finally got my cbr650f. I post these impressions on other forums but i though it should be good to pots it here as well.
Got the third red cbr650f in this world! Again one of the first so i will be a guinea pig again albeit a really fast one
I am riding it for nearly ten days now and has already made 650 kms in the city and on the highway so now can post my first real impressions. I was at Phnom Penh - Cambodia for businessor nearly for 5 days in between though.
1- Design: It is growing on me know. Like the mini fairing that shows the engine and like the fact that there are less plastics on the bike. Also, the hole underseat showing the rear shock is a nice detail. It looks like a half naked bike!
Installed Active tail tidy with led lights and rear end looks better and less chubby. Anyway, once you are on the bike, who cares the design!
2- Engine: It has been sometime since i have not been driving an inline four and my god, you cannot imagine how missed it! A lot of power everywhere, very flexible engine not like a cbr600r, has a lot of torque at low and mid revs. At 6th gear, it pulls up from 3000 rpm easily! Hard to understand on which gear i am as at all gears, it pulls all the time
A gear indicator is a must.
Also had hard break in. Change the speed at gears, no constant speed and redlined it at times during first 100 km - still doing it of course with love until 12.000 ish rpm! - changed the oil and oil filter at 100 kms and will change the oil and filter again at 1000 km. Also going for a track day this weekend to test all the limits of the bike and for a better break in
Acceleration is great, really stretched and hurt my arms first couple of days
Valve check at 24,000 km luckily this time!
Bike makes 100 kph at first gear and 135 kph at second. I have seen 210 km until now, roads are congested in Bangkok for more. But according to my calculations, bike will show around 250 kph around redline at 6th gear. Enough for Thailand - and actually for everywhere. Bike reaches high speeds fast.
it is a powerful engine guys, if no experience on bikes, i really do not recommend a honda cbr650f. it is blurring fast man, not a joke!
the low torque makes the bike easy to ride in the city and provides lots of flexibility.
Only gripe about the engine, it gets hot fast - of course normal still it does not heat the seat and where you place your legs in tank magically. But chassis, front plastics, swingarm, pipe all lava hot. But, not that bad and only a bit more than cbr500r.
Smooth bike but a little bit noisy engine, especially revved hard
Also, one needs to be careful while operating the throttle. Roads in Bangkok are already very slippery so i take it easy on the throttle now as rear slided a couple of times.
It is a shame for Honda though not putting a traction control for this price.
3- Suspensions: Not like a cbr500r or Kawa er6n/f. Suspensions are pretty good if you ask me. No excessive dive at the front and mid corner pumps do not upset the handling. It is also comfy on bumps at the same time. Checked the fork and it is from Showa. Aftermarket Ohlins rear shock and new springs for the front might not be needed even for a while. I am really surprised on this factor alone but this bike will be sold in USA and Europe as a mid sized sport touring bike so actually, it has to be this way.
But, rear shock sometime having a hard time to keep the tire on the road on bad surfaces of Thailand, smoother surfaces, not a problem.
4- Handling: Low speed ride is easy. Still, not as easy as a honda cbr500r but still fine. it does not turn in lightening fast as cbr500r but really good for a 209 kg bike with double disc setup. High speed ride is a lot stable and front end is not light. Go through some curves and bike handles great man, finally something that can handle properly after many years.
City ride is not that harder than cbr500r, tip toeing on the bike is also fine, you dont feel the weight much apart from u turns and parking etc.
5- Brakes: Very good, a proper setup. Rear brake is strong and it bites too much if you ask me. Very light rear brake lever and not super easy to modulate.
Twin discs at front is great but after 2 hours of hard city riding and lots of braking, heard the freaking high pitch sound of brake fade, still normal if you ask me on stop and go traffic but on a track, they will get cooler so dont expect problems.
Brake modulation at front is really good, like a Honda. Also, you can adjust - 6 steps - the brake handle.
ABS is not as conservative as in cbr500r for more sport bike credentials and it is smoother.
6- Transmission: Classic Honda. Exact and positive, no false neutrals, easy to find neutral. My only gripe is the vague feeling while down shifting as you dont hear the clicks easily but it is still audible clicky while up shifting. Get used of it now. But this provides very light lever action, just a small touch and it up or down shifts. Modulation is OK for an inline four.
