The new Shotgun 650 is the latest 650 Twin to join the fold.
India’s Royal Enfield has added another 650 Twin model to their expanding lineup following a banner year for sales both at home and abroad. The new motorcycle, the Shotgun 650, is a more urban-focused street machine that is closely based on their Super Meteor 650 cruiser/tourer, which was introduced earlier in 2023.
After decades of producing just a handful of machines based on essentially post-war designs from a British-built plant constructed in 1955, Royal Enfield has undergone a thorough modernization after being acquired by Indian multinational corporation Eicher in the 1990s. A dozen different motorcycle models are now produced at two new state-of-the-art facilities in Oragadam and Vallam Vadagal, near Chennai. Sub-assembly facilities are located in Nepal, Brazil, Thailand, Argentina and Colombia. B. Govindarajan became CEO of Royal Enfield in 2022 while Siddhartha Lal is Managing Director and CEO of Eicher Motors Limited. Both are avid motorcyclists. Royal Enfield began as Enfield Bicycle Company in England and produced its first motorcycle in 1901. A recent project at Royal Enfield recreated that first model.
There will be four color options.
The Shotgun 650 is based on a customized motorcycle first shown by Royal Enfield at the Milan EICMA motorcycle expo in 2021. It received positive feedback and Royal Enfield designers say the production Shotgun 650 “blends retro-futuristic design with modern features” and is intended to be a canvas for customizers and owners who wish to personalize the motorcycle.
The Shotgun 650 is powered by the latest iteration of Royal Enfield’s 648cc parallel twin engine, which was first introduced on the 650 Interceptor (INT650 in the U.S.) and 650 GT models back in 2018. The motor has had some minor tweaks along the way but is otherwise the same air/oil-cooled fuel-injected mill that makes 46 horsepower and 39 pound feet of torque. A six speed transmission, chain drive, ABS brakes, LED lighting and robust construction round out the 531-pound Shotgun 650.
Key differences from the Super Meteor 650 sibling includes mid-mount foot controls, slightly different sized wheels, a non-adjustable Showa “upside down” (USD) front fork with revised travel specifications and a touch more travel out of the two preload-adjustable rear coil-spring shock absorbers.
And while the Shotgun 650 will arrive with a passenger seat, the core styling of the bike is as a single-seat machine as seen in these photos. As such, the rear seat quickly removes with a simple key lock to reveal a small cargo rack, and that rear rack/subframe can also come off the bike by removing four easy-access bolts, revealing a large rear fender.
Wheels size and suspension settings favor quicker handling response.
Royal Enfield designers say the revised wheel sizes and suspension will give the Shotgun 650 more sprightly handling than the Super Meteor 650, which is intended to be a more long-distance touring and cruiser-style mount.
Instrumentation includes a large central analog-style speedometer that also shows fuel level, gear position, trip meters and other data bits. A second smaller instrument, the Tripper display, shows simplified GPS directions when connected to a smartphone and Royal Enfield’s app via Bluetooth. The Tripper system was developed in cooperation with Google. There is no tachometer for engine RPMs. Like most modern motorcycles, the Shotgun 650 will automatically cut spark to the engine to protect it if it exceeds a set maximum RPM redline.
Royal Enfield representatives told Forbes.com that 2022 was their best year to date, with nearly a million motorcycles produced, most of which remained in India, the worlds second-largest motorcycle market after China. Royal Enfield also sold more than 100,000 motorcycles outside of India, a new record for the company, as they continue to build out international dealership networks. The company recently opened a technical center in Texas for training mechanics and staffers. Sales figures for 2023 were not available at press time.
Intended as a solo-seat model, the Shotgun 650 will include a quickly removable passenger seat.
While Royal Enfield motorcycles typically produce less horsepower per liter than their international rivals, the company prides itself construction ideals based on reliability and robustness, which it says are necessary for the rigors of riding in India, where the infrastructure can be challenging and motorbikes are often primary transportation instead of cars.
The Shotgun can be had in Stencil White (above), Plasma Blue (center), Green Drill, or Sheetmetal Grey when it goes on sale worldwide in 2024. Pricing has not yet been announced. Forbes.com is hoping to have a ride review of the Shotgun 650 when it begins arriving in the United States sometime in 2024.
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