Test rode the new RE Classic 650: 7 observations including ride comfort

It’s a bike that would want you to upshift early, which I think goes in line with its ‘Classic’ positioning.

BHPian Waspune recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

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.
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 some 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.

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 :

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