636B1H Vs. 2003 CBR600RR Problems

[Chriss]

Hi all,

Looking at the 636 B1H and 2003 CBR600 which can both be had the right side of £3,000. Test rode both of them, they're both cracking and look sexy!

Just want to know owners thoughts of what they're like. Have you had to replace thirty regulator rectifiers on your CBR? Have you smashed up your 636 because of the lack of steering damper? What problems do you look out for? What should I look out for if buying either of these?

Thanks for thoughts.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[DrDonnyBrago]

[Souleh]

Havent rode a cbr-rr but ive a B1H (As per sig) and love it to bits

Had it sideways a few times due to my own fault and the bike has always ended up straight luckily so I wouldnt say its out to kill you!

Having rode both have you no preference?

[Chriss]

CBR has it on handling, 636 has it on power delivery. Not that the 636 is bad handling, nor the CBR is unridable, which is why I'm torn. Would rather hear of common problems, problems people have had.

I'll be using it every day to commute 40 miles a day, in all weathers and need reliability more than anything else. My SV1000 was good, but I'd advice anyone buying to to look out for the green connector needing to be replaced, the rear cylinder exhaust gasket going every few thousand miles and the rear wheel bearings. I went through two in 18k of riding.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[Souleh]

I put a C6F shock on mine and it handles like a pro

Easier to swap in a £30 shock than chase BHP gains?

Been riding mine daily to work (20mile) since august and no complaints

[MinhDinh]

The problem with owning the B1H is that biker girls keep coming over and saying that's their next bike and it looks so good.
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Hit the G spot.

[Souleh]

2003 RR looks a little dated too in my eyes

Doesnt have USD or Radial Brakes?

From what ive seen in 03 the B1H wiped the floor.

Sure theres been newer, better bikes but if both bikes are 03 - go kwakkers

[robbieguy2003]

The RR3 was spot on. Mine started to slightly slip the clutch at 11k RPM in second afer 22,000 miles, I think the previous owner might have hammered it a bit.

The RR3 has no steering damper (only RR7 onwards) so no real difference there.

Some 636 riders say you get some extra torque and i've heard some people refer to CBRs as 'gutless' but never seen them ride one, it's normally my brothers dads uncles brothers son said it's bad and he trained Rossi...

saying that, 636 should have some extra power though...

Mechanically on the RR, short of the clutch slipping (and it was only on full throttle and only occasionally), nothing else went wrong with the RR.

I got the RR7 because i went to the shop for new tyres and kinda got new tyres as well as everything from the tyres up


:: edited for grammer, it was unreadable, now it's passable ::
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[Acemastr]

[Wave2k]

I owned an RR5 and ridden a B1h many times.

The CBRs build quality is a huge letdown, mine was practically falling apart after 3 years and 10k miles, ive owned quite a few hondas over the years and consider this bike to be the worst build of them all, not just the Hondas.

The B1h is stiff, but a better day to day bike, with more mid-range than a RR.
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[bacon]

[MinhDinh]

[Slacker24seve...]

I've been weighing these two up for my next purchase. On riding position alone the RR just feels tiny to me. OK for a blast but I reckon it would be too small for me for any miles.
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Banger rallies are ace

[salty21]

i had my rr-3 for 3 years and covered about 26,000 miles on it through all weathers and did a few trackdays on it too. I only sold it a few weeks ago but i want another already.
The fairings can be a bit of a pain to get on and off and like all honda's (well all the ones i have owned, which is every bike i have ever owned ) The wiring is crap and often gives you problems if used in all weathers.

When i got the bike it had 13,000 miles on it and didnt look like it had ever seen rain or any kind of weather for that matter, it was pristine. i sold the bike with 34,000 miles on it for £100 less than i paid for it 3 years ago and i didnt get it cheap. Chances are in a few years the B1h will be worth quite a bit less than the rr.
Mechanically, it never failed in all the time i had it, all origional bearings were still fine, as was the suspension.

go honda!
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[Chriss]

I'm actually surprised, it sounds like the B1H is better quality than the RR. Come on B1H owners, there must be some things to look out for, or are they perfect?
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[MinhDinh]

Put it this way, when I rag my bike, I am not left by an 09 ZX 6 r and 10 GSXR 600.

