Honda CB 650 R
This is the Honda CB 650 R, a middleweight naked motorcycle that was first introduced into their lineup as the CB 650 F back in 2014.
That’s 10 years ago now. But to be fair to Honda, for 2024, they’ve made some fairly significant updates that I think help to keep it competitive and even give it a couple of strong USPs.
So is it still one to consider if you’re looking for a well-priced mid-capacity naked this year? we’ll take it out for a spin, and I’ll tell you all of the pros and cons to find out.
So let’s talk about some of the positives on this bike first, and I think the most predominant factor has to be the fact that in this affordable middleweight part of the market, it’s absolutely flooded with parallel twins.
And so the inline 4 in this particular bike gives it a point of distinction.
Unique Engine Configuration
And look, an inline 4, in my opinion, is the engine configuration that you’d more typically associate with either sportier bikes or perhaps more premium naked as well. Honda CB 650 R
For something that is ultimately built to a price, you do feel like you’re getting something a little bit special.
Naturally, this engine is going to rev up quite a bit more than the twin power competition.
You can see the red line is up at around 12,500 RPM. And of course, when you do get it up to those sorts of revs, I don’t know if you could hear that with the lid open, the soundtrack is excellent.
It’s not the loudest bike being emissions compliant in 2024, but still the fundamental sound of an M line 4 when it’s revving its nuts off is always going to be a good thing in my book.
Performance: Peak Power and Fun Factor
One of the side effects as well of that ability to really rev out is the fact that it actually makes a really respectable peak power figure, and actually a little more than pretty much all of the competition around this price point.
So it’s well up over 90 horses. And yeah, you do have to get it singing to be able to access it. Honda CB 650 R
But once this bike’s spinning up, there really is plenty of fun to be had.
Honda CB 650 R Hardware and Chassis
It’s got to be said as well, for what you’re paying, you’re getting really quite decent hardware and chassis componentry on this bike.
You’ve got those Nissan brakes up front, four piston, radially mounted, so plenty up to the task for the sporty naked riding you can do on a bike and then also suspensions from Showa.
You’ve got a non-adjustable fork, but it is a big piston, separate function fork. Feels quite, I would say, supportive and firm in a part of the market where quite often you do get slightly sloppy suspension fairly frequently.
Honda CB 650 R Handling and Ergonomics
Decent on the shock as well. Probably not up to super aggressive riding, but for the all rounder mid naked bike that it is, I think it’s appropriately set up.
And honestly, I’d say the handling is really good. It’s moderately sporty, not too aggressive, but still plenty of fun.
And I guess right where you’d expect this bike to be. Ergonomically as well, I’d say that’s another thing they’ve got right. Honda CB 650 R
The seat height is moderate. Peg’s a little bit sporty, but not super cramped.
And then the bar’s maybe not quite as wide as some of the other nakeds this part of the market.
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But to have your hands a little bit narrower maybe does keep it feeling fairly sporty. And they’re in a really nice spot.
this is a very natural-feeling bike for me. Now, a lot of that stuff, though, we already knew about the CB 650.
the fundamentals are very much the same, and I’d say that is very much a good thing. Honda CB 650 R
But there are a few tweaks for 2024, which I think have helped to just keep it up to date and keep it fresh.
One of them would be the styling package. So they’ve slightly updated some of the bodywork to keep it a little bit sharper. I like the new headlight shape.
There’s a little more teardrop shape, let’s say. You’ve got a good selection of colors as well.
CB 650 R Colors
I like this khaki green, but there’s a red if you want something a little I’d say overall, it’s a really nice looking bike.
I think it’s the level of quality on the finish that’s the most impressive about it.
If you put this side by side with a Z650 from Kawasaki, an MT07 from Yamaha, let’s say even a Trident, actually.
Honda CB 650 R Styling
A Triumph Trident, where typically, Triumph level of finish is very good. This is probably the one.
And considering they’re all around the same price point, that had looked the most impressive, that looks like it’s worth that little bit more.
Improved TFT Display
the other new feature, which is this dash. It’s now got a TFT display which packs a little bit of connectivity and stuff like that.
And although Honda aren’t necessarily the most dramatic and flamboyant when it comes to designing the interfaces on their TFT displays,
it still is a massive step up from the inverted LCD display on the previous generation, which was fine, but it was a little bit difficult to read in bright sunlight.
I think they acknowledge that on the last iteration of it with a little visor over the top to try and give it a bit of shade. Honda CB 650 R
I think some people like hooking their phone up, being able to take calls and stuff like that. Other people probably couldn’t care less.
But what this does give everybody, no matter how you feel about the very techy features, is a much more readable dash that’s got great visibility in all conditions. And it can automatically adjust its brightness.
So it won’t be burning your eyeballs at night when you want it to be dim. But equally, like you can see in direct sun now, it’s still perfectly easy to read.
I think I’ve probably said this before on other Hondas, but my preference is the black background, the dark layout, as opposed to the white, just because it looks a little bit stealthier, a little bit cooler. Honda CB 650 R
And so, yeah, nice to have that customisability, along with a couple of layouts as well.
E-Clutch: A Value-Added Feature
Basically, what this allows you to do is ride it like a twist and go. No clutch, just break, and it operates the clutch on your behalf.
Same for pulling away, a little twist of the throttle. And then also the E-Clutch bundles in quick shifter ability.
So on the up and down shift, you can do it clutchlessly.
Honda CB 650 R Price and Value for Money
And so, yeah, for me, in terms of value for money, this feature is just £100 on top of the standard CB 650 R.
And so I reckon it’s a bit of a no-brainer. it does give this bike a USP versus the competition, which given that we’re in that very competitive price point, a techy feature like this is quite impressive for a relatively modest fee.
Last one on the positives, I’ve got to say, you’ve got to probably include the price in that conversation. Honda CB 650 R
Like I say, N94, some new tech, really good level of finish, really good components, a very pleasant all-around ride.
And so the fact that they can deliver that for a similar price to, if not less than some of the competition, I think is really very good.
Weaknesses: Torque and Weight Considerations
Still, all bikes have their weaknesses.
So is there anything about this bike that I would say isn’t fantastic? Well, I think fundamentally, one of the trade offs of having that Revy inline 4 is the fact that it’s not that immediately torque.
It makes similar peak torque to some of the competition like the MT07 or the Trident.
But if you put those figures side by side, you’ll see that it makes it quite a lot higher in the rev range. Like I said, as you’d expect for an inline 4.
And for some people, that might not necessarily be a bad thing because it is very manageable and smooth, lowering the revs.
But yeah, if you like a big kick when you twist the throttle down at 3, 4, 5,000 RPM, this probably isn’t going to be the bike that’s going to deliver that to you.
Whereas, like I said, the MT07, The Suzuki and also Honda’s own CB 750 Hornet that’s parallel twin-powered will all give you a bit more of that.
Then you’ve also got the weight as well. I mean, Honda were upfront about the fact that with the 750 Hornet, they managed to shed quite a bit of weight versus this bike. Honda CB 650 R
it’s just one of those things on the spec sheet that comes up a little less competitive, let’s say, than some of the other fields.
Out on the road, is it necessarily a heavy cumbersome bike? Not really.
I’d say it’s still pretty good, but it’s another factor that contributes to it being perhaps a little less snappy and lively.
if you’re someone who just likes to look for the lightest bike possible, this isn’t going to be it, especially if you add that clutch, which is another close to three kilograms on top.