Honda BigWing India has teased the silhouette of a CBR650R on social media with the words “Power, precision and more to come”. Given that this motorcycle was launched in India just earlier this year, this teaser could be hinting at the E-Clutch system that is available internationally.
- Largely unchanged visually
- Should cost slightly more
Honda E-Clutch system
This new system will increase weight to 211kg
This new system, which made its global debut earlier this year, allows riders to shift gears without using the clutch lever, while still retaining the option for manual control. The E-Clutch takes inspiration from Honda’s existing quickshifter and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) systems but is designed to work with a standard gearbox and clutch setup. Weighing about 2kg, the system uses a pair of actuators and multiple sensors to manage clutch engagement electronically, offering clutchless gear changes and stall-free operation in stop-go traffic.
Honda E-Clutch: how does it work?
It will offer riders the choice between conventional and clutchless riding
In practice, riders can simply use the shift pedal to change gears without touching the clutch lever. The system also takes over clutch operation while starting or stopping, which should make the CBR650R much easier to live with in urban conditions. That said, the manual clutch lever remains fully functional and can be used at any time.
Honda has also built in customisation options for shift feel, allowing riders to choose between Soft, Medium and Hard resistance settings for both upshifts and downshifts. In addition, the bike will alert the rider to downshift if it's in a higher gear that isn’t ideal for the current speed, adding a layer of rider assistance without compromising control.
Honda CBR650R: what will change?
Continued to be powered by 649cc in-line four, producing 95hp and 63Nm
Visually, the updated CBR650R’s styling and design will remain unchanged. The only visual giveaway is the “E-Clutch” branding on the engine and the clutch case that protrudes a bit more than normal. It also remains to be seen if this new system will make its way to the CB650R or just be limited to the CBR650R.
While there’s no official launch date yet, Honda’s teaser confirms that the CBR650R with E-Clutch is on its way to Indian showrooms soon. Expect a slight premium over the current CBR650R, which is priced at Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
