CB650R Photos

The Honda CB650R's design brief was simple: take a modern inline-4 motorcycle and wrap it in neo-retro clothing without it looking like a costume. Honda has largely succeeded. The round LED headlight with its distinctive four-point daytime running light is the face of the bike - immediately recognisable, properly premium-looking. It sits above a short front fender and between a pair of clip-on style handlebars that position the rider slightly forward without being aggressive.

The fuel tank is wide and muscular, pinching in at the knee cutouts before flaring out again. The side panels are slim, exposing the 649cc inline-4 engine as a visual centrepiece - and Honda knows it; the motor is beautifully finished with polished covers catching light from multiple angles. The exhaust exits cleanly under the tail, a short, upswept silencer that doesn't try to be louder than it is.

Sit on the CB650R and the 5-inch TFT display dominates the cockpit - clear in direct sunlight, with a clean UI that shows gear position, fuel level, speed, rpm, and phone connectivity status at a glance. The Honda RoadSync integration means your navigation instructions, music controls, and incoming call alerts are visible without unlocking your phone.

From the rear, the CB650R's slender tail and LED taillight look properly purposeful. The single-sided swingarm is not present here - it's a conventional setup - but Honda's attention to detail means there are very few visual shortcuts anywhere on the bike.