All 650's What did you do with your 650 today?

[Ian Warren]

Bellissimo 🇮🇹

 

[Ian Warren]

Did just over 6,000 miles on the 650 having bought it at a bargain price £6750 with on 224 miles on it!
The bike has been flawless, had its 600 mile service and nothing else required. Tail tidy, Quickshifter and tinted screen for mods.
She ran for a week at high speed chasing a Ducati V4S up to 137 mph (real on GPS) on autobahns to the Austrian Alps and back.
Nowt wrong with 94 BHP!
But more is more and 155 is addictive!
The CBR650R will always be a a special bike for me.
First big bike
First sports bike
Way more fun than the other mid size bikes I test rode (tracer 700, tiger sport 660)!
Reliable and quality feel.
Good handling excellently set up basic suspension and great Honda quality.
What’s not to like 👍

 

[Motojack]

Did just over 6,000 miles on the 650 having bought it at a bargain price £6750 with on 224 miles on it!
The bike has been flawless, had its 600 mile service and nothing else required. Tail tidy, Quickshifter and tinted screen for mods.
She ran for a week at high speed chasing a Ducati V4S up to 137 mph (real on GPS) on autobahns to the Austrian Alps and back.
Nowt wrong with 94 BHP!
But more is more and 155 is addictive!
The CBR650R will always be a a special bike for me.
First big bike
First sports bike
Way more fun than the other mid size bikes I test rode (tracer 700, tiger sport 660)!
Reliable and quality feel.
Good handling excellently set up basic suspension and great Honda quality.
What’s not to like 👍

It's a nice bike alright I'll be holding on to it for a while. I've my eye on a s1000rr myself but admittedly that will be a while yet . Fair play though I always wanted a go off a ducati.

 

[xorbe]

There's just something about a quick shifter, hunkered down and clicking gears feels faster than manual shifting. Today I finally got to really try it out [on the CBR650], rather than around the block at 35 mph. I'm kind of okay with manual downshift blipping, but it's easy to miss, or over-cut and lurch.

 

[Brammers]

Shall we stay on topic? The duc chat can continue in the relevant section.

Admin

 

[FL650F]

Thought I'd make a place for people to easily share any recent activities they've enjoyed (or not) with their Honda 650. Most other owner forums have a similar thread, and now we have one too. It doesn't have to be a special accomplishment. In fact, the mundane aspects of enjoying your bike tend to be the most relatable for others, so share what you did with your bike today!

To get the ball rolling, I completed my first oil and filter change today. This is my first motorcycle with a spin-on oil filter, and the mounting made it super easy to swap. Glad no fairings have to be removed to complete it. I also cleaned and lubed the chain. I'm trying out DuPont's chain guard for the first time. It has good reviews and is inexpensive, so I thought I'd give it a shot. So far, I can only say it isn't nearly as tacky as the Maxima chain wax.

teardown for the Ohlins shock install, which is now finished. also doing valve check, air filter, spark plugs and coolant flush while im here.

 

[Motojack]

Nice trick with the ladder

 

[miweber929]

Nice trick with the ladder

I did mine by placing a small bottle Jack between the wheel and fender. Works like a charm.

 

[FL650F]

Nice trick with the ladder

thanks. worked for the grom so figured i would try it out on the CBR.

 

[TuneR]

Slightly (but only very slightly) sad to say I part ex’d my first big bike in for a Sexy Italian model on Saturday.
So my 21 plate CBR650R which I have enjoyed enormously has gone and a Shiny 2022 525 mile Ducati Panigale V2 has replaced her

Lovely, wouldn't mind hearing your thoughts on comparisons. Had intended on that being my bike after the next one.

 

[lordthomas2]

Hey!

In this January I bought a CB650R (2021), this is my first bike and don't have much experience. Since it is winter, I only drove the bike 1k km, so everything is new to me. I watched a lot of motorbike videos on YT and I saw that there are bikes with steering damper. I would like to ask your opinion about steering damper to CB650R. Did you install steering damper to your bike? I can't find lot videos about CB650R with steering damper, and in my country (hungary) I can't even buy a CB650R specific steering damper. Not even from the Honda dealer or any aftermarket (there are cheap universal dampers, but I think they might be not good). Which steering damper do you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[Motojack]

I rode an r1 before and I understood why you may need a steering damper. Not getting that sense from this bike plus it would get in the way of my phone holder/charger which is far more useful on this bike.

