Taking advantage of consumer demand for a very sporty yet civilized fully faired machine, Honda created the CBR650F back in 2014. Eventually the bike’s name was changed to CBR650R as it got even more performance. Fast-forward to 2024, and the CBR650R returns to the US market, but it also brings with it Honda’s new E-Clutch technology, which allows the rider to start, stop, and change gears just using the shift lever and not having to use the clutch. The beauty of the system is that the rider can still use the clutch as normal if so desired.
In addition to the E-Clutch, the bike received other updates for 2024, including: fresh new styling that is much closer to its sportbike siblings like the CBR1000RR, a new full-color TFT display, new backlit control clusters on the bars, and all-LED lighting.
One of the things that consumers have been asking for are engines that are sporty without being purely honed for racetracks. The CBR650R’s 649cc inline-four features double-overhead cams with four valves per cylinder. The engine is fed by PGM-FI with 32mm throttle bodies and is tuned to have broad power for street riding. In addition to the new E-Clutch, the mechanical aspect of the unit is an assist/slipper type to manage rear-wheel lockup during rapid downshifts. Honda Selectable Torque Control (traction control) can be disabled if desired.
Chassis highlights include a 57-inch wheelbase, a 466-pound curb weight, and sporty geometry. Up front is a Showa 41mm Separate Function Big Piston (SFF-BP) fork, while the Showa shock has 10-stage spring-preload adjustability. Up front a pair of radial-mount, four-piston calipers and 310mm discs joined out back by a single-piston caliper and 240mm disc (both with ABS) handle braking.
The 2024 Honda CBR650R is available in Grand Prix Red for $9,899.
