2019 Honda CB650R Review - .au

Sell my bike6Kellie Buckley•30 Oct 2019REVIEW2019 Honda CB650R reviewExpert rating88/100Score breakdownA well-timed styling and componentry update throws Honda’s naked middleweight offering right in the mixPros

• Unique engine
• Sweet handling
• Great looks

Cons

• Terrible turning circle
• Dash is dark and hard to read
• Vibey over 6000rpm

Honda’s CB moniker is one of the longest-standing names in motorcycling.

With that kind of longevity comes a special kind of refinement and the 2019 Honda CB650R is nothing if not utterly refined.

And, frankly, given how crowded and capable the middleweight LAMS market is these days, it absolutely needs to be.

This latest iteration is about bringing the middleweight machine’s styling in line with Honda’s Neo Sport Cafe design ethos, which so far includes its CB300R and CB1000R stablemates.

While the 649cc inline four-cylinder engine is available in full-powered versions in other markets, Honda Australia has opted to offer the 2019 CB650R and its fully faired CBR650R sibling in LAMS-approved guises only.

Given how capable and good looking the latest nakedbike is, and how lucrative the middleweight sector currently is, I can’t help but wonder how many sales Honda has and will miss out on by only making the restricted version available on Australian shores.

In the learner-approved category, however, it has created its very own segment by being the only inline four-cylinder powerplant which meets the LAMS criteria and, combined with its on-trend neo-retro styling, should prove really successful.

Get comfortable

Climb aboard the 2019 Honda CB650R and it’s immediately comfortable. The ergonomics are less upright than the styling initially suggests, but they’re instinctive and engaging which is a good thing.

Thumb the starter and the four-cylinder engine whirs into life and settles to a calm and quiet idle, refreshing in a segment otherwise populated by parallel-twin machines.

But it’s not until you engage the cable-actuated clutch (which is said to be 12 percent lighter than the outgoing model) and start feeding the engines revs, slowly at first before increasing the time between gearshifts, that you really get a sense of what’s great and unique about this motorcycle.

Given how prolific inline-four machinery was not that many years ago, it seems strange to refer to the configuration as unique, but in this segment it is.

More than just a modified version of the firm’s now-obsolete CBR600RR engine, it has a longer stroke for more usability lower in the rev range and makes for a really engaging ride.

Aided by the relatively short gearing, it gets off the line easier than an inline four probably should and it sounds great doing it.

Wind the wick up at this point and all of a sudden you’re aware of the refinement I mentioned earlier; the whole package is so well balanced in the bike’s hugely intuitive chassis that the handling makes itself known as positive performance feature, rather than simply being good enough to go unnoticed, which is what most bikes in this price point do.

That could well be the difference between hanging onto a learner-approved bike for the foreseeable future rather than trading it in for an unrestricted machine once your licence allows.

Upgraded components on show

It’s a trait helped, no doubt, by the upside-down 41mm Showa Separate Function Front (SFF) fork employed by the 2019 Honda CB650R, which has replaced the conventional Showa Dual Bending Valve (SDBV) unit on the older model.

It is still a non-adjustable unit but in this application and with its very decent base setting, it’s more than fulfilling its design brief.

The rear monoshock remains largely unchanged from the model previous, and offers 10-stage preload adjustment.

The ABS-equipped brakes have received an update for 2019, too, in the form of four-piston radial-mounted calipers replacing the conventional dual-piston affairs of last year’s F-model.

It is a positive and important update given the sort of metal this bike is mixing it with these days, and the brakes offer ample power and decent feel.

In terms of tech, the CB650R can boast Honda’s Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) – which is a swanky name for a relatively basic traction control system – as well as ABS. The traction control can be switched off, however the ABS can not.

Good indications on safety

There’s LED lighting all around, though the indicators remain illuminated when not in use and only flash when activated, which Honda obviously sees as a safety benefit.

The absence of a ride-by-wire throttle and associated switchable engine mapping helps keep the costs to where they ought to be on a mid-sized learner machine, though features like the new styling, the 180-section rear tyre and the radial calipers will leave many people guessing whether it’s actually a restricted model or not.

The dash is modern and full of information, but is dark and hard to read in nearly all light conditions and, frankly, Honda should know better.

Seat height is unchanged at 810mm but the section where the seat and tank meet has been made narrower to improve accessibility, though at the expense of a slightly reduced fuel capacity. Now 15.4 litres, it is just shy of two litres smaller than the outgoing model, but with a frugal consumption figure of 4.5lt/100km, you’re probably not going to notice or even care.

There’s rarely anything wrong with any model in any of Honda’s line-ups and last year’s CB600F middleweight nakedbike offering was no exception.

However when it’s competing against modern and capable motorcycles like Triumph’s learner-approved Street Triple, Yamaha’s MT-07 variants, even KTM’s 690 Duke, Honda needs to be able to stand out and attract young, image-conscious buyers.

Final thoughts

Perhaps once overlooked as a bland interpretation of an otherwise competent machine, the new CB650R turns that around with a well-timed and well-executed styling update, matched to important but price conscious improvements to its componentry.

At $10,299 plus on-roads, there’s plenty of less expensive options for style-conscious learner riders, but given its level of componentry, its years of refinement and its ability to engage even experienced riders, the CB650R represents excellent value for money.

An added bonus is the fact the engine is going to ensure a new generation of riders will fall in love with high-revving, four-cylinder motorcycles once more.

Specs: 2019 Honda CB650R

ENGINE Type: Inline four-cylinder, DOHC, 16 valves Capacity: 649cc Bore x stroke: 67mm x 46mm Compression ratio: 11.6:1 Engine management: EFI

PERFORMANCE Claimed maximum power: 35kW Claimed maximum torque: Not given

TRANSMISSION Type: Six speed Final drive: Chain Clutch: Wet, multi-plate, slipper-type

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Frame: Steel, diamond type Front suspension: Showa SFF 41mm non-adjustable fork Rear suspension: Monoshock, adjustable preload Front brakes: Twin 310mm discs, four-piston radial calipers, ABS Rear brake: 240mm disc, single-piston caliper, ABS Tyres: Metzeler Roadtec Front: 120/70 ZR 17 Rear: 180/55 ZR 17

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Claimed weight: 202kg (wet, claimed) Seat height: 810mm Wheelbase: 1450mm Fuel capacity: 15.4 litres Measured fuel consumption: 4.5lt/100km

OTHER STUFF Price: $10,299 plus on-road costs Colour: Red or black Test bike supplied by: Honda Australia Warranty: 24 months, unlimited km

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HondaCB650RReviewRoadShare this articleShareWritten byKellie BuckleySee all articlesStay up to dateBecome a bikesales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.Subscribe todayRelated articlesNEWSCB650R and CBR650R price and availabilityFeb 2019 · Bikesales StaffView more articlesBikes for sale2020 Honda CB650R MY19$9,500EGC2019 Honda CB650R$9,999EGC2019 Honda CB650R$10,400EGC2021 Honda CB650R$10,990EGC2020 Honda CB650R MY19$10,000EGC2021 Honda CB650R$10,990EGC2021 Honda CB650R$11,490EGC2021 Honda CB650R$10,490EGC2021 Honda CB650R$9,990EGC2021 Honda CB650R$10,900EGCView all stockDisclaimerPlease see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.Contact

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