Naked ambition
New bodywork LED lights 4bhp more New forks
HONDA’S CB650F CARRIES on a long tradition of sporty naked road bikes which, if you squint hard enough, stretches all the way back to the iconic 1969 CB750 that inspires the more retro CB1100S (p42). Even though the sweep of its exhaust header pipes echoes the Seventies CB400:4, this lightweight 650 is a much more contemporary beast, its minimalist, angular bodywork reshaped and fitted with the latest in LED lighting for 2017.
It’s a compact machine, the saddle narrow enough to make it feel lower than its 810mm height. Even so, it’s roomy and comfortable for a big rider like me. Its new, flatter one-piece handlebar is rubber mounted and there’s a good steering lock. Its 208kg is carried reasonably low and, with a decent rear brake and beautifully smooth throttle, picking a path through the early morning Barcelona traffic is a doddle.
Getting clear of the city involves a short dose of motorway. No hint now of the mild machine that had tiptoed between queuing cars – with an open road and the throttle pinned, the CB is as quick as it is smooth, especially when the revs are on the home straight of the LCD dash’s tacho. The 649cc inline four makes a claimed 90bhp at
11,000rpm (just 500rpm short of the redline). That’s 4bhp more than last year’s model, despite this bike now meeting the Euro 4 standard. It’s happy cruising at 80mph, comfortably hitting three-figure speeds when wound on a bit. The catch is that, with such an exposed riding position, there’s a bit of a battering from the wind to overcome, so it’s a relief to get off the motorway and head into the hills.
This is where the CB really comes into its own, mostly thanks to its accurate, agile chassis. The shock has adjustable preload, and as a heavy rider I find adjusting this makes a huge difference. The new 41mm
“The CB feels built to last, not built down to a price”
forks are non-adjustable, but feature a ‘Dual Bending Valve’ – basically a new combined damping regulator – that does a good job of giving a plush, controlled ride and plenty of feedback. Working the slick gearbox to keep the engine spinning in the upper third of the rev range has the 650F dancing down twisty Spanish roads with a real sense of urgency.
So the updated CB650F is easy to ride, is fast without being intimidating, great fun on twisty roads, good in the city and can hold its own on major roads. It’s also nicely detailed, well finished and feels built to last, not built down to a price. It needs to – at £6599 it’s one of the more expensive middleweight nakeds – but it does feel like a lot of bike for the money.