Latest news with #Bear650
NZ Autocar
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Royal Enfield Bear 650 Review
So when I went to pick up the Royal Enfield Bear 650, the chap tasked with the handover commented, 'I've done 80km over the weekend and fell in love with it.' Which of course you take with a grain of salt, given the guys sells these. But remove the hyperbole and it's clear he liked it. Then really doesn't surprise either because from the outset when the Interceptor (great name) and Continental dotted down six years ago, they kicked off an uptick, a surge even, in Royal Enfield sales. Why? Because they're good and great value. And with their popularity they've just been adding to the 650 twin line-up ever since. There's now a Cruiser, a Classic, the natty looking Shotgun 650 and this, the Bear 650. There's even talk of another coming, in the form of the Himalayan 650, the adventure bike of the range. They've been so successful for the brand that Royal Enfield is now selling over a million bikes per annum. Not that it is all down to the 650s; their single-cylinder offerings are even more important for overall numbers. The Indian brand, which has seen a lift in quality as well as numbers, is now a serious force to be reckoned with. It claims global leadership in the middleweight sector. So now there's this 650 beastie as well, another sharp looker that's as happy doing soft-road stuff as it is plying sealed thoroughfares or commuting. Plus it has the retro look to match, with round lights at each end, a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear, and spoked rims for that authentic Scrambler look. The one you see here is the 249 model, the most expensive in the line-up (price differs according to paint jobs which is the usual RE way). And the number refers to a famous desert race that took place 65 years ago. For roughly 40 years the Big Bear race was run in the California desert. And the last was won by a 16-year-old, 'Fast Eddie' Mulder who beat over 700 others to the finish line after 240km of hard-out racing. He, of course, was riding a Royal Enfield. So the Bear – in miniature on the tank – was the logical name for the latest addition to the 650 twin line-up. With its Scrambler styling it has the look that just seems to stop people in their tracks. Or maybe it's the 249 race plate that does that. With white bodywork and green frame, it really does look tasty. The one I picked up was brand spankers. And I couldn't for the life of me work out how to change the dash layout. It was pretty much blacked out initially, with no numbers for the rev counter and just a digital readout of speed. Eventually, after mussing with the left bar set-up lever, I discovered that pushing it up led to the main menu where we could then select the classic screen with a proper rev counter, and a few other trip data on offer. Like instantaneous fuel use that suggested around 20-25km per litre on the open road ( 4.2L/100km overall). Not bad for a bike that wasn't run in and features no air protection. Range is around 250km from its 13.7L fuel tank. The engine is LAMS legal, and has undergone a bit of a rejig for the Bear application, with no less power (35kW) but a bit more torque, up by 8Nm to 57 in total, thanks mainly to its two-into-one exhaust. Gearing is a shade shorter too, so 100 uses around 4300rpm in sixth. Put another way, 4000 is 90km/h, 4500 is 108 and 5000rpm is 120. Throughout this rev band, which is the one you use primarily out of town, the engine is virtually vibe free. And with the added torque it will pull cleanly from 2000rpm, which is 50km/h in top, handy for urban work. Best power is above about 4500rpm but good torque is on tap from 3000rpm. Compared with the last RE we rode with this engine, the Shotgun 650, the Bear 650 is noticeably quicker. That's because it carries rather less bulk (214 vs 240kg) and has shorter gearing and more torque. That makes it almost a second quicker on both performance criteria, and managed an ABS stop from 100 in 38.46m, pretty nifty for something with a single two-piston disc up front and dual purpose rubber. The front brake, caliper by Bybre works okay on its own but adding the rear, this genuinely slows well. ABS is switchable (back wheel) for off-road riding. A few other points. Unlike some tall off-road ready bikes, the seat height on this is 830mm, and it's no effort to swing a leg over. The riding position is easy with high and wide bars, and midmounted pegs. While the seat looks good, the comfort wanes some after an hour or so of riding but there's generous room for two. For learner riders and those more experienced, the handling on road is a gas. There's oodles of ground clearance and this tips into corners virtually by just weighting the pegs. Suspension is extended travel – for GC of 184mm – and fixed up front, with Showa forks while the preload adjustable long travel rear springs seem set just a bit firm at their softest, no doubt optimised for off-road work. So best to avoid the big hits on road or weight the pegs in anticipation where possible, as they can be jarring. For off-road work primarily, you'd probably want to check out the Himalayan 450 but for a mix of the two and mainly road work, the twin will be a better overall option. Bear 650 is around $2k more expensive. The dash features a tripper unit for navigation, all within the main screen, and nav is possible via Bluetoothing your smartphone. There's a USB outlet up front for device charging too. The dual-tone horn is strong, and lights are LEDs all round. We appreciated