2022 Honda CBR650R Sets Foot In India

Honda has launched the 2022 CBR650R in India. While this is more of an update than an overhaul, the steep price hike may make you think otherwise.

 What’s The Price? Who Are Its Rivals?

The Honda CBR650R was already a pretty expensive big bike, and with the 2022 update, it's only gotten dearer. The bike now retails at Rs 9,35,427 (ex-showroom Haryana), nearly Rs 47,427 more than before. As usual, you can only book one at Honda's BigWing dealerships.

The '22 Honda CBR650R now locks horns with the more powerful and feature-packed Kawasaki Z900 and the Triumph Street Triple R. Importantly, even at this asking price, the Honda still massively undercuts its segment-rival, the Aprilia RS 660.

What’s New? 

As mentioned above, this is more of an update. And like most annual updates, all you get with the 2022 CBR650R are, well, new colours. 

The bike is offered in Grand Prix Red and Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic colours. While the former gets updated black graphics on red bodywork, the latter gets orange pinstripes on an all-black finish. 

What’s Unchanged?

Apart from the colours, everything else remains unchanged. The bike continues to be powered by a 649cc inline-four making the same 87PS and 57.5Nm.

The engine is housed in a twin-tube frame, sprung on a 41mm Showa SFF BP fork and a monoshock. The bike rides on 17-inch alloy wheels and gets disc brakes at both ends.

The features remain as they were: negative-LCD instrument cluster, ABS, and all-LED lights. No fancy bits, like electronics or a TFT display, have been introduced.

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What Should Have Been Changed?

Honda should’ve given the CBR650R at least the basic electronics and an updated instrument cluster, especially considering the price hike. These changes would’ve given it a fighting chance against its price rivals.

ZigSays

The Honda CBR650R hasn't ever been a value-for-money offering, and with this hike, the price has become even harder to justify.

However, there's no ignoring Honda's low living costs and the smooth, blissful inline-four experience the CBR650R is famous for.

So if budget isn't an issue, the 2022 CBR650R is still a versatile inline-four sport bike you can buy in India.