WE’RE beginning to hear reports claiming that Royal Enfield is working on a 650cc twin-cylinder scrambler to join the range in 2021.
The report suggests that a scrambler model is part of a long term strategy by Royal Enfield and will be built around the company’s successful 650cc twin engine as seen in the Interceptor and Continental GT.
The bike is thought to be part of a three-pronged new bike launch to take place next year, including the new scrambler and two more as yet unidentified other models. With over 20,000 650cc twins sold in India alone since the new models’ launch, it’s only sensible that the firm try and tap into a new and possibly even more lucrative market.
The custom, café racer, hipster scene is huge in motorcycling right now. And clean looking scramblers are big sellers at home and abroad. What this style of bike also does is bring with it a massive amount of potential sales in the form of accessories, custom builds and even merchandise.
As far as styling goes, with no official confirmation from the factory we can only speculate. To remain on-trend it’ll probably have short mud guards and sub-frame, retro-style off-road bars, some neat matt finishes and the obligatory knobbly tyres – probably a more production-ready version of the bike shown here…
If the scrambler does indeed follow on and use the 650 twin as a powerplant, it’s produce around 50bhp and 50Nm (36ft-lb) of torque. That would see it down on power when compared to the likes of the Triumph Scrambler 1200, although if, like other Royal Enfield’s bikes, it comes in at half the price of the Triumph… I don’t think I’d mind too much.
