By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Suzuki GSX-R 600 (L1) vs Honda CBR600RR (PC 40)
Suzuki GSX-R 600 vs Honda CBR600RR: one garage spot. Here's what should decide it.
Roll on the Suzuki GSX-R 600 in a tall gear and it's pulling like a bigger engine long before the revs climb. The Honda CBR600RR's throttle wakes a muscular shove that's waiting in the middle of the rev range. It'll tug ahead without asking for a downshift.
So which one do you buy?
The CBR600RR has the edge if…
Racetrack use
A touch ahead: CBR600RR
On a closed course, the CBR600RR edges ahead. Not by enough to settle it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
By a nose: CBR600RR
The CBR600RR is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. Just a touch.
Which one's the smarter buy
Even on value
At these used prices, neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
GSX-R 600
There's constant chatter from the front tire through the GSX-R's aluminum frame and Showa Big Piston fork. A misjudged corner entry won't throw it off, because the bike turns in quickly and still sits planted on its line. The forward lean isn't extreme for a supersport, and the footpegs adjust. It pays back carried corner speed.
Nils rode the GSX-R 600 in Hungary in 2012, and in Germany in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
CBR600RR
With its weight packed tight around its center, the CBR flicks through a string of bends and doesn't lose its poise between them. A bump halfway through a bend doesn't knock the chassis wide, since the adjustable suspension keeps it steady. It's cramped on long days. The front end's turning before you've finished thinking.
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 larger fuel tank: 4.8 US gal (18.2 L) vs 4.5 US gal (17 L).
- ABS: option (from 2009) on the CBR600RR, not offered on the GSX-R 600.
- Ride Modes: standard on the GSX-R 600, not offered on the CBR600RR.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both fall short
Neither of these is a mile-muncher. If big days are the plan, keep looking.
On commuting and running costs, these two are a wash. That's where your budget and your inseam get the final say.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
GSX-R 600
What owners say
Strengths
- Improved midrange torque for a 600
- Powerful and fade-resistant Brembo brakes
- Surprisingly comfortable for a supersport
Trade-offs
- Conservative styling that doesn't stand out
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
GSX-R 600
- Front brake master cylinder recall (safety, NHTSA Recall 13V-449) Recall 13V449000 Over time, corrosion of the brake piston can lead to gas accumulation, resulting in a spongy lever and reduced braking performance. Suzuki issued a safety recall to replace the master cylinder with an improved design.
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 cost used
These prices compare a 14-year-old GSX-R 600 with a 14-year-old CBR600RR.
- GSX-R 600
- about $7,100
- CBR600RR
- about $7,300
What they share
- Displacement
- 599 cc
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 13,500 rpm
- 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
| GSX-R 600 | CBR600RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Wet weight | 412 lb (187 kg) | 410 lb (186 kg) |
| GSX-R 600 | CBR600RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 125 hp (92 kW) | 121 hp (89 kW) |
| Torque | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) | 49 lb-ft (66 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 11,500 rpm | 11,250 rpm |
| Top speed | 162 mph (260 km/h) | 158 mph (255 km/h) |
| GSX-R 600 | CBR600RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 US gal (17 L) | 4.8 US gal (18.2 L) |
| GSX-R 600 | CBR600RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 54.5 in (1385 mm) | 54.1 in (1375 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| GSX-R 600 | CBR600RR | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Option (from 2009) |
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Option |
| Slipper Clutch | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
