There are plenty of reasons behind the 600cc motorcycle segment's popularity. It's the perfect plateau for many riders after honing their skills on a smaller displacement bike. While a liter-class motorcycle might have its appeal, the overall general usability of a 600cc far outstrips the novelty of a larger displacement.

UPDATE: 2024/02/01 20:52 EST BY TIJO TENSON

For a long time now, 600cc motorcycles have been seen as a middle ground, but they're so much more than that. And there is no shortage of options. We have updated this list to include a few more entries of some of the best 600cc motorcycles ever made.

It's also true that not everyone wants something as loud, powerful, fearsome, and technically proficient as a liter-class motorcycle. For them, the 600cc segment fits like a glove, giving them the thrills they're looking for without breaking the bank and, critically, without having to kid oneself about one's skills aboard a motorcycle. And the great thing is that a queue of motorcycle manufacturers, from Honda and Kawasaki to Ducati and Triumph, all have heavy hitters in the 600cc segment. This, then, is our list of the greatest 600s to grace our roads.

How we got our model selections: To compile this list, HotCars scoured every prominent motorcycle manufacturer's 600cc portfolio and populated the list from there. To narrow the field, parameters such as MSRP, performance, and overall value were put in place, finally giving us the following list. It should be noted that this list includes both motorcycles currently in production and those that have been discontinued. The latter, however, can readily be found in the used market. Also, the entries on this list have been organized in increasing order of their current market prices.

12 Kawasaki GPZ 600R Ninja

Used Price Range: $2,600-$4,000

The Kawasaki GPZ 600R Ninja is probably not even considered when discussing the greatest 600cc bikes ever made. However, without the creation of this model, this category of bikes might not even have existed.

Having all the essential features that a 600cc supersport bike needs to have, including four cylinders, water cooling, and full fairing, the GPZ 600R gave birth to an entirely new range of motorcycles, forcing other companies to take notice and join the game. This classic bike, a smaller capacity variant of its 900cc predecessor, has since been lost to oblivion. It is probably the sole reason that Kawasaki became a huge name in the 600cc class.

1986 Kawasaki GPZ 600R Ninja Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

11 Benelli TNT 600i

Used Price Range: $2,700-$3,500

Benelli has made its mark in the mid-weight supersport bike segment with the TNT 600i, which can be regarded as a complete naked street motorcycle, with attractive features like an angular and sculpted tank, four-into-two under-seat exhausts, and a tubular trellis-frame.

The TNT 600i is a powerful and visceral bike that boasts of its rawness. Its 15-liter tank can produce 82 hp at 11,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 38.4 lb-ft at 10,500 rpm. It is the most advanced motorbike Benelli has ever launched in the 600cc category.

2015 Benelli TNT 600i Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

10 Honda CBR 600F

Used Price Range: $3,000-$4,500

The CBR 600F is the initial model that Honda launched under its 600cc bike range. With variants like 600F4 and 600F4i in the same series, Honda aimed to create a supersport bike that had all the looks and feel of a racing bike while being a comfortable two-wheeler that could also be used for regular purposes.

With a 599cc engine, carburated 16 valves, and fuel-injected four cylinders, this utilitarian motorcycle is capable of 48 lb-ft of torque, 102 hp, and a top speed of 155 mph.

2011 Honda CBR 600F Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

9 Triumph Daytona 675

Used Price Range: $4,000-$8,000

When it was launched in 2006, the Triumph Daytona 675 had a lot riding on its shoulders. Triumph was targeting its Japanese rivals in this segment and had come up short- until the 675 made its debut, that is.

It had a lot going for it. Despite being a cylinder down on its rivals, it made more torque, it seemingly felt more compact, and needless to say, it was a blast around the racetrack, or for that matter on public roads. True icon, the Daytona 675.

2009 Triumph Daytona 675 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

8 Triumph Daytona 650

Used Price Range: $5,000-$6,500

Much before Triumph released its 675 models, the 600 and 650 models were the most popular in the 600cc range. General consensus rates the 650 as a better-performing bike than the 600, which is slightly underpowered.

Having a reputation to protect, Triumph made sure that it corrected these flaws with the 646cc Triumph Daytona 650. Having four fuel-injected cylinders and 16 valves that are liquid-cooled, the 650 is capable of producing 50.2 lb-ft of torque at 11,500 rpm and horsepower of 112 at 12,500 rpm.

