By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Honda CBR650R (RH01) vs CBR600RR (PC 40)
Honda CBR650R vs CBR600RR: fast is a given. What sets them apart isn't.
Roll on in a mid-gear bend and the Honda CBR650R's four pulls clean down low, but it doesn't come alive until you've wound it high. The Honda CBR600RR's engine hauls with real muscle from the middle of the rev range. It drives out without a downshift.
So which one do you buy?
The CBR650R has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Edges it: CBR650R
On upkeep, the CBR650R asks a bit less of your wallet. The difference won't change your life.
Daily commuting & city riding
By a nose: CBR650R
Your daily ride leans slightly toward the CBR650R. What tips it: lower running costs and friendlier manners. Fit and price can easily outweigh that.
The CBR600RR has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Slight edge: CBR600RR
The CBR600RR pulls a nose ahead on track. That comes from more suspension adjustment and a sportier chassis. Don't count on it doing the work for you.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: CBR600RR
The CBR600RR is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. The difference is better suspension and more feel through the bars.
What makes each one tick
CBR650R
Corner entry on the CBR650R takes only a light nudge at the bar, and the front tucks in right where you've aimed it. Mid-corner, it stays put. The bars aren't a long reach from a seat whose padding stays kind through a full day. The front brake builds its bite steadily as you squeeze.
CBR600RR
With its weight packed tight around the center, the CBR600RR stays steady from tight backroads to the track. The throttle gets a firm answer well short of the redline, and there's no waiting for a peak. The tucked crouch doesn't leave long legs much room. The bars flick it over instantly.
Nils rode the CBR600RR in Hungary in 2007, in Qatar in 2008, in Croatia/Dalmatia in 2013, and in Germany in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The CBR600RR has the lower wet weight: 410 lb (186 kg) vs 456 lb (207 kg).
- The CBR600RR makes more peak power: 121 hp (89 kW) vs 95 hp (70 kW).
- The CBR650R has the larger engine: 649 cc vs 599 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
Hours in the saddle won't flatter either of these. They're happier on shorter runs.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
CBR650R
What owners say
Strengths
- Smooth, flexible inline-four engine
- Strong, progressive brakes
Trade-offs
- Needs revs for excitement
- Noticeable vibration at highway speeds
CBR600RR
What owners say
Strengths
- Excellent build quality and reliability
- Strong midrange for a supersport
Trade-offs
- Cramped riding position
Known problems to check before you buy
CBR650R
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
CBR600RR
- Fuel pump impeller may deform and cause failure Recall 24V864000 A recall covers certain 2007 and 2009-2017 CBR600RR models: improperly molded fuel pump impellers can deform, leading to sudden fuel pump failure and stalling.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 310 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| CBR650R | CBR600RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Wet weight | 456 lb (207 kg) | 410 lb (186 kg) |
| CBR650R | CBR600RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 649 cc | 599 cc |
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) | 121 hp (89 kW) |
| Peak power at | 12,000 rpm | 13,500 rpm |
| Torque | 47 lb-ft (64 Nm) | 49 lb-ft (66 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,500 rpm | 11,250 rpm |
| CBR650R | CBR600RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.1 US gal (15.4 L) | 4.8 US gal (18.2 L) |
| CBR650R | CBR600RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 57.1 in (1450 mm) | 54.1 in (1375 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CBR650R | CBR600RR | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Standard | Option (from 2009) |
| Traction Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Steering Damper | Not offered | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Standard | Not offered |
| LED Headlight | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
