Honda CBR650R 0-60 mph in only 3.30 Seconds
Sportbikes have become much more radical in recent years.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, sportbikes were still relatively comfortable and practical for road use when compared with anything from the last 15 years or so.
Honda’s very well-known CBR600 was one such machine. Over the years, it came in many variants, from the original CBR600F introduced in 1987 all the way to the F4i, which was discontinued in 2006.
There was a new (and rather odd) version of the CBR600F from 2011 to 2013, but despite sharing the name, few riders considered it a true CBR600.
The CBR600 was a bike that could be ridden hard on the weekend yet remained practical and comfortable for the daily commute, or even for carrying luggage and a passenger on long trips.
It was always a willing participant — reliable, fun to ride, with a strong engine and neutral handling that suited both new and experienced riders.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, rider tastes began to shift toward more focused machines.
World Supersport (WSSP) racing was becoming increasingly competitive, so manufacturers needed to homologate bikes that served as strong racing platforms.
This meant sacrificing much of the comfort and practicality found in earlier road models.
Suzuki’s already focused GSX-R600 was redesigned to be lighter and sharper than its predecessor, while Yamaha’s new YZF-R6 was far more aggressive than the FZR and YZF600 Thundercat models it replaced.
Honda responded, albeit slowly, and continued selling the standard model alongside the new one.
In 2003, the CBR600 was replaced by the CBR600RR.
The new CBR600RR was a more powerful, lighter, and sharper race-focused machine built on an entirely new platform.
It looked and felt completely different from the bike it replaced, both in styling and ergonomics, while delivering high performance in every area.
Back in 2011 things changed once again. In most markets, riders were losing their appetite for hyper-focused supersport bikes.
Many who wanted outright performance were choosing litre bikes instead, while others began yearning for motorcycles that recaptured the balance and usability of sportbikes from the 1990s and early 2000s, but with performance close to that of the more focused supersports.
Riders wanted supersport-level performance without the wrist ache and numb bum.
As mentioned, Honda re-imagined the CBR600F in 2011. That model eventually evolved into the CBR650F. It was a great motorcycle that did everything well in typical Honda fashion, but it was even less focused and felt too sensible compared with the original CBR600F.
It also looked a bit too sensible.
In 2019, Honda listened to feedback and injected some of the old spirit back into the platform with the CB650R.
Don’t confuse it with the latest CBR500R – they look quite similar.
The CB650R featured sharper styling, more aggressive and sporty handling, and a higher-revving engine that produced more power than the 650F, especially above 10,000 rpm.
It was still around 10-15 hp down on a CBR600 F4i and a little heavier, but the extra 50 cc and longer-stroke motor made it far more effective and usable under normal riding conditions.
The CB650R was a welcome addition to Honda’s range. While much less focused and more upright than pure supersports, it shared design language with Honda’s 2017 CBR1000RR, including an aggressive front end and a fat 180-section rear tyre.
It looked properly serious and far from the learner-friendly sportbike it was sometimes marketed as.
Engine Performance
The CBR650R produces a very respectable 82 horsepower at 11,000 rpm and 44 ft/lb of torque at 8,500 rpm.
It has a good spread of power and torque, particularly from around 4,000 rpm, where it drives strongly even if you are not in the ideal gear.
If the revs drop below 4,000 rpm, there is a slight flat spot, but it is not very noticeable in the lower gears and does not hamper progress.
The engine is smooth in typical Honda fashion, yet it still has a nice spark. There is a pleasant surge around 6,500 rpm as it comes on cam.
In gear Acceleration
This surge is far from unmanageable for new riders.
It simply adds a little spice and excitement to the power delivery as you roll on the throttle. In first gear, it can even help coax up a wheelie with a gentle tug on the bars.
The CBR650R still lacks the top-end rush of the old 600F and especially the 600RR models or any modern supersport 600, but it more than makes up for it with a more flexible and responsive engine below 8,000 rpm.
| Speed at 5000 rpm | Aprilia RS 660 | CBR650R |
| Speed 1st Gear | 26.3 mph | 25.4 mph |
| Speed 2nd Gear | 34.5 mph | 33.1 mph |
| Speed 3rd Gear | 43.8 mph | 41.3 mph |
| Speed 4th Gear | 52 mph | 50 mph |
| Speed 5th Gear | 59.7 mph | 56.9 mph |
| Speed 6th Gear | 68 mph | 64.2 mph |
That means for everyday riding and at normal speeds, the engine feels more responsive than most race-replica 600s.
