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Old 9th April 2025, 01:11   #151
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Turbanator View Post
What is this Bullet-650?
Same formula as with the 350s - less expensive variant of the Classic with the quintessential 'Bullet' styling.

Spotted testing along with the Classic 650 range - https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4RxC...g2dmtzcXgyazZz
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Old 10th April 2025, 11:02   #152
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now unveiled

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zinda View Post
  • Saddle is higher than the Classic 350, I was not very much in-control with my 5'8" height; was able to manage both toes on ground though
I did a "seating" comparison between the Bear 650 and the Classic 650. I found the classic 650 riding stance to be very comfortable and neutral as compared to the Bear, where you had to almost reach out to the handlebar. Maybe a wider and higher handlebar should solve the problem. As an ex-CL500 and LS410 owner, who had taken a sabbatical from motorcycling for 4 years, the itch to buy a motorcycle has lingered for a long time. I am done with single-cyl motorcycles and would love to buy a twin (not keen to buy premium bikes) and both the motorcycles are close contenders, for some reason, I like the Bear more as it looks more sleek with the 2 to 1 exhaust set up which sounds way better, but the hard suspension is something that's bothering me.

Last edited by rakesh_r : 10th April 2025 at 11:03.
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Old 10th April 2025, 12:17   #153
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

I would need a riser on the Bear. Loved the yellow shade.
It's so 'me'.

Have liked everything but the rear suspension.
Going to check out the Classic 650 very soon :-)
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Old 10th April 2025, 12:35   #154
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

MotorInc first mentions that the Bullet 650 could also be launched real soon, and that's also the reason some of the traditional colour options like maroon are absent on the Classic 650.
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Old 11th April 2025, 02:25   #155
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

Did a short test ride of the classic 650 in peak Bengaluru traffic a couple of days ago.
Since the launch of the 650 twins way back in 2018, I’d been hoping for a true ‘classic’ with the 650 engine and a supporting chassis/suspension.

Sadly, this offering isn’t it.

While many reviews mentioned how it’s a such a beautiful experience riding the bike, I personally felt underwhelmed. It’s lost the feel of the ‘classic’.
Too heavy, horrible turning radius, cumbersome, and has the ride quality that seems to be the worst of the 650 lot. The bike’s too wide to comfortably flat foot.

It’s saving grace is the seating position and looks.

It’s literally a cross between the shotgun and super meteor, in terms of seating.

I just hope that the next new engine that RE gets, is used in a proper “classic” or “bullet” that gets not just the name, but the feel, comfort, and overall experience that is expected of that monicker.
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Old 12th April 2025, 09:54   #156
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mu009 View Post
Loved your take, as usual, but am I mistaken in thinking you didn't opine on the suspension setup?

I looked through both posts to check, and I don't think there's any mention of ride quality/suspension setup apart from the pre-load being set to the softest on the showroom floor.

Given REs recent track record with new launches, that's what I'm most interested in. Don't make me wait for the MotorInc First to find out
Mu009, I did miss out on my feedback on the suspension. For context, I had recently taken a test ride of the Super Meteor 650 from a different showroom, so the road conditions that I experienced were different (read bumpier). There is no getting around the fact that the rear suspension on the Super Meteor 650 is harder than what most people will like, even if it isnt going to break your back. Now, Ive ridden my Suzuki GSXRRR 250 and KTM Duke 390 on that test route dozens of times, and while you do notice that the road is bumpy, you dont really feel it. On the Super Meteor 650, you feel the bumps.

Now, coming to the Classic 650, as I was returning to the showroom, I realized that my mind simply wasnt picking up anything on the suspension setup. It was fine. It may not have been Himalayan 450 level great but it wasnt Super Meteor 650 level bad, either. A test ride from a different showroom where I can try out the bike on bumpier roads, will shed more light on it.

Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-1.jpg

Last edited by neil.jericho : 12th April 2025 at 10:03.
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Old 12th April 2025, 16:17   #157
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

For those wondering about the rear suspension of the Classic 650, it is not the same as the Super Meteor 650. It is a longer shock absorber with progressive springs, but with slightly less travel. Probably explains the large gap between the rear fender and wheel, as the suspension may have been changed at a late stage in the development.

