The younger, but in terms of power, bigger brother of the Classic 350 and 500 models from Royal Enfield has officially arrived.
It takes advantage of RE’s innate ability to spawn many bikes from one platform, in this case using the Super Meteor 650 and Shotgun 650 as a base, but with the clock further turned back in the styling department.
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I’ve ridden the bike around various roads and through the mountains of Northumbria to find out if it’s any good.
Royal Enfield Classic 650 on the road
Royal Enfield Classic 650 prices, availability and colours
Some nice details about the Classic 650 start with the multitude of color options. I spent the day riding one of the Vallam Red variants and aesthetically, Royal Enfield has really hit the nail on the head. There’s also a Black Chrome paint scheme, Bruntinghtorpe Blue and Teal options to choose from. None of the bikes come with a pillion seat as standard, but they are available as custom parts when you purchase a Royal Enfield Classic 650 from your local dealer.
Royal Enfield Classic 650
We’re still waiting on pricing and availability for the new Classic 650 in the UK, but based on the Super Meteor 650, which ranges between £6,799 and £7,299 depending on the color you choose, or the Shotgun which has an RRP of £ 6,999, we think this is the ballpark in which you will find the Classic 650.
Royal Enfield Classic 650 engine, chassis and technology
The Classic 650 consists of a two-cylinder, four-stroke, 647 cc engine that produces 46.4 hp and 38.5 Nb of torque. Up front is a 43mm Showa telescopic fork with 120mm of travel, while the rear is again Showa and features a 90mm travel twin shock.
A single 320mm hydraulic disc brake, with a twin-piston floating caliper is the setup used at the front, and a 300mm disc brake that also includes a twin-piston floating caliper.
The dashboard features a digital LCD screen with odometer, trip meter, fuel level indicator, maintenance reminder, gear indicator and clock. Furthermore, the motorcycle will be offered with genuine motorcycle accessories in the Classic and Classic Tourer inspired themes, allowing riders to fully customize their machine. The A2 motorcycle is also driver’s license friendly.
Royal Enfield Classic 650 dashboard
The Classic 650 shares its mainframe with the Shotgun 650 and Super Meteor, while Royal Enfield’s classic ‘frame loop’ is present on all three. The 43mm Showa telescopic suspension forks are the same as the Super Meteor, but there is less travel between the rear of the Classic 650 (90mm) and the Super Meteor (101mm). The brakes are the same as the Shotgun 650 and the Super Meteor. The Classic is also very different to the Interceptor 650 when it comes to the brakes, as the latter has a much smaller 240mm disc at the rear. The Interceptor’s suspension is also a steel tubular double cradle frame, as opposed to the spine frame found on the Classic 650.
What is it like to drive?
Royal Enfield Classic 650 goes around a bend
The Classic 650’s suspension is firm, but for the most part it responded kindly to small undulations in the road surface. However, it felt less forgiving than I had hoped or expected at higher speeds. The torquey nature of the Classic 650 was evident from the start. It may not be powerful, but there’s enough mid-range influence that you don’t feel the need to constantly shift through the gears.
The agility of the Classic 650 was something that surprised me in a positive way. It doesn’t look like a bike that’s particularly willing to turn, but I immediately felt comfortable turning the bike back and forth, especially in medium-to-low speed corners. There was a certain level of confidence the bike gave me as I tackled Northumbria’s beautiful mountain roads for the first time.
Considering we were on the road for over four hours, I wondered how the bike would feel late in the afternoon, but the comfort level was a pleasant factor. Where I would have liked the bike to give me more feedback was with the brakes. That’s not to say the brakes weren’t doing their job, as they worked well until a lot of pressure was applied to them. It’s just that the stoppers aren’t as confidence-inspiring as other elements of the bike. When you pulled the lever, it was almost as if you hesitated for a moment before finding the desired braking force.
Low-speed maneuvering isn’t a problem for the most part, although the clutch is a little stiff and like the brakes had a slight dead zone that took a little longer to adapt to than I expected. However, the bike was very easy to move and felt weightless, which was positive.
Royal Enfield Classic 650
For the most part, the bike is very easy to use and will suit many different riders as its overall capabilities to tackle different types of roads were impressive. Not once did it seem out of place in the mountains, on dual carriageways or in busy cities. You won’t be let down by the Classic 650 and besides, there’s room for improvements if you’re willing to add some jazzy accessories to the bike.
Build quality was impressive, with nice touches like a polished aluminum and chrome finish on the headlight cluster and front traffic lights. It also features a distinctive teardrop-shaped tank and the signature Royal Enfield nacelle that houses the new LED headlamp along with the signature ‘tiger lamps’ – a feature on Royal Enfield motorcycles since 1954.
The bicycle is full of beautifully finished accents, giving it a very unique and almost handmade look. This is especially the case with the swishing exhaust and engine parts.
Royal Enfield tank
The riding position is quite relaxed and not as sporty/forward-facing as the Shotgun 650, but it’s not like you’re sitting aboard a cruiser either. The pegs weren’t overly forward either and were well positioned, but one small issue I had was with the left side as I found it wasn’t entirely easy to get the stand around the left peg.
What the riding position did allow was that you were comfortable regardless of the amount of time you spent on the bike. The handlebar height stands at 1137mm and this was just right as I never found myself stretched out or struggling to reach for the levers.
Should you buy a Royal Enfield Classic 650?
After several hours of riding on all types of roads, it is clear that the Classic 650 is for someone who loves everything classic, with a healthy dose of modernization. The bike is much sportier than its appearance suggests, which could attract people who regularly use the weekends to tear through winding mountain passes. And most importantly, it will almost certainly be very good value.
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