Honda CBR650R - First Impressions Ride.

[@blairdowling5835]

I own this bike had it derestricted, it’s a completely different bike now. It’s fricken amazing!! On the dyno this version only put out 39bhp which is mental, now……90:)

[@rhyssanders9122]

I'm actually considering derestricting mine, I'm a little concerned about the new rego I might have to get or something, and the lower worth idk - thoughts?

[@blairdowling5835]

@@rhyssanders9122 not sure what you mean by ‘new rego’? The rego stays the same, it will always be a lams bike. As for the worth you can return it to lams configuration at anytime. My advice would be do not unrestrict the bike unless you have your full licence. Insurance company are happy to insure me as long as I have a full licence and the bike has a warrant.

[@rhyssanders9122]

@@blairdowling5835 ah k I must be mixed up with what an american said somewhere else - except if you derestricted it and take it up to 94hp it wont be a lams anymore though?

[@rhyssanders9122]

@@blairdowling5835 Yeah I wasn't going to while on p, Im on full in april

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

@@rhyssanders9122 it wont legally be lams no, but like.. unless you ride it. you wouldn't know. I'm not encouraging tho. if found out it would void your insurance etc

[@roykim6223]

Ordered the black one, canclled it and ordered the grey 2021 after seeing this video 🥰

[@dauron9225]

No matter what color, you won’t go wrong 👍

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

how damn good is that grey

[@gekas_01]

For some reason they dont ship the grey one to germany so ill have to be pleased with the black one 😅

[@stanleyblazeraznik6047]

You are not an idiot. You are simply misunderstood. Someone needs a 🤗 hug.

[@digichalk]

Thanks mate

[@SamuraiUjio]

Thankyou mate for your informative video really gives me the confidence in going forward and purchasing a bike like this. Going for L's in march can't wait to start riding! BTW have u done a video on Kawasaki ninja 650 Lams?

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

Our pleasure mate, nah not the ninja 650, but it'l be similar power slightly more upright and a touch smaller cabin. that said I don't think we're getting them in NZ this year so unless 2nd hand i dont think it'l be an option. personally I prefer the honda engine. Alternatively consider the R7LA from Yamaha, those are a nice bike in that category

[@neoreynolds2944]

Such an underrated channel 👍🏻

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

awww thanks mate! tell ya friends!

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

Since this bike's actually got 95hp, that "give it abit more power" bit isn't too unrealistic.

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

yeah so here in NZ its 50hp

[@mattmuir4388]

Worth it for a lams or do u think smaller better ?

[@stevea6229]

In the US the CBR650R unrestricted is 94hp out of the box.

[@vincenzolombardo1633]

I like this cbr 650r nice color!

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

Yeah i really like it too

[@MondayyTuesday]

Wish I could get that color in the US

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

looks better in person

[@xorbe2]

USA Honda hasn't even said anything about 2022 model.

[@cryptoknight3009]

Hi Nice review quick question is it possible to change that blue old looking dash to a tft display? Like letting it change some tech guy

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

seemed pretty set in its way to me but i can ask

[@cryptoknight3009]

@@TheEmpireMediaGroup ok please do

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

@@cryptoknight3009 Looks like it dont mate sorry

[@cryptoknight3009]

@@TheEmpireMediaGroup so it's not possible to change the blue screen to a colored display? Damn that sucks 😭

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

@@cryptoknight3009 It's actually black with white numerals, an inverted lcd is I think what they call it?

[@hondacbr6386]

What a shame.. mine here in America has 94hp

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

As I said in the video, once you're off your learner licence you can add power and catch up to those bikes

[@SamsungAcore-wl9cb]

The one in India is 85

[@dreamboatn]

Hey, nice bike. How much would it cost for insurance?

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

sorry man, its different all over the world, ask your local

[@IncredibleTOPCast]

OMG...the color!!!

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

so good aye

[@candyfloo]

Hey Empire , what’s your thoughts on this bike vs the street triple 660? I’m a casual rider on a learners license and I’m look for something with the good looks and sound to cruise around with on weekends 😬Cheers!!

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

Havent ridden the street triple yet, its on my to do list, I've heard good things, I've had a quick snoop on the new trident and that seems like a smaller bike, very narrow between the knees etc

[@octaviodiokno4667]

awesome bike

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

Gona look the naked version very soon

[@Niemmy]

Hey really cool review Empire, I'm thinking about getting this bike myself.

