Before writing this review of the 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650, I went through the previous issues of Driver magazine to identify some of our favorite ads from the past 50 years, published in the Rider Rewind section of our September issue (for subscribers only).One of the things that caught my attention was a Royal Enfield advertisement that ran in the September 2003 issue, announcing the addition of an electric starter to its iconic Bullet model.
Related: Living with the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 ‘Iron Barrel’
The ad, which proclaims “What’s next… Astro Turf at Wimbledon?”, is certainly a bold one – like another ad aired a few years earlier that celebrated life in the past – but it accurately describes the company that built its first motorcycle in 1901, existed in the UK for over half a century, and eventually became the Chennai-based Indian motorcycle manufacturer that has been producing motorcycles for 123 years straight.
By the time those ads were released, change was already underway. Under the guidance of Siddartha Lal, who became CEO of Royal Enfield in 2000 at the age of 26 (he is the son of Vikram Lal, who was CEO of Eicher Motors, Royal Enfield’s parent company, until Siddartha succeeded him in 2006), the company had embarked on a steady journey toward modernization. Siddartha Lal was a motorcycle enthusiast, and he wanted to transform Royal Enfield from a niche, old-fashioned brand into a global player.
In 2009, Royal Enfield introduced a 499cc, single-cylinder, fuel-injected, aluminium OHV engine, replacing the decades-old cast-iron carbureted engine. In 2014, Royal Enfield introduced the Continental GT Cafe Racerdeveloped with the assistance of Harris Performance (which RE later acquired).
Royal Enfield put it into high gear when it introduced the Himalayan adventure motorcycle in 2016 (it made Launched in the US in 2018) and the company’s first two-cylinder motorcycles, Continental GT 650 and INT650in 2019.
After a brief pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, many new models have emerged: Meteorite 350 in 2021; Classic 350 in 2022; Escape 411 mixer, Super Meteor 650 cruiser, and Hunter 350 Convertible in 2023; updates and Himalayan liquid cooled and Shotgun 650 by 2024; and Guerrilla 450 roadster recently announced its models for 2025. That’s six new models in the past four years, plus another on the way.
All Royal Enfield motorcycles are manufactured in ISO 9001 certified manufacturing facilities and come with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, including roadside assistance.
The Shotgun 650, the focus of this review, is a modular cruiser that Royal Enfield says is inspired by – and ready for – customisation. A range of colours and accessories allow owners to personalise the bike to their own taste. In stock form, it’s a stylish single-seater cruiser, but with a few bolt-ons it can be converted to carry an extra person or become a light touring machine.
As its name suggests, the Shotgun 650 is built on the same 648cc air/oil-cooled parallel-twin engine platform as the INT650, Continental GT 650 and Super Meteor 650. Designed in classic British style, the Twin features large cooling fins and hand-polished aluminum covers. A single overhead cam actuates four valves per cylinder, and a one-piece forged counterbalanced crankshaft with a 270-degree firing range allows for smooth acceleration and a soft, rumbling exhaust note.
Built to be a global model that would be used outside of India, the engine has a light 9.5:1 compression ratio, burns conventional fuel, and relies on a Bosch system for fuel injection and engine management. With a claimed output of 46.4 horsepower at 7,250 rpm (redline at 7,500) and 38.6 lb-ft of torque at 5,650 rpm, the performance is more workhorse than thoroughbred.
For our Shotgun 650 test ride, Royal Enfield invited us to meet at Car Cluban upscale Los Angeles cafe that caters to car and motorcycle enthusiasts. On display alongside the Shotgun 650 is Updated versions of the INT650 and Continental GT 650.
GEAR UP | Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 2024 Review
I opted for the Shotgun 650 in Stencil White, a $200 upgrade over the standard Sheet Metal Gray. The floating solo seat sits at a comfortable 31.3 inches off the ground, firm and supportive but not allowing for much movement. Built around a sturdy tubular steel backbone frame, the Shotgun 650 is claimed to weigh 529 pounds with a 90 percent fuel load, which is pretty hefty for a bike in this segment (the Kawasaki Vulcan S, a comparable 650cc cruiser, weighs 494 pounds).
But on the road, the Shotgun is anything but heavy, and its upright riding position, mid-set footpegs, and compact dimensions give it a playful feel. It glides comfortably over LA’s rough concrete freeways, with all the worst bumps absorbed by the non-adjustable Showa Separate Function-Big Piston inverted forks with 4.7 inches of travel and Showa twin shocks with 3.5 inches of travel and five-step preload adjustability.
The Shotgun 650 rolls on cast aluminum tubeless wheels, with an 18-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear. Each wheel gets a single disc brake with a two-piston caliper, the front one gripping a 320mm rotor and the rear one gripping a 300mm rotor, and ABS is standard. The brakes get the job done, but the front lever needs to be pressed hard and doesn’t give much feedback.
On the canyon roads through the Malibu hills, the Shotgun was great (ha!). It was easy to handle and felt solid and secure. Cornering clearance is limited, but this is not a bike for tackling steep climbs. It took wide, smooth curves and felt easy and comfortable. The definition of yacht is “smooth cruising at moderate or economical speeds”, and that’s the type of driving the Shotgun does best.
Up front is an LED headlight, a large round analog gauge with digital readout, a small round display for the Tripper navigation system, and a USB charging port. If you want to customize the Shotgun, Royal Enfield offers more than 30 dedicated accessories, including everything from auxiliary lights, mirrors, and windshields to flatter handlebars, a passenger seat, contrasting cutout wheels, two different skid plates, four types of highway bars, and luggage.
The Shotgun 650 is a worthy addition to the unique and diverse Royal Enfield motorcycle range for those who value style, function and value. These are simple, no-frills motorcycles that capture the true spirit of riding without pretense.
Specifications | Royal Enfield Shotgun 2024 Review
- Basic price: $6,899 (Gray Metal)
- Tested price: $7,099 (Stencil White)
- Website: RoyalEnfield.com
- Guarantee: 3 years, unlimited miles with roadside assistance
- Engine Type: Air/oil cooled, horizontally opposed parallel twin, SOHC with 4 valves per cylinder.
- Displacement: 648cc
- Diameter x Piston Stroke: 78.0 x 67.8mm
- Horsepower: 46.4 @ 7,250 rpm (as announced by the factory)
- Torque: 38.6 lb-ft @ 5,650 rpm (factory claimed)
- Transmission process: 6-speed wet assist/slipper clutch, cable-actuated
- Final Drive: Chain
- Wheelbase: 57.7 inches
- Scratch/Trail: 25.3 deg/4.0 in.
- Seat height: 31.3 in
- Wet weight: 529 lb (90% fuel, factory stated)
- Fuel capacity: 3.6 gallons
