Comparison test Honda CB 650 F, Yamaha TRX 850, Suzuki SV 650 S and Yamaha MT-07

Honda CB 650 F, Yamaha TRX 850, Suzuki SV 650 S and Yamaha MT-07 in comparison test

Cheap new releases or tuned used ones?

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Cheap new releases or tuned used ones? Welcome to the Mixery test with the Honda CB 650 F, Yamaha TRX 850, Suzuki SV 650 S and Yamaha MT-07.

Thanks to the varied selection, fruit salad is a healthy thing. This comparison test is based on the fruit salad principle, because we are comparing apples with pears at first glance. We’re taking two cheap new releases in the form of the Honda CB 650 F and the Yamaha MT-07 and let them compete against youngtimers that are a) much cheaper and b) are represented in large numbers on the used market as standard.

Honda CB 650 F, Yamaha TRX 850, Suzuki SV 650 S and Yamaha MT-07 in comparison test

Cheap new releases or tuned used ones?

TRX 850 from 1998. Both are offered in good condition between 2000 and 3500 euros, the selection for the SV 650 S is greater than for the TRX 850. So that our oldies can keep up with the new bikes, they have been more or less extensively converted. but both within a framework that they are not more expensive than the new Honda. And that brings us to the second level of this story. Does it always have to be new or is it enough to modernize my beloved, trusted bike on a low budget and keep it fit for the modern age?

Oldies versus new kids of the 2014 season

The relationship with a motorcycle is often similar to an interpersonal relationship. First you are totally in love, then everyday life creeps in and the longer it goes, the more or less the quirks of the other bothers you. If you don’t look around for something new at some point, you start to make the old (cart) more attractive again with small resources. Marcel Imig, the builder of the Yamaha TRX 850, has been working continuously on his partner since 2003. Little by little, BOS slip-on bags, a Mikuni flat slide carburetor, the Wilbers strut, tighter fork springs, the front brake system of a Yamaha YZF-R1, a modified deflector and various small parts were transferred to the Trixie.

Jens Vater (the son of the legendary bandit tuner Suzuki Vater from Bondorf), on the other hand, sees his Suzuki SV 650 S as a journeyman’s piece. He built the motorcycle in one go, focusing on engine tuning on stability and full suitability for everyday use. The modified ergonomics with a higher seat cushion and higher and wider handlebar halves transform the SV into a modern motorcycle, the modified chassis emphasizes the sportier note of the vital twin. So equipped, the oldies are ready to drive around the block with the new kids of the 2014 season.

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When it comes to starting and warming up behavior, youngsters have the edge

In terms of starting and warming up behavior, the electronically injected youngsters are of course ahead. The Honda CB 650 F and Yamaha MT-07 start within a few revolutions of the crankshaft after pressing the starter button and willingly take on the gas immediately. The Suzuki SV 650 S does the same, the choke helps in cold weather. The pilot of the Yamaha TRX 850 has to be a little more sensitive. Your retrofitted Mikuni flat slide carburetor is somewhat overwhelming for the parallel twin in cold running and must be operated with a sure instinct in this phase. Even when the engine is warm, the throttle valves must not be opened digitally below 2500 rpm. Above this speed threshold, however, the Mikuni battery is a poem of controllability. Except for this little thing, the drives of both seniors behave exemplary. In terms of consumption, they even keep up with the Honda, but they don’t stand a chance against the abstinent Yam.

The group of four storms towards the southern Black Forest. The jester Yamaha MT-07 immediately takes the lead and takes over the leadership of the pack. Once again, the Yamaha makes its pilot happy with the lively twin. Thanks to its powerful acceleration from the lower speed range, it even inspires performance-indulgent sports drivers and tempts them to do wheelies from slow corners. Even in the upper speed range, it doesn’t lose any desire or pressure, so that its entire speed range can be fully utilized. The exact opposite of the MT-07 is the Honda CB 650 F. With its four-cylinder trimmed for torque, it is difficult to inspire its pilot. It neither pushes down powerfully, nor does it burn off fireworks above.

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Honda CB 650 F is reminiscent of the reliable, sensitive insurance broker

The Honda CB 650 F always pushes somehow, but never knocks the driver off his feet like the Yamaha MT-07. To do this, she pulls the skin over her ears in the chassis section. Because the Honda lies fuller without being uncomfortable, and delivers clear feedback, while the MT-07 hops over the road as smoothly as a rubber ball and the line it travels sometimes reminds of the flight path of a butterfly. But the respective driving behavior fits the mopeds perfectly. The CB 650 F is reminiscent of the reliable, sensitive insurance broker in the C&A-suit that is clearly striving for seriousness and formality, while the MT-07 looks more like a 40-year-old professional youth, for whom fun is more important than a building society contract.

