Close range kill

Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 is a new custom-inspired modern retro and the fourth in the 650 line-up

THE RIDING POSITION IS MORE FOCUSED

THE NEW ROYAL ENFIELD SHOTGUN 650 is a custom-inspired bobberstyle motorcycle that shares its engine and chassis with the Super Meteor 650 but that’s where the similarities end. The Shotgun gets a 795mm seat versus the Super Meteor’s 740mm saddle. The riding position is more focused, with the Shotgun’s mid-position foot pegs placing the feet under the knees. It gets a stubby bobber-style tail and a 25.3-degree rake angle, contributing towards a stout and determined stance. The Shotgun gets the familiar 648cc air-oil-cooled parallel-twin engine cranking out 46bhp at 7250rpm and 52.3Nm at 5650rpm mated to a 6-speed gearbox. Royal Enfield has revised the final drive ratios to tweak the bike’s character. The bike has a 13.8-litre fuel tank and a claimed fuel efficiency of 22kmpl. The Shotgun weighs a chunky 240kg, wet. However, the low seat height should make it more accessible for shorter riders. The 2170mm length is a middle ground between the INT650’s 2122mm and the SM650’s 2260mm. Similarly, the 1465mm wheelbase slots in between the INT650’s 1400mm and the SM650’s 1500mm. The 18-inch front alloy is wrapped in a 100/90 tubeless tyre and suspended by a Showa Separate Function Big Piston fork with 120mm travel. The 17-inch rear alloy wears 150/70 section tubeless tyres and is suspended by a Showa twin shock setup with 90mm travel. There’s a 320mm disc at the front and a 300mm disc at the rear. Both discs carry twin-piston callipers with dual-channel ABS being standard. The Shotgun 650 is likely to be the most expensive bike in the RE 650 line-up with a price tag of about `4 lakh (expected, ex-showroom). ⌧