2018 HONDA CBR650F AND CB650F
FULL TEST
P90
2018 HONDA CB650F
I
f it came down to a pick of which
bike I'd take, my vote would undoubt-
edly go to the naked CB650F.
This kind of bike has been missing
in Honda's U.S. lineup for years. It's
been a wildly successful addition to
the European Honda lineage since its
release in 2014—successful because
it's kept to the K.I.S.S formula of a
good engine, good chassis, comfort-
able ergonomics, and handsome
looks. I've spent that last two weeks
riding the CB around Southern Califor-
nia (I only had a morning on the CBR),
and the more I ride it, the more I'm
enjoying it.
The CB has the comfort factor on
its side over the CBR and that's the
winning card in my book. I also prefer
the looks, which is interesting because
if you think back 10 years ago, Honda
wouldn't be able to shift one CB for
every 10 CBRs as everyone was still
wrapped up in sport-bike mania. Now
it's the other way around. How times
change.
Interestingly, for a naked bike, you
don't get much of a wind blast as the
dash cover has a nice little angle that
helps deflect the oncoming air just
enough that highway riding is not an
issue. The single-piece bar is perfectly
positioned for a six-foot-tall rider and is
rubber mounted and passes through
hardly any vibrations (although the
same can't be said for the rubber-
insert footpegs that will make your toes
a touch tingly).
The gearbox is super smooth on
the CB and CBR-F, and if you're easy
on the clutch as you release it you'll
notice the engine revs will rise a few
hundred rpm to prevent stalling.
As far as an everyday machine
goes, the CB runs rings around the
CBR-F. The lack of bodywork also
shows off a rather nice-looking engine,
with Honda's trademark side-swept
exhaust and under-swingarm muffler
on full display.
Honda will sell more of these than
the CBR-F, guaranteed. The CBR-F is
a good machine, but the CB's broad
appeal will lure in more riders as well
as stand the fashion test of time better
than the faired CBR-F.
(Right) Yeah,
the CB will do
this sort of
stuff even with
an ABS system
that you can't
switch off.
(Left) Even
though it revs
to 11,500 rpm,
this has to
be one of the
world's most
under-stressed
engines.
