Sometimes, when manufacturers have a few parts lying around, they cobble those together to create a new vehicle. That is not the case with the Royal Enfield Bullet 650, though. Based on the same chassis that debuted in the Super Meteor 650, where the engine is a stressed member, instead of being ‘cradled,’ the Bullet 650 begins where the Classic 650 ends. The Bullet is the oldest motorcycle nameplate still in production, originally launched in 1932! Will the Bullet 650 take it to new horizons? Read on to find out.
When I first saw the Bullet 650, it took a few seconds for my brain to catch up, as proportionally, it is as good as identical to the Bullet 350. Except, it has been subjected to those enlarging discs from Ant-Man. Everything is larger. Once your brain catches up, though, things return to normal. The headlamp, tank, the pinstripes on the tank, the triangular side panels, the one-piece seat, every single detail is a nod to the Bullet that has become a part of the fabric of the landscape of India.
Handsome though it may be, this is not for the customers looking to get the most bang for their buck. In fact, you get no bang, as the exhaust is way too quiet. But more on that later. The speedometer is the same as on the Classic 650 and the 350s of these two models. It does get a Tripper navigation pod integrated into the console. The wheels are aluminium rims with steel spokes, like other 650s from the Royal Enfield stable. The front is a 19-inch one, while the rear measures 18 inches in diameter, just like the Classic.
However, if you think that the two motorcycles ride the same because of these similarities and shared componentry, you’d be dead wrong. The Bullet 650 manages to capture the spirit of a bygone era, where things were slightly less hurried, and in turn invites you to take things slowly, in a more deliberate manner. The tall handlebars, the forward-set pegs, and the resulting completely upright riding position create a commanding riding position. And while the presence of a Bullet had always been unmistakable, the same effect is magnified with the 650’s largess. Traffic parts like in front of you, like Moses parted the Red Sea, allowing you to move on ahead, at your own pace. It is rock-solid stable through the corners too, though corners are best negotiated in the same calm manner preferred by the bike, as it doesn’t like mid-apex adjustments.
The Bullet lost its thump when Royal Enfield had to move away from cast-iron engines, and riders have been trying their best to regain it ever since. Well, the Bullet 650 should put an end to those shenanigans as it has a brilliant exhaust note. Yes, I know, it is not that different from other 650s from RE with twin pipes, but none of that matters when you point the nose of the motorcycle towards the horizon, and open the throttle wide, matched only by the width of the smile on your face! It doesn’t pop or bang on the overrun, though, which is a missed opportunity. The acceleration is brisk, and while by motorcycle standards it’s buying to write home about, you’ll still surprise many other road users, who just wouldn’t have expected this kind of velocity from a machine so ancient-looking. The front brake is adequate for this nearly quarter-tonne hunk of metal, but the rear brake can be a bit too sharp, particularly if applied mid-corner. Not the bike you should be practicing your trail braking with, anyway.
So, who is the Royal Enfield Bullet 650 targeted at? Yes, it’s primarily designed for the Western markets, where the highway speeds are high enough to make a 650 a mid-range motorcycle. But there is a specific segment of the market in India that will swoon over this bike, too. You’ll meet them in Motoverse and other Royal Enfield events, or you won’t meet them at all. They like to keep to themselves. Their motto in life is ‘Keep calm and ride your Bullet.’ For these dyed-in-the-wool fans, the existence of Royal Enfield is justified by the continued production of the Bullet, not the other way round. And Royal Enfield has just given these people, who are usually third-generation Bullet owners, a new reason to visit the showroom!
Words Sayantan De
Photography Saidatta Naik
