The SG650 concept shown here looks strikingly like the spy shots of Royal Enfield cruisers coming out of India. (Royal Enfield/)
Royal Enfield has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last few years, evolving from an archaic also-ran to a market leader. The Indian firm seeks to cement that position in 2023 by launching a range of cruiser models inspired by last year’s SG650 concept.
For months now, prototype Enfield cruisers displaying a variety of styles from tourers to bobbers have been spotted on test in India. Some members of the public have been able to record videos of the bikes and post them to YouTube. All share the same 650cc parallel twin engine mounted in a twin-shock chassis, and closely mirror the design of the SG650 concept. When the SG650 was released late last year, the firm said it showed “what the Royal Enfields of the future could look like.” It seems that future is very nearly upon us.
Expect all cruisers to use RE’s flexible 47 horsepower parallel twin; frame seen in spy shots was extremely close to this concept’s. (Royal Enfield/)
All prototypes feature the familiar 648cc parallel twin used in the INT (Interceptor outside of the US) and Continental, where it clocks in for 47 hp and 38 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers aren’t likely to change much for the cruisers: it’s a simple engine, with two valves per cylinder operated by a single overhead camshaft, and its power level perfectly aligns with European license rules that limit less experienced riders to no more than 47 hp.
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The frame used on the new cruisers is more like that of RE’s Classic 350 or Meteor. It’s a perfect match for the chassis that appeared in the SG650 concept. Like other recent Royal Enfields, the SG650 was developed at the company’s UK R&D facility under the watchful eye of design and product planning chief Mark Wells, and the frame is sure to have been penned by the experts at Harris Performance, which was bought by RE in 2020.
Spied versions of the upcoming cruiser have suggested several potential models. At least three variants have been spotted: a touring model, with upside-down forks and alloy wheels; a more traditional cruiser, with wire wheels and right-way-up forks; and a bobber version with shortened fenders, USD forks and alloy wheels. There have been sightings of accesszorized versions with tall screens, luggage and pillion backrests as well as stripped-down single seaters that closely resemble the SG650 bobber concept.
Several potential names have been suggested. “Super Meteor” has been widely used, reflecting the base version’s visual similarity to the existing single-cylinder Meteor. Other titles include ‘“Roadster,” a name trademarked by Enfield’s parent company, Eicher Motors, last year. The title “Shotgun” was also the subject of multiple trademarks dating back to early 2021, and one that’s clearly hinted at by the “SG650″ name used on last year’s concept bike.
Just as the INT650 essentially acts as a cut-price alternative to classics like Triumph’s Bonneville and the Continental appeals to customers who might aspire to a Triumph Thruxton, the new cruisers appear to be an ideal stepping stone for riders looking for low-cost, low-power equivalents of the Bonneville Speedmaster and Bonneville Bobber. It’s a market that Triumph itself has identified; it’s working on a range of single-cylinder machines, essentially using half a Bonneville 1200 engine, to plug that gap in its range.
All indications are that the new Royal Enfield twins will be ready for launch towards the end of this year. Like other recent RE models, they’re expected to have a stripped-back appeal, so don’t expect TFT screens, high-powered multimedia systems and layers of menus to navigate. That said, the bikes will likely feature useful nuggets of technology, like the Tripper navigation system already used on several of the company’s bikes.
