EXCLUSIVE: New Royal Enfield Shotgun Incoming. What Is It Going To Be?

We are already privy to the names of upcoming Royal Enfield motorcycles: Hunter, Roadster, Sherpa and Flying Flea, although the last is likely scrapped (here’s why). A new name has now been added to this list and we think it could be perfect for one of its new 650cc bikes -- Shotgun. Sounds cool, right? Royal Enfield Shotgun 650. The name hints at a bobber sort of a motorcycle, but it might just be something a bit more traditional.

So far, we have seen two new 650cc REs on test. One of them is an out-and-out cruiser motorcycle, which we believe is going to be called the Roadster 650. This motorcycle could entice cruiser enthusiasts who have grown up idolising Harley-Davidsons. With the Street 750 no longer in the picture, this ‘Roadster 650’ cruiser is likely to capitalise on the vacancy.

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What about the Shotgun, then? The second of the two 650cc bikes spotted was a bit more familiar to what we have seen from Royal Enfield over the years. It’s got upright riding ergos, no windshield, and blacked-out twin peashooter exhausts. It would be befitting for Royal Enfield to name its 650cc motorcycles after a gun, just like it has done with the 350s, aka the Bullet 350.

Also, one must remember the way RE went about making the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650. While the former is an easy-going British twin on which one can enjoy long hours in the saddle, provided you get these five must-have accessories, the Conti is slightly more sporty and urban centric. But 90 percent of the parts used on these motorcycles are the same. Hence, we think RE might take the same approach with its upcoming 650cc cruisers.

The sound of a new Royal Enfield motorcycle arriving every quarter for the next 6-7 years does sound highly tempting. The announcement was made at the launch of the Meteor 350 last year and since then, we have seen the 2021 versions of the Himalayan, Interceptor 650, and Continental GT 650 landing up in the market. We will, however, have to wait a bit longer for the new J-series 2021 RE Classic 350, due to the current COVID-19 climate in India. With the above in mind, we think the earliest we may get to see the Shotgun 650 or even the Roadster 650 will be early-2022. Expect the Shotgun 650 to be priced from Rs 3 lakh.