Honda’s most recent big bike for the country has begun reaching dealerships. Launched just a couple of weeks ago, the Honda CBR650R is priced at Rs 7.70 lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India). The 650R is a middleweight, fully-faired motorcycle that makes its way to India as a replacement for the recently discontinued CBR650F. Just like the brand’s other big bikes, the 650R will also be sold only at Honda’s Wing World dealers, and at the recently opened BigWing dealership in Gurugram.
The Honda CBR650R is available in two colours – Grand Prix Red and Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic. Dealers we spoke to have informed us that at this point, booking the bike in red will have you waiting until September to lay your hands on your motorcycle, while the bike in black colour can be yours by the end of the month.
Powering the Honda CBR650R is a 649cc, in-line, four-cylinder engine, which has been detuned to better suit our riding conditions. The India-spec 650R produces 88.4hp at 11,500 rpm and 60.1Nm of torque at 8,000rpm. Meanwhile, the international-spec engine produces 95hp at 12,000rpm and 64Nm of torque at 8,500rpm. The CBR650R also features a slipper clutch and Honda’s version of traction control – the Honda Selectable Torque Control System (HSTC). The system also allows for traction control to be turned off, completely.
In India, the 650R, takes on the likes of the Suzuki GSX-S750 (Rs 7.46 lakh), the Kawasaki Z900 (Rs 7.70 lakh) and the Ninja 650 (Rs 5.89 lakh), all of which are very different motorcycles.
Azaman Chothia
