Royal Enfield Shotgun 650: The first Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 motorcycle that defies categorization is the fourth model in the lineup. While the roles of the Interceptor, Continental GT, and Super Meteor are all quite clear, what is the Shotgun 650 supposed to be exactly?
Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Design
According to Royal Enfield Shotgun 650, the custom bike scene served as inspiration, and that is a reasonable strategy. After all, in the custom world, nothing else in India is even remotely as well-liked as REs. This machine seems to me to be long and low, a la Bobber, and although the Shotgun is built on the Super Meteor platform, there are a lot of differences.
Some of the more prominent ones are the different wheel sizes; the Super Meteor’s wheel combination is 19 inches/16 inches, whereas the front and rear wheels are 18 inches/17 inches. It also receives a stylish new fuel tank with a capacity of 13.8 litres, which is roughly 2 litres less than that of its sibling. Next is the seat height, which is considerably higher at 795mm than the extremely low 740mm seat on the Super Meteor but still very approachable.
Similar to the Super Meteor, this bike has the highest quality and level of attention to detail of any Royal Enfield Shotgun 650, and it has even more stunning little details. Nearly every piece of the bike, including the fenders, side panels, and even the sexy-looking headlamp surround, is made of metal, including the switch cubes. Advantageously, the bike feels solid and well-made. The Shotgun weighs 7kg more than the Ducati Diavel V4 we reviewed, which is a drawback.
This motorbike is still very attractive and one of the main reasons you would want to buy one, even though there are some parts of it that don’t quite work together. To start, unlike the Super Meteor, the peashooter exhausts on the Interceptor and Conti are kinked upwards and outwards rather than hugging the length of the bike. With such retro-looking pipes, I find this look to be a little off-putting. Then there’s the air gap, which is noticeable but not too bad between the wheel and rear fender.
The floating single seat has the advantage of being aesthetically pleasing, roomy, and well-padded. The fact that you can use it as a single seater with a rear luggage rack or convert it into a twin seater makes it a reasonably practical machine. However, there are certain issues that prevent the Shotgun from being generally useful.
Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Real-world Usability
The ground clearance—or lack thereof—comes first. With a clearance figure of only 140mm, this motorcycle looks low and long, but it is. I rode for a few days without scraping the bike by using extreme caution, but you will always need to take extra care when navigating rough terrain and speed bumps, particularly if you are carrying luggage or a pillion.
Like its siblings, this bike also feels long and wide in traffic. You’ll also be thinking about the weight and the somewhat heavy clutch. It is somewhat of a heavy commuter, mostly because of the width of the foot pegs and exhausts in particular. Fortunately, there is one significant benefit that this bike has over the Super Meteor: comfort.
Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Ride Comfort
The primary distinction lies in your riding position. Though you’re not sitting as low here, the mid-set footpegs will remind you of the Classic 350, and your lower body is in a very comfortable, neutral position. Even though the Shotgun’s dual rear shock absorbers have 11mm less travel than the Super Meteor’s, this alone relieves the strain on your lower back and makes it much more comfortable on rough roads. There is a certain firmness to the Showa suspension, but it is not overly harsh and is quite absorbent.
Though it’s not painful, I wouldn’t describe this bike as luxurious or extremely comfortable either. You are leaning slightly forward due to the unusual handlebar position, which is partially to blame for that. While I understand that RE is aiming for a custom-cool look, the comfort could have been enhanced with a handlebar that is wider, taller, and slightly closer to the rider.
Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Performance
With this motorcycle, RE’s tried-and-true 648cc parallel twin is an excellent match. Apart from the gloss black painted side cases, the engine is essentially the same as the one found in the Shotgun’s siblings. While the engine revs out nicely and the midrange is fun to surf, there isn’t a lot of torque at the bottom end. The whole tune is enjoyable. Although it’s not very loud, the Shotgun’s deep sound is something you’ll never get tired of hearing, which is one of its main selling points.
With 47 horsepower and 52 Nm of torque, it performs quickly. We timed it from 0 to 100 km/h in about 6.5 seconds, which puts it on par with its other siblings and marginally faster than the Super Meteor. Similar to the Super Meteor, fuel efficiency can range from 22 to 30 kpl, depending on your riding style.
Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Handling
The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 handling is also very good. At highway speeds, the bike feels incredibly stable and planted, and it maintains the same unwavering composure around curves. However, because the wide footpegs make it easy for you to hit the tarmac, you will quickly run out of cornering clearance if you try to ride aggressively in the bends. Therefore, you should look into the Interceptor and Continental GT if you want quick thrills in the corners.
One 320mm front disc and one large 300mm rear rotor are used for braking. The ABS is activated by even light pressure on the foot lever due to the strength of the rear brake, but these brakes work well together to slow down the bike.
With regard to features, the Shotgun is straightforward, offering the Tripper navigation display as standard along with the same kind of analogue-digital display found on the Super Meteor. A USD fork, dual channel ABS, and an LED headlamp are also included.
Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Verdict
The Shotgun’s prices haven’t been released yet, and it is actually fairly comparable to the Super Meteor. All things considered, the Shotgun is a motorcycle that appeals more for its individuality and flair than for its usefulness.It is a reasonably usable motorbike despite having the appearance of being fairly specialised.
Although it doesn’t have the same level of appeal as the majority of RE’s lineup, it’s still good to see manufacturers experimenting. In the end, it’s advantageous to have a large selection of bikes.
Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Review on You-Tube
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