Honda CB650R, CBR650R launched in India, priced from Rs 8.67 lakh

Honda has launched the much awaited CB650R naked bike and the updated CBR650R in India. As has become the norm with Honda’s large-capacity products, the pricing is quite high. The CB650R has been priced at Rs 8.67 lakh, while the faired CBR650R is now priced at Rs 8.88 lakh (both ex-showroom, Haryana). For reference, the CBR650R’s price has risen over its 2019 predecessor by a full Rs 1.18 lakh.

• Both bikes share the same four-cylinder engine

• Power and torque figures are slightly lower than the 2019 model

• Both get a new Showa front fork

2021 Honda CBR650R: what’s new?

For the additional price, the CBR650R gets small revisions to its fairing design, as well as a brighter, more easily readable LCD display – one that is quite similar to what’s in the newly launched Honda CB500X.  The biggest update comes in the move from a Showa dual-bending-valve suspension fork to a Showa Separate Function Big Piston Fork. 

Internationally, the CBR650R was updated to Euro-5 norms in 2021 without lowering the 94hp/64Nm produced by its 648cc, four-cylinder liquid cooled engine. However, the 2019 model was detuned to 88hp and 60Nm for our market, and now the number has slipped further. The 2021 India-spec CBR650R now produces 84hp and 57.5Nm, which is 10hp and 6.5Nm less than the international model. Another difference is that the 2021 CBR650R has gained one kilo of kerb weight, taking the total to 211kg.

Honda CB650R in India

The naked CB650R has entered our market for the first time and this bike brings in gorgeous neo-retro styling that is bound to build a fan following. The naked bike weighs 206kg and has a little more ground clearance (148mm vs 132mm), but beyond that, most of the technical details are similar on both bikes. That includes the engine’s state of tune and the radially mounted front brake calipers biting on twin-310mm discs.

Features available on both bikes include a traction control, a slip/assist clutch, LED lighting all around and dual-channel ABS.  

The CBR650R has no direct rivals in India, but the naked CB650R will go up against the Triumph Trident 660, which is due to be launched on April 6. However, at these prices, the two Hondas will also go up against the likes of the more powerful and better equipped Kawasaki Z900 (Rs 8.19 lakh, ex-showroom, India) and the  Triumph Street Triple R (Rs 8.84 lakh, ex-showroom, India).