Honda CBR 600 F 2002 — Specifications

Often, I am asked which sport motorcycle offers the best compromise for a touring rider who also wants a bit of excitement. I almost always respond with a reference, a model that has written part of history: the Honda CBR 600 F. Let's take the 2002 version, the one that marks a transition, the one you can still easily find on the classifieds for a reasonable opportunity.

It arrives with a new face, SP-1 inspirations, and above all, the technology that is becoming the standard: fuel injection. But Honda, faithful to its philosophy, does not transform this sport motorcycle into an exclusive machine. It remains that motorcycle that knows how to do everything. At the time, it even had a more radical sister, the FS, for those who dream of track days. But the F, with its aluminum twin-beam frame and 199 kg when fully fueled, is the other choice, the choice of wisdom. Compare its riding position, its 810 mm seat height, with that of a contemporary Yamaha R6. The difference is obvious: here, you can travel for kilometers without becoming a wreck. Its 18-liter tank confirms it, it is made for travel.

The engine, this 599 cc inline four-cylinder, is the soul of the machine. With 110 horsepower at 12,500 rpm and 63 Nm of torque at 10,000 rpm, it is not the most brutal in the segment. An R6 or even a Kawasaki ZX-6R of the time can have more impressive figures. But that's where the Honda CBR 600 F plays its game. It is not brutal in the low revs; its PGM-FI injection provides progressiveness. The power really comes when the speedometer is around 10,000 rpm, and it accompanies you to the high zones without an unpleasant jolt. It is a civilized engine, almost pedagogical, which could even suit a rider with an A2 license after a serious restriction. It does not punish you for a misjudgment of the revs.

And this philosophy is reflected in its road handling. The 43 mm fork and the mono-shock, with their 120 mm of travel, are not configured for track rigidity. They filter out road imperfections, offering a comfort that you wouldn't suspect on a sport motorcycle. Putting it on the lean angle requires a slight encouragement; it is not as nervous as a pure track bike, but once leaned over, it is stable, precise, and forgiving. The brakes, two front discs, one rear, are effective without being aggressive. Everything is designed so that you have fun without stress.

So, who should look for a 2002 Honda CBR 600 F, or even a 2011 or 2012 version? The rider who wants an authentic sport motorcycle, capable of speeds up to 250 km/h, but who refuses physical torture. The sporty touring rider, the daily commuter who wants a bit of excitement, or even the serious beginner looking for a progressive machine. It is a motorcycle that has few major flaws, if we accept that it is not the most ferocious on a track. Its new price, around 9900 euros, was already an argument. Today, on the used market, it represents a safe bet, a sport motorcycle that has not betrayed its versatility since its beginnings, like in 1991 or 1995. If your search on a motorcycle forum revolves around a usable sport motorcycle every day, the CBR 600 F, from 1989 to 2012, remains an extremely relevant answer.