Reviews of Honda Bros Rating: 4.3 out of 5 3 reviews found

Features and prices

During its history, the bike has undergone one major restyling generation change. Which one do you like best?

Suzuki GSX 600 Katana – until 1997.

Suzuki GSX 600 Katana - since 1998.

In addition, individual suspension and chassis components were changed several times. Despite the fact that the bike is over 30 years , the model is still in demand. At the same time, the price for used motorcycles in the Russian Federation is quite affordable and starts from 60 thousand rubles .

Motor

Initially, the Honda Bros 650 motorcycle was equipped with a two-cylinder engine with a liquid cooling system. The carburetor was responsible for power supply. There were three valves on each cylinder.

During the entire production period, changes were made to the engine design only once. As a result, the oil lines began to pass through the engine, and not bypass, as was the case before.

The bike is equipped with a 5-speed gearbox. The rear wheel is rotated by a chain drive.

Specifications

Since the motorcycle was primarily positioned as a tourist, they did not reinvent the engine. The air-cooled inline-four from the GSX-R 750 was taken as the basis

It was redone, reconfigured, and reduced in volume. The result of all operations was a fairly friendly, high-torque, and simple motor.

The Katana engine, which has four valves per cylinder, is capable of producing 80 l/s and 55. Not so much for a sports tourist, but not little either - the figure is rather average.

The solution turned out to be so successful that later this engine, without significant modifications, received the Bandit 600 (Suzuki GSF 600 Bandit).

Transmission and clutch

In the style of the tourist canons, the bike receives a 6-speed gearbox.

Users say that it shifts clearly and there are no problems finding the right gear. “Everything works so well that my left leg thinks about switching more often than I do.”

The main drive is standard - chain .

Brakes

Front brakes.

Rear brakes.

There are conflicting opinions about the braking system . Some owners notice that they can only use the front brake, others write that the front brakes are weak and to stop safely, you also need to use the rear one .

Disc hydraulics are installed on both axles, in both cases there is a 2-piston .

The diameter of the rotors is 290/240 (front/rear) mm. During restyling, the size of the rear disc decreased by 10 mm .

Installation of additional systems is not provided.

Review of Yamaha FZ1-SA (2009)

Good day everyone!

I have owned a Phaser since May 2009. Bought new with ABS. Now the mileage is 12,000 km. Additionally, I installed arches with sliders.

I was choosing between the classics Honda CBF 1000 and Yamaha FZ1-S. I bought it for traveling around the city, to and from work. I can’t afford something smaller, because... I weigh 120 kg and height 192 cm. I couldn’t imagine a chopper around the city in the aisles. The sport-tourist is heavy and not the best option for the city. At first I was leaning towards the CBF 1000, but after studying the characteristics the choice fell on the FZ1-S.

Aluminum frame, 150 hp power, inverted fork, more aggressive design and little things. At the same cost when equipped with ABS.

Comfortable seating position for city trips. The tank is 18 liters, enough for 200-250 km in the city. With the low fuel indicator blinking, you can drive at least another 15 km. The odometer countdown in kilometers begins.

Speedometer and odometer (two odometers) are electronic. Pointer tachometer with cut-off at 12 thousand revolutions. The cutoff is triggered by dropping the speed somewhere to 11 thousand revolutions. The panel displays fuel level, engine temperature, air filter temperature, clock, direction indicators, neutral, ABS, high beam. There are additional adjustments in the submenu.

A fairly smooth increase in speed up to 5-6 thousand revolutions. After 6 thousand revolutions, the acceleration dynamics increase significantly and 150 hp are already felt. During operation, there was a lack of dynamics from the very start to 5 thousand revolutions, I decided to change the drive sprocket to 16 teeth (standard drive 17, driven 45) to increase dynamics, but of course, lose maximum speed. The engine is quite noisy, there is a lot of extraneous noise.

The box works clearly, but with little effort.

