The 2013 EICMA Motorcycle Show has kicked off on full swing with big launches and one of the hottest players at the exhibition is Honda, who has unveiled the 2014 Honda CB650F and CBR650F. As the names suggest, the Honda CB650F is a naked motorcycle and the Honda CBR650F is identical motorcycle underneath but is fully faired. The mid-range bikes are targeted at the European and Asian markets. With these new offerings, Honda intends to attract the younger audience, claiming strong performance and practicality at the same time.
The Honda CB650F and CBR650F derive power from a 649cc in-line four motor that has been designed keeping in mind the compactness. The engine has a 16-valve DOHC layout and is tuned for low end torque for better city drivability. The 649cc engine produces a maximum power of 87 BHP at 11,000 RPM and peak torque of 63 Nm at 8000 RPM, coupled to a 6-speed transmission. The bikes sit on a twin 64 mm x 30 mm elliptical frame. It has a non-adjustable traditional fork at the front and seven ways adjustable shock at the rear. The shock mounts directly to a die-cast aluminium swingarm.
For stopping performance, the Honda CB650F and CBR650F come equipped with 240 mm rear disc brake and 320 mm dual front discs. There are slight differences between the two models. The riding position of the Honda CB650F is upright with a wide handlebar, while the Honda CBR650F gets a sporty forward leaning aggressive position for the rider. The CBR650F gets a firmer spring rate and damping for its performance oriented nature. Both the body styles are treated with attractive styling elements. We can expect Honda to introduce the new models in India next year, considering the fact that the premium motorcycle segment is growing in our country.
