$3,498
Huntington Beach, California
Category
Standard Motorcycles
Engine
-
Posted Over 1 Month
2004 Honda 599, Trades Welcome! Over book on popular trades! Years ago, Honda decided to enter the "middleweight standard" market in Europe by slipping a version of the CBR600F motor into the frame of the budget-oriented Hornet 250 model. The resulting CB600F became a huge sales success overseas, with Honda selling a gazillion of the reasonably priced bikes. The middleweight CB600F astounding popularity even gave rise to its own brand-specific racing series, the Hornet Cup. Five years ago, Honda decided to enter the "middleweight standard" market in Europe by slipping a softened-up version of the CBR600F3 motor into the frame of the budget-oriented Hornet 250 model. The resulting Hornet 600 became a huge sales success overseas, with Honda selling a gazillion of the reasonably priced bikes. The middleweight Hornet's astounding popularity even gave rise to its own brand-specific racing series, the Hornet Cup. Now Honda is looking to spread that enthusiasm stateside by bringing the Hornet--rechristened the 599--to the U.S. market. The new middleweight is aimed at a rapidly growing category the "bang for the buck" class. The 599 only has a few changes from the tried-and-true Hornet platform. A redesigned fuel tank holds an additional liter of fuel (now 4.5 gallons), and the different shape repositions the rider 15mm forward for better weight distribution. The seat itself has been revamped for greater comfort, and suspension damping rates were firmed up for a more sporting attitude. The engine gets new tuning specs, and the single round headlight boasts a computer-designed, die-cast aluminum reflector with dual bulbs to improve lighting. The aforementioned Hornet platform utilizes the 599cc inline-four cylinder from the CBR-F3, but employs 34mm carbs, longer intake tracts and extended exhaust head pipes to boost low and midrange power. The chassis is a steel mono-backbone frame that hangs the engine as a stressed member, with an aluminum swingarm out back. The 41mm conventional damping-rod fork and single shock are suitably bare-bones in design, with the fork lacking any adjustment and the shock having only spring preload adjustability. Rolling stock is decently sized, however, with 17-inchers in 3.5-inch width up front and 5.5-inch width out back, both shod with Michelin Pilot Road radials. Braking duties are handled by twin 296mm discs grabbed by two-piston calipers in front, and a single 220mm disc with a single-piston caliper in the rear. We were quite impressed with Honda's new 599, and its concept of simplicity means the bike's performance can be had for only $7099