The brakes are powerful enough, quite enough for aggressive driving. ABS works in the most extreme cases and intervenes on the verge of blocking, while working on the principle of an automobile. ABS is not combined, separately front and separately rear. Reinforced hoses.

The suspension works well, there were no breakdowns, but I still decided to tighten it up in the coming season, make it stiffer, I’m just getting used to it. The suspension front and rear is fully adjustable. You can pinch it if you want.

In addition to the side step, there is also a central one, which is convenient for cleaning and lubricating the chain.

The wind protection works well up to 180 km/h, then I just lie down on the tank. If desired, you can install the glass higher.

You can fold the mirrors by hand if you can’t squeeze through somewhere. The mirrors do not shake when moving.

The muffler really muffles the sound, so it was installed in forward flow to at least somehow be noticeable to other road users.

Both headlights work for low and high beam. H4 lamps. They turn on automatically when the engine starts. There is enough lighting.

It comes with a Yuasa gel battery, which lasted me for a season. During storage, it should not be allowed to discharge below 7-9 volts, because then he does not take on more of these values. I changed it, the battery is expensive.

The standard Danlop tires are quite hard, but they were enough for 11,000 km. True, lately I have often driven with number two, the tires could have lasted longer that way. Front cylinder 120/70, R17, rear 190/50, R17.

The tax when accounting in Moscow turns out to be quite high - 7,500 rubles.

Driving performance

The maximum speed indicated in the documentation is 210 km/h . The owners say that it is possible to dial it up, the acceleration is confident, but the motorcycle gains speed above 190 km/h extremely reluctantly.

Dynamic performance (acceleration and cruise)

• Comfortable cruiser - 130-150 km/h .
• Acceleration from zero to 100 km in 4.2 seconds .

According to users, these are excellent indicators for a tourist.

Fuel consumption

Consumption, according to the manufacturer’s documentation, is 5.4 liters per 100 km . Users note:

• on the highway 5 l ,
• in the city 7-8 l .

It all depends on your driving style. Provided that the tank is as much as 20 liters , the average distance at one gas station is quite impressive - around 400 km .

Honda in sports

Many fans of the Honda empire know that at the very beginning of its existence, this giant produced engines for bicycles. To show the general public what a great quality they were, Honda entered every possible race.

Today the manufacturer has turned into a real automoto empire, and this tradition is still alive. It would seem that for a long time there is no need to prove anything to anyone, because the big name Honda speaks for itself. But all new bike models coming off the assembly line must be tested on the tracks.

The Honda Bros 650 is no exception. It did not take part in official competitions because high speed is not its intended purpose. But on the track, not only speed and fast acceleration play an important role. Racing enthusiasts often choose this model for both street riding and semi-professional tracks. The road to the big sport “Bros” is closed; a serious sport bike can easily bypass it. But in its class it has high dynamics and controllability. Judging by numerous reviews, this model is a reliable mid-ranger that can become a faithful companion and cause a minimum of trouble to its owner.

Modifications

The developers did not get carried away with modifications of the model; they limited themselves to the fact that after the change of generation, the dimensions of the motorcycle changed in all respects.

and competitors

Yamaha FZR 600.

Honda CBR600F.

The model did not arouse interest among competitors either. The first to introduce an equivalent replacement was Kawasaki, offering its GPX 600 .

Noticing his gesture, other Japanese also introduced sports:

• Yamaha has fielded the FZR 600;
• Honda - CBR600F (first generation).

Distinctive features of different versions

Do not be mistaken about the absolute identity of the Honda Hawk GT and Honda Bros 650. The technical characteristics of both versions are similar, but there are still a number of differences:

• The power of the Hawk was 58 hp. s., and the “Japanese” had to be content with 55.
• Most Hawk GT models were built on steel frames rather than aluminum frames like the Bros.

There are also modifications of the Honda Bros 650 model. There are only two of them: MK1 and MK2. They are almost identical to each other and differ only in the wheels. The MK1 features silver 6-spoke wheels, while the MK2 has a gold-colored rear wheel with only 3 spokes.

