Bike Review Australia | Royal Enfield INT Bear 650, Road, Off-Road, Tech. We test the wheels off it!

[@peterholthoffman]

For decades I have said I want an "SL-650" (like the 1973 Honda SL-350 but a 650) and I guess this is as close as we will ever get!

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Absolutely! You could paint one up as a replica!

[@GrampsD63]

Glad you enjoyed my home state. Been riding those roads for 40+ years. Great review!

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Lucky you - fantastic roads and minimal traffic at least when we rode mid week. Thanks!

[@GrampsD63]

@BikeReviewcomau Obviously you didn't get on the freeway at rush hour 😂

[@BikeReviewcomau]

@@GrampsD63 We did on the bus... 18 hour flight, 2 hours in immigration, then the bus ride from LAX to Palm Springs took 6 hours. It was stopping and starting all the way. I could not believe so many people drive so far from LA to home each day, and many cars only had one person in them!

[@GrampsD63]

@BikeReviewcomau Everyone seems to be going their own way. Very seldom do you see 2 people in a car going to work. And we have car pool lanes for 2+ riders on almost every freeway and still not many cars are in them. Alot of people drive 25+ miles to work. I used to drive 70. That was insane

[@BikeReviewcomau]

@@GrampsD63 Madness!

[@charlesbradley2943]

Best review so far on Utube !!

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Thanks so much - really appreciate that, makes the hard work worthwhile, cheers, Jeff.

[@bingo1967]

Great review ! Thanks a lot, dreaming to get one and ride It wildly ASAP !

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Thanks for the feedback! Good luck getting your bike, hope you enjoy it!

[@AgricUltra]

I’ve always loved the look of scramblers. Wondering if it’s worth the premium over the Triumph 400X though…

[@mattfrancis8826]

Mate, really great to listen to, well done 👍 keen to try one of these out when they hit Australia 🇦🇺

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Thanks! 👍👍👍

[@joedudz]

Good bike. Good review. Why are RE using the out dated gold forks? Especially on a dual purpose bike. Just to follow Triumph with their 400s? Don't bother. The Guerrilla has black forks and looks great.

[@tomoates8568]

I'm tired of seeing gold forks on everything as well. If it's Ohlins it makes sense because that's their sort of signature, but unless it's Ohlins I'd rather see the forks match the paint of the bike better

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Hi mate - there are options, black or gold forks.

[@murrayhyde4902]

Looks nice. I still love my RE scram 411 as i ride off the bitumen.

[@BikeReviewcomau]

The Scram is fantastic....

[@shmac96]

Nice Job mate! Now I can see what part of the frame you were initially talking about that is new ;) Im subscribed! Unfortunately, I dont know if Europe gets the Bear. Greetings from Germany!

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Hi mate - yep you guys get the Bear 650! Early 2025.

[@shmac96]

@@BikeReviewcomau Sweet!

[@JohnSer33]

Makes me wanna trade in my continental gt

[@BikeReviewcomau]

👍👍😎

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Keep both!

[@Potatoalex538]

This bike runs like a butterfly on road just sweet

[@BikeReviewcomau]

It's nice on tarmac that is for sure... But we will see how it handles on bumpy Aussie roads next.

[@Potatoalex538]

@BikeReviewcomau even in those roads this will be great I think it will even run better in those roads.as you know this bike it made in india specially for indians,and you know how indian roads with potholes,mountain roads,rural areas roads as farmer also uses this bike to carry thing to mountains in farmland etc.this bullet bike is known for such areas don't worry this bike will do better in rough road than in smooth roads...

[@BikeReviewcomau]

@@Potatoalex538 Good point! I rode in India and it was similar to Australian roads, but with about 1 billion motorcycles beeping me haha! Oh and the Cows on the road! Loved it!

[@Boksburg1982]

How many new names and paint jobs can RE give the 650cc platform? Looks as though they are following in Triumph and Harleys footsteps.

[@BikeReviewcomau]

The models are all very different to ride... But yeah, they are getting their value out of the platform. This one has 70 per cent modified parts... But it is an INT 650 basically. They are keeping costs down, and offering something for everyone.

[@dexterroy]

I think this bike has hit the showrooms in India now. I like what I see online. I'm worried about the seat height though. I'm 5'10" and overweight and I have been using a bike for past 9 years that has a seat height of 780mm. I have got used it, its comfortable for me. Just a little bit apprehensive about a bike that has a 830mm seat height.

