CB650R E-Clutch

The CB650R's 649cc inline four is the only four-cylinder engine left in the middleweight naked class, and it revs to 12,000 rpm with the linear delivery only a four can offer. The E-Clutch system uses two small motors on the clutch cover to operate the clutch automatically for launches, stops, and shifts, while leaving a conventional lever and gear pedal in place.

The Showa SFF-BP fork, radial four-piston calipers on twin 310 mm discs, and the new 5-inch TFT round out a spec that is generous for the price.

The four needs revs to feel quick, and the peak is up at 12,000 rpm, so it is a bike that rewards patience and punishes laziness. In the city, the E-Clutch is a revelation. You stop and go without touching the lever, and clutchless shifts are smoother than most quickshifters. On a back road, you can switch it off and ride it like any other bike.

The chassis is stable rather than sharp, and the riding position is the most comfortable of the middleweight nakeds.

Valve checks on a sixteen-valve engine every 24,000 km are a real job, though the bucket-and-shim layout is well documented. The E-Clutch adds a small electronic module and two actuators, which is more to go wrong on paper but which has been faultless in early ownership reports.

Honda's finish quality here is exceptional, and the exposed engine is easy to clean and inspect.

Riders who love the sound and smoothness of a four, commuters in heavy traffic who want a clutch that disappears, and anyone who values finish and reliability over outright pace.