Royal Enfield 650 Twins BS6 deliveries have commenced in full swing. Prices are up by about Rs 10,000 compared to the outgoing BS4 models.
Royal Enfield launched the highly-desirable 650 Twins (Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650) back in November 2018 at a compelling starting price of roughly Rs 2.5 lakh ex-showroom. The 650 Twins instantly became a sensation by being the most affordable twin-cylinder motorcycles in the country, without any major shortcomings.
Earlier this month, the Chennai-based motorcycle manufacturer introduced the BS6 range of the 650 Twins at an increment of Rs 10,000 over the BS4 prices. In other words, the entry-level Interceptor 650 Std BS6 costs Rs 2.65 lakh while the figure hits Rs 2.80 lakh for the Continental GT 650 Std BS6. The top-of-the-line Continental GT 650 BS6 Chrome variant costs Rs 3.01 lakh. All prices mentioned here are ex-showroom and bookings were opened for a token amount of Rs 10,000.
Now, deliveries of the first batch of BS6-compliant 650 Twins have started in full swing. Royal Enfield had also introduced the updated BS6 versions of the popular Classic 350 single-cylinder range earlier this month, at a starting price of Rs 1.65 lakh ex-showroom (about Rs 11,000 more than the ABS-equipped BS4 version). The company is expected to launch its entire BS6 portfolio (including the 2020 Himalayan, Thunderbird and ThunderbirdX) in the coming weeks.
The 2020 Royal Enfield 650 Twins are powered by a BS6-compliant version of the 649cc air/oil-cooled parallel-twin engine that churns out around 47bhp and 52Nm of torque. The power plant is mated to a 6-speed transmission via a slipper clutch. Compared to the outgoing BS4 models, there are no significant changes to the styling or equipment, but a slight drop in output might have happened. To comply with the new emission standards, the fuelling and exhaust system may have been tweaked a bit.
| Royal Enfield | BS6 Prices | BS4 Prices | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interceptor 650 BS6 Std | 2.65 L | 2.55 L | 10k |
| Interceptor 650 BS6 Custom | 2.73 L | 2.63 L | 10k |
| Interceptor 650 BS6 Chrome | 2.86 L | 2.76 L | 10k |
| Continental GT 650 BS6 Std | 2.80 L | 2.70 L | 10k |
| Continental GT 650 BS6 Custom | 2.88 L | 2.78 L | 10k |
| Continental GT 650 BS6 Chrome | 3.01 L | 2.91 L | 10k |
Towards the end of 2019, Royal Enfield had introduced a mild update to the 650 Twins in the form of a clear lens headlamp and reflectors on the front forks. Later models could also be a bit more ironed-out and niggle-free compared to the early batches (some first-in-line units had raised complaints in certain parts of the country).
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 come in three formats: Std (Standard), Custom and Chrome. The motorcycles stay true to their modern-classic character with good aesthetics, relaxed engine characteristics and a host of branded optional accessories. The motorcycles are also excellent choices for customisation and we have seen many tasteful examples over the months.
