2019 Honda CB650R: Middleweight neo-retro unveiled at EICMA.

Honda already has the CB300F and CB1000R neo-retros, and now, Big Red has unveiled the 2019 CB650R at EICMA, making for a fully-rounded lineup.

The basics are familiar: a naked bike with steel frame, powered by a liquid-cooled 650 cc inline four engine. But this year, that engine has power up five per cent to 95 hp, thanks to a redline boosted by 1,000 rpm, and Honda’s designers cut almost 2 kg of weight off the frame—while this bike is based on the old CB650F, there are some definite improvements.

So what else do you get? For suspension, there’s 41 mm Showa inverted Separate Function Forks, adjustable for preload and rebound damping. With little hubbub over the rear shock, we’d assume something more pedestrian in back. The brakes have Nissin four-pot calipers, radially mounted with 310 mm discs.

Honda included several technical bits to help ride the CB650R faster, including assist/slipper clutch and also included its Selectable Torque Control, a traction control system already found on the Africa Twin.

The wheels are cast aluminum, new to the model. The riding position has been tweaked to be more sporty than the CB650F, with footpegs moved back and handlebars moved higher and more forward. The LCD dash is the same that Honda included on its 500 line this year. Overall, the CB650R has the same Blade Runner styling the rest of Honda’s neo retro machines get.

Canadian availability and pricing has not been announced for the CB650R.

GALLERY

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On a pure technology and performance basis, the Honda CB650R is far and away the best machine here, despite a little extra weight.

The CB650R also retains that lovely 4-1 exhaust header that looks very similar to the old CB400 setup.

The Honda CB650R makes the most horsepower out of these four bikes, and it’s a significant difference.

Neo-retro Blade Runner styling with 21st century technology: the CB650R has the potential to be a real sleeper hit.