2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Debuts

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Royal Enfield officially released its 2024 Shotgun 650 cruiser at a global launch this week. (Royal Enfield/)

After receiving near-instantaneous praise and loads of positive feedback on the SG650 concept bike unveiled at EICMA in 2021, Royal Enfield has taken the next logical step with the debut of the production Shotgun 650. At the bike’s global launch held at the Bike Shed Moto Co. in Los Angeles, we got a closer look at the Shotgun 650′s positioning, specs, and a host of other details. We know the Shotgun is based on Enfield’s globally proven 650 twin platform, and also shares the frame, gearbox, and brakes with the Super Meteor, but after that, things diverge.

The new cruiser adopts a custom vibe but also a more aggressive stance with a shorter front fork (still inverted), tighter rake and shorter wheelbase. Here’s the Green Drill color. (Royal Enfield/)

As on the INT650, Continental GT, and Super Meteor, the Shotgun’s mill is an air/oil-cooled SOHC 648cc parallel twin with four valves per cylinder and a counterbalanced crankshaft with a 270-degree firing interval. The power and output figures are similar to the other 650s as well, with a claimed 46.4 hp at 7,250 rpm and 38.6 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,650 rpm.

It’s all mated to a familiar six-speed gearbox, but that’s where the similarities end. The Shotgun gets different ergonomics, revised suspension and fresh bodywork, with other key differences reflected in wheel sizes; you get an 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel on the Shotgun, as opposed to a 19/16 combo on the Super Meteor.

The chassis, likewise, isn’t a million miles apart, with a stout 43mm inverted Showa fork connecting to a tube steel frame and exposed twin shocks at the rear, though the design team changed the Shotgun’s stance by dropping the front end and raising the rear. In real terms, that means the fork is 33mm shorter (though it has the same Separate Function Big Piston internals) and the rear shocks have 20mm more travel.

Mid-mount controls also appear on the Shotgun. All those tweaks result in a shorter wheelbase on the new bike, at 57.6 inches; a tighter rake, at 25.3 degrees; a taller seat, at 31.1 inches; and an ever-so-slightly lighter curb weight, at 529 pounds (with 90 percent of fuel and oil), though that’s probably due to the Shotgun’s smaller fuel tank.

The Shotgun 650 in Sheetmetal Grey. Wheel sizes are 18 inches front and 17 rear. (Royal Enfield/)

Braking-wise, the setup is the same as the Super Meteor’s with two-pot ByBre calipers front and rear and the same 320mm disc front/300mm disc rear, with ABS and braided stainless steel lines standard. The instruments and electrics all look to be shared with the Super Meteor as well, with an LED headlamp fitted in a stunning aluminum nacelle, and a digital-analog combo instrument cluster on the other side of the handlebar. That cluster includes the same Tripper navigation system, but the Shotgun 650 also tags on the just launched newly Royal Enfield Wingman in-app feature, which keeps riders updated on the motorcycle’s live location, fuel and engine oil levels, service reminders, and more. As with the Super Meteor, there’s also a USB charging port to keep your devices charged.

Custom cues include blacked-out engine components, chopped fenders, and a smaller tank. This is the Plasma Blue color option. (Royal Enfield/)

At the reveal, Enfield was keen to underline the Shotgun’s custom-inspired styling, attitude, and the host of custom possibilities the bike is intended to encourage. The retro-futuristic design is clearly lifted from the SG650 concept, with more refinement for the production model (no hub wheels, alas), and according to Royal Enfield, is meant to  “act as a blank canvas for customization and personalization.”

Mark Wells, chief of design, expanded on that theme, saying, “Our customers have been taking our motorcycles and personalizing them for decades. Looking to that rich creative culture for inspiration…the resulting design is both fresh and respectful of our heritage and a future vision of what a custom Royal Enfield could look like years down the road.”

The Shotgun’s neo-modern aluminum nacelle holds an LED headlight. (Royal Enfield/)

That’s pretty clear, given the Shotgun’s minimal aesthetic and custom-influenced cues with chopped fenders, harder edges, and mostly blacked-out theme. In fact, we couldn’t find a drop of chrome anywhere, not even on the gorgeous custom-looking, neo-modern nacelle (which we think would have benefited from a bit of shine).

Word is that after the EICMA concept reveal, all kinds of requests came in from customizers interested in the model, and to its credit, Royal Enfield showcased some of the better-known examples at the reveal. We spied some very slick customized Shotguns from the likes of Roland Sands and Winston Yeh, with no two bikes looking remotely alike, even though the only real differences between them was in the bodywork treatment.

A better view of the Shotgun’s solo-seat configuration, wider bars, mid-mount controls, and differently shaped fuel tank. (Royal Enfield/)

One of the more clever design elements on the Shotgun is the removable subframe, which holds the passenger pillion. With the twist of a key, that rear pad can be popped off, revealing the solo seat look shown in most of these photos. The rear section can be easily modified too with the addition of a rack to the rear frame, plus the rear subframe is removable via four bolts, making for a convenient and versatile accessory.

The Shotgun’s 31.3-inch-tall rear seat can be removed with the twist of a key. The subframe underneath can also be swapped out by removing four bolts. (Royal Enfield/)

The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 will be available in four unique colorways: Stencil White, Plasma Blue, Green Drill, and Sheetmetal Grey, and the company says it will be launched across global markets early next year. At that point we’ll also get pricing information and be able to offer a first ride review.

The Shotgun’s exposed Showa shocks are 20mm taller than the Super Meteor’s. This is the Stencil White color scheme. (Royal Enfield/)
Enfield is also releasing over 300 accessories for the Shotgun 650, including bar-end mirrors, different solo seats, and contrast-cut billet rims to name a few. (Royal Enfield/)

2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun Technical Specifications and Price

MSRP:	N/A
Engine:	648cc, SOHC, air/oil-cooled parallel twin
Bore x Stroke:	78.0 x 67.8mm
Compression Ratio:	9.5:1
Fuel Delivery:	EFI
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate
Transmission/Final Drive:	6-speed/chain
Claimed Horsepower:	47 hp @ 7,250 rpm
Frame:	Tubular steel
Front Suspension:	43mm inverted fork; 4.7 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	Dual exposed shocks, spring preload adjustable; 3.5 in. travel
Front Brake:	2- piston floating caliper, 320mm disc (w/ ABS)
Rear Brake:	2-piston floating caliper, 300mm disc (w/ ABS)
Wheels, Front/Rear:	Cast aluminum; 18 in./17 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:	100/90-18 / 150/70-17 (Tubeless)
Rake/Trail:	25.3°/4.0 in.
Wheelbase:	57.7 in.
Ground clearance:	5.5 in.
Seat Height:	31.3 in.
Fuel Capacity:	3.6 gal.
Claimed Curb Weight:	531 lb.
Availability:	January 2024
Contact:	royalenfieldna.com

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