P74
2 019 H O N DA C B 6 5 0 R & C B R 6 5 0 R
F I RST REVI EW
slow CBR300R and a possibly too fast
CBR600RR.
The 650R's power is about as
progressive as a mid-size four-cylinder
can be. Honda's taken out much of
the jump in power that comes as revs
begin to surge towards 10K+ figures,
which will be of great benefit for newer or less
experienced riders. It's not slow, but it's not going
to rip your arms out with sheer power, either.
On the suspension front, you don't have the
same compliance for high-speed riding as you'd
expect on something like the 600RR. It's
pretty soft front and rear, and although
there's preload on the back end, I'm un-
sure how good this would be as a two-up
bike.
The suspension action is smooth and
progressive, but a little budget in over-
all feel. Like the motor, the suspension offers a
smooth and comfortable ride that will allow the
rider to explore the outer limits of their perfor-
mance, while still getting plenty of feedback for
when things get a little too wild.
Ride all day on
the CB. Comfort is
brilliant, and when
you're done with
the tarmac, you can
spend ages just
looking at it.