RIP Honda's CBR600 [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

spanner spinner

2nd July 2016, 20:28

Looks like the end of the road for Honda's CBR600 in Europe as it can't meet the new euro4 legislation. http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2016/june/honda-cbr600rr-killed-off/

Is this the end of the line of another capacity class, the 350, 500, 550 and 750 capacity class have been and gone are 600's going the same way?

AllanB

2nd July 2016, 22:21

8-900 is the new 600.

Dumb arse class anyway - always fucked me off that it killed the 750 so it serves it right, I mean what type of motor is a friggen 600 - it ain't a proper engine like a 750 but pretends to be better than a 500-550. Fuck the engine sideways I say - long live the GSXR750 though that is most likely about to die a natural death too with the 800-900 engines.

Fucking 600's stuffed up the proper Jesus-authorized engine capacities.

husaberg

2nd July 2016, 23:05

AllanB

3rd July 2016, 08:50

Seems a bit odd seeing as it a Moto 2 engine size, so there is marketing hype to be made there.

Off the net:

Is the CBR600's demise more than just a rumor? Put it this way: Honda currently supplies all Moto2 motors, which are based on the CBR600RR. But MotoGP's organizers are currently looking for a new Moto2 engine supplier beginning in 2019, because Honda has told them that it cannot promise a parts supply beyond 2018.

onearmedbandit

3rd July 2016, 12:49

long live the GSXR750 though that is most likely about to die a natural death too with the 800-900 engines.

.

Suzuki have stated previously that the GSXR750 is so historically important to them that it will always be around. It's been the only 750 supersport bike for how long now, and is still one of the kings in sales figures. Here's hoping they do stay true to their word.

WristTwister

3rd July 2016, 13:10

I'm feelin' the hate on the 600s guys...:weep:

Why doesn't Honda do a faired version of their NC750? Make a CBR750RR or are they afraid of competing directly with the gixxer?

husaberg

3rd July 2016, 13:17

I'm feelin' the hate on the 600s guys...:weep:

Why doesn't Honda do a faired version of their NC750? Make a CBR750RR or are they afraid of competing directly with the gixxer?
They did make a CBR750 a fair few times up to about the hurricane Aero era.
322730
The last was actually the original Fireblade it was originally designed as a 750.
Just as the Z1 kawa was designed as a 750. Another bike was released first so, they just made it bigger with mostly a longer stroke.
322731
https://rideapart.com/articles/retro-honda-cbr750rr
http://www.latestbikesinfo.com/honda-cbr750rr-the-mother-of-all-fireblade.html
Honda would be carefull of additional bikes stealing sales away form their other models.
The CBR range was always sold as a do "everything well" model, rather than an out and out solely hyperbike
Lastly the 600 class became irrelevant with triumph and Kawasaki selling oversize 600's
660 and 636.

Drew

3rd July 2016, 13:35

R650R

3rd July 2016, 15:29

I was just thinking this morning how long before e-bikes are forced upon us... Whether it is deliberate or jacking up the price of petrol to a rare commodity once electric cars are mainstream. Let alone worry about sportsbike cc classes.
I bought a new bike once based on the old pschycology of what wins on sunday sells on Monday but superbikes are rapidly becoming obsolete in todays highly policed world.
Many more bikers are going down the naked and street fighter route and the big bore do it all adventure styled bikes. Where you can still be silly fast but not so overtly...
I still have a soft spot for my 750 four, but in todays world there are much better options for the road even if you want to go fast with style.

Kickaha

3rd July 2016, 16:39

Grumph

3rd July 2016, 16:50

Sidecars guys in the Uk have been discussing this as the F2 class (600cc) is massive over there and it's what is run at the Isle of Man

Even the Sidecar world champs were going to be 600cc by next years

The F2 chairs and Moto2 are the only two classes to use 600cc engines to my knowledge outside the proddy based classes. That has helped the chairs as there are plenty of cheap motors and little competition for them.
Even in the car world, 600 motors haven't been used for anything to my knowledge.
I pushed years back for the speedway TQ's to go 600 watercooled, leaving everything else as it was. Would have worked well with cheapish engines...But no, it's 750 which means only one engine is used....and they're expensive....

Anyone want to start a poll on what the 600's will be replaced with in Moto2.....IMO it's got to be a little closer to MotoGP....
Give them some power to play with - and no traction control....

pritch

3rd July 2016, 17:14

Why doesn't Honda do a faired version of their NC750? Make a CBR750RR or are they afraid of competing directly with the gixxer?

The NC750 engine is half of a Honda Jazz car engine and revs to something in the region of 6,500RPM (I have ridden one but can't remember exactly).
This as opposed to a CBR600RR which probably revs closer to 14,000RPM. (I haven't ridden one, but would like to.) That's a big difference in horsepower and probably equates to something approaching 100kph difference in top speed?

Nothing short of a miracle could make an NC750 into a sports bike. The CBRs compete nicely enough with equivalent GSXRs, but an NCR would be like taking a tennis racquet to a gun fight.

Gremlin

3rd July 2016, 18:06

Why doesn't Honda do a faired version of their NC750? Make a CBR750RR or are they afraid of competing directly with the gixxer?

Nothing short of a miracle could make an NC750 into a sports bike. The CBRs compete nicely enough with equivalent GSXRs, but an NCR would be like taking a tennis racquet to a gun fight.

