2022 Honda CB650R ABS Is Better Than The Rivals.
The 2022 Honda CB650R ABS has been launched for a base MSRP of $9,199 and comes with no
changes from the previous model year.
Offered with the smooth and powerful inline 4 motor, the 2022 CB650R ABS is one of the
very few motorcycles of the middleweight naked segment that comes with an inline 4.
Mated to a slick-shifting 6-speed gearbox, the riding experience on offer is second to
none.
The neo-retro design language and the intoxicating sound from the inline 4 motor of the 2022
CB650R ABS also stand out from most of the rivals.
The superb build quality, Honda reliability, and sharp handling are other factors that
make the CBR650R ABS an enticing proposition of the segment.
With the rising competition from the likes of the Yamaha XSR 700 and the Triumph Trident
660, here are the things that every motorcycle enthusiast should know about the 2022 Honda
CB650R ABS.
With many of the competitors coming with the parallel-twin or inline-3 motors in the same
price bracket, the 2022 Honda CB650R ABS stands out due to the inline 4 motor embedded between
the chassis and the muscular tank.
The 649cc liquid-cooled DOHC inline 4 motor puts out about 80.1 hp and 41.7 lb-ft of torque.
The motor comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox and the fuel injection is onboard too.
The torque on offer from this inline 4 motor is probably one of the best of the segment.
This makes the CB650R ABS a capable machine on the open highways as well as the streets.
The fueling is not very choppy, and the power doesn't taper off when you get close to the
red line.
The motor also sounds phenomenal and the refinement level is easily the best of the lot.
Hondas have always been known for their crisp gearshift quality, and we are happy to report
that the 2022 Honda CB650 R ABS is no different.
The transmission does a wonderful job in shifting through the gears and the gear throws are
very minimal.
The clutch is adequately light, and the bite point is not too far away as well.
Apart from that, the CB650R ABS gears are reasonably spaced out and that helps the motorcycle
to excel in both city riding and on the freeways.
The first and second gear is not very short, and hence you wouldn't need to row through
the gears in city traffic.
However, the fifth and sixth gears are very tall, making the motor barely audible at highway
speeds.
The suspension system of the 2022 Honda CBR650R ABS is taken from the outgoing 2021 model,
and hence it sees no major changes when it comes to the riding dynamics.
Even then, the CB650R ABS offers one of the most enjoyable cornering experiences, especially
in the middleweight naked motorcycle segment.
The front end gets a 41mm Showa inverted fork with 4.25" of suspension travel, and the rear
end gets the Showa mono-shock with spring preload adjustability.
All of this results in a suspension system that is not too soft nor too hard.
The motorcycle is capable of diving into the corner with ease, has a responsive handlebar,
and mid-corner direction changes are possible too.
Having a suspension system that is not too stiff would definitely make the ride comfortable.
The 2022 Honda CB650 R is a perfect example of this.
The front end of the motorcycle is capable of absorbing everything the road throws at
it.
However, the biggest of the potholes does make its presence felt, similar to the Triumph
Trident 660.
The rear Showa mono-shock system has the ability to adjust the preload.
At the softest setting, the motorcycle is pretty comfortable and is similar to the likes
of the Kawasaki Z650 and the SV650.
Even the potholes are absorbed with utmost comfort, and hence, the pillion wouldn't have
much to complain about.
Braking is one area that the 2022 Honda CB650R ABS completely destroys most of the rivals
out there.
Unlike the wooden feeling brakes of the Kawasaki Z650 and the Suzuki SV650, the CB650R ABS
feels very much similar to some of the bigger bikes from the Honda portfolio.
The front end gets dual 310mm discs with radial-mount 4-piston calipers, and that equates to sharp
initial bite and excellent braking progression.
ABS is on board for both the front and rear as well.
When it comes to the rear, a single 240mm disc takes care of the braking and the brakes
were found to be reasonably sharp.
The ABS intrusion is minimal too.
The Honda CB650R ABS looks beautiful from all angles, and that helps this naked motorcycle
stand out.
The front view is highlighted by the striking LED headlight with circular LED DRL, golden
upper fork tubes, and the wide 120 section tire.
The upright stance of the motorcycle adds to the appeal too.
The golden-colored exhaust headers look the part, and the same applies to the side-mounted
short exhaust too.
The side also stands out due to the masculine tank, blacked-out elements, and silver side
pieces.
The rear gets an LED taillight and indicator, and that gels well with the overall design
language.
However, the long tail looks a bit odd.
Overall, the design doesn't look dated and could easily hold a candle to the Kawasaki
Z650 RS.
The build quality of the 2022 Honda CB650R ABS was found to be superior to the Kawasakis,
Suzukis, and Yamahas that are sold in a similar price bracket.
The plastic trims and other moldings are fixed with precision and there are no visible panel
gaps anywhere, which was not the case with the MT-07.
All the wires are neatly tucked in and there are no visible screws anywhere on the body
as well.
All of this makes this middleweight naked motorcycle feel more premium.
The paint quality is top-notch, and there's not any orange peel anywhere.
The instrument cluster, footpegs, etc are rubber mounted too.
Running an inline 4 motor, many people expect the 2022 CB650R ABS to run pretty hot, especially
during the peak rush hour traffic.
However, with the liquid cooling onboard with a fairly massive radiator, heating is never
an issue with the motorcycle.
Another thing that needs a special mention is that the heat is directed away from the
legs of the rider, which is a boon during traffic riding.
However, the exposed header does emit heat and that could be felt when sitting in the
traffic.
Apart from the regular maintenance, none of the model years of the Honda CB650R ABS have
had any major issues reported by the owners.
Another impressive aspect of this motorcycle is the cheap part cost and availability.
Everything is pretty accessible too.
However, some of the older model years of the CB650Rs had rough gear shift issues, which
were routed back to the gear shift sensor.
This is not a very common issue, and the fix is pretty straightforward and cheap.
The valve cover gasket had the sealant seeping out in some of the motorcycles, and that does
look pretty bad.
These were rectified by Honda during the initial service visit.
Some of the rivals of the naked middleweight segment come with multiple riding modes.
Bluetooth's connectivity, heated grips, and many other creature comforts and riding aids
are offered, too.
However, the 2022 Honda CB650R ABS misses out on many of these, which helps cut costs
significantly.
The LCD instrument cluster of the CB650R ABS does provide all the basic information and
is adequately bright.
However, navigation, music, messages, and other information are not provided due to
the lack of Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone app integration.
Nevertheless, LED headlight, y-spoke aluminum wheels, four-into-one exhaust, etc come as
standard.