2021 Honda CB650R ABS First Ride Review

Hugh Janus · May 11, 2021

Within the burgeoning middleweight standard category, Honda’s 2021 CB650R ABS meets returning and emerging parallel twins and triples with its grunty inline-four, the only inline-four in the segment unless you include the higher-displacement Suzuki GSX-S750 or Kawasaki Z900. To stay competitive, Honda’s “Neo-Sports Café” middleweight sees big changes to its front suspension, Euro 5 emissions improvements, and tweaks to styling and ergonomics.

The 2021 CB650R ABS is Honda’s Neo-Sports Café with a $9,199 price tag. (Jeff Allen/)

The upgrade to Showa’s Separate Function Fork Big Piston is claimed to be lighter in weight and more rigid than the previous version. (Jeff Allen/)

The outgoing nonadjustable Showa Separate Function Fork (SFF) is replaced with a new, also nonadjustable Showa Separate Function Fork Big Piston (SFF-BP) unit offering a sporty and firm ride quality. The front-end feel is enhanced with this change to the fork, but so is the perception of the harsher bumps on jagged tarmac; this is something we didn’t have an issue with in 2019. The preload-adjustable Showa shock, however, is not as taut as the front end and is bouncy with a rebound damping that is slightly too quick. Its softer settings soak up bumps well enough, but considering its competition and $9,199 price tag, some rebound or compression adjustment at either end which would be useful in fine-tuning the balance of suspension action. Although the ride is now more rigid, the willingness of this bike to tip into turns thanks to that stiffness is just as addicting as the sporty power from the 649cc inline-four, as is listening to its throaty intake growl.

As is standard for standards, its fairinglessness showcases the inline-four engine and lovely symmetry of the four exhaust header pipes. A larger-bore tailpipe (now 1.5 inches) inside the muffler is a 2021 change. (Jeff Allen/)

The CB enjoys spinning at high revolutions, making its 81.90 peak horsepower at 10,870 rpm and 42.97 pound-feet of torque at 7,960 rpm. Although vibration is felt at 7,000 rpm, push the bike past 8,000 and the buzz diminishes while the engine continues to provide a steadily increasing power. Aggressive riders will be entertained by the opportunity to push it to high rpm and draw out more of its raucous energy, but the linear way the power is delivered means the bike is also accessible to riders climbing the displacement ranks.

2021-Honda-CB650R-Action.jpg | Less vibration, more smiles. Pass the buzz at the 7,000 rpm mark for more tempting thrills. (Jeff Allen/)

Although the CB’s engine received updates to keep it up to Euro 5 standards; Honda says it doesn’t lose any performance. This claim is backed up by our numbers: The CB650R produced 80.55 hp at 11,000 rpm and 42.14 pound-feet of torque at 8,160 rpm when it ran on our dyno in 2019. This year’s recorded peak numbers are higher, though the increase is negligible.

2021-Honda-CB650R-Tailsection.jpg | The sporty new tailsection has a muscle car’s window louver vibe to it. (Jeff Allen/)

Standard rider aids include Honda’s Selectable Torque Control (aka traction control), which helps manage rear-wheel traction and can be toggled on and off with a switch at the handlebar. ABS is also standard, and thanks to large dual 310mm discs and four-piston calipers, coming to a stop is uncomplicated; there’s an excellent feel with just a single-finger pull on the lever.

Clean, modern lighting. (Jeff Allen/)

In keeping with a minimalist contemporary look, Honda keeps it fresh with its LED lighting package for 2021, suspending the rear LED turn signals on a new, sportier license plate mount. The rectangular LCD display is now angled differently to help with visuals under full sun, and while featuring a modern white-on-black display, it’s beginning to fall behind competition like the Trident 660, which brings a full-color TFT and optional phone connectivity to the mix for a lower starting MSRP. I have to give Honda credit though; the display is thin and sleek, maintaining that minimalist neo-retro look.

The 32-inch measured seat height is also reasonably approachable (it’s decimal points taller than its beginner-friendly counterpart, the CB300R, which we measured in 2019 at 31.7 inches) allowing for plenty of bend in the knee at stops for this 6-foot-tall rider. Honda has angled the handlebar slightly forward (three degrees) and that reach is easy. The tank’s width between the knees is not excessive, considering there’s an inline-four beneath; the rider geometry makes a comfortable and sporty riding posture overall.

2021-Honda-CB650R-Action-2.jpg | Although handlebar angle has changed slightly, the ergonomics are comfortable for a sporty ride through the canyons. ( Jeff Allen/)

Even with a growing number of competitors in the middleweight standard category, the 2021 Honda CB650R takes a firm stand as a compact inline-four offering modern minimalism for a somewhat high $9,199. Comparatively, the new three-cylinder Trident 660 is $8,095 and twin-cylinder MT-07 is $7,699. Regardless, this motorcycle has the grunt and handling to deliver thrilling riding along with up-to-date looks and electronics to meet ever-stringent rider demands.

The inline-four makes the CB650R unique in the middleweight displacement range. Is that enough to fix buyers’ attention? (Jeff Allen/)

2021 Honda CB650R ABS Specs

MSRP:	$9,199
Engine:	DOHC, liquid-cooled in-line four-cylinder; 4 valves/cyl.
Displacement:	649cc
Bore x Stroke:	67.0 x 46.0mm
Compression Ratio:	11.6:1
Transmission/Final Drive:	6-speed/chain
Cycle World Measured Horsepower:	81.90 hp @ 10,870 rpm
Cycle World Measured Torque:	42.97 lb.-ft. @ 7,960 rpm
Fuel System:	PGM-FI w/ 32mm throttle bodies
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate
Engine Management/Ignition:	Full transistorized
Frame:	Twin-spar, steel-diamond frame
Front Suspension:	41mm inverted Showa Separate Function Big Piston (SSF-BP) fork; 4.25 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	Showa Single Shock, preload adjustable; 5.0 in. travel
Front Brake:	Nissin radial-mount 4-piston calipers, dual 310mm discs w/ ABS
Rear Brake:	Nissin 1-piston caliper, single 240mm disc w. ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear:	Cast aluminum
Tires, Front/Rear:	120/70-17 / 180/55-17
Rake/Trail:	32.0º/4.0 in.
Wheelbase:	57.0 in.
Ground Clearance:	5.8 in.
Cycle World Measured Seat Height:	32.0 in.
Fuel Capacity:	4.1 gal.
Cycle World Measured Wet Weight:	445 lb.
Contact:	powersports.honda.com