Pondering 2020 CB650R

[Toei]

I have a 2019 XSR700 that I enjoy riding but I'm really put off by the fact that Yamaha STILL has not addressed the rusting swingarm issue (after many warranty claims) 🤯 The paint is thin, low-quality (not typical automotive paint), and there's no primer! The frame seems to have the same paint. I didn't see it at the dealer (bike had zero miles on odometer), but my bike came with rust on one of the inner welds of the swingarm.

So I'm contemplating taking a hit and selling the XSR next year. The CB has an aluminum swingarm which is an appealing upgrade at this point. The frame is of course still steel. Has anyone been able to suss out what kind of finish Honda uses on the frame (paint vs. powder coat)? Does the finish seem durable?

I'm leery about buying a first-year bike, even a Honda, and even if the CB650R is considered an evolution of the F model rather than all-new. So if I'm able to get a decent price on the XSR I'd be looking at a 2020 CB650R. I see the 2020 US CB300R has already been released, and that Matte Pearl Blue color is considerably unappealing to me! 🤮

What do the Honda prognosticators here think: Will the US 2020 CB650R use the same color? Yeah, you Euro guys and gals get the luxury of multiple colors to choose from, not so here. I'd be fine if Honda just held on to the beautiful Chromosphere Red for a second year.

 

[Forc]

A 2020 CB650R would be second-year bike. I just purchased the 2019 CB650R (red) and couldn't be happier. (That might also be due to it being my first big bike and me being happy in general with being on a bike.). I also have 5 years warranty on it so i'm not overly worried about any replacements if there should be a problem.

That being said, my impression from all the reviews i have looked at and of course the history of the CB650F too is that the build quality is very good. I think i would recommend that you look at English Biker Dan's reviews (here on the forum) as he owns a CB650R and has made a couple comprehensive reviews of it.

 

[Toei]

A 2020 CB650R would be second-year bike

Yep, that's why I'm considering a 2020 and not the 2019.

I think i would recommend that you look at English Biker Dan's reviews (here on the forum) as he owns a CB650R and has made a couple comprehensive reviews of it.

Yes I've been checking out Biker Dan's videos and postings. I don't agree with everything he said about the MT07 in his comparison video, but I agree with enough of it to give credence to his opinions on that bike and the CB650R.

 

[Forc]

Yeah, my bad. Just misread your entire sentence.

As i've only had my bike for a few days i can't really give you a reliable feedback on the durability. BUT when i took my drivers license (long process here in Norway with lots of lessons and whatnot) i drove the CB650F at the driving school. These are bikes that naturally have been ridden hard and all day for a couple of years. They had nothing but good things to say about the reliability. And i must say they were still very smooth even being a few years old and having been abused by people learning to drive every day for a couple years. My understanding is that the CB650R is just a upgrade/new version of these, and that the build quality should be equally good. I went with the CB650R due to the CB650F being very comfortable, and also because of Honda's reputation for reliability. I don't want to spend lots of time working on my bike as i honestly do not have time for that.

 

[Forc]

Just randomly stumbled upon this post, might be relevant for you: https://650f.bike/threads/help-needed-issue-with-build-quality-on-a-2019-cb650r.1465/

 

[miweber929]

You’re asking questions that are hard to know for sure what way Honda is thinking. On one hand they offered several color choices the first few years of the CBR650F and that didn’t make sales any better but so far it seems the 650R version is a big hit as everyone is sold out of them and they seem to be getting great reviews but Honda isn’t releasing color choices in the CB or CBR. What are they to do?

So your guess is as good as ours until closer to August or September when the 2020s are officially released. I’ll go out on a limb and say the maroon/red color will be offered at a minimum and I bet they’ll offer one more color scheme.

As far as build quality and paint on the frame, it’s most definitely a Thailand built bike similar to your XSR and not the old Japanese Honda build quality we are used to from years past. You’ll have small corrosion areas, some things will be cheap but overall it will be a great bike just built to a budget. What I can tell you is that the frame and swingarm are finished with a very strong coating, not sure if it’s paint or powdercoat but it’s very durable. As linked above, though, there are casting marks and imperfections that if you’re picky may bother you. And I don’t believe the frame is primed but I’m not sure on the R.

Rather than taking the hit on the new bike, why not take a much smaller hit and have your current swingarm powder coated? If you like the bike otherwise I’d think you’ll be into a brand new and refinished swingarm for under $500, then sell your current one to offset the cost. At least here in the US prices of Honda 650 parts are extremely reasonable and I’d assume Yamaha is the same. Woukd be a better route if that’s the only thing you dislike; the frame should be easy to keep up any chips or marks on it.

