BMW R 1250 GS vs Honda CB650R (2024 generation)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| BMWR 1250 GS | HondaCB650R (2024 generation) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 2018 | 2024 |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Powertrain | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine capacity | 1,254 cc | 649 cc |
| Cylinders | 2 | 4 |
| Power | 100 kW | 70 kW |
| Torque | 143 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Engine details | Air/liquid-cooled four-stroke boxer twin, four valves per cylinder, double overhead camshafts, counterbalance shaft and BMW ShiftCam variable intake valve timing and lift. Bore × stroke 102.5 × 76 mm, compression 12.5:1, BMS-O engine control | Liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC 16-valve inline four; 67 × 46 mm bore and stroke; 11.6:1 compression ratio; PGM-FI electronic injection. |
| Power details | Maker 100 kW at 7750 rpm, also labelled 136 hp | 70 kW at 12,000 rpm. |
| Torque details | 143 Nm at 6250 rpm | 63 Nm at 9,500 rpm. |
| Gearbox | Constant-mesh six-speed gearbox with helical gears; Shift Assistant Pro is optional | Six-speed manual gearbox; optional E-Clutch operates the clutch when starting, stopping and shifting, while the rider selects gears with the foot pedal. The clutch lever remains usable and E-Clutch can be disabled. |
| Clutch | Hydraulically activated wet clutch with anti-hopping function | Wet multiplate assist/slipper clutch on the standard manual. The optional E-Clutch system adds electronic clutch actuation; upshift and downshift pedal resistance have independent Hard, Medium and Soft settings. |
| Final drive | Cardan shaft | Chain. |
| Restricted versions | – | Maker-supported 35 kW A2 option; Honda's European specification table lists 49 Nm for the restricted version. |
| Chassis and dimensions | ||
| Style | Adventure | Naked |
| Seat height | 850 mm | 810 mm |
| Road-ready weight | 249 kg | 205 kg |
| Frame | Two-section main frame and bolt-on rear frame, with engine as a load-bearing member | Steel diamond frame with pressed swingarm-pivot plates and twin elliptical spars. |
| Front suspension | BMW Telelever with central spring strut and 37 mm tubes; 190 mm travel | 41 mm Showa Separate Function Fork Big Piston upside-down fork. |
| Rear suspension | Cast aluminium single-sided BMW Paralever swingarm with WAD spring strut, continuously adjustable preload and rebound damping; 200 mm travel. Dynamic ESA Next Generation is optional | Direct-action monoshock with ten-step spring-preload adjustment and cast aluminium swingarm. The maker's 43.5 mm figure is shock stroke, not rear-wheel travel. |
| Brakes | Front twin floating 305 mm discs with four-piston radial calipers; rear single 276 mm disc with two-piston floating caliper. Standard disengageable partly integral ABS; cornering ABS Pro is optional through Riding Modes Pro | Twin 310 × 4.5 mm front discs with radial-mount four-piston calipers; 240 × 5 mm rear disc with single-piston caliper; two-channel ABS. |
| Wheels and tyres | Standard die-cast aluminium wheels, 3.00 × 19 inches front and 4.50 × 17 inches rear; tyres 120/70 R19 and 170/60 R17. The press photos show optional cross-spoke wheels | Cast aluminium hollow-section five-spoke wheels; 17 × MT3.5 front and 17 × MT5.5 rear rims; 120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) front and 180/55 ZR17 M/C (73W) rear tyres. |
| Geometry | Wheelbase 1514 mm, castor 100.6 mm and steering-head angle 64.3° | 1,450 mm wheelbase; 25.5-degree rake; 100 mm trail; 150 mm ground clearance; 2.8 m turning radius. |
| Dimensions | Length 2207 mm; width including mirrors 952.5 mm | 2,120 × 780 × 1,075 mm (length × width × height). |
| Seat height details | Standard rider seat adjusts between 850 and 870 mm; alternative seats and suspension provide other heights. HP style equipment differs | – |
| Weight conditions | Original 2018 maker technical table lists DIN unladen weight, road-ready, 249 kg; fuel-fill percentage is not specified in that table. Permitted total weight 465 kg; accessories and options change weight | European 24YM and 26YM press specifications publish 205 kg standard manual kerb weight and 207 kg with E-Clutch. The current UK E-Clutch table instead publishes 205.8 kg, used for that configuration. The cited tables do not specify fuel-fill percentage; no dry weight is used. |
| Fuel and range | ||
| Fuel tank | 20 litres | 15.4 litres |
| Fuel consumption | Maker WMTC 4.75 litres/100 km; usable fuel tank 20 litres | 4.9 litres/100 km (WMTC); Honda also publishes 20.4 km/l. Consumption varies with riding conditions, load, tyre pressure and maintenance. |
| Emissions | Original launch specification EU4, closed-loop three-way catalyst; maker CO₂ 110 g/km | Current UK specification 112 g/km CO₂; European press technical tables publish 113 g/km (WMTC). |
| Equipment | ||
| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Traction control | Yes | Yes |
| Rider aids | Standard Automatic Stability Control ASC and Hill Start Control; Riding Modes Pro adds Dynamic Traction Control, ABS Pro, Hill Start Control Pro and Dynamic Brake Control | Switchable Honda Selectable Torque Control and two-channel ABS. E-Clutch supports automatic clutch operation while retaining manual override. |
| Riding modes | Standard Road and Rain; optional Riding Modes Pro adds Dynamic, Dynamic Pro, Enduro and Enduro Pro | – |
| Display | Standard 6.5-inch full-colour TFT instrument screen with Multi-Controller | Five-inch colour TFT with Bar, Circle and Simple layouts; backlit four-way handlebar control. |
| Connectivity | Standard BMW Motorrad Connectivity, including compatible smartphone and headset functions | Honda RoadSync smartphone connection for on-screen navigation and other functions; USB-C socket under the seat. Calls, music and voice features require a compatible Bluetooth helmet headset. Honda's 24YM release prose describes USB-C, although its technical table says USB: No; the 26YM prose again describes the socket. |
| Lighting | Standard LED headlight and LED rear light; LED daytime riding light is optional | LED headlight, rear light and other lighting. |
| Equipment and options | Optional cruise control, Dynamic ESA, Shift Assistant Pro, Intelligent Emergency Call and luggage; regional equipment packages vary | Heated grips, luggage, flyscreen, seat cover and under cowl are optional. The accessory quickshifter is for the conventional manual version, not E-Clutch. HISS immobiliser. |
| Release and generation details | Announced 17 September 2018. Canadian announcement planned October 2018 sale; BMW USA's 16 November 2018 model update retrospectively says Available Now. A first actual retail month is not confirmed, so the headline retains 2018. Figures describe the original generation; later 2020 updates and the separate GS Adventure are not substituted | The 2024 update introduced revised headlight, radiator shrouds, seats and tail, the five-inch TFT and optional E-Clutch. Honda's November 2025 retrospective confirms the E-Clutch models first launched in 2024; exact first-sale month for this European generation is unconfirmed. Honda's 26YM release confirms unchanged engine and chassis hardware with a revised colour palette. |
| Battery and charging | ||
| Battery details | Original technical table lists 12 V/11.8 Ah starter battery and 508 W generator; starter battery is not a traction battery | – |
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