And what can the oldies oppose the newcomers in this chapter? Quite a lot, because the Yamaha TRX 850 and Suzuki SV 650 S play convincingly. The Trixie suffers a little from its five-speed gearbox, the gears are wide apart, a sixth would obviously do it good. Nevertheless, it pushes cleanly from 2500 rpm, and it feels most comfortable between 3000 and 7000 turns. Because of its high flywheel mass, it is of course not quite as lively as the Yamaha MT-07, but its thrust has something full and sustainable. The pimped Suzuki turns freely through the rev range, its engine is really very successful. Downstairs, of course, things are less tight, the 650 V-Twin is really fun above 5000 turns. From this mark onwards, it provides usable power that is sufficient on the country road. In terms of drive, the optimized oldies are still part of the music even after a decade and a half.

Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that. Of course, the Yamaha MT-07 bustles with everyone. Of course, the Honda CB 650 F comes with a beautifully tuned chassis ex works – but without adjustment options. But whoever invests around 1500 euros in the Yamaha TRX 850 and Suzuki SV 650 S for shock absorber and fork springs, drives circles around the two. Despite this investment, the TRX is the most unwieldy, but it delivers the best feedback and offers fat reserves of damping. What it is missing are the wide, retrofitted handlebar stubs of the Suzuki. In general, father junior showed a good hand in ergonomics when building the SV. The SV feels like an up-to-date sports motorcycle and is great to direct. Which brings us to the conclusion that new doesn’t always have to be better.

Technical data Honda CB 650 F

Honda CB 650 F..

Drive: Four-cylinder in-line engine, four valves / cylinder, 64 kW (87 PS) at 11,000 / min *, 63 Nm at 8000 / min *, 649 cm³, bore / stroke: 67.0 / 46.0 mm, compression: 11.4: 1 , ignition / injection system, 32 mm throttle valves, mechanically operated multi-plate oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, chain.

Landing gear: Steel bridge frame, steering head angle: 64.5 degrees, caster: 101mm, wheelbase: 1450 mm, inner fork tube Ø: 41 mm, spring travel v / h: 120/128 mm.

Wheels and brakes: Light alloy cast wheels, 3.50 x 17 / 5.50 x 17, front tires: 120/70 ZR 17, rear: 180/55 ZR 17, 320 mm double disc brake with two-piston floating calipers at the front, 240 mm single disc with single-piston floating caliper at the rear, SECTION.

Weight: (full tank) 212 kg, tank capacity: 17.3 liters super

Price: 7690 Euro (plus ancillary costs) *

Technical data Yamaha MT-07

Yamaha MT-07.

Drive: Two-cylinder in-line engine, four valves / cylinder, 55 kW (75 PS) at 9000 / min *, 68 Nm at 6500 / min *, 690 cm³, bore / stroke: 80.0 / 68.6 mm, compression: 11.5: 1 , ignition / injection system, 38 mm throttle valves, mechanically operated multi-plate oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, chain.

Landing gear: Steel bridge frame, steering head angle: 65.5 degrees, caster: 90 mm, wheelbase: 1400 mm, Ø inner fork tube: 41 mm, spring travel v / h: 130/130 mm.

Wheels and brakes: Cast light alloy wheels, 3.50 x 17 / 5.50 x 17, front tires: 120/70 ZR 17, rear: 180/55 ZR 17, 282 mm double disc brake with four-piston fixed calipers at the front, 245 mm single disc with single-piston floating caliper at the rear.

Weight: (full tank) 181 kg, tank capacity: 14.0 liters super

Price: 5495 Euro (plus ancillary costs) *

Technical data Suzuki SV 650 S

Father Suzuki SV 650 S.

Drive: Two-cylinder 90-degree V-engine, four valves / cylinder, 52 kW (71 HP) at 9000 / min *, 62 Nm at 7400 / min *, 645 cm³, bore / stroke: 81.0 / 62.6 mm, Compression: not specified, constant pressure carburetor, 39 mm throttle valve, mechanically operated multi-plate oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, chain.

