Living with the Royal Enfield Bear 650: The Good, The Bad, and The Bumpy

The Royal Enfield Bear 650 is one towering and muscular beast that practically demands road attention. It doesn’t just enter a lane, it owns it. Royal Enfield calls it a scrambler, but we took it out for a spin to see if it could actually scramble anything on and off the tarmac. 

This motorcycle comes with a set of unique quirks that some might absolutely love, while others may need a few extra rides to warm up to. Quite similar to your first sip of black coffee, it’s strong and bold. From its rugged design to its no-nonsense ride, the Bear 650 has character, but let’s just say it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. 

There’s a lot to love, but also some parts that might take getting used to. This may sound a bit like the slow and painful process of you slowly beginning to appreciate a new workout routine, even though you’re sore for the next a couple of days. 

Royal Enfield Bear 650 Ergonomics: It’s different

The first thing you’ll notice about the Bear 650 is its tall 830mm seat height. You actually feel like you’re sitting on top of a mountain, gazing down on mere mortals (we mean other bikes). At 5 feet 9 inches, I couldn’t quite manage to get both feet flat on the ground, but I never felt like I was about to topple over. The Bear 650 feels surprisingly well-balanced, so you’re not left doing the balancing act.

As for the riding position, it’s a bit of a quirky hybrid. It’s not your typical scrambler stance or the laid-back roadster vibe. The foot pegs are positioned pretty straight, but the wide handlebars have you leaning forward more than you’d expect. It feels a little off at first, but after a few rides, you’ll be striking your Bear 650 pose like a pro.

Royal Enfield Bear 650 Ride Experience: Con

The Royal Enfield Bear 650 may not take corners like a ballet dancer but it remains rock steady. Keeping in mind that it is 216 kg, it’s not exactly nimble, but it is 2 kg lighter than its sibling, the Interceptor 650. That’s what happens when you swap twin mufflers for a single exhaust.

Built on the Interceptor’s frame but with a chassis so robust it could probably double as a bridge, the Bear 650 plants itself on the tarmac. Unfortunately, there’s the catch, the ride quality is firm. Calling it a medieval cart would be unfair, but the 19-inch front and 17-inch rear tyres offer hardly any cushioning bumps and spine busting experience from every pothole on the road.  

There’s a simple cheat code to encounter a crater in the road. Stand on the foot pegs or prepared to get body slammed. The bike has a ground clearance of 184 mm, you might as well use it. The Bear 650 is equipped with upside-down forks, a first for Royal Enfield’s 650s. 

Royal Enfield Bear 650 Performance: Pro

Underneath that burly exterior lies the same 648cc twin-cylinder engine, now juiced up with 56.5 Nm of torque, enough to tow your ego uphill. With 47 horsepower, it’s not exactly a cheetah on Red Bull, but compared to its 650cc siblings, the Bear 650 is the over-caffeinated cousin who insists on leading the group ride. Twist the throttle, and it lunges forward and the loud exhaust note compliments its nature.   

The 6-speed gearbox is your new best friend. It’s so chill, you can practically cruise in top gear without frantically gear-fidgeting.  Royal Enfield has upgraded the brakes and the 320 mm front disc and the 270 mm rear disc bites like a hungry seagull going after fries. In stop-start traffic, the clutch feels like a workout as it feels heavy.  

Royal Enfield Bear 650: Verdict

The Bear 650 is tall, tough, and built like it just stepped out of a lumberjack competition. At a solid 216 kg, it’s less off-road adventurer and more a tarmac titan that commands attention. If you’re planning to venture off the beaten path, you might want to swap the stock tyres. We’re still waiting for tubeless tyres like we’re waiting for the next season of that cancelled Netflix show we can’t stop thinking about.

On the tech front, the Bear’s got some tricks up its sleeve like the 4-inch digital display runs Google Maps, there’s a USB port to charge your devices, and adjustable levers for that extra bit of personalisation. As for the ride, it’s firm, very firm, and crashes into potholes like a bulldozer. Despite all that, the Bear 650 has a road presence that makes every other bike look like it’s just trying to keep up.