Royal Enfield has launched the Shotgun 650, its latest addition to the popular 650cc lineup. The Shotgun 650 is positioned between the 650 twins (Interceptor and Continental GT) and the flagship Super Meteor 650. With the launch of the Shotgun 650, Royal Enfield now has four motorcycles in its 650cc segment. More 650cc bikes are expected to be launched in the future, such as the Classic 650, Bullet 650, and Himalayan 650.
Production Starts, Variants, and Pricing
Production of the Shotgun 650 has already started at Royal Enfield’s plant in Chennai. The bike is available in three variants and four color options. The base variant, Custom Shed, is priced at Rs 3.59 lakh and comes in a single color option of Sheetmetal Grey. The second trim is Custom Pro, which starts at Rs 3.70 lakh and has two color options: Green Drill and Plasma Blue. The top-spec variant is Custom Special, priced at Rs 3.73 lakh and available in a single color option of Stencil White.
As the variant names suggest, the Shotgun 650 offers a high degree of customization. Users can quickly switch from a single seat to a double seat or transform the bike into a luggage-carrying tourer. This versatility makes the Shotgun 650 suitable for a variety of riding environments and situations. It can be used as an agile city bike or be customized to carry a pillion rider or cargo.
Rugged Build and Bobber-Styled Aesthetics
The Shotgun 650 lives up to its name with its rugged build and bobber-styled aesthetics. Some of the key design features include a round headlamp and rear-view mirrors, a classic tear-drop fuel tank, circular turn indicators and tail lamp, minimal body paneling, blacked-out engine parts and exhaust, and a broad rear fender. The bike also gets an LED headlamp, USB charging, gloss aluminum switchgear with adjustable levers, and a comfortable bucket rider seat. The instrument cluster comprises a circular semi-digital speedometer and a smaller fully digital Tripper Navigation dial.
Specifications and Performance : Shotgun 650
The Shotgun 650 is built on a steel tubular spine frame. The suspension setup includes Showa SF-BPF USD forks at the front with 120 mm of travel and Showa twin shock absorbers at the rear with 90 mm of travel. The bike has 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels, shod with 100/90 and 150/70 tyres, respectively. Braking is handled by 320 mm and 300 mm discs at the front and rear with twin-piston floating calipers. Dual-channel ABS is standard.
Powering the Shotgun 650 is the 648cc, parallel-twin, air-oil cooled SOHC engine that produces 47 PS of max power and 52.3 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 6-speed constant mesh gearbox. The claimed mileage is 22 km/l. The engine has a strong mid-range and ample torque output across all gears. With a seat height of 795 mm, the bike offers optimal control and handling. Riders can expect a comfortable riding stance with wide handlebars and mid-set footpegs.
Market Outlook and Conclusion
With its focus on customization, the Shotgun 650 has the potential to be a popular choice among Royal Enfield’s 650cc motorcycles. As of November 2023, the 650 twins (Interceptor and Continental GT) were the top-selling 650cc bikes from Royal Enfield. The Shotgun 650 is expected to further increase the company’s market share in the 500cc+ motorcycle segment. In November, the 650 twins and Super Meteor 650 had a combined market share of more than 90%.
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The Shotgun 650 is a compelling addition to Royal Enfield’s 650cc lineup. Its unique blend of ruggedness, customizability, and performance makes it a versatile motorcycle that can appeal to a wide range of riders. With its competitive price tag, the Shotgun 650 is sure to attract attention and become a popular choice for riders looking for a stylish, powerful, and customizable motorcycle.