Honda did quite a good job updating its 2021 CB650R!
The 2021 CB650R keeps its contemporary take on the café racer look with a couple of significant upgrades, including a longer fuel tank, smaller side panels, and rear mudguard. A USB-C port was also added under the seat for the Gen-Z individuals to keep their phone charged at all times to flex their social game.
For enhanced visibility in sunlight, the rider display is negatively backlit, and the handlebar angle has been adjusted by 3 ° to 35 ° overall for better maneuverability at tight turns and slow speeds.
Coming to the engine, the 649cc DOHC 16-valve Inline 4 engine achieved Euro-5 compliance without any loss of power or torque. Such a feat was made possible with changes such as a revamped cam profile, different timing for the intake and exhaust, new crank pulsar, and an ECU tune. Besides, the compression ratio has also been increased to 11.6:1.
With the new improvements, the engine now produces 94 hp @ 12,000 rpm and 63 Nm of torque @ 8,500 rpm. To send this power to the ground, it’s mated to a six-speed transmission along with an assist/slipper clutch to give better control to the rider.
Furthermore, the upcoming CBR650R also comes with a new 41 mm Showa inverted SFF-BP (Separate Function Forks-Big Piston) forks, featuring a pressure separator on one side and a spring mechanism on the other to give it superior damping characteristics.
People who rode the older iterations of the CB650R said the bike was lacking in oomph or character. Honda‘s upcoming model is designed to address such concerns.
Overall, the 2021 CB650R is a pretty enticing offering for both new and experienced riders, and it remains true to the CB4 concept that we liked so much!
