In the 1990s and a good chunk of the 2000s, the supersport 600 market was a fiercly contested segment.
The demand was incredible, and in the UK alone thousands of riders a year parted with their hard-earned cash for one of these middleweight machines.
And then it stopped. Almost overnight a combination of changing economic conditions saw Japanese bike prices jump massively, taking a new 600 from around £7,000 in 2007 to £9,000 or more, while shifting fashions took riders away from race replicas.
As a result, manufacturers simply stopped updating their supersports machines and eventually dropped them altogether. Yamaha was the last to launch a new YZF-R6 in 2017 which met the latest emission limits but even that bike was relegated to ‘track-only’ status in 2021 due to further heightened Euro5 regulations. In terms of mainstream manufacturers, Kawasaki recently revealed an updated ZX-6R for 2024, but that's about it.
Otherwise, most 600s weren’t improved much for over a decade and then finally deleted, forced out by Euro4 in 2017 then Euro5 in 2021. And now, just like two strokes, they’re very nearly gone - once a rite of passage, now sought-after classics.
So maybe now's the time to pick up a good second-hand one, while there are still huge numbers of well-kept examples on the road.
Building a definitive list of the ‘best’ 600cc supersports bikes is virtually impossible such is the range of prices, specs and ages available. The best advice overall is to establish a budget and then look at (and where possible test) as many different options as you can; small differences in riding position and feel mean that what suits you might be quite different to the bike that’s best for the next chap.
Even so, here’s our reverse-order take on the 10 best used supersports machines currently out there.
10. MV Agusta F3 675
Engine 675cc triple Power 128bhp Torque 45lb ft Weight 173kg Price £6750-9000
That ‘Italian exotic’ feeling is amplified a notch on an MV Agusta and if we allowed ourselves to include the F3 800 in this list it might rise a position or two. As it is, we’re sticking to the 675cc version and that brings some issues. Early bikes were plagued with throttle response problems, although updated maps can help sort that, and the price of entry is still high – around £7,000 is still the lowest an F3 goes at.
There are some massive pros to the MV, though; the lovely three-cylinder engine, the fabulous styling and – perhaps most importantly – the technology. Here’s one of the few bikes in this class that’s really worthy of this decade, including traction control and multiple engine modes. More recent versions also get ABS and a quickshifter. Our advice would be to get the latest you can afford: faults have been ironed out, you get ABS brakes etc. But then again, if you’re going that far, why not splash out and opt for the brawnier 800cc version?
9. Suzuki GSX-R600 (2006-2007)
Engine 599cc four Power 111bhp Torque 50lb ft Weight 161kg (Price £3000-4500
It might be approaching 20 years ago now, but 2006 was the last time we saw really significant, completely new 600cc machines from multiple manufacturers. It was also the moment the class gave up its ‘all-rounder’ tag to become out-and-out track bikes. So, while those machines were the best yet, they were also partially authors of their own demise. The financial crash two years later helped seal the deal.
Of the new-for-06 bikes, the GSX-R600 was notable; new engine, new frame and new styling that still stands as probably the best-looking of all the GSX-R generations thanks to its titchy exhaust and tight packaging. The massive spec included radial brakes, a slipper clutch (back when they were still rare) and a screamer of an engine. Yes, it was quickly outclassed by the 2007 R6 and CBR600RR, but the K6/7 GSX-R600 sounds wicked, goes like stink, rides beautifully and is great value.
8. Suzuki GSX-R600 (2011-2018)
Engine 599cc four Power 126bhp Torque 51lb ft Weight 187kg Price £4800-8000
After the somewhat stodgy and sensible 2008-2010 GSX-R600, the 2011, virtually all-new L1 version was a return to form for Suzuki – and also the Japanese firm’s last and most recent incarnation of its supersports screamer before the model was dropped (in Europe at least) in 2018. The result is therefore the best and newest GSX-R600 you can buy.
Lighter and more powerful than its predecessor, it also came with Showa Big Piston forks and Brembo Monobloc brakes for the first time. Though maybe not quite as powerful and fast as its then rivals, the GSX-R600 was nevertheless an impressive, polished and classy all-rounder. There were also a number of special edition versions worth looking out for, including a MotoGP special edition in 2014, a TYCO limited edition the same year and a 30th Anniversary edition the following year.
7. Yamaha R6 (2017-2021)
Engine 599cc four Power 116bhp Torque 45lb ft Weight 190kg Price £12,000-14,000
Arguably the last of the Supersport 600s to receive a full makeover, the 2017 R6 was something of a disappointment, despite looking the part with MotoGP-inspired ‘mini R1’ styling and coming with an exquisitely fine-handling chassis plus the most sophisticated electronics yet seen in the class. There were two reasons this R6 underwhelmed: it was down on power, and it was expensive. But it’s still worthy of consideration here.
By having to re-engineer its screaming 599cc four to meet the latest 2017 Euro4 noise and emissions regulations (Euro5 would later force it to become a track-only model), power and torque figures were actually down compared to the preceding model, although this could be improved with the addition of an aftermarket pipe and power commander.
On top of that, when launched, at just under £11K, it was pricey. But there are compensations. This model of R6 looks fabulous, handles beautifully, has fantastic brakes and is rare – but be prepared to shell out on buying it in the first place and uprating its performance.
