Hi everyone!
I'm planning to buy a new motorcycle around September 2027, so I'm taking my time to research before making such an expensive decision.
At the moment, my choice has come down to the Yamaha R9 and the Honda CBR600RR.
A bit about me:
I'm 185 cm (6'1") and around 90 kg (198 lbs).
I've been riding for about 2 years by then. My current bike is a Yamaha R3.
I mainly ride twisty mountain roads, but I also love long day trips of 300 to 400 km with friends. Sometimes I even do weekend trips with 6 to 7 hours of riding per day.
I enjoy improving my riding technique. I like working the gearbox, choosing the right gear for every corner and having a bike that rewards good riding.
The CBR600RR is probably my dream choice. Every time I see it, I think "that's the bike I want". I love the inline four, the high revs and the supersport feeling. My only concern is comfort during long rides and whether it could become tiring after several hours.
The R9 seems like the smarter choice. It has a strong CP3 engine, more torque, a riding position that should be more comfortable and it seems better suited for longer trips while still being very sporty.
I'm not looking for the fastest bike on paper. I'm looking for the one that will keep me smiling and wanting to improve as a rider for many years.
For those of you who have ridden one or both bikes:
Which one would you choose and why?
Would you sacrifice some comfort for the experience of the CBR600RR, or would you go with the R9 as the better all around sport bike?
I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experience. Thanks!