By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Honda CBR600RR (2BL-PC 40) vs Yamaha YZF-R6 (BN6)
Honda CBR600RR vs Yamaha YZF-R6: which one to buy for the riding you do.
Off a stop sign in a low gear, the Honda CBR600RR's engine pulls in one even line and doesn't quit building toward its top-end rush. There's almost nothing under the Yamaha YZF-R6's throttle down there. It wakes up high in the revs and howls.
What makes each one tick
CBR600RR
At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the CBR600RR's chassis flicks through quick direction changes and doesn't squirm doing it. A bump halfway through a turn gets soaked up, and the bike stays on its arc. Its inline-four spins smooth and it's happiest wound all the way out. The bar talks through every apex.
YZF-R6
Past the middle of the tach, the YZF-R6's inline-four starts to sing and doesn't let up until the top of the dial. Wound out, a crack of the throttle brings an instant surge and a shriek from the titanium muffler. There's a stepped seat at 33.5 in (850 mm), with high pegs and low clip-ons folding you over the tank. The tach needle lives near redline.
Nils rode the YZF-R6 in Germany in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The CBR600RR has the lower seat: 32.3 in (820 mm) vs 33.5 in (850 mm).
- The YZF-R6 has the lower wet weight: 419 lb (190 kg) vs 428 lb (194 kg).
- The CBR600RR has the larger fuel tank: 4.8 US gal (18.2 L) vs 4.5 US gal (17 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
They come out level on track days, commuting, twisty roads, and running costs. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
CBR600RR
What owners say
Strengths
- Legendary Honda reliability
- Smooth, high-revving engine
YZF-R6
What owners say
Strengths
- High-RPM engine character
- Build quality and reliability
- Effective traction control
- Surprising daily usability
Trade-offs
- Minimal low-RPM power
- Euro 4 power reduction
- Limited street appeal
What they share
- Displacement
- 599 cc
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| CBR600RR | YZF-R6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) | 33.5 in (850 mm) |
| Wet weight | 428 lb (194 kg) | 419 lb (190 kg) |
| CBR600RR | YZF-R6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 119 hp (88 kW) | 118 hp (87 kW) |
| Torque | 47 lb-ft (64 Nm) | 46 lb-ft (62 Nm) |
| CBR600RR | YZF-R6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18.2 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CBR600RR | YZF-R6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cornering ABS | Standard | Not offered |
| Wheelie Control | Standard | Not offered |
| TFT Display | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
