2017 Honda CBR 650F launched with multiple improvements

Honda has launched the 2017 version of the CBR 650F in India. The bike comes with a few changes compared to the older version but the prices have not changed. Prices start at Rs. 7.3 lakhs ex-showroom, and bookings are open now. The booking amount is Rs. 25,000 and the customer deliveries will start in the next 2 months. The bike is available in 2 colours – red and black. It is assembled by Honda in India. It is available in 22 Indian cities.

Coming to the changes, the first thing you will notice is the LED headlamp. Honda has added new air ducts in the fairing, and this is to make the aerodynamics better. The engine also gets changes to the intake and exhaust system to help the engine breathe better and reduce back pressure. The engine’s power and torque figures don’t change though. The engine displaces 650 cc and is an inline-4. It pumps out 86.6 PS at 11,000 rpm and 60.5 Nm at 8,500 rpm.

What this means is you really need to rev the engine high to get the best out of it. Honda has added a new 6 speed, close ratio gearbox to make the bike’s torque curve meatier in the mid range. The top speed of this bike is over 200 Kmph and you will hit 100 Kph from standstill in less than 4 seconds. The kerb weight of this bike is 213 Kgs.

Suspension and brakes have also been revised. The new 41 mm Showa Dual Bending Valve (SDBV) type forks are progressive ones, which means that the oil pressure inside them varies based on road conditions. On bumpier roads, the suspension will become more plush and on flat roads, it will be stiff for good cornering. The rear suspension is a monoshock that is attached to an aluminum swing arm.

The monoshock comes with 7 stage pre-load adjustment. The twin front 320 mm disc brakes get new twin piston calipers from Nissin. The rear braking is carried out by a 240 mm single disc. Dual channel ABS is standard. This bike actually has no competition in India as there is no 4 cylinder, fully faired bike available at this price.