Thanks to its lower state of tune and that extra 50 cc, the CBR650R lets you drive strongly in any gear from lower rpm and shift less often.
Honda CBR650R 0-100 km/h mph in only 3.40 seconds
Honda’s CBR650R is considered an entry-level sports or sport-touring bike, but it is by no means a slouch.
While we are testing the full-power version here, in many markets this motorcycle is also available in a restricted, learner-friendly form with less power.
Many owners of the restricted version may be curious about how quickly the bike is once fully unrestricted.
The answer is simple: it is a quick motorcycle.
Its 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) performance will smoke any hot hatch and match or beat many sports cars and supercars. Only hypercars have a clear edge off the line.
The CBR650R can rocket from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds.
This can even be achieved in first gear, though it requires revving right to the redline.
Traction control must be turned off, as it is very intrusive during aggressive launches with a clutch dump.
In dry conditions with a warm tyre, the CBR650R rarely breaks traction, so it is odd that the TCS intervenes so aggressively.
Thanks to a light, progressive clutch with good feel and a tractable engine, launching is straightforward. The best results come from slipping the clutch at around 8,000 rpm and then feeding in the slightly notchy gears.
The CBR650R reaches 0-100 mph in 7.5 seconds. The time would be even quicker were it not for the necessary shift into fourth gear at around 90 mph.
The CBR650R pulls strongly right up to 130 mph and is only a few seconds behind a supersport 600.
Acceleration then begins to taper off, with the bike reaching a respectable top speed of 144 mph – around 15 to 20 mph slower than a typical supersport 600.
For the best results, take first and second gear all the way to the redline, while shifting out of third gear at 10,800–11,000 rpm.
The CBR650R has a small frontal area, making it quite difficult to tuck in fully.
If you are small or fit a larger screen, your top speed may vary slightly, but you would need a very long, straight road to gain those extra few mph.
There are many motorcycles in the same or similar class as the CBR650R.
Depending on your market and learner regulations, you might be considering the Ninja 400 (which the CBR650R substantially outperforms when not restricted), the Aprilia RS 660, or Yamaha’s R7.
The performance of the CBR650R is among the best in its class, regardless of market, and comes very close to supersport 600 levels.
What you get is a user-friendly performance package with more than enough poke to keep up with bigger bikes on most roads and ensure you stay in sight when riding with faster machines.
Here we compare the CBR650R with the MT-07, or see how the full-power CBR650R compares with the restricted A2/LAMS version.
The Honda CBR650R’s top speed is 144 mph
| Honda CBR650R Acceleration | |
| Speed | Time |
| 0-10 mph | 0.51 |
| 0-20 mph | 1.01 |
| 0-30 mph | 1.53 |
| 0-40 mph | 2.04 |
| 0-50 mph | 2.57 |
| 0-60 mph | 3.33 |
| 0-70 mph | 3.99 |
| 0-80 mph | 5.03 |
| 0-90 mph | 6.00 |
| 0-100 mph | 7.50 |
| 0-110 mph | 9.03 |
| 0-120 mph | 11.55 |
| 0-130 mph | 14.73 |
| 0-140 mph | 23.00 |
| 60-120 mph | 8.21 |
| SS/QM | 11.45/119 mph |
| SS/KM | 21.64/140 mph |
| SS/Mile | 31.08/143 mph |
| Top Speed | 144 mph |
Honda CBR650R Specifications
| Honda CBR650R | |
| Engine | |
| Displacement: | 649cc |
| Engine type: | In-line four, four-stroke |
| Compression: | 11.6: 1 |
| Bore x stroke: | 67 x 46mm |
| Fuel system: | Injection |
| Fuel control: | Double Overhead Cams/Twin Cam (DOHC) |
| Cooling system: | Liquid |
| Gearbox: | 6-speed |
| Transmission type | Chain |
| Chassis | |
| Frame type: | Steel diamond |
| Front Suspension | 41mm Showa SFF USD, 120mm stroke |
| Rear suspension: | Monoshock damper with adjustable preload, 43.5mm stroke |
| Front tyre: | 120/70-ZR17 |
| Rear tyre: | 180/55-ZR17 |
| Front brakes: | Double disc |
| Rear brakes: | Single disc |
| Weights and Measurements | |
| Wet weight: | 207kg |
| Seat height: | 785 mm |
| Overall height: | 1150mm |
| Overall length: | 2130mm |
| Overall width: | 750mm |
| Wheelbase: | 1450mm |
| Fuel capacity: | 15.40 |
