Source: Cycle World
Patent images show the basic look of the INT Bear 650. (Royal Enfield/)Back in May 2023 Royal Enfield dropped a huge hint at the next addition to its growing range of parallel-twin retro bikes by registering the trademark “Royal Enfield Interceptor Bear 650″ in several countries and the name “Royal Enfield INT Bear 650″ in the USA. We surmised that the name pointed toward a scrambler version of the bike that had been undergoing tests in India and now that’s looking more likely than ever as the company has registered the design of the new model.Combined with the trademarked names and another trademark application, made earlier this year, for a graphic representation of a stylized bear silhouette, the evidence is stacking up that the Bear 650 is indeed a new scrambler and that it’s heading to showrooms worldwide in the very near future.The new design registration gives our clearest look yet at the bike and confirms expectations that it uses the same 650cc parallel-twin engine that debuted in the INT 650, as well as the same tubular-steel chassis. Even the fuel tank appears to be a carryover design, but beyond that, the differences start to emerge. As it’s a scrambler, the suspension sits higher than the INT 650′s, and despite the retro design Royal Enfield has opted for a modern upside-down fork rather than a gaiter-clad right-way-up version. At the back there’s a twin-shock setup, like the INT 650, but the spring/damper units are different, lacking the piggyback reservoirs of its sister model. While it’s hard to gauge the wheel sizes from a single image, it looks like the Bear 650 has a slightly larger 19-inch front paired to a 17-inch rear rim (both wire-spoke wheels) instead of the pair of 18-inch wheels used on the INT 650.The Bear will use the same engine as the INT 650. (Royal Enfield/)Although the engine is carried over and is likely to make around the same 47 hp and 39 lb.-ft. of torque as the INT 650, it features a different exhaust, with two headers joining into a single pipe rather than the usual two-into-two system. Royal Enfield has opted not to adopt the sort of mid-level exhaust system seen on some other retro scrambler models—notably Triumph’s designs—but it’s not hard to imagine such a system being offered as an optional extra. The standard, low-mounted pipe does have perforated heat shields that are reminiscent of old, 1960s scramblers though.The seat is new, with a shortened rear fender behind it carrying a circular taillight. Below the seat, the side panels feature race-style number boards, and the footpegs and levers are redesigned to suit the Bear’s style. The straight, flat bars are exactly what you’d expect on a retro scrambler, sitting above the normal, single headlight, but the dash appears to be the same round TFT unit used on the Himalayan 450 and the new Guerrilla 450 rather than the twin clocks of the INT 650. That’s good news, as the latest instrument panel has impressive features including full map navigation when paired to a capable smartphone.The INT Bear 650 will use the same round TFT display as the Himalayan, which tether to your smartphone for navigation. (Royal Enfield/)With the trademarks and designs registered, it’s only a matter of time before the INT Bear 650 is launched (the US market doesn’t get the Interceptor name used elsewhere because Honda retains rights to that title in the States). It’s unlikely to be a long wait, since the bike has already been undergoing tests for well over a year.
Full Text:
Patent images show the basic look of the INT Bear 650. (Royal Enfield/)
Back in May 2023 Royal Enfield dropped a huge hint at the next addition to its growing range of parallel-twin retro bikes by registering the trademark “Royal Enfield Interceptor Bear 650″ in several countries and the name “Royal Enfield INT Bear 650″ in the USA. We surmised that the name pointed toward a scrambler version of the bike that had been undergoing tests in India and now that’s looking more likely than ever as the company has registered the design of the new model.
Combined with the trademarked names and another trademark application, made earlier this year, for a graphic representation of a stylized bear silhouette, the evidence is stacking up that the Bear 650 is indeed a new scrambler and that it’s heading to showrooms worldwide in the very near future.
The new design registration gives our clearest look yet at the bike and confirms expectations that it uses the same 650cc parallel-twin engine that debuted in the INT 650, as well as the same tubular-steel chassis. Even the fuel tank appears to be a carryover design, but beyond that, the differences start to emerge. As it’s a scrambler, the suspension sits higher than the INT 650′s, and despite the retro design Royal Enfield has opted for a modern upside-down fork rather than a gaiter-clad right-way-up version. At the back there’s a twin-shock setup, like the INT 650, but the spring/damper units are different, lacking the piggyback reservoirs of its sister model. While it’s hard to gauge the wheel sizes from a single image, it looks like the Bear 650 has a slightly larger 19-inch front paired to a 17-inch rear rim (both wire-spoke wheels) instead of the pair of 18-inch wheels used on the INT 650.
The Bear will use the same engine as the INT 650. (Royal Enfield/)
Although the engine is carried over and is likely to make around the same 47 hp and 39 lb.-ft. of torque as the INT 650, it features a different exhaust, with two headers joining into a single pipe rather than the usual two-into-two system. Royal Enfield has opted not to adopt the sort of mid-level exhaust system seen on some other retro scrambler models—notably Triumph’s designs—but it’s not hard to imagine such a system being offered as an optional extra. The standard, low-mounted pipe does have perforated heat shields that are reminiscent of old, 1960s scramblers though.
The seat is new, with a shortened rear fender behind it carrying a circular taillight. Below the seat, the side panels feature race-style number boards, and the footpegs and levers are redesigned to suit the Bear’s style. The straight, flat bars are exactly what you’d expect on a retro scrambler, sitting above the normal, single headlight, but the dash appears to be the same round TFT unit used on the Himalayan 450 and the new Guerrilla 450 rather than the twin clocks of the INT 650. That’s good news, as the latest instrument panel has impressive features including full map navigation when paired to a capable smartphone.
The INT Bear 650 will use the same round TFT display as the Himalayan, which tether to your smartphone for navigation. (Royal Enfield/)
With the trademarks and designs registered, it’s only a matter of time before the INT Bear 650 is launched (the US market doesn’t get the Interceptor name used elsewhere because Honda retains rights to that title in the States). It’s unlikely to be a long wait, since the bike has already been undergoing tests for well over a year.
