Big Red has taken a bold step by offering the E-Clutch system as standard equipment on the sporty 2024 Honda CBR650R and its naked CB650R stablemate. (Photos courtesy American Honda)

In the world of motorcycling, proper clutch lever engagement has long been a rite of passage. Learning this skill is the single most challenging aspect of riding for novice motorcyclists, and we can usually point to the friend, family member, or MSF instructor who taught us how to successfully operate a clutch.

Those early lessons come with countless stalls, but learning to ride will be easier with its new E-Clutch system on the 2024 Honda CB650R and CBR650R. Simply put, this innovative technology ? not to be confused with Honda?s heavier and more expensive automatic Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) ? is a gamechanger. Proper clutch engagement is no longer a mandatory skill, since these motorcycles can now do it for you. But is that a good thing"
For 2024, both the CB650R (left) and CBR650R (right) feature the E-Clutch as standard equipment, LED lighting front and rear, a new 5-inch TFT display, and styling enhancements.

While testing the CB650R and CBR650R in Dahlonega, Georgia, I gave this question serious consideration. Both motorcycles have received some additional updates for 2024, which I will cover later in this review, but the E-Clutch system ? standard equipment on both models ? is the most newsworthy. For that reason, this review focuses on the E-Clutch, as I see this as...