ER-6f -v- CBR600f

[fatjames]

Good morning all. I've decided to get a 2012 model new bike. I'm stuck between to the 2 in the title.
I'm planning on restricting it, like a good boy, so the power doesn't matter too much.
I prefer the looks of the Kawasaki due to the 2 headlights next to each (like they should be) rather than the new style cyclops 1 eyed look.
https://cdn.bikechatforums.com/files/er-6f.jpg -v- https://cdn.bikechatforums.com/files/cbrf.jpg
I also like the look of the rear shock on the kawasaki.
Info I'm after. Does anyone have any experience with these bikes and details of reliability? Which one will sting me more for service schedules and prices etc.
I'm going to go and have a proper look at them and see which one feels right too.
Any pointers?

Thanks all
Fatjames

[garth]

If I had that much dollar I'd buy two or three bikes.

Easily get a perfectly reliable day to day bike, a muddy toy and a track hack for the list price of an ER6F.

[garth]

Or if I was going to get a 2012 bike and was heart set on it being brand new, a Street Triple.

[Matt B]

The ER6 was cheap when it came out and was built down to a price. The new models however seem better and have the nice Ninja style look now.

I think the Kawasaki has the edge on looks but the Honda has more power for when the restictor falls out We are talking 30bhp here and that is a BIG difference, plus Honda will stick an Akrapovic can on for £99 - Bargain!

CBR has more suspension twidling bits.

In fact the more I look at it, even though I know the Honda is stronger, the more I like that funky swing arm on the ER6.

What you are really looking at is a twin v an in line 4. Have you read the MCN reviews?

Tough one... Personally I would opt for more power and better suspension on the CBR.
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[janner_10]

I would say the honda all day long, in almost every department.
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[P.addy]

Honda... but different year.

[Joncrete Cungle]

Honda all day, everyday.

[allotriophagy]

Aren't the new CBR600Fs more like a CBF600 with different fairings, compared to the old ones?

[garth]

[Slacker24seve...]

Honda, out of those two. It's a Hornet in a dress but Hornets are good bikes anyway.

Can't see the point in spending that much on a restricted bike, particularly if the restriction isn't going to fall out, myself though.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
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[mjn51]

ok I'll stick up for the ER6F, question, why did most/all of the best TT riders use the ER6F as the starting block for their 650 supertwin race machines ?
M

[Slacker24seve...]

[sebastianw]

I have just made the same choice and ended up with the 2012 ER6F. Better riding position (for me), better commuting, better price and if it's anything like the last one I had will do 30,000 miles trouble free and with minimum maintenance costs. Good fun on the twisties as well.

[fatjames]

Thanks everyone, good advice to take on board. My original plan was to get a VanVan for work and cbr for the weekends, both 2nd hand of course.
However the more and more I looked into this, the more I thought I wanted a bike that I could "trust". I've bought three 2nd bikes so far, the first was great. The 2nd two however have both needed money spent on them not long after buying. I understand experience comes with time but at the moment I really don't have the confidence to buy 2nd hand. The £900 Virago has just cost me over £300 and it was meant to be my cheap run around until I saved up for something more permanent.
I think the next stage is to go and have a sit on them and see how they feel. Although, I'm think I'm swaying towards the ER in green!
Thanks again everyone.
FJ

[ninjagirl76]

If i had the cash for a new bike it would be the ER6n for me personally. It's nice and compact feeling good for me being dinky.

However as i dont have the cash for a new bike im aiming for a 2000ish cbr600f ... in black and yellow cos i like the colour and i won't match the ex lol
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Sam
Given up on DAS sick of being skint

[Rogerborg]

Buying a £7300 bike to save money? Even the ER6-f is £6000 / £6400 (ABS).

The budget conscious choices in a (new) big bike would be a Honda NC700S or a BMW G650GS.

But since you're looking at fun-commuters-in-a-frock, you should really just go with whichever one floats your boat, neither is a particularly rational choice. However, there should still be plenty of 2011 model stock kicking around unregistered if you want to save a bit while still being the first arse on them.

Have you ruled out Suzukis? The GSX650F is £5916 at the moment, and while the SV650 is off their cashback offer, I doubt you'd pay more than £5K for one, even if you asked for full fairings on it. Their sales are in the toilet, they'll be gagging to shift stock. They're old designs, but that means that they've worked through the issues.

But really, buying new? Get a 2 year old low mileage bike just out of warranty and buy an extended one, spend the savings on fuel and fun.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[T0MMY]

Honestly, I doubt the repairs needed (if any) on a nearly new second hand bike will cost nearly as much as the depreciation.

You could get a far better bike than either of your choices for far less...I really don't see the point in spending £6000 on a mediocre bike when you could get almost anything 2nd hand for that much money.

If you must buy new, could you buy a ZX10R please? Only I might buy one in about 6 years and I'll be wanting a healthy second hand market.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Fowlersrs]

no offence to the ER6 but I would never buy one new, its just not a high end bike, your better of looking at a Street Triple.. now thats a bike worth paying top dollar for as they hold there value so well..

CBR600 for me is well meh, its a Honda so yeah its great, but everyone's got one? oh look just another honda, if your buying with a big budget invest in something original, interesting.... thats my 2p

[Locktab]

I am probably too late but for what it's worth I owned a Versys for 3 years and covered about 59000 miles on it. All good untill the last 6 months then it all started going wrong. now I have the CBR600f which has turned out to be just as good on fuel if you take it easy, it's faster and so much smoother although not quite as flexible. The Honda would be my choise but the Kawasaki has it's good points. Give them both a test and go for the one that feels best. Hope it works out for you niether bike is bad so sure you will be ok.
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Rob Hallinan
I'm 50 and I feel it,
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[cg125erinit]

[CarlosCBR]

I regularly ride with a couple of mates that have the ER6. Nothing wrong with them mechanically but the build quality is starting to rear its ugly head recently, few rust patches appearing on the suspension mount welds and corrosion in hard to reach places. My CBR has a few thousand more miles on the clocks than their bikes and looks like a brand new bike after a wash. The build quality of the Honda FAR exceeds the Kawasakis but has already depreciated to the £4500-5000 mark.



https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/481555_566340760073443_137345529_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/523401_547385081969011_85093176_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/68918_529592687081584_974182061_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/248153_566393013401551_55900288_n.jpg

The ER6, especially the N model is fantastically comfortable to ride however the lack of any front fairing/screen starts to annoy me from the wind blast, feels like a push bike to ride compared to the CBR. The CBR is also very comfortable to ride especially at speed with a double bubble screen.

Servicing for the CBR is every 8000 miles but i change the oil every 4000 miles just because i dont trust it being in there that long, iirc its about half that for the ER.
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[cg125erinit]

8000 mile oil changes? Crickey. Do they recommend a proper group iv synthetic lubricant then? Or just regular old SG / JASO MA?

[sickpup]

[hmmmnz]

i think he is trying to convince himself that because its a parallel twin,
then it must be the same as an old gpz twin,
the fact that the motors are completely different beasts altogether has escaped him,
may be he should do some research before sounding so confident,
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I kick arse for the lord
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[Aff]

So what made you choose the ER6 in the end James?
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Current Bikes:Honda 929RR Fireblade, Honda CD200 Benly (Project), Stomp Z2 140
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