Back in 1987 Honda saw Kawasaki and Yamaha having a laugh in the middleweight sportsbike class with the GPZ600R and FZ600 and, like the big bully they are, bog-washed and wedgied the pair of them into submission with the all-new CBR600F.
Compared to the then class-leading Kawasaki, the CBR had around 10bhp more at the top end as well as being substantially lighter. From then on, through five major model overhauls until the present day, the CBR has been undisputed king.
Okay, so the other Japanese manufacturers could and sometimes did steal the performance crown from the CBR from time-to-time, but more often than not (here in the UK anyway) the Honda would still win the much more important battle for sales.
So what is it that 300,000 of you love so much about the CBR?
First of all are the bike's mix of capabilities. It really can turn a wheel to almost anything and everything. To be blunt, the CBR600 is more well-rounded than the kids in the first year at Fat School. Secondly, for years journalists have prattled on about the Honda being bland and lacking character, but when it's your own money YOU, the bike buying public, found that dependability, reliability, performance and that 'Honda' badge on the tank gave the CBR a character and worthiness all its own.
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