Honda CBR600 F-SPORT

TalkToFrank

RMS Regular
Messages
762
Drives
335i MT Touring
Could you be arsed reading this big spiel about a not particularly fancy or interesting bike? Course you could...

Around 12 years ago (@BarryPort could correct me) Barry and I went on a big mission to collect a sturdy steed for him, that would be up to the task of hurling him across Europe with both comfort and speed.

We both have had our legs over a decent amount of bikes at this stage but nothing up the years a bit. In 2008, a 2001 bike to us, was very modern! Lol.

Honda brought out the F-sport in 2001 to stop gap the bridge to the cbr600RR. They kept a slightly watered down version with a banana seat on the market until 2006.

The main differences from the last CBR were that it was fuel injected, had an aluminium frame, digital speedo, slightly higher seat subframe and obviously the asthetics.

Between the 2001 version and the banana seat version, there are a number of differences. Valve spring pressure was raised, injectors had 4 nozzles increasing the fuel pressure, different piston rings and a raised limiter to 14.2k, and adjustable suspension fitted, to name a few.

CBR600F_010.jpg


So here we are, looking at a mint condition, black framed, fuel injected, digital gauged, rev counter sweeping beauty that not only looked and performed in the same category as an r6 but was nearly as comfortable as a Fazer.

Barry bought it, course he did. It was stunning.

*Insert Barry's story here*

So, Barry sold the bike to a friend who was new to biking, managed to bump into the back of another friend and smash the top fairing. After telling me what a nightmare it was to find parts for whilst on a night out in magaluf, I asked him how much he wanted for it.

IMAG0076.jpg


Once brought home a few miles on a ropy trailer, I stripped the bike and cleaned every part of it, awaiting for my new headlight cowl/fairing to arrive from England. Other than a few bits and pieces, the bike never asked me for anything, and I rode it day in day out, wind rain or snow, for about 4 years, including a trip to Aberdeen to sit exams.

IMAG0105.jpg


IMAG0334.jpg
IMAG1159_1.jpg
IMAG0315.jpg
IMAG0338_1.jpg


I started a new job, bought a car and then it rarely got used at this point, and other than a drive to Limerick to pick up my work van, take my step daughter around the nw200 track and one other ride out with friends, it sat in the garage for about 2 years. @BarryPort managed to get a wee scoot with the missus a day too.

IMAG0408.jpg
FB_IMG_1464809660951.jpg
IMAG0771.jpg
received_10153392769000946.jpeg


At this point, with it looking a bit tired and grubby, I sold it to another member on RMS for the same that I had paid for it, promising I would get myself another at some point.

That takes us to last month, where I contacted @Boksic to see if I could buy it back. He obliged, and honoured the gentleman's agreement of not sticking the arm in! Lol.

IMG_20200615_220414.jpg


At this point it's (not) worth mentioning that that is the same trailer from 8 years ago (nearly to the day) that I first picked it up! Lol

First thing I did was give it a deep clean, clay bar and stick it in the garage. Went shopping for bits, and have bought a load of bits and pieces for it. Plan is for @BarryPort and I to leave it mint, and it will become our forever bike.

IMG_20200616_185115.jpg
IMG_20200616_211737.jpg
IMG_20200616_213024.jpg
IMG_20200616_215903.jpg
IMG_20200616_215809.jpg
IMG_20200618_193053.jpg


Congratulations on making it this far!
New bar ends, mirrors, battery, grab rail for the wife, rim tape for when the wheels are refurbished and a few other bits already ordered.

Once it sees a bit of use and I set up a dedicated work space for it, we'll start the strip down. Then, it will receive a gearbox strip and rebuild, new cam chain tensioner, all new seals and gaskets, re-powdercoated frame and subframes, fresh, original colour scheme and whatever else comes under the bar of exceptional whilst stripping it.

Alot of memories this bike holds so it is only fair to restore it back to the day we got it at least, and enjoy it for years to come.
 
Last edited:

BarryPort

RMS Regular
Messages
4,106
Location
Portstewart/North Sea
Drives
Sierra Cosworth
@gcon45 may appreciate this rebuild, he knows how good an all rounder they can be:


Nice updates there mate, looking forward to filtering through traffic on hot summers days round the port.

You’re right it would have been 10 years ago at least we went to Fermanagh for it.

2010 was the trip down do the French Riviera

E80349A8-F499-42CB-B4D5-EA46D5A9FAF4.jpeg

C18BA5E6-D59E-47BA-BF8C-03A8E41B0C07.jpeg

0EF9530A-0410-4DA5-AED8-E864FDCF212C.jpeg

0D2D886D-67DD-4D97-8B78-BDEF14664ED6.jpeg


Can’t mind it’s timeline after that!
 

Apis

RMS Regular
Messages
4,074
Location
NW
Drives
various
They are a legendary real-world bike. Jealous of your French trip.

I won't mention the trailer strapping techniques, just glad you got it home in one piece.
 

TalkToFrank

RMS Regular
OP
TalkToFrank
Messages
762
Drives
335i MT Touring
I went with a crowd of bonkers men and I seriously don't know how we made it, that's not me in Barry's pic... I did hit a road sign and came off somewhere in France but it was already on the floor in my defense lol
 

gary1365

RMS Regular
Messages
10,196
Location
limavady
Drives
Great news
This brings a memory back. I talked to a fella years ago in Portrush riding one the same as that. He complained that he kept running out of fuel because he couldn't see the fuel warning light and because it was fi had no fuel tap for reserve lol.
 

