The 600 class is right where a lot of savvy sportbike riders land. Why? Six hundreds—especially inline fours like the CBR650R—just strike a near magical balance between power, weight, maneuverability and the human scale. And when you're looking at a CBR650R, you're also looking at a bike with a wide performance envelope, able to hold its own in the canyons and still practical enough for leisurely weekend rides or daily commutes. But if there's one thing that really sets the CBR650R apart, it's this bike's engine. Nothing revs like an inline four, and nothing's as smooth either.

PERFORMANCE FEATURES

• 649cc DOHC Engine: Engines like this are what Honda does best. The four-cylinder design makes it smoother and faster revving than most twins, and offers ample low- to midrange torque, plus plenty of power through the entire rev range.

STYLE FEATURES

• Sportbike Styling: The CBR650R looks just the way a modern sportbike should—all business, with a generous dose of style. But the CBR650R is also comfortable enough for a wide range of riding, from around-town commuting to canyon carving to day-long trips.
• Instruments: In addition to the usual speedometer and tachometer, the full-flat instrument panel features an LCD readout with indicators for gear position, water temperature, peak-hold display of engine RPM, upshift indicator, and more.
• LED Headlight: The CBR650R uses an eye-catching dual-lens LED headlight that casts a powerful beam. It's both brighter and smaller than a conventional design, and contributes in a big way to the CBR650R's sense of style.
• Exhaust System: An exhaust system needs to accomplish four things: To quiet the engine without robbing power, to help tune engine output, to sound great, and it's a huge style element on any bike. The CBR650R's exhaust knocks it out of the park on all counts, and sounds like only an inline four can.
• Y-Spoke Aluminum Wheels: The aluminum wheels help reduce unsprung weight. These lighter hoops have a greater influence on handling than the numbers alone suggest.