Last hit with a major upgrade in 2019 when the factory dropped the F in favor of a second R , the CBR650R is once again buffed up for the 2021 model-year. New suspension components and tuned chassis improve the overall handling characteristics while the engine has its emissions game raised to make it cleaner than ever so it qualifies for EURO5 certification. Honda completes the package with new bodywork that refreshes the look right along with the underpinnings.

Honda CBR650R Design

Honda initially designed the CBR650R to act as a more affordable platform that brings a generous measure of racebike-like handling and performance to the masses, without getting into the expensive race-centric equipment that really drives the price up.

The factory spruced up the look with new side panels and a new rear mudguard, but much of the rest stays the same with a fully-faired front that opens up below the tank just enough to give us a view of the transverse-mount four-banger engine and tranny. A cut-down front fender generates minimal drag and protects the inverted front fork tube with foil-shaped uprights that force the local slipstream outboard and into low-drag laminar flow with the cowling.

Redesigned headlight reflectors and dual LED headlights split the night with standoff-style mirrors and a small bubblescreen to part the wind, though you'll have to put your chin on the tank to find the pocket. Behind the glass, the color LCD display handles all of the instrumentation, plus the electronics, and comes in a higher-visibility configuration for rider convenience.

Jockey footpegs join with clip-on handlebars and a scoop-type seat to enable both an aggressive riding posture and a more relaxed vertical position, just the thing for commuters who like to let it all hang out once in a while.

There's a moderate rise to the pillion pad to loft your passenger with fold-up footpegs to wrap up the pillion gear. A swingarm-mount hugger and traditional mudguard assembly provides the rear wheel fling containment with the license plate serving to complete the coverage along with rear blinkers to finish the gear in the rear.

Honda CBR650R Chassis

Steel was the material of choice for the diamond-type frame on the CBR650R. It relies on elliptical members tuned to be stiffer around the steering head with some flexion built into the spars for cornering performance and feel.

At the front end we find one of the major MY21 updates in the forks. This time around the engineers went with Showa's 41 mm Separate Function – Big Piston (SSF-BP) usd forks to float the front end. These stems split the job of damping and spring support between the forks, to the benefit of both, with superior performance and lighter weight than the outgoing equipment. But, unfortunately for the masses, the front end is still non-adjustable so there's definitely room for improvement.

A single-tube monoshock supports the rear end and tames the asymmetrical, yoke-style swingarm and comes with a 7-position adjuster for the obligatory spring-preload tweak, but that's it. Suspension stroke is generous for road use with 4.3 inches ahead of 5.0 inches of travel out back. Rake and trail measure in at 25.3-degrees and 4-inches long respectively, over a 57-inch wheelbase, to put it deep in agile handling territory.

Four-bore calipers bite dual 320 mm discs to supply most of the braking power, while out back, a single-cylinder anchor and 240 mm disc take care of business. ABS protection comes with the stock equipment package to give you the confidence to go ahead and look for the edge of the performance envelope. Cast wheels round out the rolling chassis with a 120/70-17 ahead of a 180/55-17 to make the connection to the concrete.

Honda CBR650R Drivetrain

Honda managed to improve emissions on its liquid-cooled 649 cc inline-four in the CBR650R -- up to EURO5 spec -- with no concurrent loss in overall power. In fact, power output saw a five-percent boost above the 10,000 rpm mark and a redline that increases the usable rev range by a full thousand turns. So the 94 ponies develop at 12,000 rpm with 47 pound-feet of torque that come on at 8,500 rpm. Bore and stroke mic out at 67 mm and 46 mm respectively, to bump up the compression ratio to a medium-hot 11.6-to-1 and into premium fuel rating territory.

Measures to minimize friction through the use of asymmetrical piston skirts and striations help the pistons carry more oil along on the upstrokes for wear reduction and a long service life. Dual over-head cams time the 16-valve head with a Vanadium-treated chain that delivers a long life of its own and prevents undue wear of the drive gears.

Power flows through a slipper clutch that adds a layer of protection for the rear contact patch and lightens the clutch pull, on to the stacked six-speed transmixxer and chain-type final drive with an overall drive ratio that turns in a top speed of 150 mph (240 km/h). Adding to the stock safety package is the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) feature that operates just like traction control, just with a proprietary name, and can be disabled entirely if you prefer.

Dual intake ducts replace the single-duct design to raise intake pressure and maximize volumetric efficiency for this normally-aspirated engine. I would lament the lack of a ram-scoop, but they really don't do much till you get up to around 100 mph, thus are just a conversation piece for a non-racing model. Still, there's room for improvement here, too, it seems.

Honda CBR650R Price

Here we see the trade off for the missing wish-list details. The factory managed to stay below the $10k mark with a $9,799 sticker on the '22 model. Unfortunately, the Matte Black Metallic from last year remains the sole color choice, which is a snoozefest if you aren't into near-full blackout.

Competitors

Competition for the CBR650R wasn't hard to find, and I didn't have to go very far to find it either. Domestic foe Yamaha gives the Red Riders a run for their money with its YZF-R7 model that serves as Yammie's mid-range supersport.

Yamaha YZF-R7

Built with the possibility of track time in mind, the “R7” presents a race-tastic mien to the world with lots of R-series yummygoodness to be had. The R7 runs on somewhat simpler suspension up front, but out back, riders can tune both the preload and the rebound for a leg up in the shock department.

Yamaha falls behind in the electronics. Sure, it's got ABS and a slipper clutch, and an optional quick-shift feature, but no traction control feature to cede the advantage in overall safety to the Honda.

Yamaha doubles the color choice to either black on black or blue on black, which is better than nothing I suppose. Both color packages will set you back $8,999, which leaves Yamaha looking pretty good at the checkout, and I'd say it really comes down to whether you want the traction control or not.

Read our full review of the Yamaha YZF-R7.

He Said

“The CBR650R fills an important niche as a good mid-size bike that can act as a stepping stone or a final destination a final destination}}. I'm a tad disappointed that the front forks are non-adjustable, but at least they are the fancy Showa tubes, and they do provide a superior ride, even if they have fixed values. Let's see if the factory hits any of the wish items on its next upgrade.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “The CBR650R has good torque in the low-to-mid range and when you 'run out of torque' there's plenty of horsepower to carry you the rest of the way. It has a very racebike-like attitude without forcing you into the superman posture. So maybe let's call it racebike lite where you have the option of sitting up without having to hang on your wrists. It's more comfortable than you'd expect on a straight up sportbike, and it really likes the curves. As an entry-level ride, the bike is forgiving and will take care of you as you figure things out. Then as your skill level comes up, the bike is ready for you to drag the pegs. Price-wise, it's on the high side of the entry-level scale, but honestly this bike grows with you and could be everything you want in a bike as your skill level matures.”

Honda CBR650R Specifications

Further Reading

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