650cc. Faired or naked?

[condo bought]

I'm looking at getting one of the 650's available here.

Er-6n, Ninja 650, CBR650 or CB650.

I cannot decide whether to get the naked or faired version.

Mainly city riding, but hit the highway maybe twice a month for a 500-800km roadtrip (one-up).

The rest of the time I'll be pottering around the suburbs of Bangkok.

the naked versions are presumably better in the city, but probably not by that much.

But out on the highway, at 140-150kph cruising, with the odd burst up to 170kph.

Do the naked versions get tiresome after 2-3-4-5 hours of this? compared to the faired version?

[DILLIGAD]

A faired bike will be a warmer ride so I know which version I'd go for for city riding (650F).

Edited January 22, 2016 by DILLIGAD

[guzzi850m2]

Versys any day of the week, I do as OP wants, go about 140-150 when safe to do so and the adjustable screen on the V is just awesome, you can easily go all day at those speeds without tiring.

The V is also very good for City because you sit high up and can see over the cars roofs and it's very nippy too. Win win.

The 4 bikes OP mentions I am not remotely interested in to be frank and when the Mk3 was launched in 2015, I knew I had to have one.

[sebastion]

The seating positions are all different.

I don't like laying on the tank and like the more upright postion of the cb650f.

The inline 4 is much more nicer to ride that the twins but thats just my preference.

Good luck.

[Kwasaki]

Test ride them all and get what your happy with.

[Dewey]

You can add one more model on your list, the MT-07 (689cc) a little more expensive but very easy to ride in the city (I'm very satisfied about mine).

[BKKBike09]

OP - "... on the highway, at 140-150kph cruising, with the odd burst up to 170kph ... Do the naked versions get tiresome after 2-3-4-5 hours of this"

You bet that's tiring. Even more so if you're tall. Actually I wouldn't say that any of those bikes (or any 650) is going to be very comfortable if you really want to try and cruise at 140-150 kph.

[eisfeld]

The CB650F actually has some weirdly good aerodynamics. Up to 150kph you don't feel much wind. I drove 800km in a day on one and only if you really go to higher speeds it gets really tiresome.

Or maybe it was 140kph, can't remember. There is a certain speed where the aerodynamics completely change. I think its because of the two air channels on the front which push the airflow up and once that certain speed is reached the force from the front is bigger than the force from these channels.

For me, I'd go with naked any day for city riding. Even for longer rides the upright riding position beats the little wind protection the faired versions give you and I don't want to duck behind the screen all day.

As Guzzi pointed out, there is also the Versys to consider for your type of riding.

Rent them and check them really out. That's the only way you will know which one fits you best.

[lust]

http://bangkok.craigslist.co.th/mcy/5406374967.html

125,000

[wow64]

If you ride naked you better make sure you don't come off.

[MatteoBassini]

Are the Versys handlebars taller than most cars?

I've been thinking of grabbing a measuring tape and go around all the motorcycle dealers and record all handlebar heights and compare them with car's mirror's

[VocalNeal]

Laying forward on a sports bike if riding mostly in Bangkok traffic soon gets "old" They don't start to get "comfortable' until about 120 kph. Buy a more upright naked bike and reduce the open road cruising speed to a more usable 130 kph, with occasional excursion into the 140's for passing.

Or as has been said buy a Versys.

[kannot]

The steering lock on the Honda cbr650 f ( faired) is pretty darn restrictive so no good in town for me, i think the naked bikes look a bit ugly though and I like the clip on type bars of the faired version as opposed to the non faired. These bikes get hot.

I dont know anything about the Kwakker except maybe less heat with only two cylinders.

[guzzi850m2]

The handle bar on the V is higher up than a sedan cars rear view mirrors but not pick-up truck's.

No not too much heat from the engine when sitting in heavy traffic, I can hear the the fan kicks in but the heat don't seems to hit the rider, well not that I noticed anyway.

One poster said than the 650 bikes are not comfortable cruising 140-150, well speaking for myself on a 2015 V, very comfortable at those speeds, it's build for those speeds man and a very tall rider can raise the screen and keep most of the wind off your chest.

Add 1 tooth more on the front spocket and the revs will drop slightly and some does 160 all day long (not Thailand) I seen in the Versys forums. I don't want to do that on mine since I like the easy popping wheelies in 1st gear by mistake, he-he and I seldom goes touring since I got a kid here.

[Rhys]

I like the CBR 650.... Since we are on the roads, it is better for more efficient riding.. wind at your chest is a pain at high speeds, is it not.

[condo bought]

Thanks.

I don't like the Versys or CBX.

[Rhys]

Thanks.

I don't like the Versys or CBX.

Any closer to your bike purchase?

[roly]

I was wondering the same, whether to get CBR650F or CB650F. I currently have a CBR300 (bought in September), but just bought the missus a CB500F, which is actually more comfortable and I prefer the styling in fact. Due to make a purchase sometime this year, leaning towards the naked version.

Riding the CB500F I noticed that at high speed (150-160 etc) it's pretty windy against the legs, pushing them in various directions, not a problem I have on the CBR300 (and yes, I can reach 160+ on that bike) :-)

[Rhys]

I was wondering the same, whether to get CBR650F or CB650F. I currently have a CBR300 (bought in September), but just bought the missus a CB500F, which is actually more comfortable and I prefer the styling in fact. Due to make a purchase sometime this year, leaning towards the naked version.

Riding the CB500F I noticed that at high speed (150-160 etc) it's pretty windy against the legs, pushing them in various directions, not a problem I have on the CBR300 (and yes, I can reach 160+ on that bike) :-)

Same situation Roly.... Riding a CBR 300R..... I would lean towards the CBR 650F....more guts, seem like a compact bull dog.. Go to the M shows.. Trust you pick the one you want..

On the pegs..

[Happy Grumpy]

^ Not on a test ride?

Rent both for a day.

Enjoy.

[Nickymaster]

I would go for the naked version and add a windscreen when going on long distance trips. Many nice big screens available (also locally) for this model (Honda). Google it..

Edited May 11, 2016 by Nickymaster

[DILLIGAD]

Not so common, but the new Suzuki SV650 looks good too!

[seedy]

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