Duel Honda CB650R Vs Yamaha MT-07: chic roadster against shock roadster
Exceeding a benchmark requires either putting on the brakes or taking another particularly inspired trajectory. This is the alternative tried by the elegant Honda CB650R to shake up the turbulent Yamaha MT-07, number one in motorcycle sales in France…. Test transformed? MNC duel !
Duel CB650R Vs MT-07 page 1: Honda makes a nice detour
Taking a roundabout route is becoming a habit at Honda: the BMW R1200 / 1250 GS knocks out all trails? The Africa Twin dodges blows with its hard-hitting “performance-price-pleasure” balance. The Yamaha Tmax is the scarecrow of scooters? The X-ADV avoids nightmares with an all-terrain tilt never seen before. Success in both cases … unlike other attempts like the Crosstourer paste !
- MNC video duel : Honda CB650R Vs Yamaha MT-07
The "Neo Sports Cafe" philosophy – a little smoky – discovered on the CB1000R is part of this desire for differentiation: Honda turns its back on the convoluted looks common in Japanese production with its very classy looking motorcycles, even nothing classic . In short, a "European" approach to the roadster, certainly more qualitative but also less inexpensive.
- MNC test : Honda CB650R, too good to be a Hornet ?
- MNC test : Yamaha MT-07 2018, logical evolutions
- MNC special file : Everything you need to know about the CB650R
- MNC special file : Everything you need to know about the MT-07
Last representative to date: the, which replaces the too wise. The 2019 novelty takes over the engine and the perimeter in steel but shows sports improvements – inverted fork, radial calipers, traction control, anti-dribble, increased power of 3.6 hp – as well as an attractive line (details in). Objective: compete in France, the !
And the game promises to be tight for the appreciated Yamaha, whose vertical twin of 689 cc gives some 19.8 hp to the 4-cylinder in-line 649 cc (74.8 hp against 94.6). Fortunately, its featherweight of 182 kg and its steel torque of 68 Nm (202 kg and 64 Nm for the Honda) tend to restore the balance between these two motorcycles compatible with the A2 license..
However, the balance tilts in favor of the CB650R in terms of presentation: its elegant round LED headlight (an interesting combination of yesterday’s style and today‘s technology) and its splendid "4-in-one" make the effect, just like its saddle with white stitching and its plastic scoops which imitate rather well the brushed metal.
The general appearance and finish of the MT-07 are rougher from the formwork, like the jumble of cables and ducts on the left side of the engine, its moped stems or the unglamorous front part of its frame. tubular steel. However, efforts were made during its redesign in 2018, including the addition of scoops around the radiator.
Some parts taken separately are even worth the detour like its openwork swing arm, its bronze-colored casings, its "petal" discs or its fictitious air intakes latticed like the V-Max. But the whole lacks too much homogeneity – both stylistically and finishes – to achieve the chic image released by the Honda.
The Yamaha is also served by its "banal" telescopic fork – not adjustable, like that of the Honda – and its axially fixed calipers. What to put the MT-07 in danger? Nothing is less certain: at 7,099 euros against 7,999 euros for the CB650R, the compromises made by Yamaha are understandable if not forgivable. !
In the saddle, merry troop !
Not to mention the "secret boot" of the favorite motorcycle of French bikers (and female bikers, who represent approximately "17%" of its clientele): its communicative joie de vivre, in large part thanks to its vibrant twin-cylinder. To paraphrase Jacques Dutronc, the MT-07 is "an extra toy that cracks boom hu" !
Its engine has two complementary facets: flexible and correctly injected, it sets off again without a bump in fourth under 2000 rpm. This "ideal son-in-law" aspect is amplified by the smoothness of its clutch, its reasonable vibrations for a twin and its hyper-contained consumption: 4.28 to 5.2 l / 100 km during this duel, against 5.3 to 6.1 l / 100 km for the CB650R.
All these qualities are appreciable in town and in motorcycle schools, where the Yamaha has carved out the lion’s share since its release in 2014. This benevolent mask falls at the slightest rotation of the accelerator: the CP2 engine (for "Cross Plane" 2 cylinders) reveals an astounding force of 3500 rpm to 8000 rpm which makes it terribly responsive. What fishing !
In front of it, the CB650R accuses the blow severely: the Honda is released with each acceleration, which in addition reveals unpleasant vibrations from 4500 rev / min (110 km / h in 6th). The novelty lacks response and consistency vis-a-vis its turbulent rival, penalized by this characteristic "hollow" linked to its engine architecture and its displacement..