Reference:
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Old 15th April 2025, 21:13   #158
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

I test rode the Classic 650 today. Personally, I found the ride to be quite acceptable. I deliberately took it over broken patches, the kind of broken tarmac we all are too familiar with, and it did not feel uncomfortable at all. Even the weight did not seem ungainly really. Yes, it is no Splendor but I guess after a few rides, muscle memory should take over. Two biggest red flags, the weight and the suspension, turned out quite all right really. For context, I am 90 kgs, 5'11" and kind of regular at the gym. The seating is quite comfortable too. I could not take any pictures as I had little time to spare.
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Old 26th April 2025, 19:46   #159
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

Finally test rode the Classic 650 today. Initial impressions:
1) It looks gorgeous ❤️ No 2 ways about it. Test rode the Vallam red variant (base variant) but I think the Teal looks more retro + the frame is also in teal colour which won’t make the rear sub frame stand out which is the only sore part in the bike as far as looks are concerned.
2) It’s heavy at standstill. Period! But once on the roll the weight disappears and there isn’t any top heaviness (like in Inty/Bear). Very easy to flick in the traffic.
3) Ergonomics are spot on! Very comfortable. Medium set footpegs + the handlebar is curved at both ends which makes it more comfortable and scores well on the ‘retro looks’ front. The Kawasaki W800 also has a similar handlebar.
4) The front nacelle (that houses the speedometer and tripper) though is designed in the same way as the classic 350, it’s a much bigger unit.
5) The rear brake is super strong (stronger bite than the front) which comes in handy when doing low speed manoeuvres/ U turns.
6) The engine has a sweet whistle and is quite smooth but vibrations on the footpegs can be felt in the mid range (around 4k RPMs. There isn’t a tacho but that’s my calculated guess). It’s a bike that would want you to upshift early, which I think goes in line with its ‘Classic’ positioning.
7) The elephant in the room - rear suspension is much more sorted than the Super Meteor /Shotgun 650. It gobbles up undulations very well at lower speeds but at higher speeds it can still throw one out of the seat while negotiating bigger undulations. But still it’s much more usable now, on a daily basis. I weigh a paltry 66 kgs and I think someone heavier might feel it more compliant. Also fiddling with the preload can also make it better, as was the case with Super Meteor but that’s something that needs to be tested.
8) The passenger seat is quite narrow and might not work well for the pillion in longer rides in the stock form. Increasing its width should make it better. However, RE doesn’t offer a back rest which is a shame given that it should make for a nice tourer , even when 2-up.

Right after the rest ride, when I hopped onto my Ducati Scrambler and it felt like a toy

Apologies, I couldn’t click a pic as I was in a hurry. However, this is a pic that I had taken a week back when it wasn’t ready for test rides and had the passenger seat removed :
Attached Thumbnails
Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-c22fc72466934d18b3c131b5296b2e10.jpeg  


Last edited by Waspune : 26th April 2025 at 20:08.
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Old 27th April 2025, 16:34   #160
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

Read the crisp and beautifull review here of the classic 650, saw the wonderfull pictures of it, it took me straight back to my first bike bought in 2004 the enfield electra. The bike is so beautifull in my opinion, i walked into the showroom and asked the sales advisor when could i get one. He said he has bikes coming in 3 days so i decided to pick the bike up. Got the bike home 3 days later rode it for 200 kms and now i am selling it! An impulsive decidsion that back fired! I would not blame the bike in all of this in all tottality, i should have test riden it once, which i did not. Also to be fair to the classic 650 i have gotten used to riding my 1300GS and the busa. My feedback on the bike in 10 days of ownership.

The positives -

> The bike is and absolute looker no 2 ways about it!

> Engine is refined and pulls crisply till 100kmph, gear shifts are also very smooth and swift

> The vibrations are quite less compared to my earlier Bullet, seating position is very confortable, braking is spot on.

The Negatives-

> The Classic feel of the bullet is missing the thump, which i considered the essence and soul of an enfield classic is not there, bike sounds very timid. It feels quite heavy to manouvre in traffic, but fares better then the busa anyday.

> Bike feels strained post 100kmph again not the bikes fault i am used to riding something different.

> Biggest gripe of mine is the suspension, again not fair to compare it with the gs but that thing simply flies over potholes, breakers roads no roads. On the classic i could feel the entirety of the road topography while i rode!

All in all i would say its mostly my fault and not the bikes fault, i should have riden it beforehand and known what i was getting into. The mind should have told the heart that it was about to comit another blunder.

Cheers
Attached Thumbnails
Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-img_9353.jpeg  


Last edited by Born 2 Be Wild : 27th April 2025 at 16:38. Reason: Typo.
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Old 30th April 2025, 15:56   #161
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

Bought the first classic 650 in Chennai in black chrome. Around 400 Km done.

