Engine: Identical to the CBR 650 R—649 cc Inline-Four, 95 hp, Linear Character

649 cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled inline-four, 16 valves, PGM-FI fuel injection, Euro 5. 70 kW / 95.2 hp at 12,000 rpm, 63 Nm at 9,500 rpm. The CB 650 R engine is identical to the one in the CBR 650 R—there are no compromises in power or calibration compared with its fully faired sibling.

That is the core idea: buy the naked bike and you get the same four-cylinder character. Smooth at low rpm, increasingly urgent through the midrange, explosive as it approaches the redline. No twin-cylinder engine in this price class sounds or revs like this.

A slipper clutch comes standard. Emergency Stop Signal, ESS, is also standard: under hard braking, all turn signals flash. Optional for 2026 is Honda E-Clutch, allowing gear changes without operating the clutch lever. A Quickshifter is available as an accessory and can also be combined with E-Clutch.

An A2 restriction to 35 kW can be installed by the dealer and removed again after upgrading to a full Category A license.

Suspension: SHOWA SFF-BP, 310 mm Front Brakes—Larger Brake Discs Than the CBR

Up front is a 41 mm SHOWA SFF-BP upside-down fork—identical to the CBR 650 R and non-adjustable. At the rear is a Pro-Link monoshock, also non-adjustable.

The front brakes use dual 310 mm wave discs with radially mounted four-piston calipers. The CB 650 R has 310 mm discs, while the CBR 650 R gets 296 mm discs. That is not a typo: the naked bike gets more braking surface than the fully faired sport version.

At the rear is a 240 mm disc. ABS comes standard. Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tires are standard equipment.

Wheelbase is 1,450 mm, identical to the CBR 650 R. Trail is 100 mm and steering-head angle is 25.5 degrees. Although the engine and frame share the same basic architecture, the riding dynamics differ because of the ergonomics: upright handlebar instead of clip-ons, a slightly higher-feeling riding position, and more road feel through the freer body position.

HSTC, Honda Selectable Torque Control, comes standard and offers multiple levels of intervention.

Ergonomics: Neo Sports Café, Upright Handlebar, 810 mm Seat Height—More Relaxed Than the CBR

Seat height is 810 mm—identical to the CBR 650 R—but the riding position is fundamentally different.

The CB 650 R’s upright handlebar places the rider in a relaxed, upright position without putting strain on the shoulders and back. That makes the CB 650 R the more comfortable everyday motorcycle and the better choice for longer rides compared with the CBR.

The Neo Sports Café design, inspired by the CB1000R, combines classic naked-bike styling with modern elements: round LED headlight, exposed four-cylinder header pipes, upswept tail section, and aluminum trim on the fender and bodywork.

A 5-inch color TFT display with anti-glare coating and four-way switch comes standard. Honda RoadSync with smartphone connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, and music control is also standard.

Full LED lighting comes standard. Fuel capacity is 15.4 liters, consumption approximately 4.9 L/100 km, and range around 300 km.

The four-cylinder exhaust, with its artfully curved collector pipes deliberately left exposed as a design feature, is one of the CB 650 R’s visual signatures.

Handling: 205 kg Fully Fueled, Upright, Agile—Equally at Home in the City, on Backroads, and Commuting

At 205 kg fully fueled, the CB 650 R is approximately 4 kg lighter than the CBR 650 R at 209 kg because it jettisons the full fairing.

In everyday riding, that difference is not dramatic, but the naked bike feels more agile and immediate because of its upright riding position and more direct body placement.

Riders stepping down from a larger motorcycle will find the CB 650 R light and easy to handle. Riders moving up from a smaller motorcycle will find 95 hp and 205 kg a serious proposition.

The CB 650 R is not a beginner’s motorcycle. It is a mature all-rounder for experienced riders—or, when restricted, a convincing A2 package.

Road tests describe the CB 650 R as an excellent all-rounder: city riding, commuting, backroads, light touring—it handles all of them without complaint. The suspension is not sports-grade, being non-adjustable and only moderately sophisticated in its calibration, but it is more than adequate for enthusiastic backroad riding.

The inline-four is the motorcycle’s defining characteristic. No other naked bike in this price class offers the same package.

Equipment: Same Core Technology as the CBR 650 R, Upright Instead of Faired, With Special SE Version

Standard equipment includes the 41 mm SHOWA SFF-BP USD fork, 310 mm front brakes with four-piston radial calipers, slipper clutch, ABS, multi-level HSTC traction control, Emergency Stop Signal, ESS, 5-inch color TFT with anti-glare coating, Honda RoadSync with navigation and music functions, LED lighting, and Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tires.

