CBR F4i

When I was looking for my second motorcycle, I was highly considering the cult classic bike called the CBRF4i. These famous bikes were only produced in the early 2000s. They are an offshoot of the famous Honda track ready bike, the CBR600RR, with a powerful 600cc inline-4 configuration but more streetable ergonomics. At the time, I didn’t understand how bulletproof they were, so I ended up purchasing a more modern bike with similar specs. This gave me some peace of mind since I was new to motorcycle maintenance. But after riding this ’02 I have realized that this bike has more quality than many of the new bikes being produced by the Japanese manufacturers. Let me tell you about this beauty.

Before we get to the best parts about this bike, we have to address the elephant in the room. On this blog, I generally express animosity towards the inline-4 configuration. I have ridden enough bikes to know that in most situations these bikes are no fun. But like most ideological divides, there is generally a bit of nuance. So while riding this bike, I withheld my prejudice towards the inline-4. And I had quite an amazing time.

First thing I noticed after hopping on the saddle were the flexible ergonomics. You can slide your butt to the back position for more aerodynamic riding. Or you can position yourself on the front of the seat for a more “comfortable” experience. Comfortable is in quotations, because the bike is still capable of spirited riding from this position. But it is not a position I would like my legs and back to be in for many hours, multiple days in a row. But I wasn’t planning on doing that with this bike, so it wasn’t an issue.

 

I was on my way to the twisties on skyline drive and the blue ridge parkway, which is some of the best riding in Virginia. In order to get there, I had to do an hour on interstate-66 to get out of the lackluster suburbs. Despite being a sportier bike, I felt these boring miles just melt away as I stayed fairly close to the speed limit. While sitting in the front position and riding above 50mph, the wind pushes up against your chest and relieves pressure from the wrists. The bike is also aerodynamic, so you aren’t jostled around too much like riding on a naked bike. The smooth power delivery and comfort on the freeway can definitely bring life and vitality to a longer commute. 

 

 

But I rented this bike to do more than just test its commuting capabilities. I rented it to carve up the twisties, and it did not disappoint. All the power comes out above 8000 or 9000 rpms, so I had to make a conscious effort not to shift prematurely. This is because I was calibrated to the v-twin configuration, since these were the engines of the last two bikes I rode. It was an easy adjustment thought. The bike sounded like it was screaming at those rpms, but there was nothing wrong with this. In fact, I get the impression that the bike loved these rpms. The noise pulling out of the turns was spectacular. I generally dislike the noise of inline-4s, but the noise coming from this engine was so pure and sweet. It sounded like it was pulling in massive volumes of air like a turbocharged engine would. Despite my ever-worsening tinnitus, I periodically removed my earplugs to enjoy the beautiful soundtrack.

As for the handling, the stability and turning capability were reminiscent of the only other sport bike I have ridden. It takes mild effort to get into the lean angle for sharp turns, but it has no trouble maintaining this position until execution is complete. The exceptional handling combined with the smooth power delivery made me feel like an artist painting brushstrokes along the tarmac. In fact, my love and enthusiasm for sport bikes has grown after riding this. The precision handling pulls the rider into the experience just like a gut wrenching acceleration would.

 

 

The smooth power delivery allows one to aggressively roll on the throttle with confidence at any moment. Coupling this with the sharp handling makes for an excellent track bike. However, I would not take this bike to the harsh environment of a race track. This is because of my sentimentalism. Inspecting, riding and just thinking about this bike makes me long for simpler times. Times when manufacturers were focused on creating quality without trying to squeeze every last ounce of profit out of their product. The robustness of the fairings, simplicity in design, and appealing aesthetic details stand in stark contrast to many of the bikes on dealer’s lots today. But practically, these bikes can be had for cheap and are considered by many to be bulletproof. So you can definitely bring them to the track and have a great time.

My inspiration to ride this was an article I read on another blog called MotoFomo. The author of that blog says everyone should ride a 600cc super sport at least once so they can get the chance to wring them out. I feel very fortunate that my I got to ride an F4i for my first 600cc super sport experience. If you ever get the opportunity to ride one of these, don’t pass it up. It definitely doesn’t disappoint. If Nick still has it, you can rent it on Riders-Share here.