TEN MINUTES WITH… NORIYOSHI TSUTSUI, HONDA LARGE PROJECT LEADER

FB: What was the concept behind creating the

CBR650R, and is it a worthy machine to almost replace the CBR600RR?

NT: The concept was to bring the bike new specs, a sharper look and a sportier ride, which is based on getting even more out of the classic high-revving four cylinder engine, which we have 50 years of experience with. There are not many 4 cylinder middleweights around now, and I think it’s the purest, most ‘classic’ kind of engine performance for two wheels. It’s not designed to be a like-for-like replacement for the CBR600RR, but the change from F to R certainly brings the bike much more in that direction.

FB: Did you do market research, and if so, was the response to go sportier? NT: If you rely too much on market research you can fall behind. So often we go ahead with projects based on our own understanding as riders, and overall trends in society. We all know that the average age of riders is getting higher, but I was still a little surprised to see the average age of riders being quite young for both the CBR650F, and in particular the CB650F naked. That drove the direction.

FB: You say that this machine is aimed at the younger demographic. What was the most important aspect of the machine in that case to improve?

NT: It’s important to improve the whole package - upgrade the specs and add new features, but the engine upgrade and design were most important. The engine spins up more quickly, revs higher, sounds better and gives more power now, and we’ve really worked to get the styling spot on. Good looks count for a lot, and if a bike doesn’t look the part and attract people at first glance, all the other benefits can easily be overlooked. FB: The styling is incredibly close to the Fireblade. Did you use any other aspects of your flagship sportsbike for inspiration? NT: In terms of the overall concept, the Fireblade set the direction way back in 1992 with a new focus on power-to-weight ratio. Although it’s not an ‘RR’ designation, the CBR650R shares that philosophy of aiming for the perfect balance of horsepower and kilograms for the type of rider we have in mind.

FB: With the raft of small improvements, you’ve found a fair amount of power. How much more could you get out of the same engine?

NT: We could get more from the engine without changing the architecture, but it would involve more expensive materials for things like the cylinder sleeves, which obviously impacts the price for customers.

FB:Are there any plans for a slightly higher capacity model (i.e., 800cc).

NT: Sounds a nice idea, but no plans at the moment!