Royal Enfield Bear 650 vs Interceptor Comparison On Video

The latest launch from Royal Enfield is the Bear 650. With an ex-showroom price of Rs 3.39 lakh, this Interceptor-based scrambler packs ample fun and value. Dealer dispatches are underway and several influencers are already creating social media content on the motorcycle. A video shared on the channel ThrottleTrek with Abhi shows an A/B comparison between the Interceptor 650 and the Big Bear.

This comparison stands valid as the souls of these motorcycles are tightly entangled. The video explains some key similarities and differences between these. The Interceptor has 18-inch wheels while the Bear comes with 19 inchers front tyres and 17 inch rear ones. The Interceptor rides on highway rubber while the Bear gets block-pattern tyres (Nylorex).

Like some of the other 650s, the Bear features Gold-colours USD forks at the front, while the outgoing Interceptor continues with telescopic front forks. Royal Enfield is known to be working on an update to the GT650 and INT 650 (aka Interceptor) which could add USD forks and digital instrument cluster to the motorcycle. Both vehicles featured in the video have spoke wheels, while alloy wheels can also be had against will. The indicator lamps on the Interceptor are halogen units while the Bear gets LEDs like those of the Himalayan 450.

A lot of components like the LED headlamps, 13.7L fuel tank, and 320mm disc brakes with Bybre callipers are shared between the motorcycles. On the Bear, the instrument cluster is a single circular digital screen, borrowed straight from the new Himalayan. It even comes with a selectable Day/Night mode. The Interceptor gets a more conventional twin-circular pod analogue cluster. A lot of people would prefer this over the all-digital display if given a choice.

The rider triangle, seat height and ergonomics differ between the motorcycles. The Interceptor has the ergonomics of a proper roadster, while you are seated tall on the Bear, and the overall ergonomics are those of a scrambler. The foot peg positions are also different. While the Interceptor comes with regular highway footpegs with rounded surfaces, the Big Bear gets flat-surfaced metal footpegs sourced from the Himalayan. These would let riders ‘stand and ride’ when going to the ruts and rough roads.

So, how much of a difference exists between these motorcycles in terms of seat height? Well, you are seated significantly taller on the Bear, at 830 mm, compared to the 804mm of the Interceptor. The kerb weight too is different between the bikes. The Bear is lighter by 2 kilograms, with the weight tipping the scale at 216 kilos.

Interceptor vs Bear Specifications: What We Think Of It?

Now coming to the mechanicals. This is where the two motorcycles are the most connected with each other. Both the Bear and Interceptor are built on the same 650 platform and powered by the same 648cc, parallel-twin engine. On the new motorcycle, however, this motor comes with a distinct character.

Like what they have been doing with recent models, Royal Enfield has tweaked the maps and managed to milk out 57 Nm of torque from the parallel twin. The power here is 47 bhp. The engine comes mated to a six-speed transmission on both bikes.

On the Interceptor, the same engine has a highway-focussed character and produces 47 bhp and a torque of 52 Nm. This means the scrambler has five extra Newton meters of torque over the roadster. We’ll be able to tell how this affects the performance only after riding the motorcycle. Another noteworthy element is the exhaust. Unlike the Interceptor which comes with two exhaust pipes, the Bear has the two pipes merge into a single unit. The exhaust sound thus, differs between the two.