the span-adjustable levers, lightweight and positive six-speed gearbox and clear instruments, once we'd found the classic layout. Each RE we ride just seems to be better in build quality too. Our particular 249 model goes for $11,890. However, the start price is $11,490. So love at first ride? It will be for some. Gotta love the price point too. For us, after a few hundred kays, love is perhaps a big call but it's certainly a great LAMS machine (that never feels nobbled like some do), and a competent all-rounder. Royal Enfield Bear 650$11,890 0-100 km/h 5.93s 80-120 km/h 4.79s (138.4m) 100-0 km/h 38.46m Speedo error 98 at an indicated 100km/h Engine Capacity 648cc Format Air-cooled / fuel-injected / IL2 Max power 35kW@7150rpm Max torque 58Nm@5150rpm Cylinder head SOHC / 8v Gearbox 6-speed Drivetrain Chain final drive Suspension front 43mm USD forks, unadjustable Suspension rear Twin shocks, preload adjustable Brakes front Twin-piston calipers, 320mm discs Brakes rear Single-piston, 270mm disc Safety systems ABS Tyre size f-100/90B19, r-140/80B17 Tyre type MRF Nylorex Wheelbase 1460mm Seat height 830mm Rake/trail 26.1° / 117mm Fuel capacity 13.6L Measured weight 214kg Weight distribution f-103kg / r-111kg
NDTV
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Royal Enfield Fuel Fury 650 Is a Custom, Rally-Spec Bear 650
Royal Enfield Bear 650 created a lot of buzz at the time of its launch. A bit of this was carried forward even after the launch of the scrambler. However, some folks believed that the bike was not quiet enough when it came to hardcore off-roading. Resolving all such complaints, the enthusiasts at Barcelona-based Fuel Motorcycles created the Royal Enfield Fuel Fury 650, a custom scrambler using the Bear 650 as a base. What's even more interesting is, the bike pays tribute to Eddie Mulder, the iconic champion of the 1960 Big Bear Run. In terms of appearance, the Fuel Fury maintains the modern appeal of the Bear 650 with elements resembling the Fury 500 from the '60s. Commanding most attention is the dual-LED headlight surrounded by a metallic frame. Additionally, the front fender is now higher, the shape of the single-piece seat is changed, and the tail section is now narrower. All of this is complemented by a bright paint scheme. The side panel of the bike has "Big Bear Run" text on it with "249" number, while the tank has "In Gut We Trust" written on it. To enhance the off-road aesthetics and add more functionality to the mix, the brand has added elements like an upswept free-flow exhaust, skid plate, handguards, rally pegs, and tank grips to the original tank. The custom-made foam seat is wrapped in waterproof Alcantara with red stitching. There is also a new suspension setup with full adjustability, with gas canisters at the rear end. The combination of 19- and 17-inch wheels has been updated to include 21-inch front and 17-inch rear tubeless cross-spoke wheels, which come equipped with Mitas off-road tyres. The electrical connections have been repositioned in the front, and a rally-inspired command center is prominently situated in the cockpit, featuring a built-in navigation system equipped with GPS roadbook, odometer, tachometer, speedometer, and rally controls. Additionally, the Fury 650 includes a motogadget unit for crucial data display. At its core, the bike has the same 648 cc parallel-twin engine pushing out 46 hp of power and 56 Nm of peak torque. This powertrain has been employed on other bikes of the brand as well, like the Interceptor 650, Continental GT 650, and others.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Royal Enfield hits record high with 2.8 lakh quarterly sales, crosses 1 million units in FY25
Royal Enfield has posted its highest-ever quarterly sales, clocking 2,80,801 units in Q4 FY25, a 23.2% growth over the same period last year, parent company Eicher Motors announced on Wednesday. The iconic bike maker crossed the 1 million mark in annual sales for the first time in its history in the year ending FY25, with volumes reaching 1,002,893 units, up 10% year-on-year. Domestic sales stood at 902,757 units (up 8.1%), while exports surged 29.7% to touch 100,136 motorcycles. 'Despite a slow start to the year, we built strong momentum in the second half, launching six new motorcycles, achieving a record festive season and seeing healthy demand across all our products," said B. Govindarajan, MD of Eicher Motors and CEO of Royal Enfield. 'Royal Enfield stood head and shoulders above everyone else to sell one million motorcycles annually, for the first time in its history. What excites me the most is that we have done it all quietly, consistently and with a sense of purpose… I genuinely believe we are just getting started," added Siddhartha Lal, Chairman, Eicher Motors. Live Events In FY25, Royal Enfield launched six new models including the Guerrilla 450, Bear 650, and Classic 650, and made its entry into the EV space by unveiling its dedicated electric brand, Flying Flea, with launches slated for 2026. Eicher Motors reported a 27% year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 1,362 crore for Q4FY25, beating Street estimates of Rs 1,265 crore. The company's highest-ever quarterly revenue from operations stood at Rs 5,241 crore, while EBITDA rose 11.4% YoY to Rs 1,258 crore. Sequentially, profit after tax rose 16% from Rs 1,170 crore in Q3FY25. Total revenue also grew 5.4% from the previous quarter's Rs 4,973 crore. For the full financial year, Eicher Motors' net profit climbed 18% to Rs 4,734 crore, while annual revenue rose 14% to Rs 18,870 crore.
