It’s hard not to get carried away when riding on mountain roads in Southern California. Maybe it's the crisp, cool high-altitude air that tricks you into feeling relaxed, even when the speeds are anything but. We certainly got carried away in the twisties during our first ride aboard the new Royal Enfield Bear 650, and it wasn’t entirely to do with that cool mountain air. Confused? Understandable. After all, why should a scrambler-ised version of the already hefty and not very sharp Interceptor be egging us on in the corners? Well, as it turns out, the Bear is much more than just a scrambler-ised Interceptor.

Royal Enfield Bear 650: design, features

Sure, many of the changes have been made with the intent of making the Bear better suited to off-roading. You’ve now got an upside-down fork (in place of the Interceptor’s conventional unit) offering more travel – up from 110mm to 130mm. It’s a similar story at the rear, too; the Bear sticks with a twin shock setup, but travel has grown from 88mm to 115mm. As a result, seat height and ground clearance have also increased, and now stand at 830mm and 184mm, respectively.

But to accommodate the new suspension components and adapt the bike to its more off-road-focused role, Royal Enfield has had to strengthen the frame in multiple areas. It’s the same basic frame as the Interceptor, but it has now been braced in various areas to add strength and stiffness, and the sub-frame has been revised as well. The end result is a chassis that feels noticeably stiffer than the Interceptor’s. Attacking corners hard, the Bear does feels hinged in the middle, and the sort of mid-corner bumps that would have the Interceptor wobbling and wallowing all over the place are simply shrugged off.

There’s great feedback and you really have the confidence to keep carrying more speed into a corner, and leaning further and further, despite the more off-road centric 19in/17in wheel on offer. This is also, in no small part, down to the excellent new tyres wrapped around those wheels – you’re unlikely to have heard of the MRF Nylorex tyres before and that’s because they’re a new dual-purpose model that have been developed specifically for this motorcycle. Despite the blocky pattern, the grip, profile and predictably on the road were superb, and there were no complaints when on tarmac.

Part of the Bear’s playfulness in the twisties can also be attributed to the suspension setup. The front fork strikes a nice balance between comfort and performance, but the shocks feel rather firm and unforgiving. This was the case across riders of different weights, even at the minimum preload setting. On the largely excellent Californian tarmac, it wasn’t a deal-breaker, but the firm edge could be felt, and rough patches translated to my backside without sufficient mitigation. How this setup fares on the less than perfect roads back home is something we’ll have to find out in due course.

Royal Enfield Bear 650: performance, ergonomics

Many of the numbers are bigger with the new Bear, and while most of that is good, one big number that’s got some people a little apprehensive is the seat height. Yes, 830mm is definitely on the taller side – I’m not very tall, only 5’8”, which means I can’t flat-foot both feet. That said, it isn’t unmanageable either, and with a little bit of forward planning, you can comfortably pick either one side to flat-foot. It also helps that the footpegs are now a little further forward, so they don’t foul your shins as much.

The other change to the riding position is the handlebar, which is wider and a little further away from you. The wider part is nice, it gives you more leverage over the bike, which I like. The further away part, I’m not such a fan of – it’s a bit more of a forward reach than I’d like, and if you’re short like me, then this could become a point of fatigue over long rides.

On the upside, this is now a lighter motorcycle than the model it’s based on. Moving to this new 2-into-1 exhaust setup has helped shed a bunch of weight, though some of that has been added back through the suspension and the frame strengthening. Nevertheless, it is still 2kg lighter than the Interceptor. However, at 216kg, still a fairly hefty motorcycle. You only really feel this at low speeds and when paddling about, and once you’re on the move, the Bear masks its weight rather well. The new exhaust has done more than just trimming the weight – it’s also allowed RE to squeeze out some more torque from the motor; it now produces 56.5Nm vs the 52Nm we’ve seen from it so far.

So the engine feels a little more punchy now, while still remaining the pleasant, fairly refined, characterful motor that we’ve fallen in love with over the last 6 years. The new exhaust has slightly changed the sound, though. It exits a little closer to you and doesn’t run quite as far back as the twin-pipe designs, which is one of the factors at play. Overall, it’s a little more braap-y and raspy, as opposed to the more sweet-sounding twin pipe 650s. I think this suits the character of the Bear rather well.

Royal Enfield Bear 650: off-road performance

Now, we come to the big question of off-road performance. We didn’t have a great deal of opportunity to ride the Bear off-road – we only got a short spin up and down a fairly simple gravel track. But the feeling is that this is definitely more of a soft-roader than a hardcore off-roader. The suspension can absorb some hits, up to a point, and these new tyres seem to work well off-road.

The rear ABS can also be turned off. So yes, you can have some fun off-road. But the weight makes its presence felt, and the ergos are halfway between on-road and off-road, so this is not a bike you’d want to push very hard when the tarmac runs out. But you won’t have to turn around either.

