Man that CB650 is such a good looking bike!

As a CB650R owner, it is unparalleled. 4 cylinder, great control in traffic especially where I’m at in Vietnam

Based off all the reviews so far the Hornet does sound amazing to ride, however the CB650R looks miles better.

CB650 looks a lot better 👌🏼

the Hornet is missing 2 cylinders.

The CB650R is the new Hornet and the Hornet is just a CB. Can't understand why Honda swapped names

I chose the GSX-S 750. But if I had to choose between the Hondas it would be the 650R which to me is the spiritual successor to the Hornet and should be called Hornet. The new 2cylinder they should call a Bumble Bee or something... Btw. Its funny that you chose the "Hornet" because of the dash and riding modes, that's ridiculous :D But I guess that that's what todays riders are after, connectivity and big screens, who cares about riding >D

CB650R all the way. Screaming 4 cylinder in a field where nearly everyone else is offering some mild variation on a parallel twin. The CB looks like a Honda. The Hornet? Paint it green and it's a Kawasaki. Paint it blue and it's a Suzuki. Paint it orange and it's a KTM. The very definition of mindless, derivative styling.

I love the CB650R. Never ridden one but I just love it. I hope Honda revamp it with the new electronics but retain the cool styling. Also I hope they bring the full power version to New Zealand because currently they only sell the learner restricted version :(

Very well done comparison test.

CB - proven 4 cylinder. Super quality looking. Hornet cheap looking and not into parallel twins. Looked at both, bought a super smooth Z900. Love torquey 4 bangers. Very happy.

parallel twins are so good these days, but when youre looking into your first big bike, its hard not to be persuaded by the inline 4. theres a reason why its the quintessential big bike engine. it sounds, and feels like a big bike.

Have driven both, and decided on the the CB650R. The handling is more solid and it’s engine feels better built and higher quality. It’s super smooth like a sewing machine. It’s power builds with the revs, as a racing engine should. The hornet’s torque is slightly more apparent in lower revs, but the torque on the Cb650 is plenty. For riding thrills and excitement, nothing beats the powerful top end and amazing sound of the inline 4.

I own a CB650r and test drove the Hornet couple days ago. I prefer the riding position of the Hornet as it’s more comfortable. But that where the benefits end. Feels gutless compared to the 650. Quality of the bike feels way below the 650 which is solid and higher quality. The 650 engine feels superior and altogether a better bike. Hornet is good but feels a bit cheap, hence the price. I’m sticking with the 650 but the hornets still a good bike. I prefer the neo cafe style of the 650 as well.

Cool, good to see the comparison. Where I live the 650 is cheaper. Looking at the spec sheet they both have the same brand suspension but the Hornet has longer travel. I test rode the 650 and thought the suspension was a little under damped and felt cheap. Fixed on the 705?

great review ,, the cb is great for city the hornet is a great basic bike, looks great with a rider in side view as well,, still think i like the new suzuki on looks , but id take an older gsxs750 perhaps or even the original fazer600. if i was able to get a second bike

Well, one is beautiful, the other is the Hornet lol

I guess I’m different from most. I like that the Hornet is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It looks and feels small. But will carve many bikes when it comes to the business end. Basically a spiced up the 500. But I understand it has the Hornet name which confuses it. 4 cylinder sound is very nice, but I’m very happy with this parallel twin sound of this bike. Honda has made something special. Even thought it may be the Vstrom of the naked bike world.

Good to see you, I like both bikes but the Hornet really is value for money 🇬🇧

I have the 2021 cb650r and it's true what they say about the throttle, although it's fairly simple to mitigate using the rear brake to stabilize and the clutch to smooth the throttle. After some time it comes naturally

Even though the CB750 is brand new with electronics,I will still chose the CB650 any day,the Hornet is just an upgraded cb500r .

You didn't note mpg figures on these beasts by any chance?

CB650R Could use a refresh but with the gorgeous retro look

Ce parere ai de Vitpilen 701?

had a serious accident through no fault of my own with my new cb650r 4 years ago. so I would take the Hornet this time. that was my first bike too. I will test drive the Hornet.

Was hoping for a drag race 😮

inlin 4 sound is the reason ill buy the cb650r...