The CB650R – elastic like a cat at the bottom of the tachometer – requires to be maintained above 7000 rpm to reveal its playful character, regime which expresses – finally – its 20 additional horsepower. It is carried out with the wand that it becomes expressive and playful, a condition certainly amusing but dangerous for the license.
Well served by a selection and a dosage of gases superior to those of the MT-07, the CB650R undertakes to remake its delay from 8/9000 rev / min, when the Yamaha twin loses its ardor. But this energetic jump is barely enough: if the Honda has more extension (12,500 against 10,750 rpm), the Yamaha character does not give up easily. !
The MT-07 ultimately easily keeps the hand with a "sport-legal" look … and even beyond! MNC took advantage of a German highway to tease the 205 km / h and the advantage taken by the Honda in the laps did not exceed twenty meters. We expected better with regard to the power difference: the situation has hardly changed since our duel …
The CB650R returns to the (cycle) part
On the CB, the exceptional rigor of the cycle part fortunately tends to compensate for its much less sensational mechanics. The Honda is beautifully suspended and has more balance and efficiency. In this, it deliberately differs from the MT-07 whose damping is historically the weak point..
The main difference comes from the Honda’s inverted fork, which offers crystal-clear readings and excellent trim. That of the MT-07, sluggish at the start of the race, always slumps too quickly in sporty driving. Its precision is affected, bringing out a certain fickle temperament: also the fault of its rikiki wheelbase of 1400 mm (1450 mm for the Honda).
The lightness of its front axle explains its propensity to turn into a handkerchief and to stand up on demand on its rear wheel, aided by its staggering performance for a motorcycle of "only" 75 hp. On the other hand, the Yamaha lets out "waddles" which invite you to give up your hand, without compromising its holding of course. She moves, she lives, but she holds the road !
Its new shock absorber – now adjustable in rebound – significantly improves its behavior and traction, but its qualities remain inferior to those of the Honda: the CB650R, barely less maneuverable despite its additional 20 kg, remains riveted on its trajectory whatever the speed or coating quality.
Still, the MT-07 offers better comfort when the road deteriorates, thanks to its flexible damping: enough to compensate for the spartan welcome reserved by its saddle. On the CB650R, the rather sporty damping setting does not erase its annoying seat discomfort in this way..
In terms of braking, finally, the novelty supplants its opponent thanks to the powerful responder of its radial "grippers". The more athletic will appreciate its instant bite, but beginners will potentially be surprised by the fairly lively attack of the right lever.
That of the Yamaha – less responsive to the touch – controls slowing down less radical, but more obvious to dose at first. In arsouille mode, however, the CB650R literally puts the brakes on it – including at the rear, thanks to its pedal less spongy than that of the MT-07 !
Verdict: fear does not avoid danger
The roundabout approach of the CB650R is particularly interesting, if only because of the presence given off by its successful silhouette and classy equipment. The Honda is a beautiful motorcycle, rewarding and well finished. It brings a more mature vision within this ultra-competitive category.
But confronting it with the formidable MT-07 confirms the fears expressed by MNC during its discovery … Its 4-cylinder lacks trunk and character, while it finds itself the "tire between two rims" in terms of pricing : stack between entry-level 650/700 cc roadsters and beefier 750/900 cc models !
A finding which leads – once again – to questioning Honda’s stubbornness in not adding a hundred additional cubic centimeters to it, in order to offer more pleasure and consistency with its price. This hypothetical "CB750R" would also be favored by experienced bikers, often resistant to sharp engines like this "six-and-a-half".
For its part, the MT-07 combines all the mechanical qualities expected from a very wide range of bikers: availability, ease of operation, punch and responsiveness. The sensations on its handlebars are spectacular in terms of its power, all in all modest: blindly, we would swear that the Yamaha has more horsepower than the Honda and not the other way around. !
Certainly, its style and its less refined finery do not turn so many helmets in its path. And all the more so as her colossal success tends to blend her into the background, by dint of meeting her on every street corner and in all the motor schools! The CB650R also holds it high in terms of road behavior, sometimes "rough" on the MT-07.
But Iwata’s best-seller has two qualities that its rival lacks: a strong and inspiring presence and a particularly “low” price positioning. The 990 euros that separate them actually cover insurance and several refills of gasoline: a last point which confirms the MT-07 !
- All the details of our duel CB650R Vs MT-07 with our photos captioned in
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