Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127281
ePREVIEW 1991 Honda! ~ onda 's answer to the 1990 racewinning Kawasaki ZX6 and championsh ip- winning Yamaha FZR600 is on its way to dealers in th e form of the all-new CBR600F2. The new middleweight sport bike heads th e japanese giant's 1991 lineup - a squadron that includes no less than 31 models. ~ The CBR600F2 is bas ed on the japanese-model CBR400 RR, but with a larger powerplant to sa tis fy horsepower-hungry Americans and a less-expensive steel chassis to sui t their frugal pocketbooks. It's powered by a 599c c liq u id-cool ed. DO H C. fou rvalve per-cylinder in-line four . which the ma nufacturer claims produces 100 horsepower. Th e co m p act engine weig hs on ly 134 po unds. tha nks to a newly designed one-piece upper crankcase/cyli nder assembly an d a revised ca ms ha ft d r ive layou t with side~ mounted cam chain. T he oversq uare (65mm bore x 45.2mm stroke) eng ine features a new com bustion cha mber design that allo ws for a n 11.6:I compression rati o. and also features shi munder-bucket valve act uatio n with 12,000-mi le ma in tenance interva ls. Four 34mm flat-slide CV carbure tors H .... Q,) ..0 o ..... u o o All·new CBR600 leads the way (T op) The all-new Honda CBR6ooF2 is Honda's answer to Kawasaski's IX6 and Yamaha's FIR6oo. The comp act, 599cc engine produces a claimed 100 horsepower. (Aboveleft) The XR600 is completely revised for 1991; 43mm forks and a beefier rear shock highlight the changes. (Above rig h t) The Interstate offers a low-cost alternative to the Gold Wing. (Above) The Honda Nighthawk gets the same 234cc SOHC four-valve powerplant that powered th e now defunct Rebel in a new chassis; its bod ywork is styled to resemble the larger Nigh thawk 750. (Lef t) The Nighthawk 750 replaces the popular 650cc Nighthawk of the early 80s; it ' features a 747cc DOHC lfi-valve, inline four-cylinder engine. 10 breathe through a hu ge 6.2- liter airbox. A liquid-cooled oi l cooler and ligh tweigh t aluminum radiator hel p keep the new engine coo l. . ' The CBR600F2 substitu tes a twinspar steel frame for the aluminum unit employed on its sib ling 400. Front suspension is ha nd led by a 41mm diameter fork offering 5. 1 inches of trave l. with spring p reload adjustment only. Honda 's P ro-Link rear suspen sion system us es a redesigned Deca rbo n -type shock offering . 4.3 inches of travel, with adjustable spring preload and rebound damping. Wide . RC30-type 17-inch whee ls are filled with V-rated Michelin radial tires at both ends . a 120/60 from tire and 160/ 90 rear tire. while twin -piston bra kes are used . two at the front and one at.the rear. n Specifications include a claimed 407.8 po unds dry weigh t, 55.5-inch wheelbase . 30.7-inch seat , height and 4.2-ga llon fuel tank. , T he CBR600F2 will be avai lab le in j anuary at a suggested retai l price of $4998. Co lor options are white/red or black/ blue/ flourescent pi nk. The bike does not com e with a cen terstand, but one is offered as an op tio n. Honda 's answer to the ent ry-level or returni ng rid er is the new Nigh th awk 750. Styled li ke the popular 650cc N ighthaw k of th e ea rly '80s. the Nighthawk 750 featu res a 747cc DOHC l fi-valve in -line four with maintenance-free hydraulic valves, and automatic ca m chain adj uste r and chain final drive. all housed in a tradition al double-cradle steel frame. ' It will be