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Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Review (Baujahr 2024)

Stylish A2 Bobber for less than €8,000 in review

05.03.2024

Photos: Motorradtest.de

With the stylish Shotgun 650, Royal Enfield is launching an A2 Bobber on the market, which should attract friends of customizing in particular. For well under 8,000 euros you get an in-line twin with a lot of character and a really cool cruiser from series up. Markus and Dietmar had a lot of fun during the test!

Cruiser, bobber or naked bike - or all of the above?

There it is, the new Shotgun 650 in the "Green Drill" paintwork. It reminds us a little of the lines of the late Harley 883 Iron. The shotgun has an idiosyncratic style, but it certainly unfolds its effect - even when stationary. They come in four colors: gray, white, blue, and green. Prices start at 7,590 euros and end at 7,790 euros depending on the color.

But what kind of motorcycle is that? A bobber or just a naked bike? The tires are actually too thin for a bobber and the footrests are not far enough forward, but the riding position is "too relaxed" for a naked bike. So it's something in between, so it's pretty unique. The Honda CMX 500 Rebel and the Benelli 502C come to mind as competitors, but they are much more cruiser than the Shotgun 650.

Graphic: Royal Enfield

Shotgun in white as a two-seater. It's also possible.

Dimensions and seat ergonomics
This impression is reinforced even more during the seat test. The footrests are neither placed in the middle nor particularly far forward. You automatically adopt a slightly bent sitting position, but really only very slightly. To match, there is a solo seat as standard, which is more of a saddle than a bench, as is typical for bobbers. You sit very relaxed and of course there is also a passenger seat as an accessory. The machine is not exactly light, but you can easily get your feet on the ground due to the low seat height of 795 mm.

That's what it's like to sit on the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650.

360 degree tour around the Enfield Shotgun 650.

Technology of the Shotgun 650

Technically, the shotgun is based on the Super Meteor 650, which we have already been able to test. On both sides there is pure motorcycling: no traction control, no riding modes, no assistance systems. Nothing distracts, the gaze remains on the road. The well-known round instrument in the look of a VW Beetle shows the speed in the same way and the LCD panel provides information about the gear engaged and the fuel level, among other things. "That's all it takes," says Markus.

But there is one treat: the turn-by-turn navigation, for which there is a separate, small round instrument in the cockpit. All you have to do is download an app, enter the destination and directional arrows will show you the way. We already know this from other Enfields and here too the system proves to be simple and helpful.

When it comes to lighting, there is a mix of modern and classic. The front and rear lights come in LED technology, the turn signals, on the other hand, house light bulbs. All the lights look classic and we especially liked the styling of the rear with the lamps on the huge metal fender. There is no automatic turn signal reset, but there is a hazard warning system and very nice switches and surrounds made of metal. A feast for the eyes: the bakalite kill switch and the glossy black triple clamp. As always, Royal Enfield proves taste, also in the cockpit.

Soundcheck

The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 has an air/oil-cooled inline twin and for each cylinder there is not only a manifold, but also its own exhaust muffler - yes! Accordingly, the engine is wonderfully nonchalant, it even mucks up a little when accelerating. The volume is neighbor-friendly, but the bassy, sonorous sound is always perceptible. And it fits the character of the bike like a pot on a lid. As always: Soundcheck at the top right.

So, now we've listened enough and finally get the load on the road. Surprise: Despite its weight of 240 kilograms, the Shotgun 650 is not at all sedate. This is certainly also due to the tires, which are quite narrow for a cruiser. A 100/90 tire is mounted at the front (manufacturer: Ceat from India) and a 150/70 tire at the rear. The choice of tyres is very successful, the rubbers harmonise very well with the machine. It would be a bit of an exaggeration to say that the shotgun is a corner-robber, but it is actually very easy to ride, making it an accessible bike suitable for beginners.

Despite the weight of 240 kg, the Shotgun 650 has only a single target at the front. However, with a diameter of 320 mm, it is quite generous. This is even more true for the rear disc: 300 mm on the rear wheel is rarely encountered. Two-piston floating calipers from Bybre work at the front and rear. The bike decelerates in an exemplary manner, but you have to pull the lever a bit at the front if you want or have to brake hard. At the rear, on the other hand, all it takes is a slight push on the brake pedal for the brakes to kick in. If you press a little more, the ABS quickly gets going - no wonder with the size of the lens!

The suspension of the Shotgun 650 is rather firm, without being annoying. A2 bikes are often very soft and sometimes just a tad too soft, as if A2 people would weigh less than yours truly, for example. Regardless, everything is fine here at the Royal Enfield.

Brakes: Front 320 single disc with 2-piston floating caliper from Bybre. Almost identical at the back!

We already know the air-cooled engine of the shotgun from the Interceptor, the Continental and the Super Meteor 650. It feels the same here as it does on its three sister models: Of course, 47 hp doesn't make your arms long, but that doesn't matter! The engine is lively, revs up fun and just fits this bike 100 percent. Who wants to race a bobber? We'd rather be happy about the typical character of an air-cooled twin and the sound that goes with it. The 6-speed gearbox shifts precisely and is equipped with very short shift travel. We already know this from the other 650s from India. I am good!

With the 13.8 liter tank and a consumption of a measly 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers, this results in a range of just over 300 km. Not a world record, but who cares? The typical Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 rider will often take a coffee break anyway, rummage around the bike and enjoy the beauty of his vehicle.

Royal Enfield offers a three-year warranty on the Shotgun 650. The normal service is due every 10,000 kilometers. We have selected the Honda CMX 500, the new Kawasaki Eliminator 500 and the Benelli 502C as competitors. We also have one wish for Royal Enfield: spoked wheels, please!

Result

The new Shotgun 650 is a stylish bobber for a leisurely after-work session. But it is not only beautiful, but also well made. It is easy to ride and suitable for every type of rider: beginners, experts, returners, downsizers. We are already looking forward to the custom bike versions of the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 that will surely follow soon, although it already looks crisp in series production - especially as a solo seater, of course! Overall a great bike, it will surely make a lot of friends.

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