Bear Necessities

Royal Enfield has added yet another motorcycle to its 650cc lineup. The Interceptor Bear 650, as the name suggests, is based on RE's first twin-cylinder offering in the market, albeit with scrambler-inspired changes

- Abhinav Jakhar

Royal Enfield is a brand that strives to tell pertinent stories. Whether it’s the Goan Classic 350 or the Continental GT 650, there always seems to be a rich part of its history that helps create pantomime around its series of launches.

The best part about this approach is just how much heritage the Royal Enfield moniker carries into the modern world. The Goan Classic 350, for example, pays homage to the custom motorcycle scene with a unique take on the Classic 350.

The Continental GT 650, on the other hand, tells the story of last-chance heroes racing between cafes in Great Britain, all for a good dose of thrills mixed with style. The ever-green Bullet 350 and Classic 350 tell the tale of RE’s most celebrated models, each with its individualistic approach. The Bear 650, in that regard, is no different.

The name comes from the Big Bear Run, a desert endurance race held in the Californian desert. Its first edition was held in 1921, and it was a showdown amongst the best of the best, roughing it out in unforgiving terrain. But it was in 1960, during the final Big Bear Run, which saw a 16-year-old Eddie Mulder take a Royal Enfield scrambler to victory, and thus today we have this motorcycle. RE’s latest 650cc-powered bike promises to be a different proposition from all the other models.

First and foremost, the Bear 650 is based on the Interceptor 650 but there are some crucial differences. At the front, the biggest change is the Showa USD front forks, as opposed to the telescopic ones on the Interceptor. Another big addition is the 4-inch TFT screen, which looks and feels modern, especially compared to the twinpod setup. Does it feel retro though? No, twin-pod wins there. Then there are those knobby tyres, which are MRF Nylorex units, and there’s a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel setup, rather than the 18-inch rims at both ends, on the Interceptor 650. Sadly, there isn’t an option for tubeless tyres for the Bear 650.