Honda CBR 650F Test Ride Review

It’s no secret that sale of large capacity motorcycles in India are on full clip. No surprise that manufacturers have started to locally assemble and even looking at manufacturing performance bikes in the country to keep cost low and quench the enthusiast's need for speed. Surprising, Honda, despite being the fastest two-wheeler brand in India (in terms of market share), wasn’t part of this lucrative CKD market yet. Finally, after much lingering Honda finally came in with blazing guns and started to assemble the inline four sports tourer - CBR 650F.

But many hearts were shattered when Honda announced steep Rs 7.3 lakh ex-showroom price of the Honda CBR 650F at the high voltage Revfest. To add to it, on papers the spec figures didn't look too appealing. So the online community vented out their frustration on forums, and even trolled the event. But has Honda really missed the mark with the Honda CBR 650F or we are in for a surprise? We put it to test to get you the answer.

Design & Features: rating_4.0_rating

The Honda CBR 650F is among those motorcycles who's pictures don't do justice. And by this, I mean one has to look the bike in the flesh to appreciate its form and presence. Being a sports tourer, the CBR 650F gets draped with full faired bodywork, much to the liking of most performance bike buyers of India who have a fairing fixation. The headlamp integrated LED pilot lights and the raked large wind screen give the CBR 650F an aggressive face. The bulbous fuel tank, large seats and underbelly exhaust endow it the desirable big bike aura. The HRC inspired tri-colour graphics further enhances its appeal and it did turn many heads wherever we went. The LED tail lamp, chunky swingarm and fat rear tyre add a dose of muscle to the rear section. Overall the Honda CBR 650F is a good looking motorcycle with the exception of the uncannily large sari guard (a government requisite) that sticks out like a sore thumb.

The twin-pod all-digital instrument cluster is unconventional in its form and isn’t easy to read on the go and takes time getting used to. The CBR 650F also features Honda Ignition Security System (H.I.S.S) – an electric anti-theft immobiliser system. Switch gear quality is fantastic with good feel but we found the positioning of the horn a bit weird as it is rather uncannily inward positioned. Overall fit and finish alongwith paint quality is good. Just that there are too many wires and cables visible around the handlebar, and the side panel gaps are inconsistent, which we're hoping Honda will fix before the final Q.C.

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Engine and Performance: rating_4.0_rating

The inline four power plant is the highlights of the Honda CBR 650F. The 649cc, liquid-cooled, motor punches out 87PS at 11,000rpm and 63Nm at 8,000rpm. Talking about performance, acceleration of the bike is brisk as it lunges off the line. As expected, the Honda engine is brilliantly refined and loves to be revved. Moreover, it has a very strong mid-range and top end which is typical of Honda engines. The linear power delivery means that the Honda CBR 650F isn't snappy and doesn’t feel intimidating, which will be aspect appreciated by buyers who are looking at upgrading to a bigger bike like the 650F.

We would have appreciated a louder exhaust note, so prospective buyers better save up for an aftermarket system. The 6-speed gearbox performs perfectly and the clutch though a bit on the heavier side is very progressive in action. The powerplant echoes the touring DNA and the CBR 650F feels better off cruising at speeds between 130-150kmph rather than being pushed to the limit. Like any high displacement bike, the Honda offering also gets heated while crawling in city traffic. But the heat never becomes unbearable like many high revving bikes, as the cooling system does its job well. Being a touring machine, Honda has been generous to give the CBR 650F a 17.3-litre fuel tank capacity and we got an overall mileage of around 17kmpl. This translates to a range of around 300km on a full tank, which is impressive.

Ride, Handling and Braking: rating_4.0_rating

Swing a leg over the bike and one feels immediately at home with the riding dynamics of the Honda CBR 650F. The low seat height means that shorter riders wouldn’t feel out of place. The raised clip-on handle bars and rear-set foot pegs result in a sporty but comfortable riding posture. Another aspect that adds to the comfort factor is the generous saddle with spot-on cushioning and the Honda CBR 650F is extremely pillion friendly too. Being a sports tourer, there are hooks and slots for bungee cords or to mount saddle bag.

Handling dynamics of the bike is impressive. It held its line perfectly as we pushed it through sweeping corners while the Dunlop tyres offer great grip.  At 215kg, the Honda CBR 650F is a heavy machine and effort is required while pulling it out of the parking lot. On the go, it manages to shrink its weight well and one doesn’t find any trouble to manoeuvre the bike in city traffic though it feels a bit front heavy marginally. The suspension setup is on the stiffer side but the bike rolled over broken roads easily. Braking performance of the Honda CBR 650F is hugely impressive with strong bite from the pads and great feedback through the lever. Standard ABS is also a boon, especially for riders who will be trading their smaller bikes for the 650F, as it can help them get out of tricky situations.

Verdict: rating_4.0_rating

The Honda CBR 650F is a much more impressive bike on the road, than what appears on the spec sheet. It has a refined and very forgiving powerplant, extremely comfortable riding dynamics, impressive handling and braking. Furthermore it gets a large and useable fuel tank, ABS, pillion friendly seats and striking styling that hikes its appeal. But at the end of the day one cannot ignore the price tag despite it being a CKD. At Rs 7.3 lakh (ex-showroom) there is more powerful options in the form of the Kawasaki Z800 or cheaper alternatives like the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and Benelli TNT 600GT. But if price isn’t a criterion and you’re in the hunt for a middleweight performance bike, well you can’t go wrong with the Honda CBR 650F.