09-27-2026, 12:00 PM
Been turning wrenches for 15+ years, mostly on older carb'd stuff, but lately I've had a few newer bikes on the lift for valve checks and clutch jobs. Got me thinking about the whole middleweight class. A buddy just picked up a CB650R and honestly for the money I don't get it anymore. The newer 450 twins and singles are lighter, cheaper to insure, easier to service, and unless you're doing a lot of highway the power gap barely matters in the real world. Valve adjustments on the 650 inline four are a pain compared to the twin. Don't get me wrong, that smooth four is nice on a long ride, but for a daily commuter and weekend twisty bike I'd take the lighter machine every time. Anyone actually regret going smaller? Or am I just getting old and lazy?