2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review

tushar9960 · 13th October 2019, 16:13

I totally get where you're coming from since I've been in your exact situation.
Harley needs all the promotion it can do to sell their bikes. They don't really have a market in India apart from the HD enthusiasts who want a highway cruiser. Even then I'd say that in their category there are better options from other manufactures.

Trust me though the bike is insanely good. I did Mumbai to Pune today in record time without an ache, sore or any other issues. Honda won't offer you discounts or test drives or any other such benefit which other manufacturers in the country will tempt you with. Yet they seem to sell out their bikes pretty quick.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com...w/71496875.cms

With this bit of news, the future looks brighter and by the time they've stocked up on the next batch maybe you'll get a test drive too. I had to take a leap of faith.

p06rakeshb · 20th October 2019, 18:18

I agree. Hence waiting for Honda to re-launch with a 9+ month wait.

I went through the same thing with Honda while buying my car. The salesperson admitted as much, telling me they will sell the inventory irrespective and hence don’t need to offer discounts.

About Harley, it’s not an everyday bike from what I’ve heard. Plus Honda post sales service is something I’m convinced about and hence not inclined to look at Kawa etc.

p06rakeshb · 10th January 2020, 10:49

it's Jan and the frustration with no news from Honda on the CBR continues. I am hoping the BS-VI version launches soon.

tushar9960 · 12th January 2020, 12:22

They're going to launch the CB650R along with the CBR650R this time. Honda unfortunately doesn't market their bikes much. They just launch it suddenly.

Nithesh_M · 12th January 2020, 14:33

So they finally listened on the Neo Retro 650R. I'm sure the 2020 bs6 models will be priced from 8.3 or 8.5 lakhs ex showroom looking at the hike from its rivals.

They don't need marketing when they manage to sell out their small batches of imports each year. People who want one know when its launched anyway.

p06rakeshb · 7th February 2020, 11:07

And I feel they are a little too smug about it. Kawasaki has been launching its BS6 versions and is now pushing discounts to clear out BS4 inventory.

Honda? Nope. The showroom is still frustratingly unhelpful about the launch or tentative launch. I hate the fact that I am still waiting despite the lack of intent from their side. I know the CBR650r is good but come one. Some love to customers?

Going to Kawasaki this weekend to peruse.

GoBlue · 7th February 2020, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by p06rakeshb

And I feel they are a little too smug about it.

I can relate to this.

I was also interested in a Honda once upon a time, and had the privilege of experiencing their apparent indifference towards prospective customers.

I've since come to realize that a Honda bike is not exactly the pot of gold sitting at the end of the rainbow and there are several other competent products out there which are equally as good as a Honda or even better.

Get something that you like, and be done with it. Experiencing agitation, exasperation and dissatisfaction even before you're inside a Honda showroom to book a bike is not worth it, IMHO.

krishnaprasadgg · 7th February 2020, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by p06rakeshb

And I feel they are a little too smug about it. Kawasaki has been launching its BS6 versions and is now pushing discounts to clear out BS4 inventory.

Honda? Nope. The showroom is still frustratingly unhelpful about the launch or tentative launch. I hate the fact that I am still waiting despite the lack of intent from their side. I know the CBR650r is good but come one. Some love to customers?

Going to Kawasaki this weekend to peruse.

The pathetic state that they operate in, I had called a few months back to ask if they had a test ride vehicle available and the response I got was so lethargic in nature and they did not even have a display bike for the matter.
I'd have to book the bike it seems if something needs to be done.

I'd say be prepared even when going to the Kawasaki, they can turn out to be wet blankets at times. Have faced this when I had gone there to look into the 6R.

Cheers
Krishna

Nithesh_M · 9th February 2020, 20:07

When HMSI has managed to sell all 200 units of 2019 batch well into September last year how does one expect to get a test ride or a display bike when they're all sold out?

There's nothing smug about waiting till bs6 fuel is readily available to launch bs6 sbks. I'm guessing the launch will happen in April at the earliest or as late as August.

The Thai dealers have only begun taking orders for 2020 models which includes a new jeans blue/orange colour as option alongside all blacked out engine head and lower casings. No other change reported.

krishnaprasadgg · 9th February 2020, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nithesh_M

When HMSI has managed to sell all 200 units of 2019 batch well into September last year how does one expect to get a test ride or a display bike when they're all sold out?

There's nothing smug about waiting till bs6 fuel is readily available to launch bs6 sbks. I'm guessing the launch will happen in April at the earliest or as late as August.

The Thai dealers have only begun taking orders for 2020 models which includes a new jeans blue/orange colour as option alongside all blacked out engine head and lower casings. No other change reported.

I don't feel it's something that is considered going above and beyond their job in communicating that to a customer who is calling or enquiring, maybe it can be that the potential customer is not aware of stocks being sold out.

Just saying.

