Buyers Guide: 2022 Honda CB650R
The CB650R slides in between the CB300R and CB1000R Black Edition in Honda’s Neo-Sports Café lineup.
Ups
Lively and engaging inline-four, a configuration unique in this class
Crisp throttle response
Surprisingly accessible seat height
Excellent braking
High level of quality
Sporty front suspension tracks well in turns
Modern LED lighting throughout gives the CB its pristine look.
Downs
Although it has a very affordable price tag, the higher quality puts it's cost a bit higher than some of its competitors.
Quality
Like the CB1000R, the middleweight CB has fine fit and finish. Minimalist details match the bike’s clean look, making for a simple yet effective design.
Verdict
Riders interested in a top-quality middleweight naked powered by an entertaining and high-revving inline-four will find the Honda CB650R is the only bike in the 650cc range that hits all those marks. All the other bikes in the category are of the two- and three-cylinder variety. However, the CB650R’s MSRP tops the list compared to the competition.
The 649cc engine loves to rev and rev high.
Overview
Inline four-cylinder engines have been a staple of Honda’s lineup since the 750 Four debuted in 1969. Fast-forward 50 years to 2019, when Honda’s CBR650F and CB650F middleweights were heavily revised and given the R suffix to better match the bike’s sporty performance. The outgoing streetfighter-styled CB650F was replaced with a freshly designed naked middleweight that now represents what Honda calls its Neo-Sports Café segment. This new styling, reminiscent of the late ‘90s/early ‘00s Hornet/Honda 599, is seen in today’s CB650R, modernized with blacked-out paint and burnished bronze detailing.
A single finger on the brake lever is practically all you need to bring the CB to a halt.
Today, the CB continues to bring the classic high-revving spirit of its flamboyant predecessors with its liquid-cooled 649cc mill. The CB650R claims a unique spot in today’s current middleweight class as being one of the only 650cc bikes equipped with an inline-four engine, unless your definition of “middleweight” includes the GSX-S750 or Z900.
The midsize CB makes for an appropriate step up from beginner bikes or a reintroduction to riding. Its engine, comfortable ergos, solid braking performance, and top quality receive top grades that, for those interested, may outweigh the somewhat unbalanced suspension and high price.
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