Honda Cb650r Review

Used Buyer Review

The CB650R is Honda's answer to the middleweight naked question, and used examples are genuinely good value right now. That inline-four screams to 11,000rpm in a way parallel twins simply can't replicate, and the neo-retro styling has aged better than most. Check for cam chain tensioner noise on cold starts — it's a known quirk on early 2019-2020 bikes, though rarely catastrophic. Throttle response can feel slightly wooden below 4,000rpm, so don't judge it until you've properly wrung its neck. Pre-purchase, inspect the rear shock closely. It's budget-spec from the factory and takes a hammering on neglected UK roads. Budget another £300-400 for a decent aftermarket unit if the bike's done serious miles. Fairing scratches are almost universal — these get dropped at low speed. Mechanically though, Honda reliability means most used examples are solid even past 20,000 miles with basic servicing.