Used test: 2018 HONDA CB650F SHARP LOOKS AND SENSIBLE POWER

There’s been a reasonably priced naked ‘CB’ middleweight in the Honda line up since the spirited 97bhp CB600 Hornet was introduced way back in 1998. Proving popular, especially with newcomers and anyone with a slightly lower appetite for speed, the 600cc roadster models then went through a few different guises. Replacing the Hornet, the 2008 CBF600 may have had a higher spec alloy frame, but the reduced performance of its 76bhp engine made it more suited to the safe and sensible set. The CBF lasted until 2013 when the first 650cc model, the CB650F, was introduced for the 2014 season.

The all-new bike, built in Thailand, featured a water-cooled engine making a modest power maximum of 82bhp. Along with its steel frame and quite basic looking suspension, it appeared Honda had taken a bit of a backward step. The reality was different, with the roadster motor’s healthier midrange usability helping to make it quite a hit. Not so cheap at just over £6300, with the ABS option coming in