Cheers
Krishna

tushar9960 · 12th February 2020, 19:53

Seems there's finally some news (though not official) on a bs6 version launching soon.

https://autoportal.com/news/2020-hon...dia-16982.html

p06rakeshb · 16th February 2020, 07:32

I had sent that to the Honda salesperson sometime ago. He told me that’s fake.

tushar9960 · 23rd February 2020, 00:31

Don't expect them to be aware of anything. Honda doesn't inform their showrooms about anything.

p06rakeshb · 29th March 2020, 16:07

Alright. The sales folks now tell me that it’ll be another 6 months at least..I’ll go with the z900..the cbr is great but I don’t think it’s worth waiting for that long.

bf1983 · 29th March 2020, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by p06rakeshb

Alright. The sales folks now tell me that it’ll be another 6 months at least..I’ll go with the z900..the cbr is great but I don’t think it’s worth waiting for that long.

Thats sad that Honda is taking so long to replace such a gem of a bike. But are you sure you will be fine with a naked bike when your first choice is a faired bike ? Unfortunately not much options in the 7-8l bracket for a good faired motorcycle in India

13th October 2019, 16:13	#121
tushar9960 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Pune Posts: 31 Thanked: 123 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review I totally get where you're coming from since I've been in your exact situation. Harley needs all the promotion it can do to sell their bikes. They don't really have a market in India apart from the HD enthusiasts who want a highway cruiser. Even then I'd say that in their category there are better options from other manufactures. Trust me though the bike is insanely good. I did Mumbai to Pune today in record time without an ache, sore or any other issues. Honda won't offer you discounts or test drives or any other such benefit which other manufacturers in the country will tempt you with. Yet they seem to sell out their bikes pretty quick. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com...w/71496875.cms With this bit of news, the future looks brighter and by the time they've stocked up on the next batch maybe you'll get a test drive too. I had to take a leap of faith.
	(1) Thanks

20th October 2019, 18:18	#122
p06rakeshb BHPian Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bangalore Posts: 39 Thanked: 8 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review I agree. Hence waiting for Honda to re-launch with a 9+ month wait. I went through the same thing with Honda while buying my car. The salesperson admitted as much, telling me they will sell the inventory irrespective and hence don’t need to offer discounts. About Harley, it’s not an everyday bike from what I’ve heard. Plus Honda post sales service is something I’m convinced about and hence not inclined to look at Kawa etc.
	() Thanks

10th January 2020, 10:49	#123
p06rakeshb BHPian Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bangalore Posts: 39 Thanked: 8 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review it's Jan and the frustration with no news from Honda on the CBR continues. I am hoping the BS-VI version launches soon.
	() Thanks

12th January 2020, 12:22	#124
tushar9960 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Pune Posts: 31 Thanked: 123 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review They're going to launch the CB650R along with the CBR650R this time. Honda unfortunately doesn't market their bikes much. They just launch it suddenly.
	(1) Thanks

12th January 2020, 14:33	#125
Nithesh_M Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mangalore Posts: 1,352 Thanked: 3,944 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review So they finally listened on the Neo Retro 650R. I'm sure the 2020 bs6 models will be priced from 8.3 or 8.5 lakhs ex showroom looking at the hike from its rivals. They don't need marketing when they manage to sell out their small batches of imports each year. People who want one know when its launched anyway. Last edited by Nithesh_M : 12th January 2020 at 14:34.
	(1) Thanks

7th February 2020, 11:07	#126
p06rakeshb BHPian Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bangalore Posts: 39 Thanked: 8 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review And I feel they are a little too smug about it. Kawasaki has been launching its BS6 versions and is now pushing discounts to clear out BS4 inventory. Honda? Nope. The showroom is still frustratingly unhelpful about the launch or tentative launch. I hate the fact that I am still waiting despite the lack of intent from their side. I know the CBR650r is good but come one. Some love to customers? Going to Kawasaki this weekend to peruse.
	() Thanks

9th February 2020, 20:07	#129
Nithesh_M Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mangalore Posts: 1,352 Thanked: 3,944 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review When HMSI has managed to sell all 200 units of 2019 batch well into September last year how does one expect to get a test ride or a display bike when they're all sold out? There's nothing smug about waiting till bs6 fuel is readily available to launch bs6 sbks. I'm guessing the launch will happen in April at the earliest or as late as August. The Thai dealers have only begun taking orders for 2020 models which includes a new jeans blue/orange colour as option alongside all blacked out engine head and lower casings. No other change reported.
	() Thanks

12th February 2020, 19:53	#131
tushar9960 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Pune Posts: 31 Thanked: 123 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review Seems there's finally some news (though not official) on a bs6 version launching soon. https://autoportal.com/news/2020-hon...dia-16982.html
	() Thanks

16th February 2020, 07:32	#132
p06rakeshb BHPian Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bangalore Posts: 39 Thanked: 8 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review I had sent that to the Honda salesperson sometime ago. He told me that’s fake.
	() Thanks

23rd February 2020, 00:31	#133
tushar9960 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Pune Posts: 31 Thanked: 123 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review Don't expect them to be aware of anything. Honda doesn't inform their showrooms about anything.
	() Thanks

29th March 2020, 16:07	#134
p06rakeshb BHPian Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bangalore Posts: 39 Thanked: 8 Times	Re: 2018 Honda CBR650F : Ownership Review Alright. The sales folks now tell me that it’ll be another 6 months at least..I’ll go with the z900..the cbr is great but I don’t think it’s worth waiting for that long.
	(1) Thanks