Honda CB 600F Horner

Fun, competent, refreshing - Honda's new 599 is impressive! 

What you have here is the US version of Europe's best selling motorcycle, the Honda Hornet. New to the US, this model will be known as the 599 here. Beginning life as last years latest incarnation of the Hornet, the 599 is powered by an older CBR600F3 based engine. This 599cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve engine is fed by four 34mm (2mm smaller) CV flat-slide carburetors. In addition to the smaller bores, Honda has slightly narrowed the intake ports, lengthened the header pipes, provided for two ignition maps (one per two cylinders) and tweaked cam timing to provide for a stronger low and mid-range power delivery. Maximum horsepower is now 95 at 12,000 RPM, maximum torque is 46 lbs.

Changes for 2004 include a larger and re-styled fuel tank, a new seat which positions the rider 15mm forward, revised spring and damping rates front and rear (more progressive), and wider 17" wheels (3.5" front / 5" rear) to allow more aggressive rubber to be mounted. 

We were invited to spend a day aboard the 599, riding the winding roads near Malibu, California - a playground of interconnected roads enjoyed by many of LA's motorcyclists. We experienced flowing Interstate Highway (the 405), grid locked lane-splitting (still the 405), city streets and plenty of tight roads void of nearly all traffic. Some of the roads were clean, some were littered with gravel and rocks. The weather was postcard perfect.

Throughout the day, the 599 proved easy to ride and very comfortable. The bars are narrow but feel natural, as do all the easy to apply controls on the bike. The white faced gauges are easy to read and very attractive, something that's been lacking with many new bikes. The comfy seat is flat and allows you to sit where you like. The rear portion of the drivers seat is scooped out and provides good comfort and support, even for riders over six feet tall. Overall, the sit-up-straight ergonomics of the 599 are excellent. A small windscreen would undoubtedly be a good idea for riding on the open road where wind gusts are commonly far stronger. Everywhere we traveled, however, the wind blast hitting the rider, even at higher speeds, was a non-issue. The compact feeling bike's suspension isn't adjustable, other than by the 7 position shock preload adjuster. The fixed suspension calibrations appear well chosen. 

Ride quality on city streets and highways was smooth and well controlled, though on the taught side of things. At speed on tight backroads the 599 remained well behaved, and the enjoyable and quick steering chassis certainly put up with our antics and abuse.

We encountered some extremely tight roads, and the 599 was perfect for the task. Easier to ride in these conditions than a hard-core sportbike, the Honda was a blast to ride as well. We worried about the back end locking and coming around as we tossed the bike into insanely tight corners while downshifting to first gear, but the bike showed excellent composure. This composure carried through just about everywhere, and the bike is stable at speed as well. The only time we upset the chassis was when making sudden direction changes while riding very aggressively, or during heavy-handed braking leading into 90 degree turns. Here the rear end chattered under extreme braking as weight was transferred to the front of the bike. The 6-speed tranny shifted magically, with or without the clutch, and the strong and quick reacting brakes provided excellent feedback.

Engine performance is good though not nearly as strong as the current crop of racetrack-bred 600s. Low-end and mid-range power, however, is easier to use and in many street riding situations more enjoyable. Up top, the 599cc engine starts pulling strong at about 7,000 RPM and things really get fun at 8,500 RPM all the way up to the engine's 13,000 redline. The engine always runs amazingly smooth. Don't get the impression this bike is underpowered, it's not. In fact, if you hit the powerband just right,  the 599 has enough power to wheelie through the gears to just below triple digit speeds. 

What's most notable about the 599, other than the exciting howling sound of the engine and exhaust when spinning fast, is that the bike is exceptionally fun as well as easy to ride. The bikes comfort level and power delivery make it a standout for commuting, and it's certainly capable of providing all the fun you could ask for on weekend rides. Honda's new 599 is already a winner in our book, now we'll have to wait and see if American riders are ready for a 600 class naked bike. If they are, Honda's 599 will be a hard bike to beat