New CB650R or other Inline Fours?

[DorsetRider]

TLDR:
Seeking recommendations for older, non-sports, smaller inline fours, with a budget of <£3k?

Background;
I'm in my 50s and never grew up owning or riding bikes. Instead I went the car route loving classics, sports, and track. British built 5.0 V8 being my most treasured.

All this to say I have no accumulated knowledge of bikes and know close to nothing of motorcycle development and progress, so I'm here for advice on a second bike to complement my GSA.

Something a little lighter (say 200kg) and nimbler to play on dry, twisty roads with styling that leans towards classic, ideally something that feels a little more refined and gentlemanly rather than modern street fighter hooligan.

The GSA has all the power I could ever want so I'm not chasing pace here, but experience, owner delight, and the smiles that come with flowing through our B-roads on a bike's power band.

The Trident 660 (I know it's a triple) and Honda CB650R are quite different but are the two major contenders and I'm test riding each tomorrow.

I know Triumph's triple will have power everywhere but pulling to the increasing howl of the inline four of the Honda is really appealing and reminds me of watching the superbike championships back in the 90s. I loved the sound of the Japanese four-cylinder engines and the Honda CBR900RR at full tilt always made me smile. Which is why I'm thinking an inline four, much smaller and less powerful than a thou might be nice for real world riding, and before taking the plunge with a new bike, I should explore some of the older four-cylinders. These days twins seem to be everywhere and I think I might like to own a smaller inline four before there's none left. I'm not after a sports bike but something more comfortable and tame most of the time, until it's called on to work. This likely limits my options.

My lack of experience and knowledge means I have no real idea of what to start considering as alternative alongside the new Honda....

Thanks in advance and Happy New Year to all!

 

[richh]

Let us know how the test ride goes.

I have a close friend with knackered hands who wants to ride but has pain. So I was trying to get him on an e clutch cb650r.


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[DorsetRider]

Let us know how the test ride goes.

I have a close friend with knackered hands who wants to ride but has pain. So I was trying to get him on an e clutch cb650r.


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I dropped into the dealer yesterday to arrange my demo, they actually had a CB650R school bike in. I didn't have my kit to ride though I had the chance to play with the clutch in their car park. It is quite intuitive and I don't think would take much more than a ride or two to get used to. It's nice that you can choose to ride it as a complete manual if you prefer or in a situation that needs more control. It always reverts to auto clutch after a short period but to my sense is just a more flexible and smoother quick shifter with the added benefit of never stalling, being able to pull away without clutch, and not needing to be really on the gas for the shifter to operate nicely in first and second. The only negative comment I have from this short play is that to pull away without the clutch it was a little snatchy unless I was very gentle with the throttle, but there's a little play in the throttle before it picks up drive. Of course if you choose you can always use the clutch and work the bite however you want. I found an alternative to be that you could feather the brake as you might feather a clutch but I don't know if that's bad practice long term.

To me right now it seems a gimmick but I'm sure I'd come to find it beneficial in street traffic, I'm just very rarely in that situation with my riding preferences.

 

[Arsey]

It’s not an inline 4 but no harm in trying a Suzuki GSX-8S as the motor is fabulous with stonking midrange


If you want to spend more then the new 8T or 8TT have same engine but prettier clothes

 

[DorsetRider]

If you want to spend more then the new 8T or 8TT have same engine but prettier clothes

The 8T does look very appealing, I didn't even know it existed.

Apart from the engine it's on point and worth a look, I just don't think there are any near me, but that's not an issue. I can travel.

 

[steve hughes]

The 8T does look very appealing, I didn't even know it existed.

Hard to find a bad review as the engine is used in a number of guises. Definitely worth a demo imho

 

[MILLE_RIDER]

You won't pick up one of the Suzuki twins with a 3K budget. You should be able to pick up something like the well regarded, non sports, original Yamaha FZ 600 for less than your budget to scratch your multi cylinder itch

This one, not the R6 derived replacement that needed to be thrashed to access any performance. https://www.classicbikehub.uk/features/article/yamaha-fazer-600/

 

[DorsetRider]

You won't pick up one of the Suzuki twins with a 3K budget. You should be able to pick up something like the well regarded, non sports, Yamaha Fazer 600 for less than your budget to scratch your multi cylinder itch

Yes. That gets it back on topic, (but Arsey knows I'm also considering this as an alternative to a new CB650R or Trident 660, as low cost PCP options).

