How does an '89 CBR 600 compare to modern 600's? (1st Bike?)

[mikejungle]

Hi.

So my biking experience is quite limited, but each ride was-for lack of a better word-freeing. And I can't get enough.

I rode an old 250cc (XL250? XR 250?) Honda a while back and I recently rode my friend's '89 CBR 600, which was modified by the previous owner to not look so lame (stripped fairing, circular headlight). Anyway. I thought it'd be too much to handle, but I was surprised to see that it wasn't too bad. Granted, I never gunned it, but I only accidentally gave it too much gas once and the front lifted a bit. But that was the most I ever 'lost control'.

I'm assuming it's the relatively low torque that made it easy to control at lower rpm's, but are the modern 600 sport bikes comparable? I realize it's a broad question, so maybe you guys can tell me which bikes are comparable and which aren't. I looked up a few of the specs for some bikes and they seemed slightly higher, but not by too much.

I also know that although I pop one for the 848 each time I see one, I'd probably hurt myself and my bike. So if the '89 CBR was 'easy' for me to handle, what used bikes should I look for? I'd like for it to perform and feel similarly, but not look so lame.

And if you guys think that a 600 is too much for a beginner, please tell me why. It was a short ride, so maybe I'm missing some aspects of handling that I may realize painfully later on. I know the basics of gear shifting because I've been driving stick for years and i feel comfortable on two wheels because i've been cycling seriously for several years also. So again...if there's more to it than what i've just mentioned, please tell me.

Thanks.

[Wrider]

Hey first off welcome to the site.
Secondly as a general answer to your question, yes it's too much for a beginner rider. As you stated you lofted the front wheel purely on accident. Trust me when I say that giving it a bit much gas can happen too easily (I did the same thing on a buddy's SV650 and lofted the front wheel).
Secondly the differences between 1989 and 2010 models are pretty big.
Let's start with the basics.
Suspension is completely different and much more performance oriented
Steering geometry is much more race oriented
Riding position is a different animal altogether

Now lets get to the engine/frame.
There may only be a 20 HP difference in the motor, but that horsepower is delivered in a completely different manner than the one you rode. Under 8000 RPM it will feel like it has absolutely nothing, then it seems to "come alive" and will run like a bat out of heck up to it's 16,500 RPM redline. There's also the issue of available torque. On a modern 600 there is not that much. In fact I don't like riding 600s because they feel too twitchy to me to ride comfortably.
Secondly there's the weight. While the weight may only be 20 lbs, it's also distributed very differently. On the older bike the mass will be centered lower in the chassis, it will generally not tip over easily. With the modern bike it will be centered as high as possible to help with the turn in of the bike. Basically if you start to turn, you're TURNING on one.

Now think about the technologies involved in bikes. This would be the equivalent of going from a 1989 Mustang 5.0 to a 2011 Mustang 5.0. Not even a comparison between the two. Different motor, body, suspension, technologies, etc etc etc.

As for the 848, if you managed to loft the wheel on an 89 Hurricane, you'd pretty easily be scraping the rear fender on the asphalt with an 848. Talk about a TORQUE machine.

Basically gotta say I'd stay away from it. Go with a 650 (more ccs, less hp/tq) or a 250/500 that's faster than the XL you rode. I'd suggest something along the lines of a Ninja 250/500 or a Suzuki GS500. Both of the 500s will have about the same torque as your XL but a lot more horsepower and speed, plus will show you the basics of how sportbikes handle without throwing you right into the twitchy world of sportbike handling.

[mikejungle]

Thanks a lot for the reply.

Does it matter at all that I only floated it on the first start? I think I got used to it pretty quickly. But I don't know if a common newbie mistake is to eventually accidentally give it too much gas.

Are there any lower cc sport bikes? If it's the hp/tq that'd be too much, then maybe just firmer suspension/more aggressive stance would sate me...
but then again, you did mention the shifting of the weight toward the top more.

I like the look of the gs500. Is it similarly built to the sv650? One of my other friends started on that bike based on suggestions.

thanks again

[HYPERR]

The naked SV650? I think that is a far worse bike for a beginner than the CBR. The naked SV wheelies very easily from flicking the throttle abruptly. The CBR will not wheelie very easily unless you rev the dodo out out of it or clutch it up.

[Wrider]

Hey, the GS500 is a completely different engine than the SV650. It's much more beginner friendly than anything else I've ridden other than the Ninja 250.
I like it a lot, and it does well. (Ask the cop that gave me a warning for doing over 100 on one because he couldn't prove the speed lol)

And it's a much better commuter bike than anything else mentioned so far.

How long did you ride the XR/XL for?

[HYPERR]

Hey, the GS500 is a completely different engine than the SV650. It's much more beginner friendly than anything else I've ridden other than the Ninja 250.

Yes agreed. The GS500 and the Ninja 500 are great beginner bikes for those who are above average size, strength, and coordination.