Tweet
Let me tell you what I feel about this Honda CBR650F. It is a sporty 650 no doubt. But neither does it demand my pound of flesh in ergonomic comfort to make me a sport-rider nor does it expect me to have feline reflexes to handle its power. The foot pegs are low enough for my knees not to get tucked up like a trussed up chicken’s on the roast. And yes even the heat is not there to roast them anyways. The bars are not that far that I have to grovel and beg space from my ample midriff to reach them or hold my breath in and die blue-faced of asphyxia before I can shift to third. On this one I could take my 7 and something son for a ride and not feel compelled to keep feeling his legs with my hand just to make sure he’s still there behind me. And above all it doesn’t vibrate either me or itself into a frenzy, in the name of character, each time I wind up the right wrist. Short and sweet – I like the Honda CBR650F.
These kind of 650’s are considered ‘entry level’ sports bikes in the mature markets of the West. The Indian market however is not that mature yet, neither financially nor in riding skills. But Honda have made this 650 as user friendly a 600+ cc in-line four with 85 strong horses on the leash as can be possible while keeping it eminently controllable even at 200+ kph. Of course this ‘user friendliness’ is seen as ‘boring’ by the more excitable of the species amongst us two-wheel aficionados. But nevertheless it is a trait that will go a long way in ensuring sales for Honda. Globally Honda apparently wants to plug all holes in its motorcycle line-up and the 650F is probably the last such plug in a lineup that starts with the CBR150R, rides the CBR250R, the 300, the 500 and through to the VFR800 Interceptor. The 650F betrays its strategic placement also as a bridge between the more performance oriented and expensive super-sports 600RR and the Fireblade further up by the visible choice of a sport-bike fairing, the sporty ergonomics and finally the in-line 4 engine choice that wraps it up. India however will consider it a ‘big’ bike in any case and by far going by the ride experience, it is not at all a misfit when being viewed as one.
FOR THE FULL REVIEW CLICK HERE
These kind of 650’s are considered ‘entry level’ sports bikes in the mature markets of the West. The Indian market however is not that mature yet, neither financially nor in riding skills. But Honda have made this 650 as user friendly a 600+ cc in-line four with 85 strong horses on the leash as can be possible while keeping it eminently controllable even at 200+ kph. Of course this ‘user friendliness’ is seen as ‘boring’ by the more excitable of the species amongst us two-wheel aficionados. But nevertheless it is a trait that will go a long way in ensuring sales for Honda. Globally Honda apparently wants to plug all holes in its motorcycle line-up and the 650F is probably the last such plug in a lineup that starts with the CBR150R, rides the CBR250R, the 300, the 500 and through to the VFR800 Interceptor. The 650F betrays its strategic placement also as a bridge between the more performance oriented and expensive super-sports 600RR and the Fireblade further up by the visible choice of a sport-bike fairing, the sporty ergonomics and finally the in-line 4 engine choice that wraps it up. India however will consider it a ‘big’ bike in any case and by far going by the ride experience, it is not at all a misfit when being viewed as one.
FOR THE FULL REVIEW CLICK HERE
.
Comment