Yeah, pritch pretty much nailed it, it's not a sport engine by any imagination. It is very economical tho ;)

There was an article on revzilla about it, and it's not even just the CBR600RR, but potentially the entire 600 market. As said, this has a flow on effect for racing classes around the world. There has been a big market shift. Only a few short years ago sportsbikes were king and if you wanted a naked bike you pretty much got the CB919. Not even close to equivalent performance of the sportsbikes (engine, brakes, suspension etc). Now, you're spoilt for choice, most brands have a big naked, the sportsbikes are suffering from lack of investment, a lot of weird categories like 300, 550, 650 have cropped up and adventure bikes are another growing category.

While it might hurt, it does make sense to drop models that aren't selling, stop investing lots of money that way. You could even argue, that if you want a sportsbike, why would you get a 600? With the 1000, you have the riding modes, so the power can be lowered (yes, I see the irony in that) but that's 2 bikes in one, potentially half the R&D?

jasonu

3rd July 2016, 18:20

Anyone want to start a poll on what the 600's will be replaced with in Moto2.....IMO it's got to be a little closer to MotoGP....
Give them some power to play with - and no traction control....

How about a 2 cylinder 2 stroke 250 formula that weighs buggar all, sounds and looks cooler than shit and makes about 100hp?:niceone: How could that fail?

oh wait...

AllanB

3rd July 2016, 18:24

How about a 2 cylinder 2 stroke 250 formula that weighs buggar all, sounds and looks cooler than shit and makes about 100hp?:niceone: How could that fail?

oh wait...

Haha - that shits no good for Moto - the step up to the big bikes is too big .... or is it?

Moto 2 - fuck it how about they have a 'do what you want XXcc class' get a bit of innovation going - Blue strokes, triples, fours, V5, V8 anyone - shit Honda could crack out a IL6 - it would be all good until they got faster than the big bore bikes .....

50Shades

3rd July 2016, 18:27

I'm feelin' the hate on the 600s guys...:weep:

Why doesn't Honda do a faired version of their NC750? Make a CBR750RR or are they afraid of competing directly with the gixxer?

The NC 750! half of a Jazz engine aren't they? low revving boring over grown scooter, comfortable enough, just didn't float my boat as a sports bike

nerrrd

3rd July 2016, 18:53

The NC 750! half of a Jazz engine aren't they? low revving boring over grown scooter, comfortable enough, just didn't float my boat as a sports bike

And yet, they may be considering it:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2014/december/hondas-supercharged-nc750/

WristTwister

3rd July 2016, 19:03

The NC 750! half of a Jazz engine aren't they? low revving boring over grown scooter, comfortable enough, just didn't float my boat as a sports bike

I was assuming they'd race-tune the engine, they have a 650 and an 800 so it's not like they are short on options.

AllanB

3rd July 2016, 19:25

I want BMW to lump a supercharge on top of one of their twins like they did decades back in racing.

pritch

3rd July 2016, 20:16

And yet, they may be considering it:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2014/december/hondas-supercharged-nc750/

That patent looks to be more concerned with emissions. Some think supercharged engines might be a way forward in an era of ever more stringent emissions controls. That item suggests supercharging could potentially double the output of the Honda, a hundred horses is still way short of a muster for 750 sports bike though.

It's Honda that have made the announcement, but if the CBR600RR can't pass the new test levels it's unlikely the GSXR, R6, or the ZX6 will.

Triumph are apparently increasing the capacity of the 675 Daytona too.

Interesting to see how this will effect racing as both World Supersport and Moto2 use 600s. The Moto2 bikes are not considered powerful enough, so it'll be interesting to see how all that pans out.

50Shades

3rd July 2016, 20:22

We will all be on electric bikes before we know it

DamianW

3rd July 2016, 21:22

Daytona 675 has ceased production too. Apparently BSB teams couldn't get engines ex factory for this season. Street Triple 750+ is due out but no word from Hinckley on a replacement for the Daytona.

AllanB

3rd July 2016, 21:39

Can't see Triumph bothering with a 675 'replacement' - they are doing extremely well concentrating on road bikes so I'll predict they leave the racing shit alone. Actually I'll predict if they get involved in any racing it will be a sponsored one bike only series based on the new 1200 Thruxton.

jasonu

4th July 2016, 05:47

Haha - that shits no good for Moto - the step up to the big bikes is too big .... or is it?
.....

The 250 2 smokes were proper race bikes vs the tarted up street bike Moto2 class we are currently having inflected upon us.
Didn't someone recently go straight from Moto3 directly to MotoGP?

Drew

4th July 2016, 07:16

Didn't someone recently go straight from Moto3 directly to MotoGP?

Doesn't the same guy have a total of 1 finish inside the tip ten, and crashes out more often than finishing.

pritch

4th July 2016, 10:10

Doesn't the same guy have a total of 1 finish inside the tip ten, and crashes out more often than finishing.

Yes, but that guy is the first rider from Moto3 ever to win a MotoGP race. In time there will be others, but he will always be the first.

Autech

4th July 2016, 10:38

The 250 2 smokes were proper race bikes vs the tarted up street bike Moto2 class we are currently having inflected upon us.
Didn't someone recently go straight from Moto3 directly to MotoGP?

No sure what screams tarted up street bike with a race built chassis with limited restrictions on design.
Has been said on this forum before though that the team and sponsor structure means that teams are not willing to take a chance on a chassis design which is a wee bit left field, so we have ended up with "The Kalex/Honda cup", rather than moto2.

Is a crying shame really as in theory Moto2 could be something special, IE here's an engine, you can't touch this engine so make it go as fast as through other means and methods. It just hasn't resulted in this. Give them some more power I say, lets see if that brings about some cool chassis/suspension combinations.

On the 600 class dying, let's hope not, love 600s!