- Looks almost production-ready
- Powered by the same engine as the Interceptor 650
- To be launched a few months after Himalayan 452’s debut
Royal Enfield has been testing its upcoming 650cc Scrambler for quite some time now and the spy shots of the motorcycle have surfaced on multiple occasions. We might actually be inching closer to its official launch since it has been spotted once again and the test mule looks very close to being production-ready.
Although the test mule was carrying testing equipment, it was devoid of any covering or camouflage and the body panels appeared to be in finished form. As is evident, it will be based on the same platform as the existing Interceptor 650 but there are a bunch of conspicuous differences. The spoke wheels, which look like a 19-17-inch combination, are shod with block-pattern tyres. Also, unlike the INT’s telescopic front forks, the Scrambler is suspended by upside-down forks. However, the rear continues to be suspended by dual springs. RE seems to have tweaked the frame as well while the dual exhausts of other 650s have been replaced with a single-sided, two-into-one exhaust canister.
Other components which make it different from the Interceptor include a full-LED lighting setup, a ribbed-pattern seat, oval-shaped side panels, an offset single-pod console, and a taller handlebar. As for the engine, it will certainly retain RE’s 649cc, parallel-twin, air/oil-cooled engine with a six-speed gearbox. Now, whether the Chennai-based bike maker changes the tuning of this motor to suit the Scrambler’s character remains to be seen. It should also have a longer travel for the suspension setup to make it more off-road-friendly.
Royal Enfield is expected to officially launch the Scrambler 650 around mid-2024, a few months after introducing the much-anticipated Himalayan 452. As for its rivals, the closest that comes to it in terms of displacement and body style is the Moto Morini Seiemmezzo 650 Scrambler.
