Honda have announced two new colour options for the CB650R in 2023, so I thought I’d cover those and take a look at the CB650R, versus the new Hornet 750, as I think there’s some overlap, which leaves me asking… which is better, and do we really need both? Anyway those new CB650R colours are a Matt Gunpowder Black Metallic, and Matt Dim Gray Metallic, joining the Candy Chromosphere Red and Mat Jeans Blue Metallic. So at least someone had some fun naming those colours! With that paint confined to just the tank, this news probably isn’t earth shattering for anyone, unless they really like the totally blacked out streetfighter look, which the Gunpowder now offers, and I will say looks pretty good with a host of the accessories fitted. But onto the comparison… let’s throw some shade. Now for most parts of the world, these bikes sit on even footing in so far as being in a very similar class, with the CB650R being a more premium neo-retro that also runs a four-cylinder, while the Hornet 750 adopts a 750 parallel twin – 270 degree sure – but hardly a traditional Hornet powerplant and seems a more bargain orientated choice. Does that make the Hornet the Camry of the motorcycling world? I’m not sure, but it’s just my take that the Hornet doesn’t stack up that well in this comparison in the styling department, although the bike is miles better in black. Now first up, engines, the CB650R runs the 649 cc in-line four-cylinder with very attractively displayed headers, a slightly higher compression ratio of 11.6:1 and boasting 70 kW at 12,000 rpm, with 63 newton-metres of torque at 9500 rpm. So fairly peaky for max power, but being a four that’s part and parcel. The Hornet runs a 755 cc OHC 270 degree crank parallel twin, at 11:1 compression, so the more affordable engine to produce, and probably service being fair, but also a layout that is frequently criticised for being boring. I’d say the 270 crank offsets that, being the best of the parallel twins, but I’d probably have said a four has a bit more wow factor, as parallel twins become the most common engine type. The Hornet also only offers 67.5 kW but bumps torque up to 75 Nm, with both peaking much lower in the rev range. The CB650R does show it’s age as a continuing model though, in running an LCD display, with the HSTC, or the Honda Torque Control system, where the Hornet 750 receives three rider modes, three engine power modes, engine brake settings, HSTC, and wheelie control, for a much more nuanced level of rider aides when it comes to intervention. On the chassis side of things both run a steel diamond frame, with Showa Separate Function Big Piston USD forks fitted, and a monoshock with 10-step preload adjustment for the CB and only five for the Hornet. Wheels are 17 inch of course, but while both run the fairly generic 120/70 front, the CB650R gets a 180/55 rear to the Hornet’s 160/60. Both bikes run Nissin radial mount four-pot calipers on the front, with the CB650R featuring 310 mm rotors to the 296 mm units on the Hornet, while the 240 mm rear rotor and single-piston caliper is a wash. When it comes to ergonomics the CB650R runs a taller seat height at 810 mm and weighs in at a heftier 202.5 kg, although ground clearance is also a little more generous at 150 mm. The Hornet shines in this area with a lower and more accessible 795 mm seat height, lighter 190 kg weight, but slightly less ground clearance. Images courtesy of Honda Motorcycles. If you like my videos you can support the channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/motojournokris Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell! https://motojournokris.com/youtube ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2EnVc4QJkw

I’m a little late to the party but thought I’d quickly cover updates to the 2022 Honda CRF450R, which represent some small updates after the major overhaul in 2021. In essence we’re seeing some updates to polish the latest version, between big model updates. The focus there is on the ECU and suspension, essentially with tweaks to the settings. As a bit of history the bike was rebuilt from the ground up in 2017, followed by the addition of an electric start in 2018 and a HRC cylinder head in 2019. 2020 saw Honda Selectable Torque Control added, while 2021 was back to the drawing board according to Honda, built off the 2019 MXGP machine campaigned by Tim Gajser. The chassis on the 2022 is unchanged apart from the suspension, with internal adjustment to both the front and rear suspension units. The focus there was on a firmer and more balanced setup. That meant raising the compression damping ride height of the stroke at both ends, with the Showa 49 mm USD coil spring AF2 fork receiving 5 mm more stroke, to a total of 310 in total, with the axle clamps also tweaked to offer more rigidity. The low-speed shim stack has also been re-valved to reach that firmer compression and rebound damping setting, with oil volume reduced to 380 cc, down 8 cc, with rebound adjustment now just 13 settings rather than 15. The Showa MKE AF2 shock on the other hand has been completely re-valved, both for the low to mid and high speed shim stack, again firming the ride, with rebound adjustment up to 11 from eight, while high and low speed compression now has six points of adjustment, down from 12, with oil capacity increased by just 1 cc. The ECU updates on the other hand witnesses the mapping revised for smoother power delivery, and a linear level of control, but that’s about the extent of the details provided there. US pricing of the 2022 CRF450R looks to be $9,599 plus associated costs, while Australian pricing doesn’t seem to have been released yet. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell! https://motojournokris.com/youtube Images courtesy of Honda Motorcycles. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1e0IA7-Y7c

#shorts #ktm1290superadventurer #ktmmotorcycles Quick look at the 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R in a YouTube #shorts. Video with a deeper dive into updates on the way. Images/footages courtesy of KTM Motorcycles, images by Rudi Schedl. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell! https://motojournokris.com/youtube ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0-VBlOwC3M

#shorts #kawasaki #kawasakininja #ninjazx4r Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-4R and ZX-4RR will arrive in 2023, with US pricing sitting at $6,699 plus delivery, and offering a four-cylinder, 399 cc 80 horsepower machine that revs to 15,000 rpm. We also see the use of a TFT display, Showa forks, Showa fully adjustable shock on the RR version only, slipper clutch, trellis steel frame, dual four-piston calipers on 290 mm rotors on the front, and both ride modes and traction control. A full supersport the Ninja ZX-4R and ZX-4RR could take it to bikes like the RS 660, despite the capacity advantage of the Aprilia, as well as the Yamaha R7 and Honda CBR650R. If you like my videos you can support the channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/motojournokris Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell! https://motojournokris.com/youtube ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qtEqCeb9a8