[@BikeReviewcomau]

It is tall, for sure, but there were shorter people than 5'10 on the ride I was on and they were OK. Hopefully you can get a test ride somewhere to find out...

[@dexterroy]

@@BikeReviewcomau Thank you. Tried it yesterday. It's comfortable.

[@BikeReviewcomau]

@@dexterroy Good stuff.

[@boburrides]

Looks amazing, but being only 173 cm "tall" I'm a bit concerned about the 830cm seat height coupled with its 216kg weight. Can't wait to sit on it to feel it.

[@edfell66]

I'm even short (1,68) and I have no doubt this will be my next bike. I already drove taller bikes and owned an Himalayan that is only 3cm lower so I'll be able to handle it. The weight is something we can work on to make it lighter

[@boburrides]

@edfell66 that's reassuring to hear! I have a hunter now so this will be a big step up, but same: i'm dead set on owing a bear!

[@BikeReviewcomau]

The seat is thin, so making it thinner is not an option... but in saying that, there were riders who are really short who had no issue - like Kellie Buckley, she is probably 160cm max and I rode with her all day... She was OK on it, even off road U-turns and parking, etc.

[@BikeReviewcomau]

@@edfell66 168cm will be fine... The weight is low so not too bad, but when it has a full tank of fuel it is a bit top heavy to move around and park.

[@BikeReviewcomau]

@@boburrides Good step up, you will enjoy the extra power and torque...

[@Peter760]

Do we know the release date for Australia?

[@BikeReviewcomau]

@@Peter760 Not yet but previous 650 models have arrived around Feb after an October world launch…

[@faizallibra]

is the wobble similar to GT650 at higher speeds?does the foot peg still comes in the way when you put your foot down?

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Not as much as the Interceptor, just a very slight movement at sustained speed. Footpeg a bit further forward but I didn’t catch on it. Cheers

[@faizallibra]

@ thanks mate! Good review, appreciate it

[@avipawar6178]

Yess it is

[@BikeReviewcomau]

@@faizallibra You're welcome!

[@BikeReviewcomau]

@@avipawar6178 👍

[@chrro466]

The front mudguard looks wrong

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Needs to be higher/longer do you think?

[@chrro466]

@ shorter for sure.

[@BikeReviewcomau]

@@chrro466 Ahh I got ya... Yeah stubby/cut down would look good.

[@deltabluesdavidraye]

​@@BikeReviewcomauit has to do a good job

[@MickH60]

@@chrro466 Modify it yourself, short guards are garbage on the dirt

[@Nostrildomus]

Speaking my language . . . T/C/E

[@motoguzzicalifornia2]

😂 every now and then, if I really concentrate, I understand something he says, like „boik“ or „geeer“, „rowd“ or „raid“, „fowad“, „longa“, „stronga“, „larga“ 😅I‘d really „laik“ to „maik“ a video „laik dis“in my viennese german dialect and laugh about all those guys who don‘t understand me without subtitles…

[@Brettmotorcycles]

This bike needs tubeless tires I think I will wait for that

[@BikeReviewcomau]

That will come in time I reckon...

[@Brettmotorcycles]

@ that’s what RE said they are working on them

[@pauls8456]

They already have them - have a look on an RE site for the ‘dark’ models.

[@deltabluesdavidraye]

Oh no ! Perfect except there is no center stand!!!

[@BikeReviewcomau]

It's a bummer but the centrally located exhaust is a good trade off.

[@deltabluesdavidraye]

@@BikeReviewcomau Hell it is

[@deltabluesdavidraye]

There is no good trade off for no damn center stand

[@deltabluesdavidraye]

No center stand means I will not purchase one

[@RS23545]

i dont understand royal enfield's obsession with spoke wheels. these are heavy bikes. they need to have tubeless setup

[@BikeReviewcomau]

Spoked wheels to add to the scrambler styling, allow some off-roading and probably to keep costs down. Tubeless spoked wheels would be nice, but expensive I guess.

[@deltabluesdavidraye]

Here in the U.S. the tubeless are on many of the interceptor and other models as well as LED lights.But tubeless with spokes is best for gravel.You break the tire off the bead you must install a tube to get home anyhow.

[@billumandal]

Heavier bikes need spoke. Spokes r flexible. What they need is tubeless on spokes.

[@bhoogewerf2823]

I don't understand Royal Enfield's obsession with under powered bikes.

[@punkrockdidi]

No they don't and it fits the overall look off RE much better. Spoked wheel in general look much better IMHO,if it's a retro or adventure bike...