Introduced for the 2014 model year, this Honda middleweight faired sport model was created as part of the company’s global 650cc family and was aimed primarily at Europe, where it sat between Honda’s smaller CBR machines and the larger inline-four supersports models. Honda described it as a newly developed model with a fresh frame and a high-performance four-cylinder engine, positioned as an accessible entry into the brand’s four-cylinder sports lineup. It quickly became the faired sibling to the CB650F naked model and was marketed as a practical sport bike with everyday road use in mind rather than a pure track-focused machine.
Over its life, the nameplate saw several updates rather than a full reinvention. For 2017, Honda revised the styling and chassis details, giving the motorcycle a sharper, more aggressive appearance and updating the riding position and hardware. A further refreshed 2018 edition followed in some markets, including new intake and exhaust work and additional cosmetic changes. These updates kept the model current while preserving its role as Honda’s balanced middleweight sport-tourer.
The nameplate’s production run ended when Honda introduced the CBR650R for the 2019 model year, which was presented as the successor to this motorcycle. In Honda’s global CBR history, the model is remembered as the 2014-era return of a faired inline-four middleweight for riders who wanted supersport styling with broader road-going appeal.