The 249 Edition Royal Enfield Bear 650 was designed with Eddie Mulder’ s win on an Enfield at the 1960 Big Bear Run as a benchmark style guide. The latest model Bear is named for that town, and the original US launch was meant to be held there in Southern California, however the infernos raging through the state at the time put paid to that. The location failed but the name stuck.
HEAPS OF OPTIONS Royal Enfield out of Chennai has been prolific in recent years, and currently has more than 13 models on offer here in NZ, most around the company’ s 350 and 650 engine configs. In 350 there’ s the Hunter, Classic, Meteor, and Bullet. For the 450 there’ s the Guerilla and the Himalayan, plus the 410 Scram. In the 650 twin-cylinder lineup you’ ve got the Interceptor, Continental GT, Super Meteor, Shotgun and Bear, with a 750 Himalayan, a 450 scrambler and the Flying Flea( electric) expected in 2026. Royal Enfield has been making serious inroads in NZ for some years now and the parent company Eicher Motors Ltd, EML, has some
formidable contracts with quality motoring entities, such as Volvo. It’ s pretty clear the company is here to stay and the value of its offerings continues to rise.
RIDING I popped down to pick up the test bike from the cheerful folk at Experience Motorcycles in Kingsland, and was told that a customer had so liked the look of the Bear that he had taken it for a test run, and was due back shortly. When he arrived the man was effusive, and I had to get him to stop talking, as I wanted to form my own opinions about the bike without prejudice or favour … The first thing that struck me was the easy position aboard, and in seconds I was away, swinging left uphill, completely at home. I’ ve always been a sucker for wide bars and a classic 70s riding position; upright, feet under, and with almost straight arms. The only niggle on the quick blat home, was the gear lever, which has an unnecessary double up / down lever that interfered with toe changes. I became used to it, but still didn’ t like it.
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