Will get a gear indicator soon anyway.
Moreover, hard to say something exact for tranny though as they mostly act weird during the first 1000 km so take my comments with this in your mind.
7- Tires: They were scary at first 20 km but get grippy after that. They are good enough for any condition for now but will change them to a better ones at 10 k km.
8- Comfort: Very comfy bike. My gf said it is the comfiest bike she sat down in her life. banana seat looks like shite but provides a lot human comfort. Rider pillion is a lot big and lots of space to move around. But a tank grip - Stomp grip - is needed for legs although bike has a plastic part on the chassis for this still not enough. It is harder to take the seat off than a two piece setup but still it is easier than i expected, surprised on this as it nicely clicks once you push it back!
Drove 100 km two times in a row and bikes irons the irregularities on the road comfortable and suspension setup is also comfy plus the comfy seat, i can say bike is a lot comfortable. You can sit upright or tuck, whatever you like, there are room.
I am sure it is good for commuting, touring or whatever you want. - keep in mind, i have an iron butt after 25 years of riding so might not be super objective on seat comfort but it is soft i can say
Very less space under seat but enough to get a big XENA lock, tool set, documents, a bungy cord and a sandwich and little bit more.
Moreover, wind protection is surprisingly good. No buffeting, no lift or shake.
9- Electronics: Light are powerful so do led light on the back and front. Instrument cluster is easy to read but now less time to check it as bike is fast man! One glance and you get all the info you need. Signals are all good and visible but changed them with led ones from my parts bin remaining from my other bikes.
10- Overall quality: Fit and finished are nice for this price point, nothing is squeaking, buzzing or falling apart. Levers are nice and this time, will not be changing the levers. They have a good feeling.
11- Mods: I will not be spending much on this bike as honda might release a more powerful bike maybe a 1000 cc bike here in Thailand next year or maybe the one after
Got Active Tail tidy, R&G radiator guard and fuel tank carbon pad right away and they are on my bike now. Also installed led signals front and rear and a couple of mods from my old cbr500 like fork protectors and oil nut. In the future, will look for a pipe - under the swingarm type again - and might work on suspensions a bit and but Ohlins unit available at Bigwing. Looking for a nice tank pad as well.
of course, will buy sliders and a couple of more protective mods . K speed -
??????? CB/CBR650F k_speed - k-speed - has some parts already for 650 series, might go there today as have a track day this weekend with my new bike
Also, Honda had contacted with r&g before so they made parts like tailtidy and radiator cover plus Ohlins made a shock for it so parts are available at honda bigwing bangkok asap and they give you 15% discount if you get the parts the same day you buy your bike!
12- Economy: Bike trip computer shows 15.6 km per lit now. But i think it is less than that of course i break in the bike now and pushing a bit. I believe, i will get around 16 km per lit from this bike average. 13 km per lit on hard use and 19 km per lit on good boy use. Not much higher than my cbr500r really.
Last i got around 15 km per liter - check how many liters i filled and divided it to kms i made, trip computer shows 14 km per liter - but in the city mostly. It was 19 km per lit for my cbr500r so it is good!
Also, i think speedometer is closer to gps speeds.
These are what i can say after 650 km.
I am sure more will appear soon but overall, i am really surprised the ride of cbr650f.
Suspensions are cool, bike is fast, chassis is stable, brakes are assuring so finally they reach a proper sport bike setup for this price in Thailand. A proper sport bike for a reasonable 300 k thb!!! waiting for it for along time!
Naked version will be available next month.
All i can say, you cannot go wrong with these new 650 cc inlince four hondas and if you are looking for a proper sport bike with touring capabilities and want to level up from cbr500r, just get a cbr650f. Best price/performance/quality value in Thailand IMO
cant attach photos
I am a really happy rider and dont want something powerful and bigger than this in Thailand. Just it is more than enough for here - but i always say this
and honda always brings something more powerful and better and i think a liter bike made in Thailand is on the way
Having a real blast after a long time and finally things get blurry a bit for me in Thailand after 7 years here!
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2014 Honda CBR650F
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