Honda CBR650R

The Honda CBR650R is a rare thing in today’s market, a genuine four-cylinder middleweight supersport with styling lifted straight from the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade. Where the closely related CB650R goes naked, the CBR650R wraps the same engine in full sports bodywork for an unmistakably race-bred look that draws plenty of admiring glances at any bike meet. It fills a gap most other manufacturers have abandoned, offering a genuine four-cylinder alternative to the sea of parallel-twin middleweight sports bikes on the market.

Its 649cc liquid-cooled DOHC 16-valve inline-four, with a 67 x 46mm bore and stroke and 11.6:1 compression, produces a smooth, turbine-like rush of power, 70kW at 12,000rpm and 63Nm of torque at 9,500rpm, through a six-speed gearbox with a wet multiplate assisted slipper clutch. Four downpipes sweep together into a single muffler for a genuinely special soundtrack that few middleweights can match, building to a hard-edged wail as the revs climb toward the redline.

A steel diamond frame carries 41mm Showa SFF-BP upside-down forks and a monoshock with ten-stage preload adjustment on an aluminium cast swingarm, while a 310mm double disc with a four-piston caliper up front and a 240mm rear disc provide the stopping power needed to match the engine’s enthusiasm. At 211kg, with a 1,450mm wheelbase, 130mm of ground clearance and an 810mm seat height, it carries its fairing’s extra weight with the composure of a proper sports machine rather than feeling like a burdened naked bike. A slightly more relaxed riding position than a full superbike keeps it usable for longer rides, not just short, sharp blasts.

Aggressive fairing and race-inspired colours give it real presence next to bikes twice its capacity, while a TFT screen with Honda RoadSync connectivity brings the technology up to date and a 15.4 litre tank keeps range respectable between fill-ups. Its unmistakable four-into-one exhaust note is often what sells it before a rider has even thrown a leg over the seat. It suits riders wanting authentic supersport style and a four-cylinder engine note without the running costs, or insurance, of a full-fat superbike. Available now at GT Motorcycles, your Honda dealer in Plymouth. We serve riders across Devon and Cornwall, with finance and test rides available.