One 650cc Engine, Five Royal Enfield Motorcycles: Which One Should You Pick?

Royal Enfield could be one of those motorcycle manufacturers who has mastered the art of packaging. They know their trade well and make the most out of each piece of inventory available. Look at the platforms they have and the diverse range of motorcycles/body styles they cook with those. In recent news, the manufacturer has added another model to its 650 lineup- the Bear 650. While the motorcycle is yet to make its official premiere, we can already see how wide the 650 range has become. One engine and five different motorcycles, with distinct personae. Let’s talk about these in detail…

Which One Should You Pick?

The answer depends on what your requirements are and what kind of rider you are. Here’s a quick round-up:

• Interceptor if you are looking for a daily that can double as a good highway tourer.
• Bear if you’re looking for city and road rides with occasional off-road stints.
• Continental GT for fun city commutes and short-yet-fast highway rides.
• Shotgun for fun city commuting and fast weekend rides.
• Supermeteor for being the king on highways.

Having to choose from so many options based on the same mechanicals can sometimes be confusing. At least some might have the question ‘Who should buy what?’. We’ll try to take this question, after discussing the engine in detail…

Royal Enfield 650cc Parallel-Twin Engine

It was in 2017 that Royal Enfield took wraps off the 650cc air/oil-cooled, SOHC, 8-valve parallel-twin engine. It was developed ground up and produced 47hp and 53Nm. Thermal management here was done by an oil cooler. It has a 270-degree firing order which balances secondary vibrations and a balancer shaft takes care of primary vibes. It has a relaxed compression ratio of 9.5:1. The motor comes mated to a 6-speed transmission and gets a slip-assist clutch. This engine debuted at EICMA, and years past the same, we await the launch of the Bear at EICMA 2024.

Royal Enfield has mastered the art of tuning. The engine map feels distinct on each of the five motorcycles. The torque curve and character thus differ between these. They perform and handle distinctly and suit unique sets of buyers.

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

The Interceptor gets a design that looks like a nod to motorcycles from the 1960s. Key features include a round headlight, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, spoked wheels, and a twin-seat layout. The body panels get clean lines and minimalistic surfaces. The engine casing gets a brushed Aluminum finish.

It get a bluntly neutral rider triangle. It is easy and fun to ride around, and direction changes feel effortless, too. However, the position of the footpegs could cause inconvenience (especially for tall riders) when trying to roll the motorcycle backwards. Nevertheless, the Interceptor would feel the best to live with. It is well-suited for highway touring as well. You can ride it fast and with a smile!

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650

The Continental GT gets a classic cafe racer design and proportions. The rider triangle and seat height are all set in the same fashion. The aggressive setup limits its ability to be used for comfortable long rides. It is, however, fun to ride around twisties. It will give more fatigue to the rider.Cafe racers, if you recollect, were never meant for long-distance touring. Short city rides and fast stints on the highway will feel great on the GT 650. The handling and corner manners offered by this motorcycle are also commendable.

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

This is a cruiser based on the 650 platform. It delivers laid-back, comfortable ride over long distances. It gets forward-set foot pegs and a wide handlebar. The motorcycle gets Showa upside-down front forks and the same improves the handling and stability. The suspension is set slightly on the stiffer side and the motorcycle is heavy. The motorcycle offers an impressive ride on the highways. It will also be the best of the lot for a relaxed weekend ride.

Royal Enfield Shotgun 650

The Shotgun strikes a mid-point between the Interceptor and Continental GT, with its ergonomics. It isn’t as bluntly neutral as the Interceptor nor as aggressive as the GT 650. The riding position is still upright and offers ample comfort, control and sportiness. The handlebar is rather tall. It is good for everyday city commutes and for weekend rides as well.

Royal Enfield Bear 650

The Bear 650 hasn’t hit the market yet. It is but a scrambler based on the Interceptor. It comes with Showa USDs at the front, a tweaked chassis (that gets a new rear frame), a single-pod instrument cluster borrowed from the Himalayan, and new MRF Nylorex-X block pattern tyres.

When compared with the Interceptor, the Bear gets more suspension travel, raised seat, higher ground clearance, better brakes, and reduced kerb weight. Read more about the Bear in our previous article. Even though we haven’t ridden it yet, the Bear should be good for most daily commutes- both city and highways and should even be able to tackle mild terrains and rough roads.