Is the press too hard on the Classic 650?

Is Royal Enfield's newest 650 too much of a good thing?

 Royal Enfield's newest version in its line of 650cc twin-cylinder motorcycles was released in India last week. The Classic 650 is the most retro of the bunch and, not incidentally, the one that most interests me personally. 

That's because it is a Royal Enfield that looks like it would have when I was a kid in 1960, but goes (and stops) like it must to keep up with today's traffic here in the U.S. 

Royal Enfield's Classic 350 single was already motorcycle royalty in India. Don't think the riders there were going to fall in love immediately with a 650 twin version, just because it is bigger and badder. 

These guys are tough customers. 

Here's what the press in India thought about the Classic 650 twin, after riding it: 

"The Classic 650 is beautifully designed with elegant lines and a nice choice of colors to choose from. The teardrop shaped fuel tank, the way the engine occupies pride of place, those long chrome exhaust pipes and the overall stance make this bike quite the looker." Rishabh Bhaskar, BikeWale

"The biggest issue with the Royal Enfield Classic is that purists love the way the bike looks. So Royal Enfield can’t do much even if it wanted to do something drastic with the design. Hence we get the iconic Classic fascia complete with the signature Tiger lights. Upgrades come in the form of an LED headlamp which is not exactly the best in business. The light disperses wide and lacks a strong beam and we think that RE should work on it and make it better." Rahul Ghosh, IndiaToday

"One of the key reasons for the success of the Classic 350 was its old-school design language packaged well with vibrant color options. The Classic 650 also carries forward many of the design elements like the headlight nacelle, the mudguard shape, the fork covers, fuel tank shape, tail light and even the pea-shooter muffler, you get two of them here.

"Despite carrying the same design elements, the Classic 650 doesn’t look as cohesive or easy on the eye as the Classic 350 does. Maybe it’s the gap between the rear tire and fender, or just its enormous wheelbase; it just looks a bit too stretched out. To my eyes, it doesn’t have the same visual impact a Classic 350 manages so easily." Arun Mohan Nadar, ACKODrive

"The details add up to make an otherwise gorgeous motorcycle even more impressive. The aluminum switchgear covers, also finished in chrome, the handlebar clamp proudly bearing the Royal Enfield motif and the fuel tank lid, all underscore good fit and finish and quality levels." Preetam Bora, Car&Bike

"In a segment where emotional connect plays a pivotal role, the Classic 650’s legacy-driven positioning gives it a substantial advantage over its rivals." Syed Shazil Hussain, ET Auto

"At 243kg (536 lbs), the Classic 650 is a big, heavy thing, and you feel that at a standstill and also while pushing it around or during U-turns, but Royal Enfield has done a commendable job of masking its weight once you get going." Dinshaw Magol, AutoCar

"The Classic 650 too gets an analogue speedometer that’s easy to read in all conditions. However what’s different here is the speed at the other end of the speedometer – 125 mph instead of 100 mph on the Classic 350. (Ed.: Royal Enfield gives the top speed of the Classic 650 as 98 mph.)

"And just like on (the Classic 350), there’s a digital display under the speedometer which tells you the fuel level, mileage, odometer reading, trip distance, and time. Simple yet effective. There’s also a USB type-C charging port, a Tripper navigation display for turn-by-turn navigation (standard on all variants!), and adjustable clutch and brake levers.

"Although the Classic 650 has impressed us in many ways, its suspension setup leaves a lot to be desired. Simply put, it’s quite stiff for a Classic, with just 90mm of wheel travel. That robs it of the plush ride that one would expect, and the limited scope of travel also makes it difficult to tune it into having a comfier setup." Sohm Mayekar, ZigWheels

"If I look over minor niggles like the lack of feedback on the front brake lever, the instant ABS intervention on the rear brake and vibrations on the seat at high revs, I think the RE Classic 650 makes a compelling case for itself in terms of a cruiser." Sumesh Soman, OverDrive

Royal Enfield posted its response to some of the concerns in a Q-and-A format. In fairness, here are a few points made:

"The Classic 650 is designed for superior comfort with a wide seat, refined suspension, ergonomic riding posture, and minimal vibrations at high speeds, making it ideal for long-distance touring...

"We would encourage any beginner riders who feel intimidated by the Classic 650 but who aspire to Classic ownership to start their riding journey with us on a Classic 350 and upgrade as their skills and confidence increases...

"While the bike is the heaviest in our portfolio, the Classic carries a very low center of gravity, so the weight is not as obvious and the motorcycle gives confidence in its handling and maneuverability. The seat height is very accessible at 32 inches...

