By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer vs Naked Bike
Honda CBR 650F (RC 74) vs CB650F (RC 75)
Honda CBR 650F vs CB650F: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
You'll feel these two Hondas part ways at the turn-in point: the Honda CBR 650F's steering bites precisely and it's steady once leaned. The Honda CB650F's brakes bite soft and modulate cleanly.
What makes each one tick
CBR 650F
Around town the CBR 650F's four hums along without a shiver, and there's a fresh pull waiting as the revs climb. High revs buzz the pegs. The brake lever hauls the bike down through a plain telescopic fork that doesn't keep its composure on broken pavement. The clutch slips in smooth through stop-and-go traffic.
CB650F
The CB650F's four spins up eagerly without a dip or a spike, and the throttle answers in fine, even steps. Clutch, gearbox and brakes all feel soft, simple and easy to modulate. A wider handlebar would give it more aggressive, direct handling. Corner entry stays calm, with a chassis that doesn't come apart when the pace climbs on a track. The bar's right where it belongs.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- ABS: standard on the CB650F, option on the CBR 650F.
- Heated Grips: option on the CBR 650F, not offered on the CB650F.
- Luggage System: option on the CBR 650F, not offered on the CB650F.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong tool: CB650F
Long days on the highway aren't the CB650F's job, so there's no verdict for it here.
Nothing splits them on commuting, twisty roads, running costs, and a first bike. Ride both back to back and the decision usually makes itself.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
CBR 650F
What owners say
Strengths
- Smooth, polished inline-four engine
- Light, agile handling
- Excellent value for money
Trade-offs
- Budget suspension components
- Basic instrumentation and switchgear
- Engine vibration at high rpm
CB650F
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Reliability you stop thinking about
- Handling anyone can use
- Real lean angle available
- Cheap to keep on the road
- Well supported by the aftermarket
Trade-offs
- Front fork has no adjustment
- Corrosion on exposed metal
- Rider aids stop at ABS
Known problems to check before you buy
CBR 650F
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
CB650F
- Starter relay recall (safety) Recall 15V439000 A defective starter relay can cause the engine to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash. Honda issued a recall (NHTSA 15V-439) to replace the relay on affected units.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 10-year-old CBR 650F with a 10-year-old CB650F.
- CBR 650F
- about $7,400
- CB650F
- about $6,300
At ten years old, the Honda CBR 650F sits around $7,400 while the Honda CB650F lands near $6,300. That's a $1,100 gap in the CB650F's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Seat height
- 31.9 in (810 mm)
- Displacement
- 649 cc
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 87 hp (64 kW)
- Fuel capacity
- 4.6 US gal (17.3 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Telescopic
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| CBR 650F | CB650F | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 465 lb (211 kg) | 459 lb (208 kg) |
| CBR 650F | CB650F | |
|---|---|---|
| Torque | 47 lb-ft (64 Nm) | 46 lb-ft (63 Nm) |
| CBR 650F | CB650F | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 41 mpg (US) / 5.8 L/100 km | 42 mpg (US) / 5.54 L/100 km |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CBR 650F | CB650F | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Option | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
| Luggage System | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