What I would say about the Suzuki is though it is beautiful to my eyes, and much like the Honda in that way, it likely doesn't have the satisfying silky, screaming top-end soundtrack of revving out the four.

 

[DorsetRider]

not the R6 derived replacement that needed to be thrashed to access any performance.

 

[glenn2926]

You won't pick up one of the Suzuki twins with a 3K budget. You should be able to pick up something like the well regarded, non sports, original Yamaha FZ 600 for less than your budget to scratch your multi cylinder itch

This one, not the R6 derived replacement that needed to be thrashed to access any performance. https://www.classicbikehub.uk/features/article/yamaha-fazer-600/

I had a 2000 reg 600 Fazer. It is one of the two bikes I wish I had kept. Great bike. Definitely worth considering as a 4 cylinder jap.

 

[leadfarmer]

It’s a good idea to get a second bike that is different enough to the GS to be worthwhile

A 4 cylinder is a good idea as they have a very different character to any of the twins

I have no idea of market prices in the UK, they’re quite different to here, but have a look at things like fazers, bandits, hornets 600/900 or even Z900s

 

[DorsetRider]

I had a 2000 reg 600 Fazer. It is one of the two bikes I wish I had kept. Great bike. Definitely worth considering as a 4 cylinder jap.

What's the other? Even if it's OT the suspense is killing me.....

 

[glenn2926]

What's the other? Even if it's OT the suspense is killing me.....

Honda Blackbird. It was just fantastic at everything I needed. Beautiful looking bike. Mine was in the fastest blue colour.

 

[DorsetRider]

You

It’s a good idea to get a second bike that is different enough to the GS to be worthwhile

A 4 cylinder is a good idea as they have a very different character to any of the twins

I have no idea of market prices in the UK, they’re quite different to here, but have a look at things like fazers, bandits, hornets 600/900 or even Z900s

You help justify my thinking. I feel that even though a triple will have power everywhere and be much more nimble, it may not be so different in terms of power delivery to the GS, which to me has torque on tap.

The thought of being able to ride a small four sedately but then also drop gears and flow in and out of twisty corners on the power band with it howling nicely is what appeals.

What I also like about the torque of the GS is that I can be in almost any gear above 30mph and still pull out of a corner, I can stay in a lower gear for masses of engine braking and I can be lazy. With a four I expect I will need to be deliberate about gear selection and braking to get the best corner and exit experience.

A different way to ride and hone some skills.

 

[Davey B]

Go way older...and buy a nice CBR600 (or perhaps a 2001 VFR 800?)...from the era when Honda build quality was superb.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202512198707162?sort=relevance&searchId=249dbb54-ae6a-4758-ab5a-2ff3d1328d6f&make=Honda&model=CBR600F&page=1&postcode=bd22%209qp&advertising-location=at_bikes&fromsra&backLinkQueryParams=channel%3Dbikes%26postcode%3Dbd22%25209qp%26make%3DHonda%26model%3DCBR600F%26flrfc%3D1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202511288207539?sort=relevance&searchId=c9efeef5-96cb-4457-a2e0-d7a9bc8e2cf0&make=Honda&model=VFR800&page=1&postcode=bd22%209qp&year-from=2000&year-to=2001&advertising-location=at_bikes&fromsra&backLinkQueryParams=channel%3Dbikes%26make%3DHonda%26model%3DVFR800%26postcode%3Dbd22%25209qp%26sort%3Drelevance%26year-from%3D2000%26year-to%3D2001%26flrfc%3D1

 

[Hustler]

I'd go along with Davey B.
I have a 1996 CBR600 which is worth something around £1500 and it does everything very well indeed.
Also consider maybe a 600cc Hornet and an older VFR750.
There's plenty of good bikes for well less than your target price out there.

 

[DorsetRider]

That CBR is an absolute peach @Davey B

 

[DorsetRider]

I'd go along with Davey B.
I have a 1996 CBR600 which is worth something around £1500 and it does everything very well indeed.
Also consider maybe a 600cc Hornet and an older VFR750.
There's plenty of good bikes for well less than your target price out there.

All for the value of deposit.... A very tempting consideration indeed

 

[leadfarmer]

In the same vein a friend of mine had a ZZR600 which was crazy fast 600

 

[DorsetRider]

Since 2006 that CBR has passed all but there MOTs due to shocks. But it has only done a handful of miles since 2006, not more than a few hundred in a single year and many dormant years too. I don't know if that's good or bad....