The cool thing about being the longest continuously running motorcycle brand is that you probably were there to shape trends—the first time. The 2025 Royal Enfield Bear 650 is the latest street scrambler to hit the ground, conjuring visions of desert-blasting as the storied marquee pulls from its own history books for inspiration.
Scramblers were forged in the American Southwest at legendary events like the Big Bear Run, a grueling endurance race that started at the now-138-year-old Saugus Cafe 30-something miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles and ended in the town of Big Bear City, high in Southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains.
As luck would have it, a 16-year-old rookie named Eddie Mulder won the famed event in 1960 aboard a desert-tuned Royal Enfield Fury, forever connecting the now-Indian but then British-owned marque to the scrambler category. Mulder went on to be a five-time AMA Grand National TT race winner and was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.
Utilizing the well-established INT 650 as its base, the Bear 650 taps into a custom culture that has already fully embraced the rugged scrambler look with this factory version that has an accessible $6849 starting price. New suspension, wire-spoked wheels with chunky rubber, updated ergonomics, and a few chassis tweaks sum up most of the changes. Yet, the simple, carefree attitude seen in Royal Enfield’s twin-cylinder platform remains a common theme.
Sampling the Bear 650 started off by shooting across the desert highways outside Palm Springs before aiming directly into the nearby San Jacinto Mountains—all familiar territory for this street scrambler. Now, onto the Fast Facts.
- The air-cooled 650cc parallel-twin engine is a classic in all the right ways. Since its inception, Royal Enfield’s 650 platform has captured that much sought-after, endearing retro vibe while leaving all the problems that come with a vintage motorcycle in the past. In fact, it is nearly the last air-cooled engine of its kind, further offering a unique experience. The smooth mill has a gentlemanly disposition, inviting riders with its welcoming 42 ft-lbs of torque, a claimed eight percent increase on the Bear thanks to a new 2-into-1 exhaust system. Meanwhile, the claimed 46 horsepower remains unchanged. It has enough punch to breeze by traffic, but doesn’t overwhelm you, so even new riders with their wits about them can handle it. The Bear’s baritone growl and overall performance please the senses, as well-tuned fueling and a tidy gearbox continue garnering praise.
- An off-road-inspired riding position defines the 2025 Royal Enfield Bear 650. For reasons we’ll cover in a second, the Bear 650 is far loftier than the INT 650 it started out as. Greeting the rider is a taller, broader handlebar. The rider resides on a long, flat, 32.7-inch high seat that allows a lot of wiggle room aboard this mid-sized machine—both in displacement and physicality—creating a neutral riding position that most will find agreeable. There’s not much to turn your nose up at, though the inherent bulkiness of the vintage-styled engine cases might conflict with your boots, depending on your dimensions. Luckily, the rubber-mounted footpegs have little chance to scrape terra firma, thanks to the additional cornering clearance.
- Calm and collected handling define this scrambler. The INT and, for that matter, Continental 650 machines flatter their curb weights with nimble characteristics. Sending the platform skyward has traded some off in the name of off-road prowess, chilling out the Bear 650’s initial tip-in, urging its handlers to give it more direction than its streetwise cousins. That’s not necessarily bad, as newer riders won’t find it flighty or unpredictable, something you don’t want with its portly 476-pound curb weight. That said, aim the Bear in the right direction, and it’ll treat you right most of the time.
- Raising the Bear—new suspension comes to an off-road-minded platform. Royal Enfield engineers had to work on the steel cradle frame to accept the beefed-up, longer-travel suspension. That meant stiffening the headtube area to accommodate the new non-adjustable inverted 43mm Showa SF-BP fork. In the rear, coil-over shocks offer spring-preload adjustment only, lending a hand in hoisting this beast skyward a respectable amount. Things are as they should be in the front, aiding in good sensations while carving up canyon routes or cruising around town. Yet, a setting imbalance in the rear—1960s-style stiff springs and light rebound damping—quickly tops out the shocks, making what’s usually a steady Eddie machine squirm when tracking through mid-corner bumps. This situation reminds us of the original Royal Enfield Himalayan 411. Its inherent affordability makes tossing in a softer set of springs or replacing the shocks seem almost reasonable.
