Royal Enfield is gearing up to launch its hotly anticipated 650cc cruiser soon, having already shown a concept version called the SG650 at EICMA last month. Now, a picture of the production version of the bike appears to have leaked online, giving us a first look at what the road-going form is like.
In typical cruiser fashion, it seems to sport a long and low profile, with a very wide and large fuel tank. The rider is treated to a scooped-out seat, slightly swept-back handlebars and reasonably forward-set footpegs, and the riding position is likely to be akin to the Meteor's. In fact, some rumours even suggest this bike may carry the Super Meteor nametag.
But another name that's been doing the roudns is Shotgun 650, and even the EICMA concept bike seemed to hint at this nametag. Two versions of this upcoming 650cc motorcycle have been spotted testing in the past, with slightly different ergonomics, so it's possible that both nametags could see light of day. If RE's current single-cylinder lineup is anything to go by, then the bike in this image is more likely to be the Meteor 650, thanks to its cruiser layout. The Shotgun nametag will likely be reserved for a slightly sportier version of this motorcycle, like the layout seen on the concept bike.
This picture confirms what earlier spy shots have already revealed – that this cruiser will get alloy wheels (a first for a 650cc RE) and an upside-down fork (it will be the only bike in the RE line-up to get one). The two examples fully shown in the image both sport saddle stays (likely optional accessories), but differ in that one gets a large front windscreen while the other doesn't. This could also be an optional extra, or, perhaps, the Shotgun will be offered in multiple trim levels. There is a third bike partially visible in the image, and two of the three motorcycles seem to feature the Tripper navigation pod, while the third bike's instrument cluster area is indiscernible. This hints at the possibility that the pod could be part of the standard equipment list, making this the first 650cc model to feature it.
Powering the Shotgun will be the same 648cc 270-degree parallel-twin motor that already does duty in the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650. With dollops of bottom-end torque, it's already very well suited to the cruiser format, so there's unlikely to be any change in tune, and you can expect the same 47hp and 52Nm output figures.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
