Royal Enfield recently unveiled the production version of its much-anticipated Royal Enfield Shotgun 650. This marks the fourth addition to the 650 Twins platform, joining the ranks of the Interceptor 650, Continental GT, and Super Meteor 650. Initially showcased as a limited edition at MotoVerse 2023 in Goa, the Shotgun 650 has been officially introduced for global markets and is expected to hit the Indian market in a few days.
Design
The Shotgun 650 is based on the Super Meteor’s platform and as such, looks fairly similar. The major differences come in the form of the components used, which change the way the bike feels. For example, because of the mid-set footpegs and the flat handlebar, the riding position is set to be more commanding as compared to the Super Meteor’s laid-back stance. The bike is expected to retail with a single seat, but it can be customised with either a pillion seat or a luggage carrier. The tail section is a stubby bobby-style panel and the front fork is raked a little less at 25.3 degrees. All of this should make the ride experience a little less cruiser-like and more performance oriented. Royal Enfield has also blacked out almost all of the Shotgun’s hardware. Compared to the chrome-laden Super Meteor, the Shotgun looks a lot more aggressive. As far as dimensions go, the Shotgun measures 2,170 mm in length with a wheelbase measuring 1,465 mm. The seat height is a nifty 795 mm and the tyre sizes measure 18 inches and 17 inches at the front and rear, respectively.
Mechanicals
The powertrain is the familiar 648 cc air-cooled parallel-twin engine used in all three of the 650 bikes: the Interceptor, the Continental GT and the Super Meteor. In the same fashion, it produces an identical 47 hp of maximum power and 52.3 Nm of peak torque. None of the internals of the engine have changed. However, Royal Enfield does say that the final drive ratios have been altered to match the Shotgun’s character. Braking is taken care of by a 320 mm disc at the front and a 300 mm disc at the rear, with dual-channel ABS as standard. Suspension comes via USD forks up front by Showa and pre-load adjustable dual shock absorbers at the back.
Features
Now, Royal Enfield bikes aren’t that big on features, but the Shotgun does get a decent fitting. There is LED lighting all around, a USB charging slot to charge your devices on the go, a digi-analogue instrument cluster that displays various readouts such as time, fuel level, gear position, odometer and others. Like the Super Meteor, there is room near the dial to add the optional Tripper Navigation system for Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation.
Price
The limited-edition Shotgun that was showcased at the MotoVerse 2023 event was a hand-painted bike. As such there were only a few models on sale and priced at a significant premium of Rs 4.25 lakh. The mass-production motorcycle, on the other hand, should command a lower price point. The Shotgun 650 will sit at the higher end of the 650 lineup and will be more expensive as well. Still, expect a range of Rs 4 lakh to Rs 4.10 lakh on the sticker.
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