Honda India To Launch CBR650R Soon After CBR650F’s Demise

• The CBR650R is expected to be priced at around Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom).
• Revised engine makes 95PS at a higher 12,000rpm.
• Might arrive in a naked avatar as well.

Honda launched the CBR650F in India in 2015 and brought its generation update last year. It retained the tag of being the cheapest inline four-cylinder fully faired motorcycle that one could get in India. With only limited units brought to India, the CBR650F ran out of stock soon enough and has thus met with an early demise. However, there is good news if you were prepping up to buy the motorcycle. Honda is gearing up to offer its latest CBR650R as a replacement in the coming months.

First shown at EICMA 2018, the CBR650R is a racier alternative to the outgoing bike. Apart from change in nomenclature, the CBR650R is more in tune with the design characteristics of Honda’s litre-class supersport, the CBR1000R Fireblade. The ergonomics have been tweaked too as the clip-ons have been lowered and the pegs are now positioned further rearwards. While this does lean towards sportiness, it would not be as aggressive as the discontinued CBR600RR. Even the 649cc inline-four motor now makes 95PS at 12,000rpm which is 8.4PS more at a significantly higher rpm.

There might be an added surprise in the mix as Honda might also bring the naked CB650R. This does seem like a plausible idea as Honda had launched the CB1000R Plus already in December 2018 and is now preparing for the launch of the CB300R. These naked bikes are based on the Neo Sport Cafe design concept which Honda has now adopted for its CB range of motorcycles. Mechanical elements of the CB650R are the same as its fully faired cousin.

When it was on sale, the CBR650F was sold for Rs 7.38 lakh. Once launched, we expect the CB650R to be priced at Rs 7.5 lakh, while the CBR650R is expected to carry a price tag of Rs 8 lakh (both prices are ex-showroom Delhi).

Source: zigwheels.com