Before I wrote this review of the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 2024, I wrote in previous issues of driver Magazine to find some of our favorite ads from the last 50 years, published in the Rider Rewind section of our September issue (exclusive to subscribers). One that caught my eye was a Royal Enfield ad that appeared in our September 2003 issue, announcing the addition of an electric starter to the legendary Bullet.
Related: Life with an “iron barrel” Royal Enfield Bullet 500
Announcing “What’s next… Astroturf at Wimbledon?” the ad was certainly cheeky – as was an advert that had run a few years earlier celebrating living in the past. Nevertheless, it aptly described the company that built its first motorcycle in 1901, existed in Britain for more than half a century and eventually became an Indian manufacturer based in Chennai with 123 years of continuous motorcycle production behind it.
By the time these ads were released, change was already underway. Under the leadership 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 he succeeded him in 2006), the company began a steady march towards modernization. Siddartha Lal is a motorcycle enthusiast and wanted to transform Royal Enfield from an antiquated niche brand into a global player.
In 2009, Royal Enfield introduced a 499cc, all-aluminium, fuel-injected OHV single-cylinder, replacing the decades-old cast-iron carburetor engine. In 2014, Royal Enfield introduced the Continental GT Cafe Racer, developed in collaboration with Harris Performance (which was later acquired by RE).
Royal Enfield stepped up its game when it introduced the Himalayan adventure bike in 2016 (it made its U.S. debut in 2018) and launched its first twin-cylinder motorcycles, the Continental GT 650 and INT650, in 2019.
After a brief pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, more new models followed: the Meteor 350 in 2021; the Classic 350 in 2022; the Scram 411 Scrambler, Super Meteor 650 Cruiser and Hunter 350 Roadster in 2023; the updated and liquid-cooled Himalayan and Shotgun 650 in 2024; and the Guerilla 450 Roadster, recently announced for the 2025 model year. That’s six new models in the last four years, and another on the way.
All Royal Enfield motorcycles are built in an ISO 9001 certified manufacturing facility and come with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty with roadside assistance.
The focus of this review is the Shotgun 650, a modular cruiser that Royal Enfield says is inspired by and ready for customization. A range of color options and accessories allow owners to customize the bike to suit their personal preferences. In standard trim, it’s a stylish solo-seat cruiser, but with a few add-on parts, it can be converted to make room for a pillion passenger or turn into a lightweight tourer.
As the name suggests, the Shotgun 650 is based on the same 648cc air/oil-cooled inline twin platform as the INT650, Continental GT 650 and Super Meteor 650. The twin is styled in classic British style, with large cooling fins and hand-polished aluminum covers. A single overhead camshaft operates four valves per cylinder, and a one-piece forged balanced crankshaft with a 270-degree firing interval allows the engine to rev smoothly and produce a soft, rumbling exhaust note.
The engine was designed as a global model, with plans to use it outside its native India. It has a moderate compression ratio of 9.5:1, burns regular fuel and uses Bosch systems for fuel injection and engine management. With an output of 46.4 hp at 7,250 rpm (rev limit at 7,500) and 46.5 Nm of torque at 5,650 rpm, performance is more that of a workhorse than a thoroughbred.
For our test ride of the Shotgun 650, Royal Enfield invited us to a gathering at the Motoring Club, an upscale Los Angeles cafe that caters to car and motorcycle enthusiasts. Alongside the Shotgun 650, updated versions of the INT650 and Continental GT 650 were on display.
GET EQUIPPED | Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 2024 Review
I chose a Shotgun 650 in Stencil White, a $200 upgrade over the standard Sheet Metal Gray model. The floating solo seat sits a comfortable 32 inches off the ground and is firm and supportive, but doesn’t give the rider much elbow room. Built around a stout tubular steel frame, the Shotgun 650 is rated to weigh 529 pounds with 90 percent fuel, which is heavy for a bike in this class (the Kawasaki Vulcan S, a comparable 650cc cruiser, weighs 494 pounds).
But on the road, the Shotgun doesn’t feel heavy, and its upright riding position, mid-mounted footpegs and compact dimensions give it a playful feel. It glides comfortably over LA’s bumpy concrete freeways, with all but the worst bumps absorbed by the non-adjustable Showa Separate Function Big Piston inverted fork with 4.7 inches of travel and the Showa dual shocks with 3.5 inches of travel and five-position preload adjustment.
The Shotgun 650 rolls on tubeless cast aluminum wheels, 18 inches up front and 17 inches at the rear. Each wheel has a single disc brake with a 2-piston caliper, a 320 mm disc up front and a 300 mm disc at the rear. ABS is standard. The brakes do their job, but the front lever requires firm pressure and doesn’t offer much feedback.
On the canyon roads through the Malibu Hills, the Shotgun was a real blast (ha!). It handles easily and feels solid and reassuring. Cornering clearance is limited, but this is not a bike designed for whizzing around apexes. Taking wide, gliding lines through corners rewards the rider with a feeling of comfortable ease. The definition of cruise is to “ride quietly at moderate or economical speeds,” and that’s the kind of riding where the Shotgun excels.
Up front, there’s an LED headlight, a large round analogue gauge with digital insert, a small round display for the Tripper navigation system and a USB charging port. If you want to customise the Shotgun, Royal Enfield offers more than 30 special accessories, including everything from auxiliary lights, bar-end mirrors and a windscreen to flatter handlebars, a pillion seat, contrast colour billet wheels, two different skid plates, four types of highway bars and luggage.
The Shotgun 650 is a worthy addition to Royal Enfield’s unique and diverse range of motorcycles aimed at those who value style, functionality and value above all else. They are straightforward, no-frills motorcycles that capture the true spirit of riding without pretense.
Specifications | Royal Enfield Shotgun Review 2024
- Base price: $6,899 (Tin Grey)
- Price in test: $7,099 (Stencil White)
- Website: RoyalEnfield.com
- Guarantee: 3 years, unlimited miles with roadside assistance
- Engine type: Air/oil cooled, transversely mounted parallel twin, SOHC with 4 valves per cylinder.
- Shift: 648 cc
- Bore x stroke: 78.0×67.8mm
- Perfomance: 46.4 at 7,250 rpm (factory specification)
- Torque: 38.6 lb-ft at 5,650 rpm (factory specification)
- Transmission: 6-speed, cable-operated slip/assist wet clutch
- Final drive: Chain
- Wheelbase: 57.7in.
- Slope/track: 25.3 degrees/4.0 inches.
- Seat height: 31.3in.
- Wet weight: 529 lb (90% fuel, factory specification)
- Tank capacity: 3.6 gallons.
