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It’s a well-known fact that there is a whole raft of new models in Royal Enfield’s product pipeline, and two very important upcoming bikes have just been spotted testing. These are the rather neat-looking Classic 650 (which was previously spotted) and the unique 350cc bobber based on the Classic 350 (also spotted on a previous occasion).
- 350cc bobber gets whitewall tyres
- Two-seat version of the bobber seen for the first time
- Classic 650 sports a very similar design to the Classic 350
Royal Enfield Classic 650 details
Many of the details observed on the recent sighting of the Classic 650 are also seen here. And what’s once again apparent is that it will share its basic design language with the smaller Classic 350, and that’s no bad thing. You see the chrome-rimmed round headlight with the regal hood on top, the trademark pilot lamps, and the very neat looking tail-lamp pod. The round indicators and mirrors are also in line with the smaller Classic, and the larger 650 also gets pea-shooters like its smaller sibling, just two in place of one.
And that’s because it has the 648cc twin-cylinder engine, of course. It will be essentially identical to the motor seen in the Interceptor, Continental GT and Super Meteor 650, with perhaps some small tweaks to things like mapping, gearing and sprocketing. Of course, the big question on most people’s minds is how the Classic 650 will be different to the Interceptor 650. After all, the Interceptor is already a retro roadster based on the 650cc platform, so where does the Classic fit in?
Well, for starters, it appears to have more relaxed seating, with mid-set footpegs and a tall handlebar, whereas the Interceptor has more rear-set pegs. The Classic will also be a more premium offering than the Interceptor, whose USP has always been bang for the buck. We see a lot more chrome parts here and greater attention to detail. Bits like the chrome throttle body covers, the lovely pea-shooter exhaust pipes and the tail-lamp seem to back this up.
Then there’s also the fact that the Classic seems to be based on the Super Meteor’s chassis and not the Interceptor’s. You see this in the way the chassis tube loops around the back of the side panels of the Classic 650, just like on the Super Meteor. However, it doesn’t look like the Classic will get an upside-down fork like the Super Meteor – it will use a conventional telescopic fork but with shrouding around the stanchions, just like the smaller Classic.
Royal Enfield Classic 650 expected price, India launch
There are a few factors to note when discussing the launch timeline of the Classic 650. The first is the fact that it’s based on an existing platform, so it will not require quite as much testing as something like the Himalayan 450, which sits on an all-new platform. Also, in both instances of the bike being spotted, it has been seen in black paint, rather than the camouflage we usually see on early-stage prototypes. So, all things considered, you could see the Classic 650 hit the market perhaps sometime in 2024. However, it’s almost certain that the Shotgun 650 will arrive first, before the Classic.
As for pricing, considering the equipment levels we see here and the overall attention to detail, you can expect the Classic to sit between the Interceptor 650 and the Super Meteor 650 once it arrives. This should place it around the Rs 3.3 to 3.7 lakh mark (ex-showroom).
Royal Enfield 350cc bobber details
We were the first to break the news about Royal Enfield readying a bobber-style motorcycle based on its 350cc J-platform. At the time, RE documents showed that the bobber would be a single-seat model. And the first spy shot of the bike seemed to confirm this, showing only a rider’s seat. This time, however, a two-seat version has been seen for the first time, with a rather neat floating pillion seat.
The rear fender seems to be mounted to the swingarm, so it will move up and down along with the rear wheel, in typical bobber fashion. This has necessitated the cantilevered pillion seat, which floats neatly above the fender. The basic frame of the bobber seems quite similar to that of the Classic, but the rear section ends at the rear shock absorber mounts, and so the subframe is much smaller.
The forward section of the bike is nearly identical to the Classic 350 that it’s based on, with the same fuel tank, same hooded headlight and same shrouded telescopic fork. Where it differs greatly is in the handlebar, of course. The bobber gets very raised handlebars that give it an almost ape-hanger appearance. This isn’t an aesthetic that will appeal to all, but it’s nice to see Royal Enfield being bold enough to offer this unique and quirky model.
Royal Enfield 350cc bobber India launch, expected price
Once again, this bobber is based on a tried and tested platform, which helps cut down the timelines for validation and testing. There’s also the fact that this latest test mule appears a lot cleaner and better finished than the earlier single-seat version, which featured a lot of stray cables and data-logging equipment. So like the Classic 650, the launch of this 350cc bobber shouldn’t be too far away, and it could end up in showrooms sometime next year. However, the next 350cc launch from Royal Enfield will most likely be the new J-platform Bullet 350, which has also been testing on our roads for quite some time now and appears very close to being finished. Expect the bobber to be priced similarly to the Classic 350, which currently sells for Rs 1.90 to 2.21 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai).
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