HONDA CB650R,
Liked the sound of the 650, but fancy something a little more retro? Well, step right up, for if the Honda CBR650R is a bit too edgy, they’ve also released a neo-hipster coffee drinking edition as well… or something like that. And who are we to judge? It actually looks pretty smart, slotting nicely into a little middleweight naked gap in Honda’s range. It shares near enough all of the same components as its faired sibling, with the upgraded engine internals offering the same 93 horsepower, improved Showa suspension, the very same dash, TCS and a similar crash diet, meaning the CB now comes in at 202kg ready to rock and roll. Performance-wise, the only real difference is the fact that it doesn’t quite have the same intakes, meaning that it won’t be able to utilise the ram air effect as much as its faired brother.
Don’t fret though, as the CB does have some of its own individuality. The riding position has been altered, thanks to a new set of tapered handlebars, a reshaped seat and a new set of pegs which, when combined, lends to a more aggressive stance, although Honda have been kind as these at height is still nice and low at 810mm for those of us with dwarf-like legs. Oh, and for the CB, Honda have decided to ditch the Dunlops in favour of Metzeler RoadTec 01s for good measure. There are a lot of naked middleweights out there for a whole range of prices, but upon first inspection, the CB 650 R instantly oozed a certain level of class, thanks to its smooth lines and surprisingly high-grade finish.
DIFFERENT WEAPON
Although it’s essentially the CBR650R's twin with a bit of plastic surgery, I was surprised when I jumped on board to feel like I had a different machine between my legs. Yes, all the major components are the same, but without the front cowling, given a set of bigger bars and such an altered riding position, it literally felt like a different weapon altogether. In fact, it felt properly plush. Cruising through a little town, the CB felt incredibly polite and easy, and it was more than happy to sit at slow speeds without a complaint, and even over dodgy patches of roads, potholes and speed bumps, the suspension was lavish enough to not make me feel like I’d had a prostate examination.
Yet even so, it meant business. Before long, we were climbing through the quiet Spanish mountains and piling the pressure on, and not once did the CB falter. Thanks to the higher bars, the level of agility is absolutely astonishing, and even though it’s comfy, by using the samespecbrak es, the CB would stop on a sixpence without any qualms whatsoever. The most impressive thing though, had to be the suspension and chassis combo. The 650 effortlessly tackles apexes like an absolute pro without any diving, skipping or even a single complaint – unlike a lot of naked machines on the market. To be honest, if I had any qualms it would be that it’s actually too precise and behaved. I’m not mentioning any names (cough, MT-07), but for me, part of having a naked is doing big wheelies and generally just being a bit silly. Ggetting the CB to misbehave was a real struggle. It’s not even really a downside, but is a preference, in all honesty.
That’s not to say that the CB is boring though. Far from it, in fact, in terms of performance. Okay, it might not make as much power at the very top end compared to its faired sibling thanks to the smaller intakes, but it’s definitely not a noticeable difference. Not only did the CB have the same gorgeous presence of power the whole way through the rev range, but it genuinely felt every bit as quick in a straight line as the CBR with that peachy motor making all four cylinders sing like an old school 600. Yeah, it’s not a crazed wheelie-addicted monster, but for a poised quality and easy-to-nail middleweight naked, it’s pretty damn fine.
The Neo-sporty café styling may camouflage the sporty DNA at first glance, but with a crack of the throttle it will still come out to play at every opportunity. The CB650R is leaps and bounds above the F it replaces, being smaller, slimmer, mightier and genuinely better in every way. Okay, it’s got a lot of competition in the middleweight market, but at least it’s a proper contender.