Optional equipment includes Honda E-Clutch at approximately €400 extra and a Quickshifter as an accessory.

Standard 2026 colors are Matt Gunpowder Black Metallic, Matt Jeans Blue Metallic, Grand Prix Red, and Pearl Smoky Grey.

A 35 kW A2 restriction is available from the dealer and can later be removed.

Costs: From €9,959—Around €1,100 Less Than the CBR 650 R, the Only Four-Cylinder Naked Bike in the Segment

Prices start at €9,959 including destination charges without E-Clutch in standard colors. With E-Clutch, the price is approximately €10,395 including destination charges.

The CB 650 R is approximately €1,100 less expensive than the CBR 650 R.

Direct naked-bike comparison: the Kawasaki Z650 starts at €7,770 with a 67 hp twin-cylinder engine. The Yamaha MT-07 starts at €8,524 plus additional charges, with a 73 hp twin.

The CB 650 R is the most expensive of the three—and the only one with an inline-four, TFT, and Honda RoadSync standard.

Service intervals are every 12,000 km, with low running costs. Warranty is two years with unlimited mileage, with six years available at extra cost.

Verdict

The Honda CB 650 R solves the same problem as the CBR 650 R—just differently.

If you want four-cylinder sound and high-rpm performance in an upright, everyday-friendly riding position, buy the CB. If you prioritize a full fairing and sporting riding position, buy the CBR.

No twin-cylinder naked bike in this price class offers what the CB 650 R does.

That is its strength—and a compelling reason to buy it.

 

Quick Check

+ 649 cc inline-four, 95 hp—the only naked bike with a four-cylinder engine in this price class

+ Identical engine to the CBR 650 R—no disadvantage compared with the sport version

+ 310 mm front brakes—larger brake discs than the CBR 650 R at 296 mm

+ SHOWA SFF-BP USD fork standard

+ Upright naked-bike riding position: more comfortable and practical for everyday use than the CBR 650 R

+ Neo Sports Café design: round LED headlight, exposed headers, aluminum trim

+ 5-inch TFT with Honda RoadSync, navigation and music, standard

+ Multi-level HSTC traction control standard

+ Honda E-Clutch optional for 2026—can also be combined with Quickshifter

+ Approx. €1,100 less expensive than CBR 650 R with the same engine

+ A2 restriction to 35 kW possible and reversible

 

– Suspension not adjustable, fork or monoshock

– No wind protection: typical naked bike, tiring at higher highway speeds

– 810 mm seat height: shorter riders may be on tiptoes

– 15.4-liter fuel tank: approx. 300 km range at 4.9 L/100 km

– E-Clutch and Quickshifter cost extra / are accessories rather than standard equipment

– No official MSRP from Honda Germany—prices vary by dealer

– Two-year warranty, six years available at extra cost

 

Technical Specifications: Honda CB 650 R (2026)

Country of Manufacture: Japan / Thailand

Engine: Liquid-cooled four-stroke inline-four, DOHC, 16 valves, PGM-FI fuel injection, Euro 5

Displacement: 649 cc

Power: 70 kW / 95.2 hp at 12,000 rpm; 35 kW / 48 hp A2 restriction available from dealer

Torque: 63 Nm at 9,500 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed; chain final drive; slipper clutch standard

E-Clutch, Optional: Honda E-Clutch; gear changes without clutch-lever operation; three shift-effort settings; Quickshifter available as an accessory and can also be combined with E-Clutch

Frame: High-strength tubular-steel frame

Front Suspension: 41 mm SHOWA SFF-BP upside-down fork; non-adjustable

Rear Suspension: Pro-Link monoshock; non-adjustable

Front Brakes: Dual 310 mm wave discs; radially mounted four-piston calipers, larger than CBR 650 R’s 296 mm discs

Rear Brake: 240 mm disc; single-piston floating caliper

Rider Aids: ABS standard; multi-level HSTC traction control standard; Emergency Stop Signal, ESS, standard

Wheels: Cast-aluminum wheels; 17-inch

Front Tire: 120/70 ZR17

Rear Tire: 180/55 ZR17

Display: 5-inch color TFT with anti-glare coating; four-way switch; Honda RoadSync standard with smartphone connectivity, navigation, and music

Lighting: Full LED standard; round headlight, Neo Sports Café design

Fully Fueled Weight: Approx. 205 kg without E-Clutch

Seat Height: 810 mm

Wheelbase: 1,450 mm

Fuel Capacity: 15.4 liters

License Class: A / A2 with 35 kW restriction installed by dealer

Price in Germany: From €9,959 including destination charges without E-Clutch; approx. €10,395 with E-Clutch

Warranty: 2 years, unlimited mileage