 

[miweber929]

Hey!

In this January I bought a CB650R (2021), this is my first bike and don't have much experience. Since it is winter, I only drove the bike 1k km, so everything is new to me. I watched a lot of motorbike videos on YT and I saw that there are bikes with steering damper. I would like to ask your opinion about steering damper to CB650R. Did you install steering damper to your bike? I can't find lot videos about CB650R with steering damper, and in my country (hungary) I can't even buy a CB650R specific steering damper. Not even from the Honda dealer or any aftermarket (there are cheap universal dampers, but I think they might be not good). Which steering damper do you recommend?

Thanks!

This has been covered to death on the forum so please search and add to one of those threads.

In short, the steering geometry of the bike lends itself to NOT needing one, though some have put one on mostly for looks or piece of mind. I have track ridden bikes that NEED a damper, this one does not.

 

[Ian Warren]

This has been covered to death not he forum so please search and add to one of those threads.

In short, the steering geometry of the bike lends itself to NOT needing one, though some have put one on mostly for looks or piece of mind. I have track ridden bikes that NEED a damper, this one does not.

Certainly doesn’t need one!
Did 6,000 miles on mine last year including days on Autobahns doing over 100 mph and often maxing it at 148 mph indicated every time my son went to stomp on a fast car with his Ducati V4S and never had the slightest instability!
Then hustled it round the Austrian alps for a couple of days again faultless, doesn’t need one!
Now got a Ducati Panigale V2 with a damper and couldn’t confirm it needs it but guessing it really does!
Will find out this summer keeping up with my son on his new Ducati Panigale V4SP2 (I won’t keep up! Neither the bike nor the talent!)

 

[Ian Warren]

Lovely, wouldn't mind hearing your thoughts on comparisons. Had intended on that being my bike after the next one.

Honda plus points.
Way cheaper!
Way more comfortable
Great looking bike!
Reliable as sin
Awesome first big bike with all the power you need (except when chasing my ex BSB racer son on his V4 panigale on an Autobahn)

Ductati V2
Negatives
Expensive (in comparison)
Much more wristy and legs tucked up higher.
At 57 too old to do long 6hr days on it.
Plus points
Expensive, and looks every penny well spent!
Sexy as hell! What a gorgeous thing!
It’s virtually a litre bike (955cc) and 155 BHP!
God it’s quick
The handling is another level! This thing turns like an absolute dream.
Suspension is streets ahead and fully adjustable!
Acceleration is awesome, again what a machine! Won’t be holding up my son as much (v4SP2 now).
Can probably embarrass most supercars now!
What an electronics package, lifted off the V4, 6 axis IMU, three modes all completely customisable (fortunately) ABS, Traction control, wheelie control (fortunately), engine braking, up/down Quickshifter/ blipper, all lean sensitive, all Evo2 versions that are just amazingly subtle but effective.
Did my first Wheelie last Sunday, by accident! Opened the throttle too much in second and up it came, felt like a foot but probably six inches, stayed there for a fraction of a second (thanks Ducati Wheelie Control near max) before I cut the throttle and it came down!
Could have been a horrible mistake but wasn’t alarming and showed me the limit without biting!
Three modes I was in sport but while that’s full power I dialled up to Wheelie control as I’ve not learnt them, 👍 good choice.
Did I mention how beautiful it is?

What a machine.

Test rode it last autumn at a dealer test day SMC Bikes Sheffield and fell in love!
Dealer knew I wouldn’t be buying one but offered to borrow it for a day so I did (was in love) and gave it more of a thrashing, it blew my mind).
Got a new permanent job and decent salary and my son encouraged be so bought it three weeks ago.
Ex demo from the dealer, uncomfortable but who cares!
Did I mention how beautiful
It is!

