Alright, so I wanted to share a bit about this 2007 Honda 600RR I’ve been messing with lately. It’s not like I woke up one morning and said, “I need this specific bike!” Nah, it was more like one of those things that just kinda falls into your lap, you know? A buddy of mine knew a guy, and this thing was just sitting, collecting dust in a corner of his garage. He made me an offer I couldn’t really ignore. So, I thought, what the heck, let’s give it a shot. Always liked the look of these CBRs.
Getting it Home and the First Look-See
So, I got it over to my place. First thing I did was just walk around it, really take it in. Honestly, it looked like it had lived a bit of a life. Few scuffs on the fairings, a little ding here and there. Nothing too tragic, but definitely not a showroom queen. But the bones, man, the frame and engine, they looked pretty straight. That’s the important stuff, right? Can’t expect miracles for what I paid.
Pulled the dipstick. Oil was black as night. Brake fluid in the reservoirs looked like old tea. Standard stuff for a bike that’s been sitting. The battery? Stone dead, of course. Tires had some tread left, but they felt hard, probably original or close to it. My to-do list started writing itself pretty quick:
- New battery, no question.
- Change the oil and filter, pronto.
- Flush out that old brake fluid.
- Check the coolant, probably flush that too for good measure.
- New rubber. Definitely new rubber. Not messing around with old tires.
Wrenching and Bringing it Back
Okay, so I rolled up my sleeves. First, that battery. Swapped in a fresh one. Turned the key, and hey, the dash lit up! Always a good feeling. Hit the starter button, and she turned over, sputtered a bit, then roared – well, more like rumbled – to life. Even with the stock exhaust, it’s got that distinct Honda sound, you know? I let it idle for a while, just listening. Sounded a bit rough, but no scary clanking or anything.
Next up, fluids. Draining that old oil was pretty satisfying, watching that gunk come out. Poured in the fresh stuff, new filter. Then the brakes. That took a bit of patience, bleeding them out until the fluid ran clean and clear. The rear brake is always a bit of a pain, tucked away like that. Coolant actually didn’t look too bad, but I flushed it anyway, just to be safe.
The Moment of Truth: First Spin
Tires were the last big job before I’d even think about taking it out proper. Got a decent set, nothing too crazy, just good all-around sport tires. Got ’em mounted and balanced. Finally, it was time. Threw on my gear. Felt a little bit excited, like I was about to ride something brand new, even though this machine’s got a few years on it.
Took it out, nice and easy at first. Just getting the feel of it again. The clutch, the throttle, the brakes. That engine is pretty sweet, smooths out real nice once it’s warmed up. It’s not a torque monster down low, you gotta get the revs up to really feel it kick, but that’s how these 600s are. That’s where the fun is, wringing its neck a little.
Man, it felt light. Tipped into corners real easy. Even with my less-than-perfect suspension settings, it felt planted. These older sportbikes, they just feel direct. No fancy electronics getting in the way, just you and the machine.
So, What’s the Lowdown?
After a few decent rides, what do I think? This 2007 Honda 600RR is a damn good bike. It’s not the newest or the flashiest thing on the road anymore, but it’s got heart. It’s the kind of bike that makes you a better rider because you have to be involved. For the money these go for now, if you can find a decent one, it’s a whole lot of fun for not a lot of cash.
Yeah, it needed some work, but that’s half the fun, right? Getting your hands dirty, bringing something back to its former glory, or at least close to it. I’ve still got a list of little things I want to do – maybe some steel braided brake lines, play with the suspension settings a bit more. But for now, I’m just happy riding it. It just goes to show, you don’t need the latest, greatest, most expensive thing to have a good time on two wheels. Sometimes, these older gems are where it’s at.
