From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 121 – first published in 2025.
Report and photos: Mat Clancy
Having clocked up over 30,000 km since I collected my new Interceptor from Motociclo in 2022, I was pretty keen to have a ride on the new Royal Enfield Bear 650 – essentially the same bike, but in reality, quite different.
Although sharing the same basic platform, it is, after all, quite a major rethink to adapt the 650 concept to a motorcycle that can play varying roles. That’s not to say that the Bear is an enduro bike, but it is more than happy to get its feet dirty.
Climbing aboard, the Bear feels quite different to my daily ride. The seat is higher at 830mm, the bars taller, and the relationship with the footpegs produces a unique (for me) riding position. It’s geared towards an easy transition between sitting down on the roads and standing up off them. The 19 inch front wheel is a nod to the off-road, along with the slightly increased ground clearance. The Showa upside-down forks, with 130mm travel, and the Showa rear shocks do a very good job both on and off road.
Jumping between tarmac and unsealed terrain will always have one major drawback in that the tyre pressure required for road riding will always be too hard for dirt. Unless you feel like packing a pump and a tyre pressure gauge, you’ll have to live with that, but it’s certainly not unique to the Bear. The standard issue India-made MRF Nylorex tyres seem to handle everything pretty well, and the now familiar (Indian-made Brembo) Bybre brakes (a single 320mm at the front and a 270mm rear) are well up to the job. The rear ABS can be switched off to better suit dirt riding.
However it was the power delivery that I felt most difference to the Interceptor. The official figure shows an 8 per cent increase in torque (up to 56.5NM), and you can really notice the beefier mid range. Officially, part of this comes from the new two-into-one exhaust system, but I suspect the engine mapping has been tweaked a tad as well. That more flexible engine means less gear changes, and the slightly lower overall gearing enhances acceleration.
Being LAMS legal, the Bear opens up the possibilities of new riders being able to enjoy a wider sphere of motorcycling – commuting, off-road, and leisure cruising and touring. Creature comforts include a USB port for charging phones and other gadgets, a fairly basic but all-you-need full colour TFT instrument (replacing the analogue/LCD item on the other 650s in the range), and navigation through the downloadable app on your smartphone. Also new for a 650 is full LED lighting.
As always, there is a variety of colour schemes available, including one bearing the number 249, which was worn by 16-year old Eddie Mulder when he thrashed about a thousand others to win the 1960 Big Bear Desert Race riding a single-cylinder Royal Enfield.
To sum up, what appear to be two almost identical bikes are anything but; one a practical commuter/handy tourer, the other slanted more towards fun riding thanks to its dual-purpose nature. The Bear’s riding position is more upright and forward, which is ideal for tackling trails, but not so suited to the constant wind blast of open roads, which is where I spent most of my time behind the handlebars. But at first opportunity I took off into the bush and spent a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon crossing creeks and tearing up and down hills. There’s only one solution – I need one of each. Hey, Royal Enfield…?
Specifications: Royal Enfield Bear 650
Engine: Air/oil cooled SOHC 8-valve parallel twin.
Bore x stroke: 78mm x 67.8mm
Capacity: 648cc
Comp ratio: 9.5:1
Fuelling: Electronic fuel injection.
Power: 47hp at 7,150rpm
Torque: 56.6Nm at 5,150 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed, wet clutch, chain final drive.
Frame: Tubular steel double cradle
Front suspension: 43mm USD forks, 130mm travel.
Rear suspension: Twin shock, adjustable preload, 115mm travel.
Front brakes: Single 320mm disc with twin-piston caliper.
Rear brakes: Single 270mm disc with single-piston caliper.
Tyres: 100/90-19 front, 140/80-17 rear
Wet weight: 214kg
Seat height: 830mm
Wheelbase: 1460mm
Fuel capacity: 13.7 litres
Price: From $11,790.00 ride away
For more info visit: https://royalenfield.com.au/model/bear-650/
