SURPRISING VERSATILITY

Honda has produced some great bikes over the years. Some of them have been iconic (the Fireblade and the Africa Twin for instance), others almost indescribable (I still don’t quite know what to call the X-ADV), but above all else, the Japanese manufacturer’s success is built on a wide range of sensible, real-world bikes that don’t necessarily send shivers down your spine but do exactly what it says on the tin. They’re good machines, but they rarely surprise you – or so I thought.

The unexpected double surprise came in the shape of Honda’s new CB650R and CBR650R. They’re new models, replacing – and heavily based on – the CB650F and CBR650F. The initial noises from the big H were centred around the increased power and reduced weight of the new R-bikes. The riding position has been tweaked too, so it better matches the sporty overall package. There are also a number of changes to the chassis