Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has started delivering the CBR650R. The company had started taking pre-orders for the new middleweight sports tourer in February and launched it in April. The new model retails at INR 7.70 lakh (ex-showroom India).
Also See: Watch the 2019 Honda CBR650R hit its top speed [VIDEO]
The Honda CBR650R replaces the Honda CBR650F and comes to the Indian market via the CKD route. It is available in two colours – Grand Prix Red & Gunpowder Black Metallic. The CBR650R is a significant step-up over the model it replaces. It comes equipped with full LED lighting, fully-digital LCD instrument cluster, a more powerful engine, revised ergonomics, upside-down forks and an adjustable rear mono-shock.
The new middleweight sports tourer is inspired by the litre-class CBR1000RR Fireblade. It features a twin-pod LED headlight along with fairing-mounted rear view mirrors and LED blinkers. Thanks to the USD forks, the CBR650R has a more muscular look than its predecessor that used conventional telescopic front suspension.
The Honda CBR650R uses a 649 cc in-line four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve (4-valves per cylinder) engine that makes max power of 95 hp at 12,000 rpm and peak torque of 64 Nm at 8,500 rpm. It is coupled to a six-speed gearbox with assist/slipper clutch. Apart from gaining power, the CBR650R has also shed 6 kg weight in the transformation from the CBR650F, which has resulted in an improvement of 8% in the power-to-weight ratio.
Dual hydraulic 310 mm discs with 4-piston callipers and a single hydraulic 240 mm disc with single-piston calliper at the front and back respectively deliver anchoring power. The safety net includes Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) to manage rear wheel traction and dual-channel ABS. Revised ergonomics are achieved by placing the clip-on handlebars 30 mm forward and lower than the CBR650F. The footpegs, too, have been repositioned and they sit 6 mm higher and 3 mm rearward than the CBR650F.
In India, the Honda CBR650R competes with the Kawasaki Ninja 650. Another rival, the CFMoto 650 GT, is on the way.
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