I think both of them look sick just depends on what you like. If you ride a lot in want a more simple machine I would go with the parallel twin hornet but then again a lot of people like that look of the CB650R

Salut fratilor ! I have one question, I`m currently doing my MC drivers license, and we are riding on a CB650F . How is the cb650r compared to its predecessor ? I always loved the look/stats of the cb650f/r and would consider getting one after I finish school. Any information is welcomed, thanks ! Also, great vid ! I`m not a big fan of the new hornet, it looks quite bad, and its a 2 cylinder, so no thanks for me :D

The jumpier throttle of the 650 in town would annoy me, as described. I already have a bike with that characteristic. It does look better, especially with those 4 pipes that fit snug. The Hornet I understand, it's a grown-up Grom apparently. I'm not fully wanting my gas tank to be chest-high however. There are ADV bikes for that, and the overall vertical styling of the Hornet will look dated eventually.

The vibes alone, was enough to keep me away from the 650..those vibes are crazy.

I’m waiting for my 2023 CB650 to arrive at my dealer!

I was like why they are comparing the hornet with the mighty CB650R. Watching the video I got to know that hornet is not the daily commuter we get in India which is powered by a 185cc engine single cylinder churning out just 17bhp. This hornet is a beast sad to know about it as HONDA India doesn't bring such good bikes to our market.

I am no speed merchant and hate electronic gizmos so would take the Honda CB650R for its looks and engine sound.

0:36 No no no.... a hornet is not a bee it is a wasp. Wasps are more yellow as bees.

GSX8S👌

Cable throttle all the way! Keep yer ridin' modes.

So basically the hornet is a cb500 with a 750cc motor and a new electronics suite

The cb650 engine is amazing, can be smooth in city and when you want to ride fast it comes alive.

Kinda silly to compare the i-4 w/ a parallel twin. Do wish the Hornet looked like the CB, though.

Would you guys consider a better investment to buy a honda or a yamaha as engine longevity?

Still waiting to see if Honda will bring the Hornet to the US market. Can't think of a good reason not to, its a license to print money. Good price, lots of power, good looks, Honda reliability. And yet we're still sitting here in limbo.

Nice

I would prefer a new cb650 with modern features and riding modes. i think it is more of a bike in a conventional old fashioned way.

The Hornet is meant to be cheaper than the 650. However de 755cc will be heavily taxed on some countries

You refer to the CB650 as "old". What year is it, because the 2023 model has all the electronics you say are missing from the 650. Would have been better to compare both as 2023 models.

I love how they say Hornet yet my self and the entire comment sections is saying cb650r lol!!!

Hornet has 2 cylinder engine not 3 like you said in the video

Excuse me, you two are doing a review on two Honda motorcycles that I own, I've been riding since 1992 and you're telling people that the CB650R produces more vibration from the engine A 4 CYLINDER engine??? You have no basic concept of what riding is. The CB650R gives you a stable throttle response and a suave smooth ride. The Hornet being a 270 degree twin crank vibrates a lot and not only that, the throttle response on the Hornet is not sufficiently linear, it's fidgety. Thirdly at about 190 to 220 kph the Hornet becomes very unstable and is barely able to sustain lateral and front wind pressure whereas the 650R is very smooth at 200 or 220. Fourth the brakes on the Hornet are not sufficient. They are the same brakes you have on the CB500F - a motorcycle with HALF the power of the Hornet. Look I love my Hornet, Honda did an amazing job on the engine but forgot about better brake discs, a 180 rear tyre, weight ratio and aesthetics. These things make a big difference because when it comes to speed and acceleration the CB650R and the Hornet are very, very similar. And it's for these reasons I listed that the Hornet is not selling, mostly because it's ugly. My Honda dealer sells about every Honda model and for the last 4 months it still had FOUR Hornets, one in each colour on the dealership floor that Nobody is buying. I think that in a way the Hornet is more fun to ride but that's it.

For me cb650r it's always winner for me. It's not only hornet.it's Many 3× bikes cb650 doing great.

The cb650r is more of a true Hornet.

Excellent review guys. The CB750 is definitely the bike to have.

CB650 aesthetics wise looks better with a shorter riders it is very compact and ive seen tall riders looked out of proportion riding it.

They need to swap engines

Cb no doubt

How is it that a 2-cylinder is less viby than an inline-4? more power on demand and on the entire rev range, I'll take the hornet all day. Go for the cb650r if you like posting pictures not riding bikes.

Why Honda makes CB750 while CB650 is so great?

Both a little cramped for taller riders, especially the 650, which also desperately needs a tech/dash update.

CB650R NR 1

I own a Yamaha MT-07 2022 and i'm going to test ride the hornet 750 next week 😅

A hornet is not a bee. Just like cat is not a German shepherd

We have brown and orange hornets. One nasty bite

I prefer the Hornet, more modern

Hornet 100%

Sat in it- pain! 500x has such a better seat

They don’t look the same . Look like a different model . They stop making cb650r ?