Landing gear: Light alloy bridge frame, steering head angle: 65.0 degrees, caster: 100 mm, wheelbase: 1430 mm, inner fork tube Ø: 41 mm, spring travel from / h .: 130/125 mm.

Wheels and brakes: Light alloy cast wheels, 3.50 x 17 / 4.50 x 17, front tires: 120/70 ZR 17, rear: 160/60 ZR 17, 290 mm double disc brake with two-piston floating calipers at the front, 240 mm single disc with single-piston floating caliper at the rear.

Weight: (full tank) 191.5 kg, tank capacity: 16.0 liters super

Price: approx. 7000 euros *

Technical data Yamaha TRX 850

IMIG-Yamaha TRX 850.

Drive: Two-cylinder in-line engine, five valves / cylinder, 61 kW (83 hp) at 7500 / min *, 87 Nm at 6000 / min *, 849 cm³, bore / stroke: 89.5 / 67.5 mm, compression: 10.5: 1 , flat slide carburetor, 39 mm throttle, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, five-speed gearbox, chain.

Landing gear: Steel tubular space frame, steering head angle: 65.0 degrees, caster: 97 mm, wheelbase: 1435 mm, inner fork tube Ø: 41 mm, spring travel from / h .: 120/130 mm.

Wheels and brakes: Cast light alloy wheels, 3.50 x 17 / 5.00 x 17, front tires: 120/70 ZR 17, rear: 160/60 ZR 17, 298 mm double disc brakes with four-piston fixed calipers at the front, 245 mm single disc with single-piston floating caliper at the rear.

Weight: (full tank) 212 kg, tank capacity: 18.0 liters super

Price: approx. 6,500 euros *

* Manufacturer information

Readings

Readings.

The Yamaha TRX 850 is the king of displacement, from 3000 tours it surpasses the other engines. Unfortunately, the old-fashioned five-speed gearbox costs some driving dynamics. The Yamaha MT-07’s lust for life is evident from the torque curve. After the TRX, it offers a lot of torque very early on, is the lightest motorcycle and has a well-graded transmission. This results in driving dynamics in the fun class. It is also amazing how similar the Honda CB 650 F and Suzuki SV 650 S, i.e. four-cylinder and twin, serve up their performance. The SV 650 still has the much funnier unit, which also thunders out of the SR exhaust.

rating

Honda CB 650 F, Yamaha TRX 850, Suzuki SV 650 S and Yamaha MT-07.

drive

  Max.
Points   
Honda
CB 650 F   
IMIG-Yamaha TRX 850    Father Suzuki SV 650 S     Yamaha
MT-07
acceleration 10 1 3 1 1
Draft 10 3 3 4th 5
Power delivery 10 6th 7th 8th 10
Responsiveness 10 7th 7th 8th 8th
Load change reaction      10 6th 8th 7th 7th
Running culture 10 6th 8th 8th 8th
Gear actuation 10 7th 8th 7th 8th
Gear ratio 10 8th 6th 8th 9
Clutch function 10 5 5 5 5
Traction control 10
Subtotal 100 49 55 56 61

landing gear

  Max. Points Honda
CB 650 F
IMIG-Yamaha TRX 850 Father-Suzuki SV 650 S Yamaha
MT-07
Driving stability 10 7th 7th 8th 7th
Handiness 10 7th 6th 8th 9
Cornering stability 10 7th 8th 7th 5
feedback 10 7th 8th 7th 5
Suspension tuning in front   10 7th 7th 6th 5
Chassis set-up at the rear  10 7th 8th 7th 5
Braking effect 10 8th 8th 7th 8th
Brake metering 10 8th 7th 7th 8th
Erection moment
when braking
10 7th 9 9 8th
ABS function 10 7th
Subtotal 100 72 68 66 60

Everyday life and driving fun

  Max. Points  Honda CB 650 F.  IMIG-Yamaha TRX 850 Father Suzuki SV 650 S Yamaha MT-07
Sitting position 10 6th 6th 8th 6th
Windbreak 10 2 7th 7th 1
Furnishing 10 4th 6th 5 4th
consumption 10 8th 8th 8th 9
Driving fun 10 6th 8th 8th 9
Subtotal    50 26th 35 36 29
  Max. Points   Honda CB 650 F.   IMIG-Yamaha TRX 850   Father Suzuki SV 650 S   Yamaha MT-07
Total    250 147 158 158 150
placement 4th. 1. 1. 3.

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