Honda CB650R

Overview

With the CB650R, Honda has managed to hit two birds with one stone – while it is tracing the conventional bracket of a 650cc middleweight category, it has managed to do so with an all-new package, especially in terms of the visual appeal of the motorcycle. To affirm its new identity over its predecessor, Honda has renamed the motorcycle from CB650F to CB650R. Priced at Php 501,000, the Honda CB650R is being offered in a single shade called Candy Chromosphere Red.

Design

Gone is the bulky and Honda CBR 650F sans-fairing design of this 650cc roadster – the CB650R now gets an all-new visual identity of its own. In this process, Honda has blessed the CB650R with a very concept-bike like styling, which makes it look unique when compared to its peers.

The Honda CB650R now gets a circular headlamp which is a full LED unit and comes with integrated with daytime running LEDs as well, akin to what we have already seen on the Ducati Monster series. To make the front fascia look more modern and futuristic looking, the CB650R is the first motorcycle from Honda to get LED turn indicators. At the top of the headlamp sits a small trapezoidal tinted visor, which makes the face look good. However, it is least useful in its job of cutting out windblasts at higher speeds.

Also, the side profile has been completely redesigned with a curvier fuel tank and simpler extensions along with minimalistic design for the side body panels. Even the tailpiece, as well as the LED taillamp,  have gone under the hammer. This, as a result, makes the CB650R look bolder than before, despite being looking less muscular than the previous version.

Another big change on the new CB650R is the smaller but much more modern looking fully digital instrument console. It surely shows all the data as it did before, like speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, odometer, trip meters, and clock, except that they all are now housed in a single screen. A gear indicator is also present on the digital instrument cluster.

Ride & Handling

The new Honda CB650R ditches the rather simpler and cost effective suspension setup of CB650F. Instead, it gets a more sophisticated combination of Showa separate function upside down forks at the front and a monoshock with 10-stage pre-load adjuster along with an aluminium swingarm at the rear. Compared to its fully faired version, the globally available CBR650R, the suspension has been kept on the stiffer side to match its roadster character.

Unlike the CB650F, the new CB650R gets a split seat setup – while it is not as roomy as the single piece of CB650F, it gets the job done quite adequately.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The only aspect that the new CB650R retains from the erstwhile CB650F is the basic engine. It is still the same four stroke liquid cooled inline-four 649cc engine which was offered on the CB650F. This engine, however, comes with a minor bump in performance. While it now develops 95 PS of maximum power – almost 4 PS more than before, the peak torque rating is still 63 Nm. Like before, the engine is mated to a smooth 6-speed gearbox.

Braking & Safety

With dual 320 mm petal discs at the front and a single 240 mm petal disc at the rear, the CB650R has got an excellent halting power. Apart from the compulsory addition of ABS, the CB650R also gets ‘Honda Intelligent Security System’ (H.I.S.S.) - a feature standard on Honda’s flagship superbikes. This system automatically disables the starting of the engine in case a wrong key is inserted in the keyhole.

Verdict

With an all-new neo-retro design along with numerous new world equipment, the CB650R is now a much more futuristic looking and feature packed than the motorcycle replaces – the Honda CB650F. In the process, while the CB650R has become slightly compact, it is now more powerful and agile than ever before.