Homage to “Fast Eddie”
The Bear 650 isn’t just another twin from Royal Enfield. It’s a modern homage to the sand-slinging legacy of “Fast Eddie” Mulder, the youngest winner of the infamous Big Bear Run. With the special “Two Four Nine” edition dressed in white and green, Royal Enfield tips its hat to Eddie’s #249 race plate. As I tackled the loose gravel near Corbett, I could almost hear the ghost of old desert races whispering through the spokes.
The design is simple but sincere. The blue seat (yes, blue!) shows the team at RE isn’t afraid to break from tradition, just like Fast Eddie himself. It’s a visual treat without being flashy. More importantly, it feels like a scrambler. It has grit.
Historic success at the “Big Bear Run”
The Bear 650 takes inspiration from an era where bikes were raw, riders were tougher, and races were wild. In 1960, Eddie Mulder, at just 16, charged through the desert on a Royal Enfield 500 and won the Big Bear Run. Today, standing on the footpegs with dust kicking up behind me, I felt a sliver of that same thrill. You don’t just ride the Bear 650; you chase stories on it.
“Always listen to your gut feeling”
There were moments in Corbett where logic would say slow down , blind corners, sandy stretches, the occasional monkey darting across the road. But my gut kept saying, “Go.” And the Bear 650, with its beefed-up torque (56.5 Nm at 5,150 rpm), obliged with every twist of the throttle. The 648cc twin pulls like a freight train down low, but it never overwhelms. Power delivery is friendly, but never dull.
Whether climbing through forested inclines or descending into rocky valleys, the Bear responded with an eagerness that gave me confidence. That extra bump in torque over its siblings matters, especially when you’re not riding on pristine asphalt.
Desert spirit for the modern age
A scrambler isn’t about lap times. It’s about character. The Bear 650 delivers that in spades. About two-thirds of the bike is new compared to the Interceptor, and the changes are meaningful. The new 2-into-1 exhaust not only looks rugged but sounds like something brewed in the belly of the earth. The full LED lighting is modern but subtle. And the Tripper Dash, with its 4-inch color TFT, kept me on track even when we strayed deep into unfamiliar trails.
It’s built for the modern rider with a nostalgic soul. The controls are intuitive, and the finish is miles ahead of the REs of yesteryear.
Wider handlebars, less weight
The Bear 650 shaves three kilos off the Interceptor, coming in at 214 kg ready-to-ride. But what makes a bigger difference is the ergonomic tweak: the handlebars are 20 mm wider. That extra leverage makes standing and steering on rough terrain much easier. On rocky sections near the riverbed, the extra width gave me the precision I needed to thread the bike through obstacles without breaking a sweat.
The seat height sits at 830 mm, and for someone just under 6 feet like me, it’s a natural fit. Footpegs are positioned lower and further forward, aiding comfort during long stints. It’s the kind of setup you appreciate more with every passing kilometer.
More suspension travel, fantastic tires
The Corbett terrain was the perfect proving ground. The new 43 mm upside-down front forks and twin shocks at the rear (with preload adjustability) soaked up the worst of the trail with ease. Suspension travel is up to 130 mm front and 115 mm rear , not enduro territory, but ideal for a scrambler.
The real surprise was the MRF block-tread scrambler tires. These India-made dual-sport shoes gripped hard-packed gravel, rolled smoothly over loose stones, and didn’t squirm on tarmac. Paired with the 320 mm front disc and a new 270 mm rear, braking was predictable and strong. The ability to disable rear ABS is a welcome touch when descending loose hills or sliding around corners.
Formidable driving fun machine
There’s no electronic trickery here. No ride modes. No traction control. No cornering ABS. And yet, I didn’t miss any of it. The Bear 650 relies on mechanical honesty. The clutch is light, the 6-speed gearbox slots in smoothly, and engine response is predictable. On one particularly fast gravel run near Kalagarh, the bike danced just enough to remind me I was riding a real machine, not a gadget. It’s the kind of fun that never feels filtered. Just you, the throttle, and terrain rushing underneath.
Confident on the road, robust on gravel
Back on the highway, the Bear 650 proved itself a calm cruiser. At 100 km/h in sixth, the engine purrs without stress. Wind protection is nonexistent, but the upright posture makes long stretches bearable. It corners cleanly, thanks to the long wheelbase (1,460 mm) and stable geometry. On gravel, the wide bars and firm suspension kept me planted. The steel chassis holds its line without flexing, and the ground clearance (184 mm) means you can cross shallow streams or small ledges without scraping.
Economical consumption
Despite the spirited riding and elevation changes, the Bear 650 returned around 4.35 liters per 100 km , very close to RE’s claim. That’s solid for a 650 twin. The 13.7-liter tank gives decent range, making the Bear suitable for weekend escapes or even longer overland jaunts. Throttle inputs were easy to modulate, and engine braking felt natural. I rarely needed to brake hard. Just roll off the throttle, downshift if needed, and the Bear glides into corners smoothly.
A question of size
If you’re over 6 feet and planning on serious off-road use, a handlebar riser might be in order. Standing while riding feels a bit cramped due to the bar height. But for average-sized riders, it’s manageable. Off-road footpegs are available as accessories for better grip and leverage. While it’s not a hardcore off-roader, the Bear 650 can handle fire roads, rocky detours, and sandy paths with grace. And really, that’s what scrambling is about. The Bear doesn’t pretend to be a Dakar machine. It’s a throwback with modern polish.
Conclusion
The Royal Enfield Bear 650 is more than a retro-themed scrambler. It’s a time machine, a tribute, and a trail buddy rolled into one. It connects you to a story , of Fast Eddie, of 1960s desert racing, and of raw motorcycling spirit. On the roads of Corbett, the Bear proved itself nimble, trustworthy, and eager. Off the road, it showed resilience and charm. It’s not perfect, but that’s the beauty of it. The Bear 650 is meant to be ridden, scraped, washed, and ridden again. If your gut tells you to go chase the horizon, this is the machine to do it on. In Gut We Trust , indeed.