CBR600F3 vs. YZF600?

[Deviant Esq]

Still looking at buying my first big bike, and I'm wanting to know what people think of the YZF600 Thundercats with reference to the CBR600Fs of the same era - think 1996 - 1999 here. I've taken a CBR for a quick ride and loved it - but it wasn't a viable buying option due to a large dent in the tank, combined with hideously warped front brake discs. Someone else bought it in the end, wonder if they test rode it first?

(Here's the thread I made asking about the brake discs)

Anyway, is there much of a difference in the bikes? From what I've found the Yamahas tend to be at a lower asking price than the Honda, which also seems to be more sought after. The Thundercat I'm looking at is a 1996, the CBR I rode was a 1999. All [rational] opinions welcome

[scracha]

Thudercats are fab bikes. They raced them so they ain't that slow either. It's bigger fatter brother the chunderace ain't a bad buy either. Tough choice as the F3 CBR was a well built beastie. I'd vote thundercat...purely cos the Honda's go for more money than they're worth and drink gogo juice.

[James Deuce]

Both awesome bikes. The Honda has better finish, the Yamaha has the better engine and brakes. Both are all day comfy and about 30 km/hr top speed down on the latest race reps.

[Deviant Esq]

Jim2: General consensus opinion I got was that the Honda had the better engine, though the figures are quite similar (CBR 105bhp, 63Nm; YZF 100bhp, 66Nm). Your thoughts on why the YZF has the better motor / box?

Incidentally, I'm looking at a YZF600 tomorrow - this one. It's done over 80,000 km...

I've been told higher kms doesn't matter at all on the CBR, so long as it's been maintained, and try as I might I can't seem to turn up any common problems for the model, which is good. Does the same hold true for the Thundercat?

[James Deuce]

Don't look at the figures. Bits of paper never translate to well to real world use.

They Yamaha is way more engaging to ride. The engine feels fatter on top, but isn't lacking in any way in the mid range. First gear will clunk like a bugger, but they all do that. If you take it for a ride, rev it hard in 1st, change into second and then button off. If it pops out of gear don't buy it.

The Honda will be fine at those kms, but I'd get them both checked, and budget for a suspension overhaul.

[Slingshot]

I blew a piston on an F3 a while back but still managed to ride it a 100Ks home 2up

I can't comment on the early YZF600s, but the later model Yams do the job nicely.

I would ride them both and buy the one that you like the feel of the most. Like Jim said, the figures mean nothing. Few road riders can take even an old 600 to their limits so that fact that one makes a little more power is irrelevant, where it makes the power is important and you'll feel that on the test ride.

[Deviant Esq]

Few road riders can take even an old 600 to their limits so that fact that one makes a little more power is irrelevant, where it makes the power is important and you'll feel that on the test ride.

Don't worry, I know about that - I did say that:

...the power figures are quite similar...

I believe that if you're anywhere near the limit of your bike on a sports 600, 750, or thou on the public road, even if you've got the skills, you're going far too fast for a public road. The limits of these bikes should only be found on the track. I don't intend on getting close to the limits of the bike, whichever one I end up with - I was more asking from a reliability and smoothness point of view.

The other reason I ask is that while they both seem to be good bikes, and the old "test them both and buy the one you want more" addage does come to the fore, the simple fact of the matter is that the CBRs for sale are asking more money (but they might resell for more too), hence why I'm asking about the comparison.

[Zoolander]

Much as I love Yamahas, I'd go for the Honda for a few reasons:

-More common in NZ so easier to source used spares

-Better build quality (yamaha more prone to corrosion, warped discs etc)

-Probably be easier to sell the CBR if you decide to upgrade again

-Yamaha a little revvier but lacking a bit of grunt next to the Honda

The CBR600 is probably one of the easiest sports bike to just jump on and ride. It does nothing fantastically well but is good at everything, the classic "all-rounder" if you will. A cliche I know, but it really is true. Whether or not you appreciate the "Honda-ness" depends on what you want from a bike, it has been accused by many of been boring but is still to this day a great bike. Watch for corrosion in the steel frame though.