"The Classic 650 is not an off road bike. The suspension is tuned to capably take on rough/broken roads while providing the best riding comfort to the rider and the pillion."

Royal Enfield headlines, explained

 If you set up a Google Alert for "Royal Enfield," as I have, you'll get a fast education in current speech. 

For instance, the headline "Royal Enfield drops limited edition," doesn't mean Royal Enfield is discontinuing a model. It means the opposite: Royal Enfield is introducing a limited edition version of its motorcycles. 

"Drop" now has several meanings, including the opposite of "drop." 

You probably knew that. 

But did you know that a Royal Enfield motorcycle described as having a "Dangerous Engine" is not a menace, except in so far as it has a "powerful engine"? 

Other oddities include variations on a headline that has been appearing around the internet for months:

"Do you know how much a Royal Enfield Bullet 350 cost back in 1986? You will not believe your eyes."

The headline is based on a 1986 invoice for a Royal Enfield Bullet in India, compared to what a Bullet costs today in India.

The implication is that you'll be wowed by how much the Bullet has gone up in price.

It hasn't.

What has happened is that India's rupee has gone down in value. Adjusted for inflation a new Bullet is effectively about the same price it was in 1986.

Who could resist clicking on such an interesting link? And, as long as we keep clicking, the invoice will continue to be discovered over and over again.

It's like that ad that claims to explain why you should put a plastic water bottle on your tire when you park your car.

Anyone watching for internet references to "Royal Enfield" quickly learns that the vast majority of stories online come out of India, where Royal Enfield is respected and far more prominent than it is in the United States.

So a headline that claims "Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Come With Super Engine Like Monster With Killer Look," makes sense in India, but certainly not in North America.

This is an article about a normal 350 Bullet with a look that has not been killing anybody since it was introduced, in 1955. It is no "monster" motorcycle.

Finally there are the articles that gleefully announce that Royal Enfield plans to introduce a modern 250cc motorcycle.

It may be that Royal Enfield plans to introduce a 250cc motorcycle in India. Supposedly the company has confirmed this, and Royal Enfield has, in its long history, produced 250cc motorcycles before.

But I begin to wonder, when so many articles about this include so much speculation, regurgitating the few details reported elsewhere, and are illustrated with photos of the existing 350cc models, "for representational purposes only."

India is a very cost-sensitive market, and the possibility of a coming cheaper and more economical Royal Enfield would tend to excite potential customers.

Stories about a 250cc Royal Enfield therefore make great clickbait.

You'll have to wait for the real thing, but don't worry; you won't miss it when it comes. It will be all over the internet.

He regrets buying back his old Bullet

Read the full story of Paul Jeffries' battle with his Bullet in RideApart.
(Photo by Paul Jeffries)

 "I bought my old bike back 30 years later, and I wish I never had," Paul Jeffries wrote in RideApart last December. The bike was an early Royal Enfield Bullet, and his column was interesting. 

I'm of two minds. 

Was his regret at his recovery of a motorcycle that was once his fondest dream an object lesson for the rest of us? 

Nostalgia puts a high gloss on our happy memories of the past. Can we ever really relive those moments? 

On the other hand, well... who wouldn't like to try to recapture those sunny days we remember? 

Here's his story, briefly: 

"A little over 30 years ago, I owned a beautiful Royal Enfield Bullet. It was my pride and joy, and a real labor of love bike...

"It was also a symbol of my youth and, in a story I’m sure many can relate to, it survived the first child but had to go when the second rolled around...

"That was until one day in 2023 though, when I was looking through eBay and there it was – my bike...

So he bought it back. And that is when the regrets started:

"With each issue that was fixed, another one would pop up...

"The damn thing was cursed – it was like it was holding a grudge against me for getting rid of it all those years ago... "

"Learn from my mistake, and leave those cherished memories of a bike gone by where they belong – in the past."

A truly sad story, and most readers who left comments sided with his feelings. I preferred the one comment that did not:

"You can get that happiness back if you hang in there. It can't stay angry at you forever, and as soon as it's reliable you'll forget the bad times," one man wrote. Is that right?

I essentially "bought" my 1999 Bullet back again by paying a lot for an engine rebuild after 40,000 miles. The mechanic took so long to finish that I bought a Honda I admired to tide me over.

I liked the Honda well enough, but its convenience (electric start for goodness sake!) and reliability couldn't compete with the Bullet's character once they were both back in my garage.

I liked riding the Honda. I WANTED to ride the Bullet. I still have the Bullet. The Honda is gone.

This is going to cost me, I am sure, in time stranded by the side of the road, and eventual repair bills. I am resigned to that.