Initial Impressions:
  1. The motorcycle masks its weight pretty well once we start to ride it. I am taking the motorcycle for short distance errands like dropping kid to school, buying vegetables, groceries etc. Very easy motorcycle to ride.
  2. Though the seat height on paper is 800mm, it is wide. This will be difficult for shorter folks 5'5" and below to flat foot. Do test ride and try to use the motorcycle in your typical usage scenarios. You may not be able to balance the weight with one leg when the situation arises, owing to the weight.
  3. The engine is very refined at normal speeds but, the vibrations appear to be at its peak on the seats, handle bars and foot pegs at 100 kmph. Never felt this in interceptor. May be it is because the bike is still new and in the run-in period. Will update this later. It left a buzzing effect on the palms post riding, despite riding with gloves.
  4. Weird - the front brakes are very weak compared to the inty but the rear ones are extremely sharp. Never experienced this setup in any of my other motorcycles. Typically the front brakes are the strongest.
  5. Overall quality, fit and finish is pretty good with the motorcycle.
  6. Mounting the motorcycle on the center stand felt surprisingly easy for such a heavy motorcycle.
  7. Ergonomic misses - Both the side stand and center stand are difficult to engage without leaving the shoe marks on a hot exhaust. Also, the handle bars bent at the end towards the rider caused slight discomfort at the wrists post a 100 km ride.
  8. Headlamps are absolutely useless. In the night you will not realize their presence. They look absolutely gorgeous though when viewed head on.
  9. The instrument cluster has all the necessary information, 2 trips, gear position, gear suggestion, odo, time and an eco indication. However it is extremely hard to read under direct sunlight while riding.
  10. Tripper navigation is okay and tried it for a short distance. Though it is built on google maps, many locations that are available on the google maps are not available on the tripper navigation.
  11. Royal Enfield has given a USB A charger in the left box, below the seat which is access controlled behind a key. Not sure the utility of this one. The USB C on the handle bar will be useful for charging the navigation devices.
  12. Bike overall feels lethargic in comparison to the interceptor. Definitely a downside of the weight.
  13. Suspension is stiff. Highway undulations at speeds will impact your back but, at slow city speeds it is acceptable and does its job pretty well. Positive side to the suspension and low centre of gravity is very good handling. A motorcycle this long and heavy has no business handling this well.
  14. Purchased two accessories - Sump guard and Touring mirrors.
  15. Good connected tech using the wingman application. Lot of improvements needed but, I am having Hyundai's blue link as reference. For a first, it is pretty good attempt from Royal Enfield.

Buying Process.

Looked, fell in love and bought it in an impulse. I bought a Classic 500 in 2013 but couldn't ride it for even full 3 months as I had to move out to study back then. This one gave similar vibes and booked and bought in a Jiffy.

Rudraa motors made it a big deal ensuring an awesome delivery experience. Special thanks to Sales head Srinivasan Jagan and my sales rep Arun Kumar.

Some pictures of the motorcycle

Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-add6235968664a5fb03db5c1902668dd.jpg

Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-b61beaa9383943179eb61298f9fc5a06.jpg

Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-68330f9957154a27b8c9bb1c300ce755.jpg

Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-45f93a7725024b318c59d0fbd69fd690.jpg

Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-39b38022975848c4be51845cf9f89f48.jpg

Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-edbfc3c9f02a45319af7c244188c01b0.jpg

Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-de93218c80384086921d1f34044b4556.jpg

Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-8bf8df9b3090426ea9292e58a27ce6d9.jpg

Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-329a7ea41ef842c4ac04e825bd207eb1.jpg

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Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs-9e541ae206144367b869cf5fb9db6ab0.jpg

Last edited by bblost : 3rd May 2025 at 11:57. Reason: Converted list to use the list tags.
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Old 30th April 2025, 20:15   #162
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

Quote:
Originally Posted by NTO View Post
Bought the first classic 650 in Chennai in black chrome. Around 400 Km done.
Many congratulations on getting home one of the most beautiful classic/retro bikes available today

Quote:
Originally Posted by NTO View Post

3. The engine is very refined at normal speeds but, the vibrations appear to be at its peak on the seats, handle bars and foot pegs at 100 kmph. Never felt this in interceptor. May be it is because the bike is still new and in the run-in period. Will update this later. It left a buzzing effect on the palms post riding, despite riding with gloves.
When I test rode it even I found vibrations and this seems to be the only RE 650 that has it. I have ridden the other 650s (Interceptor/Super Meteor/Shotgun/Bear) and none of them had those vibes. Seems RE has done it deliberately to induce some ‘character’
Enjoy the ride!
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Old 1st May 2025, 10:53   #163
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

It looks good in this color, but I am absolutely loving it in the purple shade mixed with white. It has such a "Classical" look to it. Have a blast riding this beauty. Do you plan to do PPF or ceramic coating for the tank and sides ?
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Old 1st May 2025, 11:17   #164
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

Congratulations and wishing you very best. Bike looks awesome in all the Pictures. Nostalgic. Please get the PPF done so that the shine can be protected for longer period of time.
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Old 1st May 2025, 16:17   #165
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Re: Royal Enfield Classic 650 caught testing in India | Edit: Now launched at 3.37 lakhs

Many congratulations on the awesome ride, wishing you many happy miles. The color looks super cool on the classic 650.
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