Hi all,

Is there any advice I need to take before purchasing a CBR600F 1998 model? The bike I am looking at has 20k miles with what seems to be alot of history. One concern I do have is that on tick over, there seems to be a light rattle coming from the engine but when the clutch is depressed the rattle stops!?

Is there anything else I should be looking out for on a bike of this age and model?

Thanks in advance

 

20000 clicks is not bad for a 10 yo bike, the noise you hear could just be the clutch basket. My F3 makes a noise (they all do) until you pull in the clutch. The noise is on the left side (sitting on the bike). A buggered CCT noise is a rattle & as far as I have heard, won't go away when you apply the clutch. Other issues with the F2 & F3's is the reg, if its the original, it will eventually fail & you will think its the battery, but it isn't.
This can be replaced with a heavy duty non OEM or a Suzuki GSX one (do a search on the site). That's pretty much it, if the bike has been maintained, then the donk is almost bullet proof & you will get a lot more kays out of it before you start to worry.
All bikes regardless of type have their own individual quirks, so some problems are not necessarily shared with every CBR.
They are a really great motorcycle, I have had mine from new & it can still scare the crap out of me.
More on the rattle, it could just be something loose that goes off when the clutch is used.

 

Thanks for the reply Pacemaker. Can you please tell me what you mean by 'reg', is this shortened for something?

Cheers, Mike

 

Hi there Capoach
I think that what pacemaker ment with reg is the regulator. Here is what it does http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_regulator
It seems quite common that regulators of the CBR 600 of the 90’s need to be changed (at least this is what I have been told by my mechanic).
Signs of this is the battery getting very warm after a while (the regulator is on the right side of the bike, just under the fairing) and the bike not being able to keep the charge.
I had to change mine but it does not cost too much…
A bought my CBR 600 F3 in 2007 with 24k miles on it and every single day I fall in love with her all over again ! They are really great bikes which will hardly let you down as long as you take care of them.If you have any questions just shoot ;-)
Take care and have a good day, A.

 

when you buy an eleven year old bike a tick or a rattle is almost expected, when i got my '97 F3 in 2007 it had a little rattle, but after a quick oil change i didn't hear a thing.
Don't let it completely discourage you, but when buying a new bike always be cautious, look into everything.
-Mike D.

 

20k miles isn't very many IMO. my f3 has almost 40k and it has really been tortured. i usually ride with guys on liter bikes and keep up with them. it has really been an amazing bike for not blowing up from the abuse i have put it through.

the only problem is the tires keep wearing out.