Royal Enfield has christened its first scrambler the Bear 650. It is the latest evolution of the platform which underpins the 650 Twins. As far as aesthetics go, the Bear 650 definitely looks the part. The kicked-up rear subframe, the competition number-boards (a la flat-track racer) on the side panels and the compact-yet-rugged looking two-into-one exhaust can establish the Bear 650’s unique identity, immediately separating it from the 650 Twins. The paint schemes on offer all look quite pleasing and neo-retro, with contrasting seat colors and even the frame painted in a contrasting shade on the range-topping ‘Two Four Nine’ colorway.
This is Royal Enfield’s first bike to employ a two-into-one exhaust setup and the sound from the single can is burly and distinctive: unmistakable for any of its siblings. The reworked rear subframe looks tidy and neatly integrates a grab-handle for the pillion. RE has purposefully set the single-can exhaust lower and not high up like other scramblers to spare the riders’ and pillions’ right sides from the scorching heat which normally emanates from raised scrambler exhausts.
Royal Enfield has worked to make the Bear capable of taking the off-road punishment a scrambler is expected to endure. The Showa suspension (front & rear), including a USD separate function and big-piston forks upfront are claimed to be tuned to tackle bumps and harsh terrain. The Bear runs chunky and exclusive MRF dual-purpose tyres on its 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wire-spoked rims. Although there’s no word yet on availability of alloy rims, the tyres themselves look capable of standing up to dirt tracks and rocky terrain. The Bear gets the latest braking hardware from the recently updated Twins and front forks that Royal Enfield says are stiffer than those on the 650 Twins. These factors combined should ensure better braking performance for the Bear 650, compared the 650 Twins, of course. It also packs switchable rear ABS to enable those tailslides in the dirt. The 650cc Parallel-Twin makes 4.5Nm (8 percent) more in the Bear than in the 650 Twins. Although the power figure stays identical, this makes for a wider power band and better mid-range torque than the 650 Twins.
In order to enable riders to stand on the pegs, the Bear 650 gets footpegs set slightly forward and lower than those on the Interceptor 650. This should also make riding the Bear for longer durations more comfortable. The wide handlebars, which are also high set are claimed to offer the rider better control and a dominant riding position. The contoured and well-padded single-piece scrambler seat looks inviting and wider than the seats on offer on the Int/Conti Twins. Overall, the somewhat neutral footpeg position, the wide and tall handlebar and the long and contoured seat should offer a spacious riding triangle when sitting or standing. It also borrows the instrument cluster from the Himalayan 450, complete with Tripper Navigation and Wingman connectivity.
Royal Enfield had hosted a handful of representatives from selected automotive publications worldwide in California, where they rode the Bear 650 across roads and dirt tracks. While we came back impressed, we would definitely wait till we get our hands on the Bear here back home to truly put it through its paces and give a detailed review.
Bookings and test rides will commence from November 10. With a starting price of ₹ 3.39 Lakh, the Bear 650 sits well above the entire Interceptor 650 range and just a tad cheaper than the Mr. Clean Continental GT 650. If our first impressions are anything to go by, the Bear 650 fits the quintessential “unruly middle child” bill in Royal Enfield’s lineup quite nicely.