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

I really enjoyed it, I was hoping to compare the CB ( naked ) to the monster but It was sold the morning I went to pick it up!

[@SipePerkele]

I currently ride with 72hp er6, I'm not really interested about much over 100hp bikes at all. Yet it's still time to upgrade abit, naked bike for longer trips isn't my thing. Considering between cbr 600f f4i and cbr 650r (not restricted ofc), do you think there's any big difference between them?

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

Hmm very specific question, I had a F2 back in the day but never owned a F4, I think the thing is, if you can sit on a bike like that for any lenght of time its really about getting the right fit, that kinda riding the assumption would be you're not balls to the wall the whole time so you dont need that top end power over what the CBR650 has, but thats again subjective to how you like to ride, personally i like all the power available but I'd always these days go for comfort over power so long as I have enough to keep up with the pack and cruise at a good speed etc

[@SipePerkele]

@@TheEmpireMediaGroup 650 is so new it sells like over 7000€ cheapest atm, thing is f4i i could pick up for 3500€ 🤔

[@octaviodiokno4667]

Awesome bike

[@IamTechNerd]

Boring* bike

[@austingeorge2022]

Hey, thanks for the video. In NZ if you have a full license, is it possible to buy the derestricted/standard CBR650r?

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

no they dont bring it in, most people would sell a LAMs bike and then go to a CBR600RR or something like that. you can up the power a bit from the lams version to about 80 or so very easily but most people want to move on from their learner bikes pretty quickly

[@austingeorge2022]

@The Empire Ok that's unfortunate. Thanks for the info.👍

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

@@austingeorge2022 aw I duno, the LAMs market in NZ is pretty hot, people are always looking for a deal, you could get a 2nd hand bike now for 2k off sticker with wof and reg for a year and the warranty balance so its working out pretty good I think

[@austingeorge2022]

@The Empire Thanks again. I am kinda obsessed with it now. Booked a test drive. 🙂

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

@@austingeorge2022 awesome mate, let us know how you get on, come for a ride!

[@VatsalModi]

What are your thoughts on Triumph street triple 660 LAMS?

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

Havent ridden it yet, unfortunately things for test rides are a bit naff in NZ due to low stock

[@arshsaini2009]

Not sure if the HP numbers are correct mate, I believe it makes around 93-95 HP. Correct me if wrong though.

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

Yeah so if you check the other comments, we're in new zealand and we get a different tune because of our learner licence program

[@arshsaini2009]

@@TheEmpireMediaGroup ahh okay make sense. Cheers for clearing the doubt.

[@CraigToddOfficial]

Did i hear you right 50hp? I've just bought a 2022 model and it's 94hp.

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

I take it you're not in New Zealand then?

[@CraigToddOfficial]

@@TheEmpireMediaGroup Yeah, I'm UK, can you get a license to unrestricted it?

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

@@CraigToddOfficial so we have 2 level of license for bikes in NZ - 2 probationary levels, learner and restircted both under a system called " LAMs" ( got another video explaining that) then you get your full license. once you have your full youre allowed to ride anything, thats why we get these restricted or detuned variants, the monster for example is just a cam that wont let you twist the trottle as much, this CBR is detuned. easily changed ( when legal ) in both respects, but yeah we are getting different stock to other places in the world.

[@CraigToddOfficial]

@@TheEmpireMediaGroup Makes sense, I've got my unrestricted license test today... Wish me luck.

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

@@CraigToddOfficial luck!

[@yeyetimmyboyox]

are bikes actually that limited in Aus?

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

We are in New Zealand, we have whats called LAMs or the Learner Approved Motocycle Scheme, what that means is they take power to weight and an upper engine size limit to decide what bikes are legal for learners to ride, this falls into that as its detuned from other countries its available in

[@Artifical-Intel-z2b]

Gidday mate. How tall are you? Im currently searching for my first motorcycle and running into some problems. Im 6'5 and wondering if i would be too big for this bike. Thoughts?? Cheers

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

ooh big boi, I'm 6 foot 2 and this is good, 6'5 you might wana head over to something like a Vstrom or other full side adventure bike, check out part 1 of our learning to ride series, we go over that sorta thing there :)

[@Artifical-Intel-z2b]

@@TheEmpireMediaGroup Yeah mate it's a bloody nightmare haha. Will do, thanks for the reply and info. Will be checking out more of your channel in future. Keep up the good work !

