CHARLIE HONDA CBR650R
THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… Frustrated.
There is always one month in the year where it heats up, as the blaring sun warms the Tarmac of empty roads, providing you with the ideal conditions to get out on your bike and munch 100s of blissful care-free miles. Then family holidays happen, work turns a screw or two and all of a sudden the summer is at an end and you have hardly been out at all.
Thus this month I have had more time standing next to the CBR650R with either an Allen key or cleaning brush in my hand as opposed to preparing to cock my leg over the old girl and ride. I guess it’s one of those things, but I have plans in place to make next month’s column far more interesting, with I think you will be pleased to know.
I haven’t been completely dormant, though. A visit to R&G completed the aesthetic changes with the inclusion of one of their tail tidies. Honda had done a good job with the OE tail and although it was more aesthetically pleasing than most, in the end we know these things just have to go and although the R&G Tail still has a bit of length to allow the plate clearance from the rear tyre, it’s a massive improvement.
In addition I fitted a new screen from Harwood Performance. Again another go-to retailer for me that have a massive range of MRA screens to fit almost any bike. The double-bubble offering for the CBR adds a couple of things for me. The light smoked sports sleek design aids the bike’s aesthetics, but more importantly an additional 35mm in screen height is set to make it
more comfortable on the ride.
I am really happy with this screen. Not only does the extra height give the bike a far more sporty – TT Race Bike – type feel, but makes the ride far more comfortable. Be that ambling along country roads or in a full-tuck blast with a careful eye out for the law in hedgerows and sidings.
In last month’s column I discussed being out with Ron’s School on their 650Rs, and have also been banging on about replacing the new tyres for some time now. Well, having tried the Roadsmart 3s around Donington Park, I thought it would make sense to live with them on the roads, thus a set is making its way to JHS Racing for fitting next week. The OE fitment do an adequate job for normal riding – indeed the slating they have received by my colleagues in the media I found a little harsh, but then I don’t ride like they do and if I want to try to, it’s best having proven rubber on board.
Whilst at JHS I also have a bit more work to do for next month’s column. Jumping on my testimony that at times at Donington I could have done with a bit more power, our friends at Performance Parts forwarded a full Akrapovic Titanium Race System for me to try. I hadn’t been planning to make such a significant upgrade to a bike that has been designed as much for touring miles as sporty ventures. But given the opportunity, well hell, why not – back to back Dyno runs will follow and a very real critique of what difference a system that costs about 12% of the RRP of the bike, actually makes.
I have to admit to being extremely excited by the prospect, and we are Fast Bikes, after all. Maybe after these upgrades I will have more balls to down my paint brushes and enjoy the last of the summer sun.