Who Should Buy Or Ignore The Royal Enfield Classic 650?

The Classic 650 has arrived in India and once again, it raises the question that everyone’s been asking – where does it fit in Royal Enfield’s lineup and who should get it?
 
The Classic 650 is more than just a Classic 350 with Royal Enfield’s 650 parallel twin engine. It borrows the design ethos of the Classic 350 but scales them all up to better suit the 650 platform. Hence, the tank sits higher and the rear section seems to come from the Super Meteor 650. Keen fans of the Classic 350 can easily spot the differences. 

Regardless of the styling choices, the Classic 650 is another addition to an already enticing lineup of neo-retro motorcycles from Royal Enfield. As much as that adds to the temptation of having variety in RE’s 650 platform, it leads to confusion while choosing the right 650 cc Enfield. Does the Classic 650 make more sense over the Shotgun 650? Or , should you opt for the Continental GT 650 over the Classic 650? Is the Interceptor 650 an underrated choice?

To simplify the process, we went through all the 650cc motorcycles from the Royal Enfield stable and decided to categorise every model, figuring out which one is better suited for whom.

ALSO READ: Classic 650 vs Classic 350: The Royal Enfield Comparison That Matters

Royal Enfield Classic 650: Where does it fit in?

If price is a major decisive factor while choosing your next 650 cc Enfield, then here’s where the Classic 650 slots in the hierarchy. Note that the prices listed here are indicative of the base variants and include the ex-showroom figures.

- Interceptor 650 – INR 3,03,000

- Continental GT 650 – INR 3,19,000

- Classic 650 – INR 3,37,000

- Bear 650 – INR 3,39,000

- Shotgun 650 – INR 3,59,430

- Super Meteor 650 – INR 3,63,900

Surprisingly, the Classic 650 slots in under the Shotgun 650 as the most affordable twin-cylinder retro cruiser from the Indo-British manufacturer. 

That said, if the money factor isn’t a concern, then here’s how you should base your decision while choosing from one of the 650 cc Royal Enfields. 

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Who should buy what 650 cc Royal Enfield

Classic 650

Utilising the trusty 650 cc twin-cylinder engine, the Classic 650 offers the retro charm of the Classic 350 without compromising on performance. The upright seating, coupled with high-set handlebars and the retro body panels, imparts the classic bike experience while delivering the torquey performance of the twin-cylinder engine. Mind the 243 kilos of weight – it won’t be as sprightly as the Continental GT 650. You should get the Classic 650 only if you seek the old-school charm for long-distance cruising and leisurely weekend rides around the city. 

Interceptor 650

The Interceptor 650 offers the same 650 cc twin-cylinder engine in a slightly eager state of tune, thus allowing for brisk acceleration and superior handling (thanks to its compact wheelbase). Despite being fast, the Interceptor 650 goes for a conventional upright seating position with high-set handlebars and neutral-set footpegs, thus making it one of the most comfortable big bikes from Royal Enfield. While the allow-wheeled tubeless tyre variants guarantee peace of mind, the lower variants with spoke wheels look the part, especially the red and green colourways. 

Continental GT 650

The Continental GT 650 is a more sporty iteration of the Interceptor 650 aimed at youngsetrs seeking the retro cafe racer experience. The clip-on handlebars and the rear set footpegs with the beautiful cafe racer-themed tank make the GT 650 a motorcycle to behold. You should get the GT 650 only if you prefer the cafe racer aesthetics over convenience. 

Bear 650 

The Bear 650 is a scrambler based on the Interceptor 650, in case you wondered why it looked familiar. With a higher seat, bespoke off-road tyres, a single exhaust pipe, higher ground clearance and a set of tasty paint schemes, the Bear 650 can go off the beaten path without any trouble. The digital instrumentation, borrowed from the Himalayan 450, offers the Tripper navigation system too – something that the vanilla Interceptor doesn’t offer. 

As much as we adore the Bear 650, we recommend off-road aficionados the lightweight and versatile Himalayan 450 for going off the beaten track.

Shotgun 650

Although Royal Enfield claims that the Shotgun 650 is built for customisation, the Shotgun 650 is essentially a bobber aimed at city cruising. The lower seat paired with the slightly forward-set footpegs and the high-set handlebars make the Shotgun a sporty ride around town. We’d recommend the Shotgun 650 purely for weekend rides around town but beware of the stiff rear suspension. 

Super Meteor 650

The Super Meteor 650 is a full-on highway cruiser designed to gobble up the miles on highways. With its forward-set footpegs, high handlebars and laidback riding posture, the Super Meteor 650 is designed to keep the rider at utmost comfort while gobbling up the expressways at cruising speeds of 100 kph on average. With aftermarket accessories, the Super Meteor 650 looks no less than a hardcore American cruiser motorcycle. The only downside to this otherwise beautiful motorcycle is the suspension setup – most owners in the community have complained about the stiff rear springs. 

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