Advantages and disadvantages

Since the motorcycle was designed as a budget option, it did not receive any special distinctive features. In addition, representatives noted that they were afraid to change the model too much, since either the price would increase or the bike would not be able to be considered a “universal soldier.”

In general, the motorcycle can be called friendly, but still requires certain driving skills.

But at the same time, users noted:

• efficiency and large tank volume;
• consumables are not a problem;
• but large parts have to be ordered from Japan;
• problems with standing on the side stand - you can fall off it even from a sideways glance, but if you slightly reduce its length (an angle grinder helps), the problem is solved;
• prone to wobbling , so letting go of the steering wheel, even temporarily, is highly not recommended;
• Excellent maneuverability - even with a passenger you can make a turn under the knee.

As those who have had time to sit say, it’s a good and balanced bike for long trips , and not for layovers.

History of creation and promotion on the market

The Bros series was published in 1988. The development was led by designer Toshiaki Kishi. The Honda Bros model is the second in the entire Honda line, made using Pro-Arm technology. The series included two modifications - with an engine of 400 and 650 cc.

The Honda Bros 650 belongs to the naked class, and this particular motorcycle is one of the first representatives in the class. We can confidently say that he stood at the origins. Initially, the Bros line was planned only for the Japanese domestic market. For America, this model was produced under the name Honda Hawk GT. By the way, the 400 cc modification was not supplied abroad at all; it entered the markets of Europe, Asia and America only thanks to gray realtors and the secondary market.

At first, the Honda Bros 650 (or rather, the Hawk GT) sold rather sluggishly in the States. The appearance, unusual for those times, and some design features had an effect. This led to sales completely stopping in 1993 both in Japan and the rest of the world. The model was soon discontinued.

Purpose

This motorcycle is often the choice of those who already have driving experience and have outgrown 125 and 250 cc. Honda Bros 650 as a first motorcycle is a dubious pleasure. Still, he has a sharp temperament, he reacts very quickly to commands, and quickly gains acceleration. On the one hand, these are undoubted advantages, on the other hand, you should learn to drive on a calmer “horse”. This, of course, is a general recommendation, and not at all a strict taboo. Some people are quite good at harnessing this bike even without a lot of experience behind them.

The appearance of a typical naked bike makes this model very attractive to residents of big cities. And his character is appropriate. Honda Bros 650 has high maneuverability and easily avoids traffic jams. Thanks to powerful suspensions, it copes well with uneven roads and is not intimidated by paving stones or even gravel. You can also use it to get out of the city - a country road, a field, a wooded area will be quite suitable for it. As for endurance on a long journey, you shouldn’t have unreasonable hopes. It “gets tired” and overheats, and it’s unlikely to be able to travel a thousand kilometers in a day. But it’s quite possible to fly to a neighboring city or the nearest body of water. For this, by and large, the Honda Bros 650 was created. Reviews from owners, by the way, note a comfortable fit, in which the muscles do not become numb and do not get tired. Moreover, the second number will be no less comfortable, because the passenger seat is spacious and comfortable.

Opportunities for tuning and customization

It’s as if the manufacturer himself stimulates and inspires model owners to make some modifications. First of all, this concerns a modest, even meager palette. The first most popular modification is painting it in the desired color.

Fans of street fighters are partial to “Throw.” It might just be a style statement! Already unencumbered by unnecessary metal and plastic, this bike can be further lightened by removing the fairings located under the tank and seat. A custom flat steering wheel and a headlight without a fairing harmonize very well with the appearance of the Honda Bros 650. Tuning often includes upgrading the lighting.

On tuned “Bros” you can find overcooked exhaust pipes. Sometimes they are lifted up at an angle and equipped with powerful mufflers. This gives the appearance of the motorcycle the aggressive features of a real male.

As is often the case with streetfighters (and naked bikes too), the Honda Bros 650 may lack a passenger seat. Not everyone thinks that it has practical benefits, and this only affects the appearance of the bike for the better.