Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India showcased the CBR650F at the 2014 Auto Expo and confirmed that it will produce this motorcycle in India in 2015. Now as per zauba.com, the company has imported one CBR650F from Thailand for research and development purpose, making us believe, the company has started working on the bike for the Indian market.
First unveiled at the 2013 EICMA event along with its naked sibling, the CB650F is a sports tourer and sits between the CBR600RR and the CBR500F. The Japanese manufacturer markets this motorcycle as the most practical inline-four machine one can buy.
The CBR650F is powered by a 650cc inline-four mill, which supports low and medium engine speeds offering everyday usability and brilliant efficiency (21kmpl). This mill produces 87bhp at 11,000rpm and a maximum torque of 63Nm at 8,000rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox. The bike gets a new aluminium swing arm, preload adjustable rear shock and owing to European regulations, ABS as a standard fitment and clip on handlebars. Stopping power in the front is provided by a pair of 320mm discs with traditional two-piston calipers. The display console is digital with white backlight and both the front and back gets ample LED lights.
The Honda CBR650F will compete with the Kawasaki Z800 and the Street Triple once it is launched in India. Both its competitors are more of naked street motorcycles but when it comes to engine setup and price, it can be compared with the Japanese and the British bike. We are expecting Honda to launch the CBR650F in the middle of next year, with the price hovering around the Rs 8 lakh mark.
