STIRRED UP BY A CAFE MAKEOVER
Fraser rides the Honda CB650R Honda’s CB650F has proved to be a popular and versatile naked middleweight since it received some important tweakage in 2017.
However, it was only a matter of time before the bike was given a Neo Sports Cafe makeover by the Japanese firm, so this CB650R now slots happily into last year’s CB125R, CB300R and CB1000R family.
Changes to the frame, wheels and tank mean the clever folk at Honda’s design HQ have managed to shave 6kg of the weight.
And fuelling and mechanical tweaks, plus a 1,000rpm redline increase by the technical team, have resulted in a 5% boost in maximum power.
The design cues give the bike a pared down minimalist look, which shows off as much of the machinery as possible.
Blacked-out motor parts contrasted with burnished bronze cam and engine covers raise the style stakes.
The 650R appears short, stocky, muscular and compact.
This is achieved by the stubby tail, as well as by housing the ignition in the top end of the tank, allowing the round LED headlight to be tucked in close to the rider.
The stubby end adds to the look, while the four downpipes are reminiscent of the iconic 1970s CB400F – the muchloved ‘400 Four’.
All the lighting is LED and a neat all-new LCD instrument panel includes shift-up and gear indicator.
Once on board, the riding position is a bit more aggressive, with the tapered bars moved slightly forward and down, and the footpegs back and up. The bike is more rigid and lighter up front due to new Showa separate function forks – there’s a spring in one leg and a damping rod in the other – which are adjustable for both preload and rebound damping.
Fire it up and the inline-four motor sounds as sweet as you’d expect. The assist/slipper clutch makes shifting effortless and the engine performs faultlessly as you move up through the gears.
Honda claims there is a “smoother, stronger torque delivery through the midrange” and I can only agree.
Through the bends the 650R is equally seamless – smooth and confidence-inspiring.
Braking has been given a big boost in the form of Nissin four-pot radial calipers and twin 310mm discs, which perform excellently. I loved the 650R. It’s light, compact and powerful, looks stylish and classy. Everything about it just urges you to ride. HONDA CB650R
649cc inline-four 94bhp @ 12,000rpm
47ft lb @ 8,500rpm
Black; red; silver; blue