I can't speak for everyone here, but the only reason I don't ride a CBR600 is cost and inexperience. Why would you want to spend $8000 (I'm not really sure on the price, I googled it and that's what I found) to take a tiny step up from a 250 (The CBR500 only has 46 horsepower) when you could have a couple year old 600 or 1000 for the same price or less?
Apart from that, I think this bike would be an amazing entry-level bike.
I can't speak for everyone here, but the only reason I don't ride a CBR600 is cost and inexperience. Why would you want to spend $8000 (I'm not really sure on the price, I googled it and that's what I found) to take a tiny step up from a 250 (The CBR500 only has 46 horsepower) when you could have a couple year old 600 or 1000 for the same price or less?
Apart from that, I think this bike would be an amazing entry-level bike.
$8000? WTF? Last i heard the pricing was supposed to be hovering near the N300 range
I can't speak for everyone here, but the only reason I don't ride a CBR600 is cost and inexperience. Why would you want to spend $8000 (I'm not really sure on the price, I googled it and that's what I found) to take a tiny step up from a 250 (The CBR500 only has 46 horsepower) when you could have a couple year old 600 or 1000 for the same price or less?
Apart from that, I think this bike would be an amazing entry-level bike.
Well first, to say going from 23hp to 48hp (not 46, but I haven't seen any Dyno's yet, and the U.S. may be around 54..) is a tiny step up... that's way more than twice the power and 60+ lbs more weight to handle (for better or worse). That is a significant step up any day. Heck even going from a CBR250r to a Ninja 300 (35+ hp, over 1/3 more than the 250r) is a big step up to me. Ask anyone that's ridden both. As much as love my 250r, Honda needs to bump it up to complete with that new Kawi - they did a tremendous job with it and its a tempting choice. Anyways.
The 500's are in no way entry-level bikes, and I can safely state that just based on base specs alone. They also start at $6000, not $8000 (U.S.). The CBR600rr is also a supersport, not a sport. I find it very difficult to compare the two, but due to how Honda markets these bikes I totally understand why that happens here. Take away the covers and they are very different animals.
Personally, I won't buy used bikes for a handful of reasons. Just my preference. So to compare a used 600rr to a factory-new 500r is a further stretch for me as well. Additionally (and I've mentioned this here before), I had a brief love-affair with the 600rr, until I realized that without being a track rider - I am totally paying much more for a lot of power I'll never get to use... without losing my license or killing myself, even on my quiet country roads. I love the 600's, but I don't have money to waste on a more expensive bike that will never be ridden (legally / safely) the way it was engineered. Insurance costs, huge jump (whereas the 500 will be a nominal increase, already checked).
I was at the Toronto motorcycle show yesterday and had a chance to check out the bike. Felt and looked really good together. The X is version looked the best and seemed to be the comfiest bike. However I tried to make a deal on the F as I think that one meets my needs best. Once we started talking numbers the F alone comes up to close to 8k with taxes and all fees in. There's about 800-1000$ in dealership fees alone. The X would be in around the 8200$ mark all in. Sorry but that's way too much for me. They wanted my bike as trade and 4300$ as their final offer. For 4300$ I can buy a second bike and insure it for years, or spend the $ to farkle up my 250 to the ultimate tourer.
Sorry Honda I love your bike but it's too rich for me.
Last edited by mimico_polak; 12-09-2012 at 08:30 AM.
There's really no such thing as an "entry level bike", but rather an "entry level rider". Beyond that you could never use the capabilities of a new CBR600 on the road, and it makes a horrible road bike to begin with, so it's really just a poser waste of money.
I always get a good laugh when I’m up in the tight twisty canyons and all these posers on their shiny new sport bikes show up in their matching leathers and helmet, and I thoroughly kick their asses on a 30 year old 450cc air-cooled twin. Now that’s not to say that there aren’t some legit riders up there, but most are not, and are nothing but poser wannabes. It’s more often the rider than a crutch bike that bakes the difference when things truly get technical.
These new 500s will be all the bike you can use and handle on the road in the real world, plenty of fun, and a far better actual road bike than any supersport will ever be.
I was at the Toronto motorcycle show yesterday and had a chance to check out the bike. Felt and looked really good together. The X is version looked the best and seemed to be the comfiest bike. However I tried to make a deal on the F as I think that one meets my needs best. Once we started talking numbers the F alone comes up to close to 8k with taxes and all fees in. There's about 800-1000$ in dealership fees alone. The X would be in around the 8200$ mark all in. Sorry but that's way too much for me. They wanted my bike as trade and 4300$ as their final offer. For 4300$ I can buy a second bike and insure it for years, or spend the $ to farkle up my 250 to the ultimate tourer.
Sorry Honda I love your bike but it's too rich for me.
You NEVER pay that much over retail for a bike! Either get it OTD for list, or at most $500 above or walk.
I can't speak for everyone here, but the only reason I don't ride a CBR600 is cost and inexperience. Why would you want to spend $8000 (I'm not really sure on the price, I googled it and that's what I found) to take a tiny step up from a 250 (The CBR500 only has 46 horsepower) when you could have a couple year old 600 or 1000 for the same price or less?
Apart from that, I think this bike would be an amazing entry-level bike.
There's really no such thing as an "entry level bike", but rather an "entry level rider". Beyond that you could never use the capabilities of a new CBR600 on the road, and it makes a horrible road bike to begin with, so it's really just a poser waste of money.
I always get a good laugh when I’m up in the tight twisty canyons and all these posers on their shiny new sport bikes show up in their matching leathers and helmet, and I thoroughly kick their asses on a 30 year old 450cc air-cooled twin. Now that’s not to say that there aren’t some legit riders up there, but most are not, and are nothing but poser wannabes. It’s more often the rider than a crutch bike that bakes the difference when things truly get technical.
These new 500s will be all the bike you can use and handle on the road in the real world, plenty of fun, and a far better actual road bike than any supersport will ever be.
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