Top 5 Reasons We Like Riding Royal Enfield’s Shotgun 650

Five features we enjoy when riding the 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650.

Royal Enfield is venturing into the heart of the American motorcycle segment, aiming straight for the core of the value-conscious middleweight cruiser market with its 2024 Shotgun 650 ($6,899). This fills a void left by iconic American motorcycle giants like Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle, with only American Honda offering an affordable entry in this space (read the 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Review With Riding Videos for Buyers article). With a strategy reminiscent of Honda’s impressive Rebel 500, Royal Enfield adds its own English styling to the mix. Here are the top five features that we like about riding this Indian-made cruiser on the street.

  1. This 648cc parallel twin—this twin has some pep in its step and it sounds awesome.
  2. This motorcycle is crazy agile for a 540-pound streetbike. It also has favorable handling in the twisties too.
  3. We love the styling. Plus the fit and finish and attention to detail on these Royal Enfields are head and shoulders above what it was 10 years ago.
  4. The price. For its $6,899 asking price, the Shotgun 650 represents tremendous value in its class.
  5. This Shotgun 650, it does it all. It cruises around the street; you can ride in the canyons; it has nice styling, good sound and character, and is a really nice bike for the price.

We’ll see you in the next episode.