2021 Honda CBR650R Unveiled With Updates

Honda has unveiled the 2021 CBR650R, and along with Euro 5 compliancy, it gets some key changes which make the motorcycle more desirable.

The Honda CBR650R is a sports tourer, and it serves the tag pretty well too. While the 650R might not offer the full-on race-ready experience of the CBR600RR, it’s definitely the more versatile offering between the two.

For 2021, the Japanese giant has worked on the bike in many areas and it offers better equipment, improved versatility, updated styling and even more power.

Firstly, while the updated bike might not look very different, the upper and lower fairing panels have undergone a change. Along with this, the bike also features a new steel mudguard, and a revised number plate mount.

We couldn’t really notice anything in particular, though, but Honda claims that the changes have made the bike more muscular. However, what we did notice is that the updated CBR650R gets new graphics too, which make it look more aggressive.

Moving on, the 2021 Honda CBR650R’s biggest update comes at the front end. The motorcycle switches from Showa Dual Bending Valve forks to Sperate Function Big Piston (SFF BP) forks. Although the current-gen bike rides pretty well itself, the new forks will inspire more confidence while cornering. However, the weight has increased to 208 kg as well.

Further, to increase practicality, Honda has altered the angle of the dash and also increased the font size. This makes the speedometer easier to read. The bike also gets a USB socket under the seat now, which again makes the CBR650R even more practical.

The motor has undergone some changes too. Revisions to the ECU, cam lobes, intake timing, exhaust system, and crankshaft have made the motorcycle adhere to the Euro 5 norms and most likely BS6 norms as well.

The 649cc inline four-cylinder motor now delivers 95 PS at 12,000 RPM and 63 Nm at 8500 RPM. This is a significant performance hike considering that the BS4 CBR650R made 88 PS of power and 60 Nm of torque in India. The 6-speed gearbox with a slip and assist clutch has remained unchanged, though.

The 2021 Honda CBR650R will arrive in India via Honda’s BigWing showrooms and will receive a price hike, as expected. In India, the CBR650R’s only direct competitor is the Kawasaki Ninja 650, and it will be interesting to see how Honda prices it.

2021 Honda CBR650R Unveiled

• Honda has unveiled the 2021 CBR650R overseas, and it is Euro 5 compliant now
• The bike gets a few cosmetic changes like new graphics, new upper and lower body panels, and a revised number plate mount
• The bike gets Showa Big Piston Forks upfront now, which is the biggest change for 2021