Honda CB 650 F 2017, many small innovations make it a better bike [ROAD TEST VIDEO]

Medium displacement Naked: a formula that is once again enjoying some success. There CB650F it is therefore an important model for Honda, which in fact this year, in addition to the necessary transition to the Euro 4 directives, gives its medium-displacement naked bike many improvements, which affect various aspects, both aesthetic and technical. Starting from the engine we find 4 more horsepower and a fuller output, despite the transition toEuro 4, but the news affects the Nissin brake calipers, LED headlights which make the angular lines stand out even more, or the Showa Dual Bending Valve fork.

As we will see in detail, there are many tweaks, not sensational taken individually, but which make the new Honda CB 650 F as a whole better and more usable.

Aesthetics and finishes:

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Lightweight, compact and with a lower handlebar

From an aesthetic point of view, the most notable are: new conveyors, revised in look, but also in the management of air flows.

The 650 CB 2017 F has become more angular and with character with a riding position that is slightly more forward-loaded; the handlebar now has a lower bend and features elastic supports to transmit less vibrations on the pilot's wrists. The height from the ground is 810 mm, therefore allowing safe support of both feet, with a well-made and comfortable saddle even on extra-urban routes.

To make matters worse, in this example we find some options, such as the edge on the rims, the smoked screen and the under-engine tip. However, the style elements that recall the CB400s of the 70s remain, such as the sinuous line of the 4 exhaust manifolds.

The dashboard is completely digital, integrated perfectly within the new design windshield. Among the visible data we find the rev counter and speedometer on the left side, while on the right side the fuel level, clock, odometer and service lights. Unfortunately, a nice indicator of the gear engaged is missing. For the rest it is a complete dashboard, with the controls that are within easy reach. Both displays are backlit with white light.

The lights, both rear and front, are now LED, enhanced by the white glass.

Engine and performance:

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In the transition to Euro 4 it gains 4 horsepower and improved power output

The engine of the Honda CB 650 F 2017 is the well-known 4-cylinder, which now complies with the Euro 4 directives. Honda has subjected it to a treatment that it shares with its faired sister CBR650, which we have already tested this year (here is the link to the article). There are numerous innovations, from the intake ducts to the injection, which combined with the electronics lead to an increase in power of 4 horsepower, which reaches 91, delivered at 11 thousand rpm, while the torque stands at 64 Nm at 8.000 . Another new feature that makes Honda's naked bike better concerns the gear ratios. They are now shorter from second to fifth gear, with the inline 4-cylinder being kept in a rev range where it performs best. You are accompanied by the sound of the new exhaust, which is meaner, thanks to the internal structure of the silencer, with a double section instead of a triple one and the larger terminal outlet.

The engine doesn't embarrass and shouldn't; when all the horsepower is sought, the engine reacts less suddenly than the 91 horsepower might suggest, but once it enters the maximum torque zone it starts to become fun and full-bodied, especially between 8 and 11 thousand rpm, where it delivers maximum power. Less aggressive, but always full, below this threshold, it picks up well and without problems already at 1.500 rpm, thus not requiring too intensive use of the gearbox. The engine is in fact flexible, thus allowing you to use sixth gear even in mixed terrain, almost without touching the gearbox. When detaching, the clutch is soft and punctual and the gearbox is perfect when engaging gears.

The guide is enhanced by the mountain routes, which accompanied us during our test; Combining curves and tight hairpin bends with the CB 650 F is a unique pleasure, because it is agile, reactive and, among its most appreciable virtues, it has an engine that pushes strongly at high revs, even if at low speed it turns out to be a little ' lazy. In this it may not convince everyone, because perhaps it is too linear to provide strong emotions. However, for many this will not be a flaw at all, because it makes the bike easier and more accessible even for a novice who wants to make the CB 650 F his first bike. What convinces us about this Honda is in fact its character as a very intuitive, easy and exploitable motorbike, both for use in the city and for a very pleasant ride in the mountains, where in our opinion it manages to be perfectly at ease. The fact that its 91 horsepower is "spread" across the delivery curve helps in this, as well as a very well-balanced and easy chassis.

Ride and handling:

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The fork and brake calipers are new, confirming itself as an intuitive and very pleasant motorbike

As mentioned at the beginning, the new features of the CB 650 F MY 2017 are many, perhaps none are sensational, but together they form an important refinement work, which makes it a better motorbike from many points of view. We find a new fork, with the debut of Dual bending valves by Showa, with 41 mm stanchions which allows for lively and safe riding, precise trajectories and quick bending. The perceived result is a pleasant sensation of safety in the lean, which leads to pushing, without unpleasant surprises. The CB 650 F 2017 is an easy and intuitive motorbike, capable of satisfying both the novice rider and the more experienced motorcyclist.

The CB 650 F is easy to handle on narrow roads and stable on fast roads, without ever compromising the chassis, all this thanks also to the well-tuned suspensions and the riding position which has been moved slightly forward, with the driver closer to the wheel anterior and more “elongated”. The rear end when entering the bend proves to be well calibrated and the front end in the middle of the bend and with the bike heavily leaned in, instils confidence. All this thanks also to the new fork Showa Dual Bending Valve.

The Honda CB 650 F 2017 is truly small, light at 208 kg with a full tank of petrol and with compact dimensions (1.450 mm wheelbase). Features that make it an easy bike to ride, thanks also to the 25,5° headstock opening and a trail of just 101 mm.

The braking system gains new Nissin calipers, at the front you can count on large 320 mm wave discs and 2-piston calipers, again wave disc at the rear, managed by a single-piston caliper. A system powerful enough to never cause difficulty even in the most demanding braking sections, it behaves very well under stress, as in our mountain route, made up of sections with sudden braking and load variations, with a positive rating also for the ABS, which has never been invasive. We can't say the same thing about the rear brake, which in our opinion lacks a little bit of bite, especially when braking hard.

Price and consumption:

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A price of 7.750 euros, with the guarantee of very low management costs

Ultimately the Honda CB 650 F aims to achieve a perfect balance between performance, range, weight and price. It is capable of satisfying a very different audience of motorcyclists: from the novice to the most experienced. As for consumption, the figure declared in the average cycle is 21 km/l, a value that is far from difficult to replicate in real use, where in fact it is possible to do even better. With a 17.3 liter tank the autonomy is therefore almost 350 km.

Available in 3 colors, Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic, Pearl Metalloid White and Millenium Red, the CB650 F has a list price of 7.750 Euros.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Ease of driving, consumption, engine
We do not like it:
Rear brake.

Honda CB 650 F MY 2017: the Motorionline Report Card

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Test clothing:

Jacket: Alpinestars
Trousers: OJ JEANS MUSCLE BLUE MAN
Gloves: Dainese Ergotour Gore-Tex X-trafit
Sneakers: OJ Drift Black
Helmet: LS2 FF323 ARROW C EVO FURY CARBON WHITE