CB650R Picking Up My 650 Tomorrow!!

[GregTheWalrus3]

Howdy y’all!!

My name is Greg and I’ve been riding since summer 2018. Currently riding a Grom but after nearly 3k miles of WOT fun on the minibike I’m ready to step up to my first “big” motorcycle...

Last fall, I instantly fell in love with the look of the CB650R and, well... After drooling over it for so long, finally pulled the trigger (and got a pretty great deal as well!) Put down the deposit last week and I will be riding it home tomorrow!!

Really excited to start putting some miles down as the 650 will allow me to do longer daytrips and some light touring that just isn’t practical on the Grom (although I still love the Grom and it’s staying in the garage along with the CB...)

The forum has already given me some useful reading material so thank you. Looking forward to participating in discussion and sharing content... I’ve been lurking for awhile, but now I’m ready to be part of the club haha so here’s my official introduction 👍

 

[baugustine]

Welcome, you’re just in time for riding season! Go Team USA 🇺🇸

 

[miweber929]

Hello and welcome!!!

We do require pictures when you get it. And of the Grom as well.

 

[Rafe]

Welcome and congrats on the new purchase.

 

[Uncle Meat]

Hi Greg, welcome

 

[Devilsfan]

Welcome to the forum! You're going to really enjoy your new "baby"! They're great motorcycles.

 

[ducatiman]

IMHO 650 is quite the (near) perfect little streetbike. Agile, capable handling, more than fast enough, reliable with very reasonable long term maintenance schedule. Personally, I love the stealthy quiet exhaust.

Mine under a year old, just 2000 miles ....no rust, no hardware falling off, no whacked noises, unmolested and no issues whatsoever. I suspect a similar reliable service life to my 22 year old VFR800 with 43,000 miles, precisely why I opted for this Honda....also based on some info garnered on another forum from member @Devilsfan.

Congrats, enjoy, ride safe! (attached pic my VFR)

 

[GregTheWalrus3]

Thanks everyone!! Between the ride home yesterday & my first joyride today I’ve already put over 150 miles on the 650 with uncontrollable grins the whole way 😁 Managed to snap a few decent pics today which I’ll post in the bike showcase but for @miweber929 here’s a shot of the new CB650R next to the Grom (sorry for the messy garage haha)

 

[miweber929]

Nice pic!!!

Grom’s are a hoot, aren’t they? I wish I still had mine, I lucked into it when they were first introduced. I walked into a local shop on the Tuesday before Labor Day weekend ‘13 to buy some oil and there was one sitting on the floor that was sold in the preorder. I talked to the sales guy about it, said they were cool and when the next shipment came in January to let me know I may want one and he called me the next morning to say that buyer couldn't get financed, the next in line had a voicemail box that wasn’t setup that they called several times without a call back and wondered if I wanted it. I drove down, paid them cash and enjoyed the hell out of it for a year or so. Traded it (and my NC700X) in a fit of “responsibility” because I only had like 500 miles on it and wanted the CBR650F.

Thinking I’ll eventually get a yellow Monkey like the Z50 I had growing up.

 

[GregTheWalrus3]

Nice pic!!!

Grom’s are a hoot, aren’t they? I wish I still had mine, I lucked into it when they were first introduced. I walked into a local shop on the Tuesday before Labor Day weekend ‘13 to buy some oil and there was one sitting on the floor that was sold in the preorder. I talked to the sales guy about it, said they were cool and when the next shipment came in January to let me know I may want one and he called me the next morning to say that buyer couldn't get financed, the next in line had a voicemail box that wasn’t setup that they called several times without a call back and wondered if I wanted it. I drove down, paid them cash and enjoyed the hell out of it for a year or so. Traded it (and my NC700X) in a fit of “responsibility” because I only had like 500 miles on it and wanted the CBR650F.

Thinking I’ll eventually get a yellow Monkey like the Z50 I had growing up.

Most definitely!! The Grom is a fantastic machine - it allows for maximum fun levels while being manageable so it’s difficult to put yourself in a really dangerous/uncontrollable situation. There’s also loads of aftermarket support to mod the bike into anything you want - the possibilities are really endless! In my humble opinion, it’s a perfect first bike especially for building confidence in riding skill as well as learning maintenance/mechanical techniques for those interested in wrenching!!

In fact, one of the main reasons I’m keeping the Grom (aside from its sentimental value to me being much higher than what I could get selling it) is because I’m planning on continuing to tweak & customize it. It’s now a “project toy” to help build my wrenching skills that is also a blast to ride short trips around town!!

One of these days, I’d love to own a Monkey... The vintage vibe is just too cool!! Alas, I would need to get rid of the Grom first which isn’t gonna happen for the foreseeable future haha 😂 (Also someday when I’m ready to part with it, I’d like to try a small dual-sport like a CRF250L Rally as a secondary bike...)

 

[miweber929]

I’d like to try a small dual-sport like a CRF250L Rally as a secondary bike...)

Almost bought a Rally last year, they are pretty much giving away NOS ‘16s, ‘17s and 18s still sitting in showrooms, but decided on my WR250R as it’s a better off-road bike straight out if the box to replace my WR450F. Dual sports are a blast as well, you’ll grin from ear to ear after riding one