Royal Enfield Bear 650 vs Royal Enfield Interceptor 650: Dimensions, engine, features, and specs compared

Royal Enfield recently revealed the new Royal Enfield Bear 650 motorcycle globally. The motorcycle is built on the Interceptor 650 platform and features numerous cosmetic and mechanical enhancements. Royal Enfield states that the new Bear 650 draws inspiration from Eddie Mulder, the youngest champion to conquer the challenging Big Bear run in the California desert in 1960.

The new Royal Enfield Bear 650 will be available in five colour options: Boardwalk White, Petrol Green, Wild Honey, Golden Shadow, and Two Four Nine. The starting price for the bike is $6,849 (approximately INR 5.75 lakh at current exchange rates), with additional customization options and accessories available for an extra cost. It is set to launch in the Indian market on November 5, 2024, with expected prices starting from Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom). Bookings and deliveries are anticipated to commence immediately after the launch.
In this article, let’s compare the new Royal Enfield Bear 650 with the Interceptor 650 in terms of engine, dimensions, features and hardware components.

Comparing the engine first, although both bikes are powered by the same 648cc parallel twin engine, the tuning is different. The Interceptor puts out 47hp at 7250rpm and 52 nm torque at 5150rpm, in Bear 650 the horsepower is identical at 47hp at 7250rpm but has an increased torque of 56.5Nm at 5150rpm. Another difference is, the Interceptor features dual exhaust pipes whereas the Bear 650 features a two-into-one exhaust system with a single pipe on the right side.

Comparing the hardware components, the Bear 650 The Bear features Showa USD forks and twin shock absorbers, while the Interceptor is equipped with telescopic forks and gas-charged twin shocks. Additionally, the Bear offers greater suspension travel, with 130mm in the front and 115mm in the rear, compared to the Interceptor’s 110mm front and 88mm rear. The Bear has updated its wheel configuration it gets spoked 19/17-inch wheels with new MRF Nylorex tires, whereas the Interceptor has 18-inch rims with CEAT tires. The Bear does not offer a tubeless wheel option, while the Interceptor can be fitted with alloy wheels to accommodate tubeless tires.

The Bear has a weight of 216kg, an 830mm seat height, and 184mm of ground clearance. In comparison, the Interceptor weighs 218kg, features a seat height of 804mm, and offers 174mm of ground clearance. The Bear also features a 320mm front disc brake similar to the Interceptor, while the rear disc has increased from 240mm to 270mm. It is equipped with dual-channel ABS that can be turned off at the rear.

Comparing the features, the Bear 650 all LED lighting (headlights, taillights, indicator), a fully digital TFT instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity and can even cast Google Maps onto the screen. The Interceptor 650 features a twin analogue instrument cluster, LED headlights, and halogen tail lamps with indicators.