Honda has always thrived on exploring new boundaries, in design as well as engineering. In 2018, the new CB1000R and CB300R brought a fresh identity to Honda’s naked motorcycle lineup, mixing café racer inspirations with an ultra-minimalist look under its “Neo Sports Café” design theme. One obvious segment remained for the new aesthetic to find expression: the competitive naked middleweight arena. For 2019, the new CB650R (previously known as the CB650F) confidently takes on this role.
Using the same styling blueprint as its siblings, the CB650R’s retro-minimalism is aimed at a young demographic that wants to show off in style and enjoy the combination of exhilarating four-cylinder engine performance and light, versatile, refined chassis handling. Add to this mix of head-turning, individual looks and exciting, usable performance a spec sheet replete with high quality and premium features, and the result is a naked middleweight designed for maximum pride and pleasure of ownership.