Most of what I know about the 650r comes from reviews I’ve read. This is what I’ve learned about this bike:
-Almost as much power than the SV650.
-Parallel twin engines, like found on the 650r, are easy to work on.
-The ergos are very comfortable. It is a bike that feels good when you sit on it at the dealership.
-Uncomfortable seat to sit on for more than 15 minutes, just like the other bikes in its class.
-The main issue with this bike is the buzzing. There is fairing buzz (the dealership has Kawa provided kits to reduce this), and there is a decent amount of vibration in the bars and footpegs (according to MC News).
-Some say the brake lever doesn’t give you the same level of feedback as you get on other bikes.
Compared to the SV650:
-Ergos similar to the SV Naked, but this has a fairing.
-Slightly better suspension than the SV.
-The SV has the better engine.
My final thoughts.
-If Kawa would increase engine power slightly and smooth out the engine buzz, the 650r would be a gem. As it is, I prefer the SV650 Naked with a windscreen, but not by much.