Royal Enfield is venturing into the heart of the American motorcycle segment, aiming straight for the core of the value-conscious middleweight cruiser market with its 2024 Shotgun 650 ($6,899). This fills a void left by iconic American motorcycle giants like Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle, with only American Honda offering an affordable entry in this space (read the 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Review With Riding Videos for Buyers article). With a strategy reminiscent of Honda’s impressive Rebel 500, Royal Enfield adds its own English styling to the mix. Here are the top five features that we like about riding this Indian-made cruiser on the street.
- This 648cc parallel twin—this twin has some pep in its step and it sounds awesome.
- This motorcycle is crazy agile for a 540-pound streetbike. It also has favorable handling in the twisties too.
- We love the styling. Plus the fit and finish and attention to detail on these Royal Enfields are head and shoulders above what it was 10 years ago.
- The price. For its $6,899 asking price, the Shotgun 650 represents tremendous value in its class.
- This Shotgun 650, it does it all. It cruises around the street; you can ride in the canyons; it has nice styling, good sound and character, and is a really nice bike for the price.
We’ll see you in the next episode.
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