In fact I have them off the line and leave them on roads I do not know. On roads I do not know I easily keep up. The power is easily more accessible because of the mid range.
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Hit the G spot.

[Chriss]

Fortunately I'm past being fussed about 'racing' people and 'being left behind'. I have the most fun on my RGV250 which is what I use for fun. I struggle to keep up with 600s on the straights. I'm not that good that I feel the 'need' for USD forks or radial callipers. I doubt I could even feel the difference between the two quite frankly. If I feel particularly frivolous it'll be Öhlins that'll go on rather than an engine mod. If I wanted a faster bike, I'd be looking at a 10R and a Fireblade.

It's not that I'm struggling to decide which to buy, it's more I want to hear about which is going to cause me less hassle as an owner. At the moment Honda's sound like it's a little sketchy in the build quality department. If they both have their problems but nothing serious, although the Honda electrics does sound serious, then it'll be a numbers game, which ever is cheapest to buy at the time.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[Souleh]

[Jayy]

Although I don't own one, I've been riding my sisters B1H more than she has and pretty much daily. Can't recommend it highly enough, although, I've never ridden an RR to compare but it's a very nice bike for the money and you get the looks and power.

I haven't ridden it without a damper, it came with it on when she bought it but I think it is doing it's job as sometimes it feels light as a feather when you're booting it and it sticks to the floor nicely.

I have also tested crashing it into Chinese cyclists and it stands up pretty well.

[salty21]

I thought the build quality was really good on the rr, not a patch on my new SP-1, but most bikes cant compete with that.

Compared to other honda's it's not the best but compare it across other manufacturers and it's still up there. The RWU forks are probably better than a lot of the early USD's ones were, there just not as bling to the eye.
I've never been a fan of midrange power as i find it makes things a bit boring, it's much more fun to have to earn it by stirring the gears a bit and keeping the rev's up, i think thats what i miss most about mine, it's all just a bit too easy on the SP, but the extra rush at the top end makes up for it
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[MinhDinh]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Owned a B1h for a while, never ridden an RR3.

On the B1H front I had no issues at all. Only tracked to tank slap me into a ditch a few times, I'm talking proper lock to lock tank slappers at 80-90 on a B road. It was err focussing. The only real problems with the B1H that I've heard of are warping front disks due to seized pistons, knakcered head bearings from too many wheelies, and CCTs rattle although most of them will do that.

IMO the main problem with the B1H is the hardcore image. Means that people that like to hammer, but not care for their bikes tend to own them. Find a well cared for example and I think it's a superior bike to the RR3. Just get the suspension sorted.

O, also if it has frame protectors look for dents in the frame, and snapped lock stops.
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[Rowey]

I've ridden both

RR3 was a bit bland and gutless but handled very predictably. The brakes weren't amazing but did a good job. Like said, didn't get USD forks and radials till 05.

The B1H is a mental bike, the power feels great and it felt like it was always there. The suspension however, on the shitty roads around here was pretty punishing on my wrists and spine, but on a recently resurfaced road and roundabout, felt very responsive and gave great feedback, it really felt great. The brakes aren't bad either.

In the end I picked up a 'as good as new' C6F.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[crm250]

bought a new RR5 and did 20k on it. done alot of miles on a B1H too but never actually owned them.

CBR had a nice smooth delivery and strong top end,
CBR had better sharper handling and brakes (RR5 not earlier RR3)
CBR was actually comfier around europe and coped with traffic and heat better.
B1h has much better mid range making it a easier to live with road bike.
B1h is very revvy and sounds like it needs another gear on mway over 80 compared to the CBR

As has been mentioned the build of the CBR is more typical honda than exceptional like they were around the late 80's ( NC30 and RC30) the loom is a work of art and very well designed and made, but the engine castings are shite and its not that well finished under the skin.
The B1h has an appetite of breaking the can bracket, so aftermarket cans are normal.

If i had to choose another now, i would still choose a CBR i think, however the RR3 has even less grunt than the gutless RR5/6 models, so essentially as a road bike i think its possible one of the worst road bikes i have ever ridden.

Seriously if its not just the styling (and coming from a honda man) buy a pre new shape R6, last of the classic shape bikes on a 05, far better road bike and easier to live with.

[Chriss]