The 600F features the same frame as the 600 Hornet from a couple of years ago. The engine is a pre-07 600RR engine which has been retuned and fitted with smaller throttle bodies, 36mm compared to 40’s on the RR. I like the 600RR, but I felt that you had to ring its neck to get anywhere. The 600F is completely different. It feels most torquey around 4000rpm; open it up some more and you will feel a great surge around 8000rpm, and when you get to 12000rpm you know you are now in serious speed fine territory. The 600F just accelerates so well and it will continue to run way past 200kph. I saw 212km/h and it was still pretty comfortable up there with plenty of rpms to spare. Flat out you should probably be able to do around 250kph. I don’t know about you, but this is plenty fast on a light 600cc.
Fuel consumption is claimed at just over 5l/100km. I can confirm that. Even when thrashing the bike in the twisties, the fuel gauge refused to budge. Eventually, after about 60km or so, it dropped one bar.
I don’t often feel comfortable on a street bike. Granted I am 6’5 there is not much out there that suits me but a 1200GSA or 990R. The low seat height and the low clip-ons of a 600RR cramp me up a little and it just gets uncomfortable. The 600F’s bars sit above the triple clamps and they just feel sp right; not too high, and not too low. The bar-to-peg ratio reminds me of the older Yamaha Thunder-cat and this means I have plenty of space for my legs.
Kerb weight is 202kg so it’s not the lightest, but it does not feel heavy and turn-in is very quick due to the steering geometry. The front forks are 41mm inverted HMAS adjustable forks and the rear is a mono-shock with adjustable pre-load.
The engine only produces 75kw. That’s around a 100hp. Plenty fast for a 600cc commuter bike which can also be used on the track. You do note a little bit of a buzz riding in the upper rpms but most 600cc have this. There aren’t many with a seat as comfortable as this though. Torque figures are 63nm @ 10500rpm and, as mentioned, in traffic the bike just works so well. The gearbox is a smooth 6 speeder driven by chain.
The brakes are 296mm front disks with 3 piston callipers and the rear is a 245mm single disk with a single piston calliper. There are no ABS models currently available in South Africa.
The 18.4l tank runs a 4l reserve and this means you should be able to do about 260km to reserve when taking it easy.
My final conclusion is this.
If you really want a 600RR, ride the 600F first. Then ride the RR and if you are sure that you want to spend the extra R35000 on the RR, be my guest. Oh, I didn’t mention, the 600F is a bargain at R85 000.