6. Honda CBR600RR (2007-2013)
Engine 599cc four Power 118bhp Torque 49lb ft Weight 186kg (without fuel) Price £3500-6000
The evolution of Honda’s MotoGP-inspired CBR600RR is almost as complex as that of Yamaha’s R6, so we’ll keep things simple. The first first-generation CBR600RR launched in 2003 as a mini-RCV GP bike. You can easily find one below £3K now, bringing them into the same part of the market that’s usually occupied by an earlier generation of bikes entirely. The 2005-6 versions gained worthwhile updates including USD forks and radial calipers, and don’t cost a lot more.
But, although on the face of it, the changes to the 2007 CBR600RR over the previous model weren’t huge, they were enough to significantly raise its game. Honda has kept making small tweaks over the following years including the notable addition of optional Combined ABS in 2009 – the first on a sports bike. Early ABS versions are now in the sub-£5k range and offer a level of safety that many riders stepping up to a 600 will surely appreciate, particularly now that ABS is standard on so many smaller, less powerful bikes. Find a good one and you’ll have a classy, fast, comfortable (for a 600) and dependable bike.
5. Kawasaki ZX-6R (2019-2021)
Engine 636cc four Power 128bhp Torque 52lb ft Weight 196kg Price £8000-9000
It’s not much different to the preceding model, which is why it ranks lower, here – after all, why spend more on a newer model when the older one is just as good for less? Regardless, the sheer fact that it was updated at all at a time when most rivals were leaving the class in droves is to be commended and is desirable, and the base bike is undeniably good.
The main changes are to its styling, some detail touches and overall gearing. Add in some top-notch electronics and chassis components, competitive performance and a classy finish and you’ve got a very strong argument for being one of the best all round used supersports 600s you can buy.
4. Yamaha R6 (2008-2016)
Engine 599cc four Power 133bhp Torque 51lb ft Weight 166kg Price £5000-8500
While the all-new 2006 Yamaha R6 grabbed headlines with its 17,500rpm redline and more, its 2008 successor upped the ante further. It lost yet more weight and introduced ride-by-wire, which in turn enabled the increasing introduction of electronic rider aids.
The improvements ensured it was the benchmark in the class for almost decade – so much that it became the go-to bike for supersport racers not just in short circuit racing but also at the TT. Sharp, light, powerful, and nimble, it was the fastest, sportiest supersport 600 of all at the time – although many would argue Honda’s more rounded and more comfortable CBR600RR was the better road bike. If it’s the Yamaha for you, just watch out for thrashed and trashed ex-race or track day examples.
3. Kawasaki ZX-6R (2013-2016)
Engine 636cc four Power 120bhp Torque 51lb ft Weight 192kg Price £4600-7500
Kawasaki’s supersport 600 offering, the ZX-6R, may have rarely been the best, but its 2013-2016 model was probably the closest to it. Its advantages were simple. While others mostly carried over their bikes with minor tweaks, the 2013-on ZX-6R was largely new, with redesigned styling, a fresh chassis and a revamped engine that was (again) up-sized to 636cc. That 37cc advantage over its rivals is important, adding a touch of torque and flexibility that others lacked.
On the tech front, the Kawasaki was a leader, too, with Showa BPF forks, multi-mode traction control, multiple engine maps and ABS. It had all the kit most were expecting to see years ahead of its most obvious rivals. There are those who will tell you that a 600 doesn’t need traction control or ABS, but they’re wrong – this is kit that pays for itself the moment it saves you from one accident, whether brought on by idiocy, absent-mindedness, over-enthusiasm or an external factor. On the used market, 2013 models are dropping below the £6k mark, with damaged or repaired ones cheaper.
2. Triumph Daytona 675 (2006-2018)
Engine 675cc triple Power 126bhp Torque 54lb ft Weight 162kg rice £3500-9000
Back when the Daytona 675 was launched in 2006, Triumph had a lot to prove. Its previous supersports efforts – the TT600, Daytona 600 and Daytona 650 – weren’t completely useless, but seemed to prove that any attempt to take on the Japanese in this part of the market was impossible. By thinking outside the box and reducing the cylinder count by a quarter, while upping the capacity by an eighth, Triumph hit upon a winning recipe that was truly surprising.
Suddenly a Triumph was a viable alternative to a mainstream Japanese sports bike – and there wasn’t even a premium to pay. In fact, it wasn’t just a rival; in many situations, the extra torque means that the Daytona 675 is simply a better bike to ride than a screaming four-cylinder 600. Despite being bigger in capacity, it actually feels physically smaller – and particularly slimmer – than some fours. Regular updates since its launch mean that, while the current bike is still clearly related to the original, it’s a notably better machine, gaining kit like ABS as well as styling changes and other technical tweaks.
Used prices for low-mileage examples start at under £4,000 and rise to more than twice that for late, up-specced ‘R’ versions.
1. Honda CBR600RR (2013-2018)
Engine 599cc four Power 107bhp Torque 45lb ft Weight 194kg Price £6000-9700
The last incarnation of arguably the best all-round supersports 600 of all (although some may disagree) is why the 2013 CBR-RR gets our overall No. 1 ranking. The preceding 2009-on CBR was already brilliant. Perhaps not the fastest, but fast enough, comfortable and durable. The 2013 update saw a distinctive new nose (again apparently inspired by the then MotoGP RCV), lighter frame, lighter 12-spoke cast wheels, new ignition mapping and new Show Big Piston front forks.
From the saddle, those changes are barely perceptible, although they’re undoubtedly welcome. What it represents, though, is the best, most recent example of probably the best supersports of all – especially when you add in Honda’s legendary quality, durability and reliability. Michael Dunlop still uses this example to win Supersport 600 TT races, at which he is king. And if it’s good enough for him…