2005 Triumph Daytona 650 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

7 Ducati 749

Used Price Range: $6,500-$9,000

Although the Ducati 749 is not really a 600cc bike, having a 748cc engine, it can be included in the 600cc category since the larger engine is only equipped with two cylinders. This beast of a bike is powered by a V-twin, fuel-injected 8-valve engine capable of producing a torque of 59.3 lb-ft, a top speed of 150 mph, and 108 hp. The best models in this series are the ones that Ducati released after 2005.

With a pure Ducati chassis, riding this motorcycle means experiencing a bike that enjoys leaning, has brilliant mid-corner stability, and has slow steering capabilities. All in all, once you drive the Ducati 749, your riding style will undergo a complete change.

2007 Ducati 749 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs

6 Kawasaki Vulcan S

Starting MSRP: $7,349

Not a supersport bike from any angle, the Kawasaki Vulcan S is a middleweight cruiser released by the reputed company Kawasaki. It uses the same 649cc engine that the Z650 and the Ninja 650 use. Therefore, despite being a cruiser, it does have similarities with its siblings and can, in that sense, be regarded as a worthy 600cc motorbike.

Released in 2015, this bike is equipped with a liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor with four valves in each cylinder, capable of producing a maximum power of 61 hp and a maximum torque of 46.5 lb-ft.

2016 Kawasaki Vulcan S Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

5 MV Agusta F3 675

Used Price Range: $9,000-$11,000

Think Italian exotic, and your mind might go to Ducati. But the fact is that the Italians have another weapon in their arsenal: MV Agusta. In the 600cc segment, the truly legendary F3 675 sits, which featured a 3-cylinder engine, some incredible styling, and a good amount of kit, to boot.

The F3 675 was not only quick when it mattered, but it seemingly could look like it was blazing down the street even when it was stationary.

2013 MV Agusta F3 675 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

4 Kawasaki ZX-6R

Starting MSRP: $11,399

Kawasaki upped their game with the powerful and fast ZX-6R, a model that lives up to everything the company stands for. This bike has a larger engine measuring 636cc but is an intimate part of the 600cc class. The best way to describe the ZX-6R would be to refer to it as a motorbike that satisfies all the prerequisites that are essential for a 600cc bike while possessing a distinct character of its own.

This powerhouse can churn out a torque of 48.1 lb-ft and a formidable 130 hp, and the only hurdle a rider might face in handling this beast is learning how to tame it. However, the ZX-6R is nothing short of a dream motorcycle once that is accomplished.

2023 Kawasaki ZX-6R Specs

(Specs sourced from WebBikeWorld)

3 Suzuki GSX-R600

Starting MSRP: $11,499

An esteemed member of the 600cc family, the Suzuki GSX-R600 received its last major update as recently as 2017. Commonly known as the Gixxers, this model developed by Suzuki can corner and easily bend and brake while remaining incredibly fast.

Although the earlier models of this series were uncomfortable to ride, Suzuki ensured it rectified these drawbacks. With the recent updates to the model, it has become spacious, upright, and comfortable, features that are quite attractive in a market that has numerous players and rivals.

2022 Suzuki GSX-R600 Specs

(Specs sourced from webBikeWorld)

2 Honda CBR 600RR

Starting MSRP: $12,199

Honda is among the last major motorcycle companies to enter the supersport 600cc range with their CBR models. Despite their late entry, Honda knew how to steal the show with the impressive CBR 600F that can be dated back to 1987. Over the years, this model has had numerous changes until the CBR 600RR emerged in 2003.

Being extremely well-balanced, it was no surprise that this bike won the Supersport World Championship consecutively for five years from 2003 to 2008. With incredible handling, brilliant cornering capabilities, and ease of use, the CBR 600RR is everything a 600cc motorbike hopes to be.

2024 Honda CBR 600RR Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

1 Yamaha YZF-R6

Starting MSRP: $12,699

The Yamaha YZF-R6 is an immensely popular 600cc bike that has also been the best-selling bike in this class range. It was also the first 600cc motorcycle to produce more than 100 horsepower, thereby becoming an iconic model.

Despite being created almost 21 years ago and the many updates that the YZF-R6 has received, it still manages to be one of the rawest 600cc bikes available in the market. The best model in this series is hands-down the 2006 model, which requires a skilled rider to get the best out of this pacy middleweight beast.

2019 Yamaha YZF-R6 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

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• Source for features: Respective manufacturers' websites
• Source for technical specifications: Motorcycle Specs, webBikeWorl
• Source for used prices: Cycle Trader