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Test Riding the Honda CBR600RR in Cape Town:

Precision on Two Wheels

By Staff Writer, LHR Motorcycle Magazine
Introduction: A Legend Returns
There's something unmistakably poetic about a sportbike screaming up the coast of Cape Town, the Atlantic Ocean
blurring on one side, and Table Mountain towering in the background. When the bike in question is the 2024 Honda
CBR600RR—Honda's long-awaited return to the middleweight supersport scene—it's more than a ride. It's a
revival.
At LHR Motorcycle Magazine, we've been following the CBR600RR's story since its glory days on race circuits
around the globe, from World Supersport to national championships. Now, with its return to the showroom after a
long absence in Western markets, we were eager to find out: does it still have what it takes?
So we took it to the best testing ground imaginable—Cape Town. From tight switchbacks on Chapman's Peak Drive
to the fast straights out toward Franschhoek Pass, the city and its surrounds put the CBR600RR through its paces.

This is what we found.
The 2024 Honda CBR600RR: At a Function Cons:
Glance
When the bike was rolled off the · Heat. A lot of it. That
Before the ride, let's talk specs. The trailer in Cape Town, eyes turned. underseat exhaust can
CBR600RR may look familiar, but The sharp, MotoGP-derived aero roast your thighs in traffic.
don't be fooled—it's packed with styling—winglets and all—give the · The low-speed fueling,
21st-century upgrades: 600RR a modern menace. The while better than older
L E D l i g h t s a r e c l e a n a n d
· Engine: 599cc liquid-cooled models, still feels a bit
inline-four aggressive, and the TFT dash abrupt when feathering the
(finally!) brings the user interface
· Power: ~119 hp @ 14,250 into the digital age. throttle.
rpm · The turning radius is tight for
Ergonomically, the seating position
· Torque: 63 Nm @ 11,500 is unapologetically sporty. This is a sportbike, but still no
match for a naked.
rpm not an upright commuter. You're Conclusion: You can commute on
· Electronics: Ride-by-wire perched forward, with your weight it, but don't mistake it for a CB500F.
t h r o t t l e , I M U - b a s e d distributed evenly across the tank C h a p m a n ' s P e a k D r i v e :
electronics, traction control, and clip-ons. Tall riders might find Supersport Nirvana
cornering ABS, wheelie the peg positioning cramped for all-
control, selectable riding day rides, but it's perfect for Once we broke free from the city,
modes aggressive cornering. we headed straight for one of
South Africa's most iconic coastal
· Chassis: Aluminum twin- roads—Chapman's Peak Drive.
spar frame, 41mm Showa City Riding: Testing the Commuter
Big Piston Forks, Unit Pro- Side This is where the CBR600RR
Link rear shock We began the day navigating Cape absolutely sings.
· Brakes: Dual 310mm discs Town's inner city—CBD traffic, Winding along cliff faces with tight
up front, Nissin radial Long Street lights, Green Point turns and unpredictable elevation
calipers c i r c l e s . H e r e ' s w h e r e t h e changes, the Chappies route tests
CBR600RR shows both its a bike's balance, throttle finesse,
· Weight: 194 kg (wet)
strengths and limitations. and front-end feel. The Honda?
· Price: ~R225,000 in South Pros: Impeccable.
Africa (subject to dealer Handling:
markup and availability) · The quickshifter works The CBR600RR's chassis is
flawlessly, even at low
From the data alone, it's clear RPMs. nothing short of a scalpel.
Honda isn't trying to reinvent the Steering inputs translate instantly.
wheel—they're refining a legacy. · The bike feels light on its The Showa Big Piston Forks offer
The emphasis here is on track- feet. Filtering through traffic tremendous feedback, especially
focused agility, razor-sharp is surprisingly easy. under hard braking into downhill
handling, and tech that supports · The brakes are progressive corners. It's the kind of bike that
rather than overwhelms. and not grabby—ideal in encourages you to lean in just a

First Impressions: Form Meets stop-and-go situations. little more, every time.

LHR MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 20 JUNE 2025