2014 Honda CBR650F2014 Honda CBR650F VideoHonda shocked the industry earlier this month when it announced it would bring six sought-after models to the US, including the 2014 CBR650F.
The new sportbike is a full-faired version of the Euro-only naked CB650F.The CBR650F is basically the tamer sibling of the CBR600RR supersport; it features a 649cc inline four that produces 86 horsepower at 11,000 rpm, and was designed to offer higher torque in the low- to mid-rpm range – where it is needed in the real world.The CBR650F features a twin-spar steel frame, a 41mm front fork and a single-shock rear suspension. Braking is completed by dual 320mm discs up front squeezed by dual-piston calipers, and a single 240mm single disc out back. The bike is also offered with ABS for $500 over the $8,499 MSRP.Honda recently exploited the new CBR650F in the attached promotion video. For a preview of the 2014 Honda CBR650F, click here.
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This week, in the first segment Editor Don Williams talks to us about the new Kawasaki Versys 650 LT. It’s the middleweight ADV style machine that uses the same 650 parallel twin motor as the Ninja 650, so it’s an excellent performer in a user-friendly, good looking package.
In the second segment, I chat with one of my dearest industry friends—now retired Honda PR executive, Jon Seidel. Jon’s fascinating career spans some 30 years with Big Red, and gave him some great experiences with some incredible machines. I was fortunate enough to be invited on many of the press launches that he organized. His new project is documenting and saving many of the old archives from years gone by—and incidentally, if you have anything that may be of value to the project, please contact us by email at producer@ultimatemotorcycling.com and we’ll pass it all on to Jon.
So on that note, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!