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Royal Enfield 650cc Twin Engine Unveiled (with video)

As we reported to you earlier, the Royal Enfield brand is extraordinarily successful … selling nearly three times as many large-displacement motorcycles (defined as 250cc plus) worldwide than Harley-Davidson, and enjoying customer loyalty even more fierce than customers of H-D. Until now, Royal Enfield has been known for single-cylinder machines, under-powered by most western market standards.

Tomorrow, Royal Enfield will show two prototype models powered by a new 650cc twin-cylinder engine, which has been officially unveiled by the company prior to the EICMA debut of the bikes. Making a claimed 47 horsepower and 38 pound/feet of torque, this engine is no fire breather, but it is capable of pushing the new RE models beyond 100 mph, and thus should have no trouble flowing with highway traffic in western cities. The engine works through a 6-speed transmission and features a 270° crank. Here is a press release from Royal Enfield and engine specifications (followed by a video featuring the new engine):

 


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18 Comments

  1. Trpldog says:

    It should be called the Himalayan Explorer. “Hey Buddy, where is your bike? “Him-a-layin over there.”

  2. arrowrod says:

    Oh, goody, a pushrod 650 from the 1930s. Pull out your Cycle magazines from the 1950s. Re-read their Triumph twin press releases (er, test reports).

    • Curly says:

      Look again, SOHC 4 valve per cylinder with fuel injection. Swap the cam, pipe and a tune and it will do 60hp easy and smoothly too.

  3. Rhinestone Kawboy says:

    Well, the engine looks nice, but I wish RE would learn how to make something other than anemic horsepower.

  4. Grover says:

    Good choice for those who enjoy long walks with their loved one.

  5. Grover says:

    Good choice for those who enjoy long walks with their loved one.

  6. takehikes says:

    I like it. COuld be a real hit here in US for those who want a decent sized bike (650 used to be big), reliability and reasonable price.

  7. Denis says:

    Why did they not go with a 360 deg. crank? My old Honda 400 Hawk from the 70’s had this type of crank layout and it gave a nice deep British-like burble that sounded so pleasing. Otherwise, at least visually, I like the engine architecture.

    • Bob S. says:

      Personally, I like a 360 degree crank for the sound as well, but there are many reasons to go with a 270 from an engineering perspective. If this bike looks good and performs well, I wouldn’t walk away from it because of the crankshaft phasing.

    • joe b says:

      You should read more about the 270° crank. Many new bikes have it. Asking for something from 40 years ago is like asking for battery point ignition. The 270 crank makes it a Vtwin. Phil Irving proposed that idea in the fifties.

  8. Frank says:

    Nice and smart move RE. I was hoping to see something styled more along the lines of the English built 750 engine of my youth but if the bike itself is styled right, it should attract buyers here in the states who are looking for timeless old school design.

  9. John Bryan says:

    Hmmm…looking at the size of the cylinder block compared to the pistons bet we’ll be seeing a 750-850 version in a few years . The crankcase sure implies the bottom end will be beefy enough to handle the power increase .

    • Bob S. says:

      With a 78mm bore and 67.8mm stroke, it’s considerably over square. Making it square at 78mm X 78mm would yield 745cc. I’d think that options already been explored, considering the early rumors that it was a 750.

  10. Bob says:

    “Exploded view”

    Royal Enfield? Yep, checks out…

  11. Curly says:

    Good looking engine. Should be very understressed and fuel efficient.

  12. P Harris says:

    Interestingly, it will come disassembled as shown in the photo above. Save people a lot of time with repairs.

    • Tyler says:

      So you’re saying they will come in to the world the same way they will go out, in pieces? Sounds about right.

  13. Gary says:

    Looking forward to this one.

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