From the Webike Community's My Bike, the "Owner Review Summary" introduces various motorcycles based on the voices of owners who actually ride or have ridden them. This time, here's what the owners have to say about Honda「CBR650R」.
To be honest, Honda "CBR650R" is this kind of bike!
To begin with, this CBR650R was a different model with a different name when it was introduced in 2014. It was called CBR650F. The CBR650F was branded "CBR" as it is today but with an "F" instead of an "R". The CBR650F was developed with a focus on ease of riding, with a stable steering feel at low speeds, easy U-turns, and ample leg room.
It bears the name CBR, which represents Honda's sports bike, and it is equipped with Honda's signature straight-4 engine, but instead of pursuing crunchy racing specs, the CBR650F was designed to have a character that is easy to ride for everyone.
But! With the 2019 model change, the name was changed to CBR650R. With the change of the last letter to "R," the bike's character has been shaped up and shifted to a more sport-oriented character. What's interesting is that the direction of the new model is not towards crunchy racing specs, but rather towards the "moderate sportiness" that was one of the strengths of the base model CBR650F.
In fact, when driven, it stands out for its comfortable ride quality that can only be achieved with a steel frame, and the easy-to-manage straight-4 engine with a moderate blow-off feel.
Although this is not a machine that one would choose for racing to cut down time, the sporty styling that is unashamed of the CBR series has been shifted to a character that can be enjoyed on circuits as well.
Circuit riders are not the only riders who load their racers into transporters and take racing seriously. There are many riders who ride on the circuit only a few times a year, and usually ride the same bike for touring or city riding, and the majority of them are probably fun riders.
If such a rider buys a CBR "RR", whether it is a 600 or 1000, he will have a hard time touring and riding around town, which is the majority of his use.
The CBR650R, which is also designed for touring and city use, maybe just the right companion for such occasional circuit riders.
How do Webike users feel about the CBR650R?
CBR650R
Average price of the new model: approx. 7722 USD
Used model price: approx. 6951USD
Number of reviews: 33
Data as of June 16, 2023
Average owner satisfaction rating is 3.81 out of 5 (321 people rated)
It should be noted that the driving and looks are highly rated with a score of 4.5 or higher.
Despite its sporty looks, its torque characteristics were cited as a strong point, making it easy to handle even for large-size beginners.
Also, with the exception of its load-carrying capacity, it scored over 3 points and seems to be well-liked as an all-rounder that can be enjoyed from city driving to long-distance touring.
CBR650R, Quick Summary
Advantage
- Acceleration is mild and safe
- I like the face.
- Cornering is so interesting that even I, who am not very good at it, think I am getting good at it.
- Regular gasoline is the best!
Disadvantage
- Vibration of the steering wheel is exasperating.
- Meter is generally small
- I would like to have more tank capacity.
- The handlebar angle is small, so I will have a hard time getting used to it.
CBR650R Owner's Voice
Here are some of the most impressive voices among the many reviews.
Taku P
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | Since my ZZR was scrapped due to an accident, I was looking for a new car, but the used cars were too expensive and the difference was too small to buy a new one. I was worried about R7 but decided to go with CBR as the position was the most important matter for Arafis. |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | Good or bad, he is all things to all people. At 171cm tall with a 75cm inseam and 3cm soles, he has a foot that goes all the way down to his heels. The motorcycle has 4 cylinders and 4 exhaust pipes. And the exhaust sound is loud even though it's OEM. It motivates me! The clutch is so light. As expected of an assisted slipper! Fast and lightweight. Easy to handle, compared to ZZR. Good visibility in the mirrors. Fuel is regular fuel. Good-looking appearance. |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | Too all-mighty and uninteresting. It has little pitching and looks more like a car than a motorcycle. The engine is like a motor. I still like Han Kawasaki's engine. It is hard to get into 1st and 2nd gear. It is easy to go into neutral. The indicator switch is hard to use. The headlight is a little too far away. The headlights are a little too far away and I can't see in front of me. The meter display is too small to read except for the speedometer. Tachometer and water temperature gauge should be displayed on a bar. Fuel consumption is not that good. The gas tank is too small. 17 to 19 liters is needed. I wish the front and rear suspension was fully adjustable. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | I don't think you will regret it because it is versatile. It may not be enough for those who want stimulation. But it is safer to leave it to the machine and not be overconfident in your skills. It's cheaper because you don't have to tinker with it so much. It's been a long time since it was introduced, and it's a reliable Honda, so there's no need to worry about breakdowns. |