- “Hey, what about off-road!?” you ask? Hold your horses. We’re getting there! That larger 19-/17-inch wire-spoke wheel combo and, arguably, the stiff shocks come in handy when answering the existential question: “Will it scramble?”. The 2025 Royal Enfield Bear answers with hardpack dirt road capability, aided by a tractable engine that lets riders meter torque easily and a larger front wheel to navigate modest situations. The Indian-made MRF Nylorex-X tires are clearly inspired by Pirelli’s big-block knobby Scorpion Rally STR tire. Much like the Italian rubber, the MRFs hook up decently both on- and off-road. The Bear’s likes and dislikes off paved surfaces are honest to a fault, with the front quickly exclaiming its disdain for sand and hard-edged obstacles, earning a hard jolt via a bottomed fork, reaffirming its positioning as a street scrambler.
- ByBre brakes stay in the fold. A standard fixture on Royal Enfield machines is Brembo’s budget-minded brand, ByBre. A dual-piston caliper clamps onto a single 320mm rotor up front. Interestingly, RE provides steel-braided lines, which offer a reassuring, firm feel at the lever actuating the axial master cylinder. There’s plenty of stopping power for the modestly speedy Bear, which will register triple-digits on the round TFT, though that’ll be rare. A single-piston caliper works with an oversized 270mm rear disc, and ABS can be disabled for off-pavement excursions.
- Looks, charm, and simplicity: That’s what the 2025 Royal Enfield Bear 650 is all about. There is something memorable about bikes that are simply a full tank of gas away from having a good time. No pretentious caveats or swaths of technology to get in the way; just hit the starter and go—that’s worth the price of admission for some. As a road bike, the Bear 650 earns its keep, and a few setting tweaks would take it to the next level. Meanwhile, there are far more capable off-road scramblers on the market, which are about twice the price. What we can’t fault is the Bear’s styling, which pulls from the brand’s bona fides and is as authentic as the day is long. And, let’s be honest, looking cool is what attracts most to this class.
Action photography by Alessio Barbanti, Manuel Eletto, Fabio Polimeni, and Marco Zamponi
RIDING STYLE
- Helmet: Shoei VFX-EVO
- Goggles: Scott Primal
- Jacket: Spidi Originals Enduro
- Pants: Spidi Pathfinder Cargo
- Gloves: Spidi Clubber
- Boots: Spidi X-Village
2025 Royal Enfield Bear 650 Specs
ENGINE
- Type: Parallel twin
- Displacement: 648cc
- Bore x stroke: 78 x 67.8mm
- Maximum power: 47 horsepower @ 7150 rpm
- Maximum torque: 42 ft-lbs @ 5150 rpm
- Valvetrain: SOHC; 4 vpc
- Compression ratio: 9.5:1
- Fueling: EFI
- Cooling: Air and oil
- Transmission: 6-speed
- Clutch: Wet multiplate
- Final drive: Chain
CHASSIS
- Frame: Steel-tube double-cradle
- Front suspension; travel: Non-adjustable Showa inverted 43mm fork; 5.1 inches
- Rear suspension; travel: Spring-preload adjustable Showa shocks; 4.5 inches
- Wheels: Aluminum alloy
- Tires: MRF Nylorex-F
- Front tire: 100/90 x 19
- Rear tire: 140/80 x 17
- Front brake: 320mm disc w/ ByBre twin-piston floating caliper
- Rear brake: 300mm disc w/ ByBre twin-piston floating caliper
- ABS: 2-channel; adjustable
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 57.5 inches
- Seat height: N/A
- Ground clearance: 7.2 inches
- Fuel tank capacity: 3.6 gallons
- Curb weight: 476 pounds
2025 Royal Enfield Bear 650 Colors and Prices
- Boardwalk White: $6849 MSRP
- Petrol Green: $6999
- Wild Honey: $6999
- Golden Shadow: $7099 (tested)
- Two Four Nine: $7199
