BMW R 1300 GS vs Honda CB650R (2024 generation)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| BMWR 1300 GS | HondaCB650R (2024 generation) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | November 2023 | 2024 |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Powertrain | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine capacity | 1,300 cc | 649 cc |
| Cylinders | 2 | 4 |
| Power | 107 kW | 70 kW |
| Torque | 149 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Engine details | Air/liquid-cooled four-stroke flat twin with four valves per cylinder, double overhead chain-driven camshafts, BMW ShiftCam variable intake valve timing and lift, and electronic fuel injection; bore × stroke 106.5 × 73 mm and compression 13.3:1 | 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 | 107 kW at 7750 rpm; maker also states 145 hp | 70 kW at 12,000 rpm. |
| Torque details | 149 Nm at 6500 rpm | 63 Nm at 9,500 rpm. |
| Gearbox | Six-speed claw-shift gearbox; 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 operated wet anti-hopping clutch | 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 | 237 kg | 205 kg |
| Frame | Steel main frame and bolted die-cast aluminium rear frame with the engine as a supporting member | Steel diamond frame with pressed swingarm-pivot plates and twin elliptical spars. |
| Front suspension | BMW EVO-Telelever with central shock absorber, handlebar tilting decoupled by a flex element; 190 mm travel. Dynamic Suspension Adjustment is optional | 41 mm Showa Separate Function Fork Big Piston upside-down fork. |
| Rear suspension | BMW EVO-Paralever cast aluminium single-sided swingarm, central WAD spring strut and adjustable preload; 200 mm travel | 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 semi-floating 310 mm discs with four-piston radial calipers; rear 285 mm disc with two-piston floating caliper. Full Integral ABS Pro links the brakes and adjusts for lean angle | 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 cast aluminium wheels, 3.00 × 19 inches front and 4.50 × 17 inches rear; tyres 120/70 R19 and 170/60 R17. Cross-spoke and forged Enduro wheels are optional | 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 1518 mm, castor 112 mm and maker steering-head angle 63.8° | 1,450 mm wheelbase; 25.5-degree rake; 100 mm trail; 150 mm ground clearance; 2.8 m turning radius. |
| Dimensions | Length 2212 mm over splash guard, width 1000 mm over hand guards and current UK height 1406 mm above windscreen | 2,120 × 780 × 1,075 mm (length × width × height). |
| Seat height details | Standard unladen seat height 850 mm; alternative seats, suspension and adaptive height control alter the seat height | – |
| Weight conditions | Maker's 237 kg road-ready figure includes all operating fluids, standard equipment and at least 90% of the usable fuel tank under EU168/2013. Optional equipment changes weight; permitted total weight 465 kg and standard payload 228 kg | 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 | 19 litres | 15.4 litres |
| Fuel consumption | Maker WMTC 4.8 litres/100 km; 19-litre usable tank includes approximately 4 litres reserve | 4.9 litres/100 km (WMTC); Honda also publishes 20.4 km/l. Consumption varies with riding conditions, load, tyre pressure and maintenance. |
| Emissions | Maker WMTC CO₂ 110 g/km. Original 2023 launch specification was EU5; current UK specification states EU5+ | 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 Dynamic Traction Control, engine drag-torque control, Dynamic Brake Control and hill-start assistance; radar Riding Assistant and adaptive cruise control are optional | Switchable Honda Selectable Torque Control and two-channel ABS. E-Clutch supports automatic clutch operation while retaining manual override. |
| Display | – | Five-inch colour TFT with Bar, Circle and Simple layouts; backlit four-way handlebar control. |
| Connectivity | – | 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. |
| Riding modes | Standard Rain, Road, Eco and Enduro; Riding Modes Pro adds modes including Dynamic Pro and Enduro Pro | – |
| Lighting | LED headlight, daytime light and indicators; cornering Headlight Pro is optional | LED headlight, rear light and other lighting. |
| Equipment and options | – | 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 28 September 2023. BMW's 2023 annual report retrospectively confirms availability to customers from November 2023. Current UK specifications include later EU5+ and starter-battery changes; optional equipment and regional packages vary. GS Adventure is a separate model | 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 | Current UK specification lists 12 V/14 Ah maintenance-free AGM starter battery and 650 W three-phase alternator; original 2023 technical table lists 12 V/10 Ah. Starter battery is not a traction battery | – |
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