Sunatchi-chan neru
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | Purchased because I got off the Daytona 675 and lost my stimulus. Compare with Daytona 675 |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | 1,100,000 to buy! Good looks. The front-leaning posture is not so hard because it is a tourer type instead of SS. The clutch is soft and does not tire. The sound of the 4-cylinder engine is unmistakable, and the exhaust system is quite noisy even if it is OEM. I like the shape of the exhaust system. |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | Fuel economy is not as good as I expected, almost the same as the Daytona 675. It looks better from the catalog value. I'm concerned about the strong vibration of the engine from about 5,6000 rpm. (Is this engine ok? I think) It doesn't accelerate even if I turn it as much as I thought it would. Acceleration is bad, even at low speeds, it is sluggish and accelerates after a one-tempo delay. The response of the accelerator pedal is poor. When it is out of gear, the gear that is in what speed becomes "-". It is hard to get into 2nd gear, even when using the quick shifter (is this just my bike?). The construction of the bike is cheap at the price of 1,100,000 yen. The tank capacity is small for a tourer-type bike. There is no tail tidy kit for the 2021 model, and the only choice is Daytona. As for the rear carrier, is there any for the 2021 model? |
| Advice for prospective buyers | It's good for those who can get it for 1.1 million, so it's cheap, cool, and can get a 4-cylinder. The CBR600RR is 500,000 more expensive at 1.6 million. It is good for the first time to own a big replica. But if you compare it with Daytona 675, 6R, R6, and 600RR of the same displacement, the power and response are not stimulating enough and you will get bored soon. Compared to the Ninja 650 and R7, there is a difference between 2-cylinder and 4-cylinder bikes, so if you like the sound of 4-cylinder bikes, you will like it. I think it is better to stop with liter bikes. |
Ta pu~yuru
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | Replaced a Ninja 650. The reason why I bought it is because it has 4 cylinders. I was looking for a middle-class bike for commuting and touring. |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | Sound too good. Not too sharp looking. Best regular fuel. I like Honda motorcycles. The clutch is light, so my left-hand doesn't get tired. It looks like a racy motorcycle, but it is not a supersport car, so acceleration is mild and very safe. It weighs over 200 kg, but it feels light when riding. It is very easy to turn. |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | Easy to get winded. Vibration near the hips is bothersome at over 6000 rpm. For SS riders, it is a very comfortable position, but for those who are used to riding with bar hangers, etc., it may cause pain in the hips and back after riding for a long time (depends on the rider, maybe?). If you are a first-time Sepahan rider, you may have a hard time in small turns, such as U-turns, etc. When waiting at traffic lights, the left foot hits the step and it bothers me (it didn't bother me on Ninja 650, Suffolk, NC750, and Ninja 1000). It is too far away from the half-crab. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | When I rode home after delivery, the semi-crab felt far away, so I immediately replaced it with one that allows lever position adjustment. If you are worried about it, you must replace it. If you use Acry Coating, it is very easy to wash the motorcycle. I changed the oil to dealer-recommended oil (Repsol Moto Synthetic) at the first inspection and it became much quieter when idling. If you are worried about it, you may change to a different oil. |
Check out the CBR650R's competitors
The CBR650R is a machine that meets such a wish list! The CBR650R is the answer to this kind of wishful thinking, and in fact, more and more machines are being built based on this kind of concept.
Although the engine type is not an inline 4-cylinder, Yamaha's YZF-R7 and Aprilia's RS660 have similar displacement and a maximum output of around 100ps, making them easy to handle and perfect as entry-level models for circuit riding.
Now, if you are interested in the reviews of the rivals, check here!
*Average owner satisfaction and number of reviews are as of June 16, 2023.
Yamaha YZF-R7
Average Owner Satisfaction: 3.69 (147 people rated)
Average price of a new model: (approx.) 7489 USD
Average used model price: (approx.) 9345 USD
Number of reviews: 7
APRILIA RS660
Average Owner Satisfaction: 3.82 (50 people rated)
Average price of a new model: (approx.) 10800 USD
Average used model price: (approx.) 8982 USD
Number of reviews: 8