TalkToFrank

RMS Regular
OP
TalkToFrank
Messages
762
Drives
335i MT Touring
Likely me or Barry 😂🤣🤭

Dunno if it's a fault or the way they are but sometimes it comes on and about 20 seconds later you're out of fuel, or sometimes it comes on and you can ride away if you dare
 

gary1365

RMS Regular
Messages
10,196
Location
limavady
Drives
Great news
It would have been back around 2011. I've only ever ridden carb bikes so I've never had that issue lol. I just spent ages going through my phone to find a pic there lol.

IMG-20200705-WA0003.jpg
 

dh1079

RMS Regular
Messages
2,316
Location
east belfast
Drives
loads
Awesome thread had one a my 2nd bike 17 years ago loved it until a nice old lady decided she didn’t me and thought I was a speed bump .

Look forward to updates
 

TalkToFrank

RMS Regular
OP
TalkToFrank
Messages
762
Drives
335i MT Touring
The bike got booked for mot and it'll be up on Saturday, with the excitement I had to start tinkering.
All fluids checked, a big splash of super and a battery fitted, fired up, warmed up and left to run for a bit. Dead on.

Then I fitted all the wee goodies I collected bar the headlight shield. The wife got me a d.a for my birthday so I gave that a whirl around it despite the thing having proper rash marks.

IMG_20200720_113401.jpg
IMG_20200720_192746.jpg
IMG_20200720_150405.jpg
IMG_20200720_150339.jpg
IMG_20200720_150332.jpg
IMG_20200720_120556.jpg
IMG_20200720_120550.jpg
 

TalkToFrank

RMS Regular
OP
TalkToFrank
Messages
762
Drives
335i MT Touring
Bike mot passed on Wednesday after failing on Saturday due to a dodgy earth causing the brake lights to be faint and bringing on the numberplate light.

IMG_20200725_165041.jpg


It's now taxed, a wee sail into the town with the wife to mark the occasion today... Found a wee hole one the exhaust manifold needing welded up too which was hard work due to it being paper thin, needless to say l, the welding to cover it is absolutely shocking but does the job!

IMG_20200730_185422.jpg
IMG_20200730_203134.jpg


When it gets a full overhaul, a stainless item will be on the list for sure.

All tucked up now, ready for the seldom use it will receive

IMG_20200728_233216.jpg
 

TalkToFrank

RMS Regular
OP
TalkToFrank
Messages
762
Drives
335i MT Touring
Really need to bite the bullet and buy a new exhaust for this thing

IMG-20210227-WA0019.jpg
 

TalkToFrank

RMS Regular
OP
TalkToFrank
Messages
762
Drives
335i MT Touring
Off she pops to a friend who tinkers with race bikes.

She's away for shims, valve clearances, plugs and filter, throttlebody futtering, new timing chain tensioner, new clutch, and a gearbox out of a 5k bike.

Got the chance to test my father in law's trailer he was tinkering with through winter too! Done a good job!

20210406_203958.jpg
 

TalkToFrank

RMS Regular
OP
TalkToFrank
Messages
762
Drives
335i MT Touring
So, got the bike back 3 days before a 4day all Ireland trip we had planned.

Ended up taking the fairings all off and redoing some work that was just thrown together; manifold bolts finger tight, not enough oil in it, few cables not tucked away properly when reconnected, horn hanging off, throttle cable not set properly.

Was a bit apprehensive to even ride it that distance as these things knocked my confidence of how the rest of it would have been slung together.

Got to bundooran and ended up broadsiding a roundabout at cub90 speed which turned out to be oil flying out the side casing all over my leg and rear wheel. Turned out that those bolts weren't tightened either 🤦

Got it sorted roadside, on it went to complete 885 miles.

Only other issues were numberplate fell off due to a friend bumping into it and another breaking my left mirror 🤣

Some amazing roads, ring of Kerry being my favourite bit. Would love to do it on a more sit up bike.

Apart from brake pads and wheel bearings, I think that's the mechanical side fairly sorted now, will have the asthetics to sort for next year

20210819_121042.jpg
20210819_180631.jpg
20210820_132709.jpg
20210820_174336.jpg
20210821_095918.jpg
20210821_101959.jpg
 

Ben P

RMS Regular
Messages
9,242
Drives
BMW F33/A6C7
Bloody hell. That could have been disastrous 😯

"Friend who tinkers with race bikes...
...She's away for shims, valve clearances, plugs and filter, throttlebody futtering, new timing chain tensioner..."

Hope it wasn't this fella as if those little things havent been done right it wouldn't fill you with confidence that the big stuff was done adequately!
 

EF Ian

RMS Regular
Messages
2,879
Location
Portrush
Drives
EF & 260Z GT-R
Glad you made it and had a good time.

I assume you'll be going no where near the guy who did that work again, not something you want on a bike, certainly doesn't give you confidence. At least there was no serious harm done because that potentially could have caused a fatal accident.


Nice bike though, you now have her almost fully sorted.

Will have to get out a ride with you next summer.
 

mikey

RMS Regular
Messages
1,874
Drives
Celica
Off she pops to a friend who tinkers with race bikes.
Dear God. 😳 Wouldn’t take a 50cc moped he’s worked on to the end of the street let alone a litre bike round a track at 150mph. If he was my friend he would be told with very choice language not to lift a spanner to a bike again before he kills somebody.
There is a massive difference between someone who ‘tinkers’ and someone who actually builds and mechanically prepares bikes.
 
Top