Royal Enfield Shotgun 650

The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 is the Chennai-based manufacturer’s attempt at creating a 650cc bobber, based on the Super Meteor 650’s platform. Here’s how it performs in the real world:

The Shotgun 650 is a really good-looking motorcycle and is an attention grabber. The bike has a bobber-like design that we don’t get to see often. It features chopped fenders, mid-set footpegs, and a sporty-looking fuel tank, giving the bike a unique look and also a distinct identity different from the Super Meteor 650. The graphics add a lively touch to the gorgeous colour schemes on offer.

The Shotgun 650 is powered by a 648cc twin-cylinder air-/oil-cooled engine producing 47PS at 7250rpm and 52.3Nm at 5650rpm. These power and torque figures translate to a lovely, old-school riding experience, with the engines having loads of torque available throughout the rev range. This makes for very easy riding even in tightly packed traffic scenarios as accelerating in and out of traffic is quite easy. Also, on an open road or the highway, the motor offers peppy acceleration for some spirited riding during those long weekend rides. 

But, one of the downsides to this  are the noticeable vibrations, especially at lower speeds. You'll feel these vibrations on the seat, handlebar, and footpegs.

Unlike the Super Meteor 650, the Shotgun 650 with mid-set footpegs, a 795mm seat height, and a narrow, low-set handlebar, has a sportier, bobber-like riding posture. It feels quite light and agile for its 240kg kerb weight, meaning this bike is actually a lot easier to ride through traffic than what the specs might suggest.

Even though the bike is only 1kg lighter than its cruiser sibling, the Shotgun 650 feels a lot lighter and fun to control during corners. This might be due to the shorter wheelbase and altered rake angle.

The Shotgun 650’s inverted fork and twin shock absorber suspension setup do a good job of offering a reasonably comfortable ride. Shorter riders or riders who are a bit lightweight might find the monoshock to be on the firmer side, though. However, the brakes could have been better. The front brake doesn't have a good initial bite, and the rear brake can get choppy under hard braking due to ABS kickback.

The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 is not a very feature-rich motorcycle but it has just enough of them and they work well. It comes with a semi-digital instrument console and a tripper navigation pod for turn-by-turn navigation. It gets an LED headlight and taillight with bulb indicators. Also, the bobber gets a USB charging port for added practicality.

The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 does stand out among all the other motorcycles in the 650cc segment with its unique bobber-like looks, beautiful colour schemes and torquey motor. Plus, it is the only bobber in the market in its segment, so that helps its case too. You can also opt for the detachable pillion seat, making it versatile as well. So, if you are in the market for a bobber that looks excellent and still has some practical bits to it, the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 could suit you well.