Upcoming Royal Enfield 650 cc motorcycles in India - Interceptor 650 to Himalayan 650
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650's launch in India will take place before the end of this year. In addition to the 650 twins, multiple variants based on the 650 cc, parallel-twin engine platform are planned. These will include bikes like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 650, and perhaps even the Royal Enfield Scrambler 650.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is a modern-retro café racer that features aggressive ergonomics and minimal styling. The has a committed riding posture with clip-on handlebars, long tear-drop fuel tank, single-piece café-style seat and rear set foot-pegs.
On the outset, the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 looks similar to the Continental GT 535. The company claims that it is all-new, though. It features a strengthened double-cradle chassis, a redesigned 12.5 litres fuel tank and a Pirelli Sportscomp tyres that wrap on 18-inch wheels at the front and back.
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 uses Gabriel-sourced 41 mm telescopic front forks and twin coil-spring gas-charged shock absorbers at the back. Braking duty is handled by a 320 mm single disc at the front and a 240 mm rear rotor, while Bosch dual-channel ABS is standard.
Royal Enfield has revealed that the 650 twins will be launched at accessible prices and will be natural upgrades for the company’s 3 million customers. In that essence, the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is likely to be priced under INR 3 lakh (ex-showroom). In the USA, prices of the bike start from $5,999 (INR 4.40 lakh).
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is a modern-classic roadster street motorcycle with relaxed ergonomics and classic design cues. The Interceptor 650 features an upright riding position with the raised and wide handlebar and the centre set foot-pegs. The motorcycle comes with a round fuel tank, comfortable seat and short fenders.
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 comes shod with 18-inch wire-spoke wheels at both the ends with specially developed Pirelli Sportscomp tyres. It features Gabriel-sourced 41 mm telescopic forks at the front and twin coil-spring gas-charged rear shock absorbers.
Braking components are similar to the GT 650. There's a single 320 mm rotor up front and a 240 mm rotor at the back, with standard Bosch dual-channel ABS. If the U.S. market pricing (USD 5,799 or INR 4.26 lakh) is anything to go by, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 could be priced around INR 2.50-2.70 lakh (ex-showroom).
Royal Enfield Himalayan 650
Siddharth Lad, CEO & MD - Royal Enfield had confirmed in May 2017 that the company will introduce the Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 in the future. However, at the launch of the Classic 350 Signals Edition, Rudratej Singh (Rudy), President, Royal Enfield, revealed to IAB that it's not coming 'anytime soon.'
When launched, expect the Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 to use a modified and strengthened half-duplex frame from the Himalayan 410. Also, likely to be carried over will be the suspension components. While it is too early to speculate, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 is expected to follow the function over form design philosophy.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 will share the all-new 648 cc, twin-cylinder, air-cooled engine with the 650 twins but is likely to receive a different state of tuning. That said, the fuel-injected motor produces 47 bhp of power and 52 Nm of peak torque, and it comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch as standard. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 could see the light of the day by mid-2020.
Royal Enfield Scrambler 650 (Tentative Name)
At the launch of the Royal Enfield Classic 350 Signals Edition, Rudratej Singh (Rudy), President, Royal Enfield, had hinted that the "Royal Enfield 650 twin platform could spawn a Scrambler or Flat Tracker," depending on customer demands and market trends. If the Royal Enfield Scrambler 650 sees the light of the day, we can expect a motorcycle on the lines of the Triumph Street Scrambler and the Ducati Scrambler.
The Royal Enfield Scrambler 650 could feature a bare minimal styling, long-travel suspension setup and knobby tyres. The bike could also benefit from a rear parcel rack and other luggage mounts. The 648 cc, fuel-injected motor from the Interceptor 650 could turn out to be the perfect partner in crime on the Royal Enfield Scrambler 650 while going trail bashing.
The company could even revive the Royal Enfield Fury nameplate, which was once used in the UK. As a reminder, the Royal Enfield Fury 500 was on sale from 1959 to 1963 and a more modern version that was sold till 2011. The Fury 500 had a circular fuel tank, a single seat with a flat-tracker style tail section, knobby off-road tyres and twin exhaust pipes.
Also Read: 12 Royal Enfield 650 Twins already pre-sold in New Zealand [Video]
Royal Enfield 650 cc Engine Platform
Royal Enfield has developed an all-new 648 cc, air-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder engine with 8-valves and oil cooling. It is the first twin-cylinder motor that has been designed by an Indian bike manufacturer. The fuel-injected mill is tuned to develop a maximum power of 47 bhp at 7,100 rpm and developing 52 Nm of peak torque at 5,250 rpm. It is mated to an all-new 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch.
