I have covered lower-displacement motorcycles—most notably 125cc and 500cc—and high-displacement motorcycles—1,000cc and 1,200cc While I love all these bikes, a good middleweight engine size is honestly the best all-around motorcycle. For that, you need the best 650cc motorcycles, and I have a list.
A 650cc motorcycle is the best out there. These machines have plenty of power for highway duties, and they’re tame enough to not get you into too much trouble. They’re also one of the best balances as far as the amount of motorcycle you get for the price, too. Just genuinely the best all-around motorcycles on the market.
I think a 650cc bike is honestly about the perfect size for everyone. There are plenty of 650cc motorcycles out there, but the following are my favorite picks in this category.
1. Kawasaki Ninja 650
The Kawasaki Ninja 650 features nice bodywork and excellent performance. The motorcycle is one of the best sportbikes you can buy for the money. It’s smooth, quick, comfortable, and ready for anything the pavement can throw at it. The bike is also good enough to be a weekend track machine if you’re so inclined. Its 649cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine makes 67 hp.
- Price: $8,299
- Company Website
2. Royal Enfield INT650
I’m a big fan of the Royal Enfield INT650. I reviewed it a while back. Royal Enfield also has two 650cc motorcycles, and both are great machines. However, I only have room for one of them on my list, and my choice is the INT650. It has more of a standard configuration and that makes it a better all-around bike. It’s good for highway travel, city commuting, and everything in between. The engine is a 648cc parallel-twin engine that’s fuel-injected that makes 47 hp. If you like retro styling, this is the bike for you.
- Price: $6,849
- Company Website
3. Honda CB650R
Honda’s line of Neo-Sports Cafe bikes features some of the coolest naked machines out there right now. They blend cafe-racer styling with modern naked bike aesthetics. One of the best of the bunch is the CB650R. This motorcycle is a great option for any commuter who likes to take it to the highway or the canyon roads on the weekends. The motorcycle features a 649cc inline four-cylinder that’s fuel-injected. It makes 94 hp, which is one of the best figures you’ll see here.
- Price: $9,399
- Company Website
4. Suzuki SV650
Suzuki has been making the SV650 for a long, long time now. It’s always been one of the best bikes out there at this displacement. The SV650 is a killer bike that is at home on the street and can be fitted to tear around a racetrack easily. The bike features a liquid-cooled 90-degree V-twin that’s fuel-injected. The bike makes 75 hp, and it’s a bike that’s as nimble as ever. Suzuki has a couple of versions of the SV650, and any of them is an excellent choice.
- Price: $7,299
- Company Website
5. Suzuki V-Strom 650
The Suzuki V-Strom 650 is a killer middleweight adventure touring bike. The company has a couple of different versions of the bike. Any of them will be killer, but the 650XT Adventure is the one to get if you need a real off-roader. No matter the version you buy, you’ll get a 645cc liquid-cooled 90-degree V-twin that makes around 70 hp. It’s the 650cc to get if you’re planning on doing some future adventures.
- Price: $8,904
- Company Website
Other Great 650cc Motorcycles
Are there other good 650cc motorcycles? Yes.
One bike I absolutely have to mention is the Triumph Trident 660. It’s a truly great machine, but it just doesn’t quite beat out the others I have listed here. I know people will probably disagree with me, and that’s fine, but I’m still a big fan of this bike.
There’s also the Continental GT, which I’ve already mentioned. There are also a couple of others from Honda, including the CBR650R and the XR650L.
Also, if you go slightly above the 650cc mark, you’ll find a very long list of motorcycles, including gems like the Yamaha MT-07 and the T7. These bikes are for another article, though.
The point is there are many great bikes at 650cc displacement that you can consider. Any of the bikes mentioned here will be a good buy, but the best 650cc motorcycles in my eyes are the five I’ve listed above.