 

[DavidMarsh]

Honda plus points.
Way cheaper!
Way more comfortable
Great looking bike!
Reliable as sin
Awesome first big bike with all the power you need (except when chasing my ex BSB racer son on his V4 panigale on an Autobahn)

Ductati V2
Negatives
Expensive (in comparison)
Much more wristy and legs tucked up higher.
At 57 too old to do long 6hr days on it.
Plus points
Expensive, and looks every penny well spent!
Sexy as hell! What a gorgeous thing!
It’s virtually a litre bike (955cc) and 155 BHP!
God it’s quick
The handling is another level! This thing turns like an absolute dream.
Suspension is streets ahead and fully adjustable!
Acceleration is awesome, again what a machine! Won’t be holding up my son as much (v4SP2 now).
Can probably embarrass most supercars now!
What an electronics package, lifted off the V4, 6 axis IMU, three modes all completely customisable (fortunately) ABS, Traction control, wheelie control (fortunately), engine braking, up/down Quickshifter/ blipper, all lean sensitive, all Evo2 versions that are just amazingly subtle but effective.
Did my first Wheelie last Sunday, by accident! Opened the throttle too much in second and up it came, felt like a foot but probably six inches, stayed there for a fraction of a second (thanks Ducati Wheelie Control near max) before I cut the throttle and it came down!
Could have been a horrible mistake but wasn’t alarming and showed me the limit without biting!
Three modes I was in sport but while that’s full power I dialled up to Wheelie control as I’ve not learnt them, 👍 good choice.
Did I mention how beautiful it is?

What a machine.

Test rode it last autumn at a dealer test day SMC Bikes Sheffield and fell in love!
Dealer knew I wouldn’t be buying one but offered to borrow it for a day so I did (was in love) and gave it more of a thrashing, it blew my mind).
Got a new permanent job and decent salary and my son encouraged be so bought it three weeks ago.
Ex demo from the dealer, uncomfortable but who cares!
Did I mention how beautiful
It is!

Lovely machine mate. I test rode a BMW S1000RR recently. Scared the colour out of me... Stay safe, mon

 

[Dankotaru]

Lovely machine mate. I test rode a BMW S1000RR recently. Scared the colour out of me... Stay safe, mon

The S1000RR makes a nice upgrade, I highly recommend if you're looking for a superbike. I'll have to make a comparison write-up one of these days, but the quick take is it's easily the best 'daily rider' superbike right now and is an absolute joy on track.

 

[JH09]

hit 10k miles yesterday. i know some of you iron butts may hit 10k mi (16,093.44 km 🤣) every year, but this is mostly a weekend toy for me. thanks to everyone on this forum. this is my first bike, and i learn something new almost everyday, from the smartest people on the internet!

still in love with the CB!

 

[Tony650r]

I put some new shoes on her feet. Metzeler Sportec M9RR's. They weren't cheap, but what a revalation.

I bought the bike new in May 2019 and ran with the OE Dunlop tyres. I'd been away from biking for nearly 25 years when I took delivery, and I asked at the time I was paying the deposit if the tyres were OK as I'd read a few road tests and the reports were not great. 'Yeah, they're fine' came the reply.

I went on a back to biking course paid for by Honda before I received the bike and my instructor said to me 'tyres these days have improved so much since you were last on a bike' I stuck with them.

In the nearly 3 years and 10,000 miles I've owned the bike, I'd never really been 100% confident, and if I'm being totally honest, never thought I'd really gelled with it. It was OK, but that was it.

Anyway, today, with new tyres fitted, it's a different bike. I rode a familiar route I use for a regular one and a half hour spin, and it's like new suspension has been fitted. Roads that had seemed sketchy and bumpy before didn't feel that way, and my confidence grew to such an extent I was happily throwing the bike into corners I was previously wary about.

By the end of the run, I was riding again like I used to without a care in the world.

I don't often post in here, but I'm on such a high at the moment because all the tensions I used to feel have melted away. My shoulders didn't even ache, I was so much more relaxed.

It's going to be nice weather in the UK this week. so I'm getting up early and riding my new bike every day.

I never thought new tyres could make such a difference, but they really have.

How have you liked the M9rr’s after more time with them? How much mileage are you expecting out of them? Thx

 

[Cláudio Nogueira]

Hello.

After 22KKm, my CB was needing a new chain.
Installed a DID 525 VX3, using a Motion Pro Chain Tool. Thumbs up for this tool. Very well built and effective to use.
The old one was stiff, elongated to the limit and with a high lateral play. The cogs are still very well, decided to try to use a 2nd chain in this set of cogs. Result seems good, chain sits very well on them. Let’s see how many Km it will last and will learn if it was a saving.