You’d be happy with the 650 as a whole but if the little details are what bother you on the Yamaha I think they’ll bother you on the Honda. I’d suggest stepping up in models at both manufactures and get the Japanese built units to get the details you expect from them.

The XSR looks like a cool bike, I’m a big fan of the XSR900 with the bare aluminum finished tank after I saw one at the bike shop a month or so ago, great looking bike. What color is yours?

 

[Toei]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

it’s most definitely a Thailand built bike similar to your XSR

The XSR's are built in Japan. Everything else being equal, I'd prefer Japanese built. But everything else is never equal! To offset the much higher Japanese labor cost they of course have to cut costs elsewhere to the meet the pricepoint.

Rather than taking the hit on the new bike, why not take a much smaller hit and have your current swingarm powder coated?

I've thought of that and it will be an option in my back pocket. I'll test the market first and if I can't get enough back out of the bike that will probably be plan B.

What color is yours?

Brushed aluminum with red stripe, then clear-coated over that. It looks sharp. I'm on the wrong computer at the moment or I'd drop a photo.

What I can tell you is that the frame and swingarm are finished with a very strong coating,

Thanks, I like the sound of this! Coming from a longer history with high-end bicycles, I have a mindset that a bike (motor or not) is only as good as its frame. And everything else is replaceable (maybe not the engine so much). I feel like Honda stuck to this credo a little better while Yamaha just viewed it as an oppurtunity to cut cost (referring to more than the just the respective coatings).

 

[Toei]

there are casting marks and imperfections that if you’re picky may bother you

So much content in your post to respond to! On the scale of things that bother me, I can live with this. A rusting frame I can't live with.

I'd be inclined towards the XSR900 due to the aluminum frame, but it's just too powerful for my taste. Couple that with limited range (mediocre fuel economy + small tank), and stock suspesnion that by all accounts is worse than what comes on the XSR700. It's steering geometry is not as good as the 700 either. I could have purchased a new 2018 900 for less than I paid for the 2019 700, but I just couldn't go there.

Money no object I'd get a Street Triple R (still almost too powerful). So here I am looking at the CB650R. Fantasy bike would be a Japanese-built 650 triple (with aluminum frame)!

 

[Junior J]

Hi Toei I'm almost in similar position to you, difference is just missed out on a 19 cb650r due to dealer screwing up big time. Don't want to bore you or others with this as now looking to deal somewhere else and have 3 weeks away from work as of 14th July.
Agree as have 18 MT 07 but has been pampered and coated with sealants like waxes then ACF50 top coat. The swing arm has propensity to rot from inside out too at times dependent where you live if close to coast sea seems happens more.
What was my closest dealer ended relationship with Yamaha with swing arm issues replacing them daily as sold a lot of units first 18 months of release and had customers returning under warranty in under 9 months, one MT was on 3rd swing arm before owner traded it in. Like others are commenting bikes both MT/ XSR and CB range all being built to a budget with obvious QC challenges due to this.
If not CB am not too sure had though about BMW F800r but not too sure, could go back to SV650 and spend a bit on suspension, swing arm etc could build own spec bike to my liking. Street Triple is another contender and despite quality reputation is built in Thailand too now I'm sure. At present my local Suzuki dealer has a specced / modified GSX S750 at a good price but struggled with GSR older brother due to weight and slight issue after traffic accident.
At weekend local Husquarvana dealer has open day with demos too but not sure if could decide on anything there.
For me think will talk with different honda dealer to see what they say and go from there if case of waiting to 2020 so be it now would rather have right bike now, dealers won't make difference to me it's bike and proper customer service.

 

[Toei]

JuniorJ - thanks for sharing your experience. I believe you’re right that the Street Triple is built in Thailand. However, at this point in my understanding I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the work that either Triumph’s or Honda’s Thai factories are doing. It seems like more quality issues are due to design shortcomings, rather than manufacturing/assembly ones.

I sprang for a 2019 XSR700 versus cheaper available 2018 ones thinking this might finally be the year Yamaha adjusted its manufacturing practices for their [Japanese-built] steel swingarms. Oops, wrong. The only way Yamaha could redeem themselves in my eyes at this point is to outfit the 2020 MT07/XSR with an aluminum swingarm that is backwards-compatible with the prior year bikes. I’m going to hold off on my warranty claim for a while with this thought in mind, as far-fetched as it may be.

