Royal Enfield has taken the wise step of flipping its Tremendous Meteor 650 retro cruiser and turning it right into a younger and presumably simpler to promote (within the UK anyway) mini-performance cruiser. Ryan Moloney studies:
Regardless of beginning out life as a Tremendous Meteor 650, there’s extra happening than first meets the attention. Probably the most notable change is the stance of the bike, and to attain this Royal Enfield’s engineers have lowered the entrance and raised the again, with the Shotgun operating 43mm Showa forks which can be 33mm shorter than these discovered on its sibling. To assist jack up the again and put extra weight on the nostril, the rear twin shocks are 20mm longer than these on the Tremendous Meteor. Due to these modifications, the bike’s geometry has modified fairly drastically, and it incorporates a shorter wheelbase of 1463mm and a steeper rake of 25.3 levels – the Tremendous Meteor has a extra easy-going 27.6 levels of rake and a wheelbase of 1500mm. The ultimate piece of the geometry puzzle is extra standard and sporty wheel sizes, with an 18-inch entrance and 17-inch rear on the Shotgun, versus a 19/16-inch combo on the Tremendous Meteor.
The center of the bike is just about the identical as discovered on the opposite 650s, which means an air- and oil-cooled SOHC 648cc parallel twin with 4 valves per cylinder. The 270-degree crank engine has efficiency figures that match its stablemate and the opposite 650s, with 46.4hp out there at 7250rpm and 38.6lb-ft of torque at 5650rpm.
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The one different actual change is the load, and the Shotgun ideas the dimensions at 239kg, which remains to be chunky however marginally lighter than the 241kg Tremendous Meteor.
And the way’s the construct? It’s a query that comes up within the UK, mainly with any bike not constructed within the UK (which is bizarre as we hardly construct any bikes) however it’s value mentioning. Royal Enfield has made enormous strides just lately, and whereas it’s not fairly as properly completed as one thing like a contemporary basic from Triumph, all of the coatings, paint finishes, and fixings look very properly put collectively. It’ll take a for much longer and extra strenuous check to see how they deal with a UK winter, although.
To start out this trip we had a few miles of site visitors gentle bingo in Downtown LA, which provides me an hour or so to familiarize yourself with the low-speed dealing with of the bike. First impressions are that it doesn’t really feel like a 240kg bike. The seat is low (795mm), as is the centre of gravity, and it’s responsive sufficient in first and second gear to not really feel sluggish when getting away from the lights. The bumps and lumps round city are a little bit bit jarring, however I discover with all these sporty(ish) cruisers they’re arrange on the agency facet.
I’m, nevertheless, liking the gearbox, which is backed up with a slip/help clutch so the countless gear modifications aren’t but giving me any arm pump. It’s mid-set controls on the Shotgun, however they’re a little bit additional ahead than I’ve discovered on another bikes. That does make the driving place fairly snug, however I’m unsure they’ll final a day of canyon carving within the mountains.
After a mountain-top lunch break, we slip off the freeway and on to the beautiful Angeles Crest Freeway. These are the roads that would make or break this bike. We begin sluggish, as is smart, and begin to carry some extra lean angle and start to really feel out the Ceat hoops. It doesn’t take lengthy to get the factor decked out on each side, and because the velocity rises, each flip is that particular SSKKKRRRTTTTTCH because the hero blobs cry sufficient. Abusing the footpegs I may be, however I’m unable to fluster the little Shotgun. It’s a really candy dealing with little cruiser. The bars kick a bit for those who hit a bump mid-corner, however the remainder of the bike doesn’t appear fazed by it, and it simply tracks the road neatly and carries on unflustered. With 47bhp on faucet, you’ll need to work arduous to go quick, however the Shotgun appears to be up for it, and so long as you don’t thoughts carrying nook velocity and trusting the chassis it’s greater than as much as shaking a tail feather on a twisty B-road.
One other level of observe is the braking system. It’s all ByBre package on the bike, with two-piston calipers entrance and rear; the entrance disc is 320mm and the rear 300mm. The rear brake could be very sharp, nice for round city and for tightening a line in a sooner flip.
The entrance is rather more progressive, however a reasonably heavy squeeze will present a shocking quantity of stopping energy must you want it. The limiting issue would be the tyres although, and I believe most UK house owners will ditch the OEM Ceat tyres inside just a few hundred miles and go for one thing a little bit stickier.
The brand new bike will probably be beginning at £6699 for the bottom mannequin gray bike, rising to £6799 for the Plasma Blue and Inexperienced Drill bikes. The highest-spec bike is the one you may see being ridden right here and that is available in at £6899. To discover a true rival for the Shotgun within the UK market we’ve to look to China (by way of Italy) and the Benelli 502C (£5499) and Japan with the Kawasaki Vulcan S (beginning at £7299). Each are pretty near the Shotgun on specs, and about proper on the value.
To say the Shotgun is a pleasing shock is a little bit of an understatement, because it’s really a really entertaining, great-looking and easy-to-ride bike. There aren’t any modes to fuss with; no IMU to flummox; and simply the naked minimal of ‘toys’ within the type of the Tripper navigation system to maintain it feeling up-to-date. The consolation is okay for a few hours within the saddle, though with a 16-litre gasoline tank, it’s not such as you’ll be planning many huge driving days.
There’s additionally sufficient efficiency on faucet to maintain extra skilled riders entertained, and sufficient tech to maintain the youngsters completely happy. The most effective factor of all although, is it’s a Royal Enfield, and meaning nice worth, and with it beginning at £6699, the little Shotgun 650 actually does really feel like a efficiency cruiser for the plenty.
Oh, and in case you had been questioning, the pegs didn’t final the canyon roads; it may be investing in some spares…
TECH SPEC
Engine: 648cc parallel-twin 270-degree crank, 4 stroke, air-/oil-cooled, SOHC
Energy: 47bhp @ 7250rpm
Torque: 38lb-ft @ 5250rpm
Transmission: 6-speed
Body: Metal, twin-spar tubular body
Suspension: (F) 43mm Showa USD with 119mm journey (R) Twin-shock with 88mm journey
Brakes: (F) Single 320mm disc, two-piston caliper (R) Single 300 disc, one piston caliper
Wheels: (F) 100/90-18 (Tubeless) (R) 150/70-17 (Tubeless)
Gas tank: 13.8 litres
Seat top: 795mm
Weight: 239kg (moist)
Contact: www.royalenfield.com
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