My only gripes with the new Hornet are the electronics and looks. It looks like the 125 I started on had a baby with an older MT-07. I get "playing it safe", but no. More importantly though, the throttle is electronic. Hard pass. Bike doesn't need it. It has a bit more torque than the MT-07 and revs out higher. The MT-07 is mild enough to train riders on without electronic crutches and rider modes - the Hornet would have been just fine. But i stead they ruin what would have been an awesome-feeling engine by adding a few layers of electronics between your right hand and the throttle body, and that I cannot abide. Paid the premium for my 650R (over an MT-07, for other reasons) last year, still would now even with the Hornet as an option.

I tried the new Hornet. The engine is very fun to ride, very lively. The bike does its job. But. It's unispiring. It's cheaply built, the CB500 looks more expensive parked next to it. The CB650r feels more well built. The 4cyl is revvy, but the twin is more useful in real life. They should make a CB750r with classic styling and round headlamp, and better overall package. If i had to choose between the two, i would choose neither one. I would rather get a Triumph Street Twin, or a second hand Kawasaki Z900RS.

The hornet is the better bike. The cb650r has better styling. I trust rode the cb650r and found the engine flat and gutless. Even when reved out it was tame.

My 2018 CB 650 F is better hands down. It is the Japanese Murder Hornet of the lot. Lol.

Missed one top seepd Rider

Hey Honda I a crazy idea, put the damn passenger seat back on motorcycles so girlfriends and wives can have decent sized seat to ride on when we go on an all day ride 😡

Hornet the best

Sorry but you are wrong , the hornet is built down to the price, i looked at one last week its flimsy not honda quality , cheap parts looks like parts bin , front taken off a 500 , the switch gear feels cheap sitting on the bike the plastic creaked and the engine looks ugly not a buitfull pieace of work as of the cb650r ,and every thing is around the modes which will infulance punters , i have come back to the 4cyl due to anoying lowspeed feel of twins, i have a cb650r and love it it feels quality and put together to last, the hornet for flip sake has no rear hugger and its thows up all ver the spring not good , i am going to wait for the cb1000r next year but for now sticking to my cb650r and even triumph or kawasaki or the new suzuki which feels better quality than the hornet will change my mind, wishhonda made a 800cc cb cafe racer

Cb750hornet 92hp cb650r 95 hp I like cb750

in line 4 every time🙂

Cb650r all day

Hornet for me.there are tons of used 4cylinder bikes out there,better and more powerfull than cb650

great topic for comparo.. sub par presentation.. u guys need to work on ur presentation skills

CB ALL THE WAY!!

The 650 is the Hornet. The twin is just a mundane twin not worthy of the Hornet badge. Just saying 😂

Hornet all the way. Less weight,faster , more agile, more sportier, full electronics,. I bought hornet instead the cb.

MY CB650R had a crappy gear box, and crappy suspension and developed an oil leak after 2k Miles. Both are cheap bikes. They are cheap for a reason. The 650 does look better though

The speakers sound German 🤔

Cb650 looks double the price

All Honda had to do was put the hornet engine in the cb659

Hornet may have four less HP, but it has more torque.

The CB650R is a way better bike…

Vibration on these SUCK... that's why i'm looking for another bike , compared to the old hornet , this for me is a deal breaker.

Hornet sound=🤮

9:14 - But they did, Honda did come up with something really cool and really new. I had the CB650R, then I bought the Hornet and though I love the look of the CB650R, the Hornet is better. It's faster up to 200 KMH. The CB650R is only faster at top speed, the Hornet reaches 225 KMH and the CB650R reaches 237 KMH. But Honda decided to invest in and create the best engine possible and they did. The Hornet destroys the MT-07. But Honda wanted to sell the Hornet for a lower price so they created a completely new engine, gave you a great TFT and other great features but they did not invest in the look. If they had the Hornet would not cost 7950 euros it would cost 8950 euros or more, so they used the look of the CB500F.

man that hornet's head look so ugly compare to the concept art.

Cb650r

You guys are way too quick, can you slow down by 5% maybe I can understand you people. The introduction started way too quick and I didn't understand a bit

Everyone picking sides, I think both bikes are great!

I am not interested in the CB650R because it has 4 cylinders. The Hornet is mildly interesting, but the fuel tank is too small.

The 650 4 cylinder is not born from the 4 cylinder 600. Completely different engines designed by different teams at Honda.

I tested both and for me the CB650R wins all day everyday. Poor review 👎🏼

The Bad and The Ugly

Hornet boring