 

[Junior J]

I agree Toei the Yamaha swing arm is sub standard however seem to just constantly swap out swing arms and bearings, have often wondered if they simply repaint/ recycle meaning you get an old new stock item as such. Additionally the welding seems on top of swing arm at adjusters are poorer weld than I can do and only ever really welded in my youth but can still do better.
Triumph have some known niggles regards QC, fasteners from early 2000's are known at times to be made of putty or cheese thy are pain to remove, replaced all on a bike as did friend as both handy with tools but scared to slacken off for fear of shearing felt better once added upgraded fasteners- not cheap but worth it as know could take off then fasten without issue. There are several cases of bent frames from Triumph but no basis to say QC issue this could happen during shipping but have borne this in mind too.

 

[Flippmiestro]

So its September now , when do you think honda is realising their new 2020 model? im living in thailand currently if it makes any diffrent?

Im so pumped to buy the new CB 650r problem is , that it feels so bad buying the 2019 right now , when the 2020 probaly comming sooon right???

 

[Schoug]

Yep, that's why I'm considering a 2020 and not the 2019.



Yes I've been checking out Biker Dan's videos and postings. I don't agree with everything he said about the MT07 in his comparison video, but I agree with enough of it to give credence to his opinions on that bike and the CB650R.

Any Word of the 2020 version?

 

[Jerry]

Sorry to burst your 2020 bubbles, but like I said in this post it's not very likely there will be a different or revised 2020 model for the 650R bikes. If you buy a 650R in 2020 you'll be buying the exact same bike as you're buying in 2019. The only difference is that the production year will be 2020 which might have a tiny advantage when selling it again.

 

[jejeromiss]

are you sure guys that there will be a 2020 cb650r release? its been on going thread here also in Philippines! they are really bugged about the 2020 release. asking if there will be any changes, improvements or what. but I think the color will be the only changes like the rebel 2017 to latest model. nothing was changed, just new colors. ive been searching the net if there will be a 2020 cb650r release, but nothing so far. only these threads are showing up for cb650r 2020

 

[Goblin]

I think there will not be a new 2020 release of the cb650r. My thoughts are based on the late release of the bike this year and that it was the last bike to complete the Neo sports cafe lineup. I just think it would be to soon for any changes / updates for this bike. Maybe end 2020 begin 2021 some added thank colors! But nothing dramatic. But my favorite color is and will be black for this bike 😉 for me “personally”, black is the only color that is a perfect match for this retro style / cafe sports bike. Don’t get me wrong i do like the other colors (specially the jeans blue) but not on this bike. The only ugly thing, I think on this bike is the color of the rear shock spring. I’m going to change it for black or the same bronze/gold color of the front forks (I’m still debating on it). Why yellow Honda!! What the heck where you thinking 😂😂.

 

[Jerry]

are you sure guys that there will be a 2020 cb650r release? its been on going thread here also in Philippines! they are really bugged about the 2020 release. asking if there will be any changes, improvements or what. but I think the color will be the only changes like the rebel 2017 to latest model. nothing was changed, just new colors. ive been searching the net if there will be a 2020 cb650r release, but nothing so far. only these threads are showing up for cb650r 2020

There's no reason to think there will be a different 2020 model. Just look at the past and see how many newly released bikes got a refresh or update in the very next year. None, I think.
I would even go so far as to say there won't be any new color schemes for 2020.

 

[Jerry]

it was the last bike to complete the Neo sports cafe lineup

Is it? There still is the CB500F

 

[Goblin]

Yes Jerry, there only made 4 Neo sports cafe models, the cb125r cb300r cb650r and the cb1000r. The cb650r was the last bike they introduced. They all come in 4 different colors accept for the cb1000r, it has 3 different color options. The cb500f is not a member of the Neo sports cafe.

 

[Jerry]

Yes Jerry, there only made 4 Neo sports cafe models, the cb125r cb300r cb650r and the cb1000r. The cb650r was the last bike they introduced. They all come in 4 different colors accept for the cb1000r, it has 3 different color options. The cb500f is not a member of the Neo sports cafe.

Ok, maybe I misunderstood what you meant.
I assumed you meant that the 650R was the last (as in, there won't be any others) bike to get the Neo Café treatment, but I guess you mean it was the most recent bike to get the Neo Café treatment. I kind of brought up the CB500F because, indeed, it's not a Neo Café bike yet, but maybe Honda will turn that into a Neo Café bike one day as well and call it the CB500R?