After teasing the new CBR650R e-clutch on May 6, Honda has now teased the CB650R e-clutch as well, suggesting their imminent launch in India. Expect it to command a premium of around Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 over the regular variant of the bike, which is currently priced at Rs 9.20 lakh (ex-showroom).
What Is Honda e-Clutch Technology?
- In general, manual bikes require riders to press the clutch lever every time they change gears. This can be tiring for some in traffic conditions. Honda E-Clutch technology allows riders to choose whether or not they want to operate the clutch lever on a manual gearbox. Thus, it automates the clutch operations while keeping the manual fun of manual gearshifts.
- It uses a small motor setup linked to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) to faciliate clutch operations.
- To simplify, it has two small motors with gears and a special three-part lever that moves the clutch. The system works through an ECU that teams up with a MCU (Motor Control Unit), using inputs from various sensors that detect gear shifts, throttle input, and bike speed to smoothly manage gear shifts without the rider needing to use the clutch manually.
Benefits of Honda e-Clutch
- No need to operate clutch lever always (but you can still use it if you want).
- No stalling even if you forget to downshift.
- Feels like a manual bike as you still control gears.
- Better for traffic & beginners without losing the fun of manual shifting.
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Honda CB650R E-Clutch
The Honda CB650R looks idential to the regular model, except the fact that it has a slightly larger clutch casing to accomodate the actuaturs and other parts. This results in a slight increase in weight by 2.8kg, bringing the total to 205.8kg.
At the heart of the bike is a 649cc, inline 4-cyclinder, liquid-cooled engine that generates 95PS of max power at 12,000 rpm and a 63Nm of peak torque at 9500 rpm. It comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox.
Regarding features, this Japanese neo-retro naked street bike comes equipped with amenities like a round LED headlamp, underbelly exhaust for a sporty appearance, a fully digital 5-inch TFT instrument cluster with Bluetooth-based smartphone connectivity support, Show SFF-BP USD front forks, and preload adjustable monoshock at the rear.
Honda offers the CB650R in two colour options – Matte Gunpowder Black and Metallic Candy Chromosphere Red.