REVIEW | Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 - An exciting look into the future

Introduction

For the past month, I've been riding the latest Royal Enfield offering, the Shotgun 650. It's the fifth bike I've tested and reviewed from the brand since January 2022. From a glance through the press releases and spec sheets, you could be forgiven for thinking the Shotgun 650 is a new model made up of mostly recycled parts and a frame from the Super Meteor 650.

Whilst you wouldn't be entirely wrong with your assumption, it's worth mentioning from the outset that any concerns or assumptions that the Shotgun is less notable than its part-sharing sister models would be very wrong indeed.

A Look Back

To grasp my point, we need to glance back through the timeline of the past six years and work up to the present day.

The Driven Podcast Interview

In January 2024, for season 1 of The Driven Podcast, I had the privilege of interviewing Adrian Sellers, the head of Custom and Motorsport at Royal Enfield. With his rich background in design, Adrian now plays a pivotal role in the company, helping to create exciting bikes for a global market. Under Adrian's leadership, the Shotgun 650 was born.

Adrian shared that not long after he joined the brand in 2016, Royal Enfield put together a 10-year plan which would outline some aspirations and targets from the company; think of it almost like an aspiring storyline of bikes that the brand hoped to not only have on the road as concepts but to have available in retailers. As he called it, the 'product plan' would see an evolution of models from the existing two available models: The Classic and the Continental GT 535. The product plan's premise was to appease some of the many unexplored niches associated with the hobby of motorcycling. The two models on offer at the time were dangerously similar to classic-styled street bikes, significantly limiting the brand's market of buyers. It was crucial that Royal Enfield would look ahead to fulfilling various other motorcycling categories, including adventure bikes, cruisers, sportier GT models, and crossover/hybrid models.

Evolution of the Product Plan

Royal Enfield's bikes over the past few years have all been part of that plan, with the two most significant being the Continental GT Twin 650 and the Interceptor 650. Both models introduced Royal Enfield's most powerful engine to date, the 648cc twin cylinder paired with a 6-speed gearbox. The same 650 Twin engine powers the Shotgun 650, rewarding an entirely usable 47bhp and advantageous torque band.

The Timeline of Models

Other models that have appeared in the timeline are the Himalayan, a bike designed for adventure, and its road-focussed counterpart, the Scram411. We've also seen the arrival of the 350 Bullet and the 350 Super Metor, along with the larger 650 variant of the Super Meteor, which I rode tested just over a year ago. The product plan has catered for adventure bike riders, cruisers, and GT classic fanatics and, above all else, has provided a platform for custom shops and DIY home-builders to create something of their own using Royal Enfield’s products as an excellent base platform. This custom aspect has been crucial to Royal Enfield's success and brand recognition over the past few years.

The Shotgun 650 - A Sports Cruiser

The Shotgun 650 is designed and engineered as a sports cruiser. However, it represents a perfect amalgamation of Royal Enfield's product plan and offers an exciting glimpse into what might be coming next in terms of products and models.

Thanks to its design, the Shotgun 650 gets attention, and rightly so. The colour scheme delivered to me, Drill Green, provides an especially good aesthetic. Multiple other colourways are available, all of which give a feeling of individual customisation and choice. The bars are narrow, just 800mm between handlebar grips (820mm wider overall) which helps with the custom look and despite its low-slung appearance, you still sit 720mm from the ground, allowing your feet and legs to bend and rest at a very comfortable and controllable height. The bike's weight is around 250kg, with a full tank of fuel (13.8 litres), which puts it on the heavier end of the scale for style and overall size, but it doesn't compromise anything in terms of handling and overall performance.

First Ride Impressions

On my first ride with the Shotgun 650, I discovered the model's most exciting aspect: its handling. It's in the corners that Adrian Sellers' motorsport influence can be felt most. Thanks to some trick parts from Showa Suspension, there are upside-down forks up front, allowing for 120mm of travel and some equally exciting equipment at the back, offering 90mm of travel at the rear. The Showa suspension on the Shotgun has been tuned in balance with the model's low centre of gravity. The result of this is some surprisingly dynamic handling at all speeds. Leaning the bike into fast and flowing corners surprised me in the most positive way. Whilst previous Royal Enfield models (with a very similar chassis) have been good through the corners, the Shotgun is a new kettle of very exciting fish compared to its predecessors.

The bike tips in and turns in beautifully, even on some of the bumpiest and most undulating roads. The Continental and Interceptor models would have felt unsettled on the bumps, but the Shotgun soaks them up and gives a whole new level of confidence to roll on more power as it seemingly tucks into the bends.

Performance and Power

Powering out of the turns and up through the rev range provides the iconic soundtrack I, and many other 650 engine riders, have come to love. As I've documented multiple times, the 650 twin from Royal Enfield is a sublime and incredibly diverse engine. You can use the power in two ways: riding the torque band down low and thundering up the gears, or up high, closer to the rev limit, where you can put the bike on edge for a more dynamic riding experience.

Braking and Safety

A single 320mm front disc with a floating calliper is paired with a single 300mm disc at the back. Both provide plenty of stopping power with the rear brake being exceptionally sharp. As is the norm with current Royal Enfield models, ABS is the only rider aid with no optional rider modes or traction control systems to assist with different riding conditions. Whilst some newer riders may be unsettled with the idea of no electronic aids, you needn't be, as the bike's simplicity and confidence-inspiring handling allow for a progressive build-up in speed, handling and agility. I'd go so far as to say that the Shotgun 650 is a superb choice for newer riders working their way up to bigger-engined bikes.

Features and Accessories

As standard, the Shotgun 650 is offered with Royal Enfield's navigation system called Tripper. The system pairs with a dedicated mobile app and offers basic instructions (detailed with arrows) to point in the direction of travel at junctions. The system is basic but straightforward to use and, for most, will be all that's needed when some route guidance will be helpful without strapping a mobile phone to the handlebars. The Shotgun 650 also offers a USB socket for riders wanting to utilise a phone to keep device batteries topped up on rides.

Pricing and Customisation

The Shotgun 650 is available from UK retailers from £6,699 for a 'Sheet Metal Grey' colourway, and the price increases to £6,899 for the most expensive colourway, 'Stencil White'. The 'Drill Green' (as tested) is priced at £6,799. Royal Enfield offers a handful of customisation options on the model, including upgraded seating, engine protection bars, and additional aesthetics like mirrors and indicators. Even with the most ambitious option ticking, the highest price I could achieve on the dedicated configurator was £8,343, making the Shotgun an exceptionally competitive model.

Conclusion - A Glimpse into the Future

My review's most positive aspect goes beyond the bike itself. It's a glimpse into what's likely to come next. We still have a few more years of Royal Enfield's 10-year product plan, but if what follows the Shotgun 650 works on the same design and dynamics ethos, the future will be very bright and exceptionally exciting.

words: John Marcar
pictures: Henry Faulkner-Smith