Honda CBR650R Likely To Be Launched In India

The company recently discontinued the CBR650F sportstourer in India

• As with the international markets, the CBR650R is likely to replace the CBR650F in India as well.
• The CBR650R gets sportier styling and revised ergonomics compared to the outgoing bike.
• It also features a more powerful engine and USD forks instead of the 650F’s telescopic suspension.
• A naked avatar of the bike, aka the CB650R, could also follow later on.

(2019 CBR650R)

Honda recently discontinued the CBR650F in India and is likely to replace it with the CBR650R. The 650F was first launched in the country in 2015 and got a major update in 2018. However, it was replaced with the CBR650R internationally last year and Honda is expected to do the same for the Indian market.

(CBR650F)

The CBR650R was first showcased at EICMA 2018 and features a number of improvements over the outgoing bike. The most apparent of these changes are in the visual department as the 650R looks a lot sportier than the 650F. In fact, the styling is reminiscent of the CBR1000R Fireblade, which also explains Honda’s decision to replace the ‘F’ suffix with an ‘R’ in the bike. But it’s not just the styling and design that screams sporty as Honda has also tweaked the ergonomics by lowering the clip-ons and moving the footpegs rearwards.

Also read: Honda CB300R Vs KTM 390 Duke Vs BMW G310R: Spec Comparo

(2019 CBR650R)

Besides edgier styling and sporty ergonomics, the CBR650R also gets a more powerful motor than the CBR650F. The international version of the bike is powered by a 649cc inline-four 95PS engine compared to the 86.6PS motor seen on the India-spec CBR650F. The new bike also gets 41mm Showa Separate Function USD forks instead of the outgoing one’s telescopic ones that were also made by Showa. These changes should make the CBR650R a livelier bike to ride than the CBR650F, which was more of a sportstourer rather than an outright sportbike.

Also read: Honda To Launch CB300R In India On February 8

(2019 CB650R)

Also read: 2018 Honda CB1000R+ Launched In India At Rs 14.46 Lakh

Interestingly, Honda could also bring the CB650R neo-retro motorcycle to India in the near future. The company had launched the CB1000R Plus in December last year and is all set to launch the CB300R in India on 8 February. Dial in the fact that the CB650R shares its mechanicals with the CBR650R and it makes even more sense for Honda to bring the former as well to India. If and when Honda does launch both the bikes here, expect a price tag of Rs 7.5 lakh for the CB650R and Rs 8 lakh for the CBR650R (both prices, ex-showroom Delhi).