Yep, another retro-style Royal Enfield spun off from an existing platform. That doesn't sound exciting, and I wasn't overly excited when Royal Enfield's Bear 650 arrived on my doorstep. And then I rode it - and then I kept riding it and riding it and riding it and riding it.
This scrambler-style rig is a classic example of not judging a book by its cover.
Now, to start off, I have been a big fan of every Enfield model I've ever ridden with the Indian manufacturer's 650cc parallel twin in it. The Interceptor 650 and Continental GT are incredibly fun motorcycles for the money, and I rather enjoyed my time on the Classic 650 recently, so the fact that the Bear had the same engine fitted was always going to be a good thing.
The air/oil-cooled 650 is never going to scare you with its breakneck speed, but it will impress with its character and versatility. It doesn't do anything weird; it's quiet, it's got grunt, and it's got the chops to take you from the shops and back or to Uluru and back.
The donk is nestled in a fairly simple steel frame, you get a full deck of quality Showa suspension, and the brakes are up to the task.
The dash is a neat, tidy, and stylistically appropriate round job, but this is no old-school analogue setup. As you turn the key, your eyes are greeted by a bright and bubbly TFT display complete with Royal Enfield's Tripper Function that gives you turn-by-turn navigation using Google Maps.
And this leads me into the general fit, finish, and quality of the Bear 650. Enfield's build quality just seems to get better and better as time goes on, and the Bear is a perfect example of this. From that TFT dash to the full deck of LED lighting, quality paint, and solid feel - the Bear feels like it was built to last.
But the Bear is more than the sum of its parts. You can have a stunning spec sheet and still not have a motorcycle that's nice to ride, and this is where the Bear shines. You see, the Bear is quite simply a pleasure to ride. Everything is easy; there are no pain points. There aren't a million settings to worry about - you just get on, thumb the starter, and ride off. It's comfortable, capable, and fantastic value for money - now what more could you want?
The Bear is ideally suited for commuting and fanging around town, although it'll happily cruise along at 110 km/h, so it can double as your weekend freedom machine. It's comfortable, both in terms of seat comfort and seating position, and the Bear provides you with a smooth and controlled ride.
I am old enough and have ridden enough bikes to have ridden machines from the '60s, '70s, and '80s, and the Bear had me reminiscing about some of those old classics. I couldn't get the thought out of my head of fitting a set of foam grips for an even more retro vibe, lashing my pack to the back, and hitting the road - it pulls off the old-school aesthetic yet is a thoroughly modern motorcycle.
The only drawbacks I can see are its tall 830 mm seat height and 214 kg weight. The Bear is LAMS-approved, and a damn fine LAMS machine it will make, but if you're short or lack confidence, then maybe the Bear isn't for you.
Now, I could rattle off the spec sheet and give you power figures and tell you how good the suspension is, but that's not what I took away from my time with the Bear 650. To hell with the spec sheet - the simple fact is I just loved riding the Bear. I love its simplicity, its looks, and I love that it doesn't cost a million bucks. Some people reckon bikes are getting far too complex and are losing their soul - I reckon the Bear is absolute proof of this, as it is all soul.
