1. Home
  2. Track Test
  3. 2021 Honda Cb650r Track Test

2021 Honda CB650R, Track Test

Pushing out 86bhp and 57.5Nm, the 2021 Honda CB650R maintains a perfect equilibrium of performance and usability. It’s friendly enough for someone upgrading from a 300 – 400cc offering and, at the same time, potent enough for hooliganism.

By Ravi Ved

18 Nov, 2021

3 min read

Follow us on

Honda CB650R Track Test1

Most middle-weight motorcycles these days have been pushing the envelope, getting closer and closer to litre-class offerings. Now, I was really looking forward to riding the Honda CB650R, even more than the new Ducati Monster. I believe a 650cc motorcycle is in fact an authentic middle-weight and, therefore, extremely relevant for our market. The CB650R is a textbook example.

Pushing out 86bhp and 57.5Nm, the CB maintains a perfect equilibrium of performance and usability. It’s friendly enough for someone upgrading from a 300 – 400cc offering and, at the same time, potent enough for hooliganism. In fact, it exhibits two different behaviours on the track and the street – it almost feels like the CB650R has a split personality. If you choose to stay in the lower part of the rev range, it almost feels meek and humble like a monk. But when you rev it beyond the 8,000rpm mark and get closer to its peak power output, it turns into a different animal altogether. It is this nature of the bike that makes it friendly for amateur riders and equally engaging for seasoned bikers.

But it isn’t all smooth sailing for the mid-size CB. You do feel some vibrations through the tank and seat at around 6,000rpm – something that is not very Honda-like – and it can be quite the buzzkill.

Another aspect of the CB that really impresses is its handling. The suspension is firm enough to make sure that mid-corner bumps don’t quite unsettle it but, at the same time, is absorbent enough for our road conditions. The wide handlebar offers enough leverage for quick direction changes.

Honda CB650R Speedometer

The CB650R is a very affable and forgiving motorcycle, and therein lies its beauty. Speaking of beauty, just look at it – it’s an absolute stunner! From its Neo-Sports Café stance and the retro-looking round headlight to its beautiful exhaust headers, every aspect of its design is a work of art. And its overall build quality further adds to its desirability quotient.

The only chink in the CB650R’s otherwise shining armour is its price. At ₹8.68 lakh (ex-showroom, Gurugram), it is ridiculously overpriced, especially in comparison to its rivals. And this makes the CB650R a really fancy toy for many – one that you want really bad but can’t have it, for deep down you know that it’s too expensive and out of your reach.

Best of 2021 << BACKNEXT >> Yahama R15M, Track Test

PARAMETERSPOINTSSCORE
QUALITY108.0
COMFORT & PRACTICALITY107.5
REFINEMENT108.0
DESIGN107.0
DRIVETRAIN107.5
RIDE & HANDLING108.5
X-FACTOR 159.0
LAP TIME053.3
VALUE FOR MONEY208.0
TOTAL10066.8

 

Tags:

HondaHonda CB650RTwo-Wheeler Reviews

Related Articles

Honda XL750 Transalp 1750128790611
Honda XL750 Transalp vs Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE Spec Comparison: What's Different?
Auto-x
Honda City Sport Edition Launched: Price, Features, Interior Details and More
Honda City Sport 1750408164518
Honda City Sport Edition Launched at Rs 14.89 Lakh in India; Here's What It Gets
Honda Amaze ZX CVT Vs Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXi AMT India S Most VFM Automatic Compact Sedan AutoX 1750307088281
Honda Amaze ZX CVT vs Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXi+ AMT: India's Most VFM Automatic Compact Sedan | autoX
Honda Super EV Concept 1 1750236716870
Honda Super EV Concept Teased Ahead of Debut at 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Honda XL750 Transalp 1750128790611
2025 Honda XL750 Transalp Launched in India at Rs 11 Lakh

Recent Posts

  • News
  • Reviews
Read More
Quick Links
  • Magazine
  • Subscribe Today
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • autoX Awards
Others
  • Luxury Cars
  • Diesel Cars
  • Electric Cars
  • Sedan Cars
  • Mileage Cars
  • Petrol Cars
  • Fuel Price
Popular Car Brands
  • Maruti Suzuki
  • Hyundai
  • Tata
  • Volkswagen
  • Honda
  • Mahindra
  • Kia
Popular Bike Brands
  • Royal Enfield
  • Honda
  • KTM
  • Bajaj
  • Yamaha
  • TVS
  • Hero
C-103, Okhla Industrial Estate
Phase III, New Delhi - 110 020, India
Phone icon
 +91  114279  5000   
Email icon
 info@autox.com
YouTube IconInstagram IconFacebook IconX (formerly Twitter) Icon
Sign up for our newsletter
© 2006 - 2025 Comnet Publishers Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved