Honda CB 600 F Hornet 2006 — Specifications

Remembering the first Honda CB 600 F Hornet is recalling a time when roadsters often made do with stripped-down sport bike engines in basic frames. In 2006, the Hornet shows that it has truly grown up. Honda finally grafts a real 41 mm inverted fork onto it, inherited from the CBR 600 RR. It’s not just a question of looks, even though the gain is undeniable. It’s above all a commitment: the little wasp now wants to play in the serious league. This radical change for the fork on the Honda CB 600 F Hornet 2006 necessitates a redesign of the front triangle and the mudguard, but the game is worth the candle.

Onboard, the spirit remains faithful to the original recipe. The 79 cm seat is accessible, the slightly leaned-forward riding position is natural for daily commutes as well as getaways. The new dashboard, copied from the CBR 600 F, with its chrome-ringed analog tachometer, injects a dose of visual adrenaline. Beneath you, the engine is still that famous 600 cm3 inline four-cylinder, from the 1997 CBR 600 F, but which has found its true character here. With 96 horsepower at 12000 rpm, you have to make it sing to unleash all its verve. It’s a sport bike engine, end of story. Consumption, around 6L/100km, and a 17-liter tank make it a rather reasonable companion, once you’ve accepted that the party doesn’t start until 8000 rpm.

Faced with competitors like the Yamaha FZ6 Fazer of the time, more geared towards comfortable touring, or the Suzuki GSR600, more raw, the Hornet 2006 carves its own path. It’s not the most powerful, nor the most comfortable, but it possesses a balance and a nervousness that seduces the rider looking for interaction. The braking, with its two front discs gripped by double-piston calipers, is effective without being brutal. The proven steel backbone frame offers rigidity that links the new front end to the adjustable rear shock. The announced weight, 198 kg fully fueled, is forgotten once in motion. That’s the whole paradox of this machine: technically, it flirts with the sport bike, but its soul remains that of a mischievous and accessible roadster.

So, was this evolution necessary for the Honda CB 600 F Hornet? Absolutely. The naked bike market was becoming fierce, and keeping a classic fork would have been an admission of weakness. This facelift allowed it to hold its own for a few more years, until the following models like the Honda CB 600 F Hornet 2009 or 2011. Today, looking for a used Honda CB 600 F Hornet, particularly a 2006-2007 model, is targeting a transitional object: the last of the Hornets in the old style, but the first to truly behave like a modern motorcycle. Its price on the used market, often well below the initial €6990, makes it a formidable proposition for a demanding novice or a globetrotter seeking a lively and reliable mount. It makes no concessions, but it returns sensations for what it demands in involvement. That’s its charm.