HONDA CBR650R (2019 - On) Review - MCN

Honda’s CBR650R is the go-to middleweight sportsbike for the real world. Originally priced at £7949 when it arrived in 2019, it handles sweetly, looks just like a Honda Fireblade and recording a true top speed of 138mph on MCN’s test track it’s just 1mph slower than an Aprilia RS660.

It’s considerably roomier and more comfortable than a race rep but could take a trackday in its stride on sticky rubber. Think of it as the spiritual successor to the much underrated and missed 2001/2 CBR600FS Sport.

• Related: During 2019 we ran a Honda CBR650R on the MCN long-term test fleet

It replaced the more sports touring-focussed Honda CBR650F in 2019, a bike popular in its own right with Honda selling 602 of them in the UK in 2018 - more than the Fireblade that year.

Updated 2021 Honda CBR650R review

First published 30 April, 2021 by Dan Sutherland

Priced at a smidge under £7950 and out-gunning the parallel-twin Kawasaki Ninja 650, the Honda CBR650R became the second best-selling sportsbike in Europe in its debut year.

Clearly onto a winning formula, the second-generation version is a classic case of 'don’t fix what ain’t broke', with the key changes including uprated Showa Separate Function Big Piston forks, a clearer dash and Euro5-compliance. It’s now yours for a base price of £8049.

⏱️ Join @DanielJS46 for #60secondswith the 2021 Honda CBR650R. pic.twitter.com/CGq1LBRWjW

— Motor Cycle News (@MCNnews) April 28, 2021

As a result of these minor alterations, the updated CBR continues to be the same practical, engaging middleweight soft sportsbike we’ve come to know, capable of thrilling on the road alongside tackling daily drudgery. The chunkier front end is more composed, and the refined engine remains unintimidating – if slightly lacking in wow-factor on a back lane tear-up.

The new LCD dash is an improvement, however a TFT unit would be nice and a quickshifter is only available as an optional extra. The seat is uncomfortable after about an hour, too. If you’ve already got the old one, then the updates here do not justify a need to upgrade. For everyone else though, it’s a novice-friendly superbike lookalike that’s practical for the daily commute and poised enough for weekend fun.

2024 Honda CBR650R E-clutch review

Published 02 April 2024 by Carl Stevens

For the 2024 model, the base of the CBR650R remains largely unchanged, with only a few light changes to the 649cc inline-four motor, Showa suspension and Dunlop tyres. However, the new CBR looks has been given a facelift, which includes a new fairing, headlight, seat unit and rear tail unit, which vastly improves its stature and appearance in the flesh.

The ’24 model also receives a new five-inch, full colour TFT dash which is a big improvement on the outdated LCD dash, and it also comes equipped with the ability to connect your phone, via Honda’s ‘RoadSync’ app. The switchgear has been updated too and is effective in its application, although the indicators are a bit of stretch for those with smaller hands and are placed a bit awkwardly.

However, the real news comes in the form of Honda’s new E-Clutch which is an optional extra for the first time. The system, working in unison with the ECU completely eradicates the use of the clutch, allowing for a worry-free ride when coming to a halt, pulling away or changing gear. It’s a fairly slick operation that is reasonably smooth in its application, only let down by the abrupt throttle response in first gear on the initial pick-up – however, it’s still an impressive effort for their first attempt. Don’t worry either, as the E-Clutch doesn’t take away any of the joys of riding thanks to the ability to revert back to manual at any point, and can be completely switched off as well.

With the ability to use the clutch as you would on a conventional machine with just a grab (there’s no setting change necessary) it’s an impressive addition to the CBR650R, especially as it adds just a couple of kgs in weight compared to the standard machine. But the best part is its cost, adding just £100 to the asking price of a base model CBR650R. To put that into perspective, an aftermarket quickshifter will set you back at least double that for most models, and the E-Clutch is a better, more complete version with its additional functions, for a fraction of the cost.

Additional words by Carl Stevens, Ben Clarke and Dan Sutherland