2021 Honda CB650R gains some major changes with styling and suspension tweaks

Aside from the obligatory colour changes, the Honda CB650R gets new suspension, a tweaked riding position, and Euro5 certification

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HONDA has just announced the specification and features for the 2021 Honda CB650R. Next year sees the bike get its biggest overhaul since the neo-retro design was unveiled at the beginning of 2019.

Honda CB650R (2019) video review

Honda CB650R Review 2019

Honda’s engineers have worked hard to improve the handling, comfort, and practicality of the bike, getting it through the latest Euro5 regulations to boot.

Here’s a rundown of all that’s new.

Honda CB650R (2021) styling and colours

With the classy looking CB650R only getting revealed in its current Neo Sports Café form in 2019, it’s no surprise that the visual changes to the bike are small.

The bike will now also feature smaller side panels enhancing the neat design of the bike. The rear mudguard is now constructed from steel rather than nylon plastic.

The bike is also available in a new colour, Pearl Smoky Gray (above). Other colours available are Matt Gunpowder Black Metallic, Candy Chromosphere Red, Matt Jeans Blue Metallic.

New suspension for the 2021 CB650R

The biggest change for 2021 is the inclusion of an improved set of front forks in the form of Showa Separate Function Big Piston (SFF BP) forks. The previous generation CB650R was already shod with a decent set of Showa Separate Function forks and we never had any complaints of the handling. The upgrade to the SFF BP forks should provide the bike with a major upgrade. A pressure separation damper in one fork tube and spring mechanism in the other is claimed to deliver high damping performance and lighter weight than before.

Improved comfort and equipment

One of the only gripes we had of the CB650R on the launch last year was the dash was a little tricky to read in anything other than overcast weather. Honda might have remedied that for 2021, as the font is now larger, and the angle of the dash altered to make it easier to read.

Another change at the front of the bike is to the handlebar angle which has been increased by 3° to 35°. Honda is claiming this should make the bike easier to handle during low-speed manoeuvres and U-turns.

Under the 810mm seat of the Honda now resides a USB Type-C socket to allow charging of mobile phones and other equipment while on the move.

Honda CB650R (2021) specs

ENGINE

Type

Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 16-valve DOHC inline-4 cylinder

Engine Displacement (cm³)

649cc

Bore ´ Stroke (mm)

67.0 x 46.0

Compression Ratio

11.6:1

Max. Power Output

70kW/12,000rpm

Max. Torque

63Nm/8,500rpm

Oil Capacity

2.7L

FUEL SYSTEM

Carburation

PGM-FI electronic fuel injection

Fuel Tank Capacity

15.4L

Fuel Consumption

20.4km/litre

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Starter

Electric

Battery Capacity

12V/8.6AH

ACG Output

370W

DRIVETRAIN

Clutch Type

Wet, multiplate disc

Transmission Type

6-speed

Final Drive

Chain

FRAME

Type

Steel diamond

CHASSIS

Dimensions (LxWxH)

2130 x 780 x 1075mm

Wheelbase

1450mm

Caster Angle

25.5°

Trail

101mm

Seat Height

810mm

Ground Clearance

150mm

Kerb Weight

202.5kg

Turning radius

SUSPENSION

Type Front

41mm Showa Separate Function front Fork Big Piston (SFF-BP) USD forks

Type Rear

Monoshock damper with 7 stage adjustable preload, 43.5mm stroke

WHEELS

Rim Size Front

Hollow section 6-spoke cast aluminium

Rim Size Rear

Hollow section 6-spoke cast aluminium

Tyres Front

120/70ZR17 M/C (58W)

Tyres Rear

180/55ZR17 M/C (73W)

BRAKES

ABS System Type

2 channel; hydraulic dual disc 310mm front, hydraulic disc 240mm rear

INSTRUMENTS & ELECTRICS

Instruments

Digital speedometer, digital bar graph tachometer, dual trip meter, digital bar graph fuel gauge, gear position and upshift indicator, digital clock

Headlight

LED

Taillight

LED