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

If you're open for other styled bikes, supermotos are good for tall people. Something like the Ktm 690smcr or Husquvarna 701. Or maybe even Honda's crf300L and convert it to a supermoto

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

@@Daniel-dj7fh A popular bike here is the DRZ400 - however our laws changed and it can't be sold here new as its not fitted with ABS and since the bikes we're getting are supplied by dealers, we're going with whats available new from the shop

[@holdenc2636]

If it isn’t too late, I’m also 6’5 and I recently met a guy in my town that owns a 650r and he let me sit on it and it didn’t feel cramped at all. I do have a longer torso and shorter legs but I feel even a normally proportioned person would be able to ride this. At most you could get handle bad raisers

[@nicholascoulman9233]

Aye!! A brother from welly, Chur

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

chuur bros, back in Auckland at the minute tho

[@renanamagan8047]

Is this the 2022 model?

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

Yeah mate

[@Karmabro0]

What is the on road price of the bike

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

check your local man, changes all over

[@Karmabro0]

@@TheEmpireMediaGroup I want to know The on road on ur location man

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

@@Karmabro0 Googled it - $15,295 Inc +ORC

[@ellison438]

There's a white cbr650r?

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

Ive only seen Grey and Red here, they stopped red and traded it for black for 22'

[@ThermicLight]

Personally I am really disappointed in Honda. That is to say I don't even see the point in having a 650 only available in LAMS. Rather to me it makes more sense to buy the 500 given it produces about the same power yet while being lighter. Yet their "new" 600RR costs $30K while their 1000RR-R is over $50k.

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

The 500 is also a really nice bike, but the 650's got more torque and top end whilst also having 2 more cylinders for the characteristics. I've been happy with my cb500f, the only reason I'm really looking at this bike or the R7 is for a better sounding engine 😆

[@ThermicLight]

@@Daniel-dj7fh - There is absolutely no reason to buy the 650R when the 500R has better overall performance. Rather the only reason anyone buys the more expensive 650R is for pure aesthetics at the cost of being a pitifully neutered bike.

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

@@ThermicLight The 500r doesn't have better performance because the 650 actually makes 95hp

[@ThermicLight]

@@Daniel-dj7fh lol Australia only gets the neutered leaner version of the 650R with half that HP.

[@genericallyaccepted]

@@ThermicLight half!? Yikes

[@sunuk1915]

It's 94BHP

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

Hi, welcome to the LAMs system in New Zealand and Australia, where we get de tuned bikes so learners can ride them. This is 50HP.

[@mattyh7060]

Nice looking bike, I asked Honda earlier this year if they would bring in a full power version and was meet with a definite no (I was certainly interested as I get my full license early next year). Pity as other manufacturers do a LAMs and full power versions of the 650 class (think Yamaha MT07, R7, Suzuki SV650 etc). De-restricting this bike seems to be a warranty minefield from people I've spoken to so it ended up off the shopping list.

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

I didnt ask about the warranty with adding power, but I'm going to now. Whats your top choices now?

[@mattyh7060]

Ordered a Yamaha MT09SP (it arrives late February all going well), Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing what you come up with next year.

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

@@mattyh7060 Oh very nice! I was thinking bout the 07 for my LAMs but ended up going with the street500

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

I can very much imagine that it's only got some electronic restriction which doesn't give it the full power, similar how Europe lets 18+ year olds ride this thing at 48hp

[@leadsolo2751]

WTF happened at 1:46 ??! 😅

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

just checking myself out

[@markdennis930]

A bike will not 'grow'. It certainly wont 'grow'.

[@tubedriver009]

Australia has the same ridiculous rules of unavailablity for the full power version of this bike. Too many stupid LAMs rules in both countries for certain models. Nanny states one & both.

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

its only while you're on your learners, then you can have whatever you want

[@tubedriver009]

@@TheEmpireMediaGroup In Australia they don't import anything but the LAM version of this bike.

[@TheEmpireMediaGroup]

@@tubedriver009 can you still get a CBR600RR?

[@gress12000]

Only 50HP? Now way.

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

it's restricted, the open one has 95hp. But 50 is more than enough anyway.

[@DelaCroix94]

breathe