 650F makes more peak power: 87 hp (64 kW) vs 72 hp (53 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
These two run dead level on commuting, twisty roads, running costs, and a first bike. Sit on both in the showroom and trust what your body says.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
CBR 650F
What owners say
Strengths
- Smooth, polished inline-four engine
- Light, agile handling
- Excellent value for money
Trade-offs
- Budget suspension components
- Basic instrumentation and switchgear
- Engine vibration at high rpm
ER-6f
What owners say
Strengths
- Lively and flexible parallel-twin engine
- Excellent value for money
- Frugal fuel economy
Known problems to check before you buy
CBR 650F
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
ER-6f
- Frame cracking at engine mounts (early models) On early models, the high-tensile steel trellis frame can develop stress cracks around the upper engine mounting brackets due to engine vibration and mounting stress.
What they share
- Displacement
- 649 cc
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Torque
- 47 lb-ft (64 Nm)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Telescopic
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| CBR 650F | ER-6f | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) | 30.9 in (785 mm) |
| Wet weight | 465 lb (211 kg) | 441 lb (200 kg) |
| CBR 650F | ER-6f | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Inline-four | Parallel twin |
| Power | 87 hp (64 kW) | 72 hp (53 kW) |
| CBR 650F | ER-6f | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.6 US gal (17.3 L) | 4.1 US gal (15.5 L) |
| CBR 650F | ER-6f | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 300 mm |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 160/60-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CBR 650F | ER-6f | |
|---|---|---|
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
| Luggage System | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