Turning off that rear ABS is done through a fully-digital TFT display –  this is the first Royal Enfield 650 to get one, and it’s the same unit you’ll find on the Himalayan. Which means, you also get features like Bluetooth connectivity and Google Maps integration. It’s also the first RE 650 to get full-LED lighting. The only other noteworthy feature is a USB charging port, but as is the case with all REs now, there is a comprehensive list of accessories that covers the usual suspects, like touring mirrors and a touring seat, as well as more scrambler-specific items like a sump guard and a headlight grille.

Royal Enfield Bear 650: Verdict

The final piece of the puzzle is the price – and starting at Rs 3.39 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai) and going up to Rs 3.59 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai), the Bear sits between the Interceptor and GT on one end and the Shotgun and Super Meteor on the other. Having ridden it around California, it feels like the most versatile and competent RE 650 today. It can cruise, it can tour, it can commute, you can corner pretty hard – it’s a great road bike – and it’s got some off-road ability as well. But how much of a pain the firm suspension setup will be back home in India is something we’ll only be able to tell you a little further down the road. Test rides and deliveries begin on November 10, so it shouldn’t be too long before we find out.

Also See: Royal Enfield Bear 650 video review

Also see: Royal Enfield Bear 650 review: Bullish on the Bear

The Classic 650 Twin is the latest model from Royal Enfield to use the 648cc parallel-twin engine. Its design and feature-set are shared with the evergreen Classic 350 but most of the fundamentals are borrowed from the Shotgun 650. We list all the differences between the two 650s.

Classic vs Shotgun: design and colours

When the Shotgun 650 debuted, it didn’t really fit into any particular genre of motorcycle, with Royal Enfield describing it as a blank canvas for the custom scene. The Shotgun’s engine, exhaust and other bits are blacked-out on all its paint options for a mean, modern look. 

On the other hand, the Classic 650 Twin stays true to its name and has a charming, retro design. There is a lot of chrome on the bike and the colour palette is also very tastefully retro. 

Also See: Royal Enfield Shotgun 650: Bullseye, or a shot in the dark?

Classic vs Shotgun: suspension, wheels and tyres

Both bikes use the same engine, main frame and brakes but other cycle parts are a major area of difference. The Classic 650 Twin trades the Shotgun’s 18/17-inch alloy wheel combo for a more retro 19/18-inch wire-spoke wheel setup. Where the Shotgun rolls on tubeless CEAT Zoom Cruz rubber, the Classic runs on new MRF Nylohigh tyres, developed specifically for it. 

The Classic is suspended by a 43mm telescopic fork up front in contrast to the USD fork seen on the Shotgun. While the suspension componentry has changed, the travel has stayed the same at 120mm. Both bikes use twin shock absorbers at the rear, with 90mm of travel.

Classic vs Shotgun: weight, dimensions

At 243kg, the Classic 650 Twin is the heaviest model in Royal Enfield’s portfolio today. The Shotgun isn’t much lighter at 240kg, although it carries 13.8 litres of fuel, 1 litre less than the Classic. With an 800mm perch, the Classic also has a slightly taller saddle than the Shotgun’s 795mm seat. Ground clearance has seen a big step up on the Classic at 154mm, compared to the 140mm available on the Shotgun.

Also See: Royal Enfield Classic 650 Twin review: All-Time Classic?

Before the end of November, Royal Enfield will launch the Goan Classic 350, its fifth product on the J-series engine platform, following the Meteor, Classic, Hunter, and Bullet. The Goan Classic will be a funky-looking bobber-style motorcycle that will share most of its fundamentals with the Classic 350.

1. Riding position will be different from Classic 350’s
2. Will use the same engine as the other RE 350s
3. Could be the most expensive 350cc RE upon launch

Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350: details

Since the Goan Classic will use the same 349cc single-cylinder engine as the rest of the RE 350s, its peak output will most likely stand at 20hp and 27Nm of torque. Even the Goan Classic’s main frame is likely to be the same as the Classic 350. The differences are likely to be in the styling, paint options, and riding position. 

Also See: Royal Enfield Classic 650 Twin review: All-Time Classic?

At the newly opened store in Chennai, there are ceramics from both the hills and the coast, and reclaimed teakwood furniture that will give you the home makeover itch

The scooter-turned-coffee table in the actor’s living room is a testament to the respect and love he has for his late dad

MR Hari, who led the efforts to create the Miyawaki forest, hopes to inspire others by training people who want to follow the model

Delhi-based designer Vikram Goyal introduces a new line of everyday home accessories to suit various budgets and gifting requirements

This new colourway for the R15 dresses the bike up almost entirely in black, sprinkled with gold highlights for the Yamaha and R15 logos and golden alloy wheels.

Its flavour and aroma are a combination of the quality of ingredients — the cooking method, and as in all things creative, the experienced hand of the Khansama, meaning cook.  

Chennai loves its biryani. We meet three celebrated cooks from the city’s biryani hubs: Triplicane, Royapuram, and Periamet

The restaurant has a tropical-inspired ambience and plush velvet-clad sofas, serving dishes from the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

On National Highway-65, the one place where everyone stops at is 7 Midway Plaza at Suryapet

Onasadya this year includes everything from traditional sit-down lunches, to takeaway boxes. Here’s our pick on where to eat 

This biryani tour began at 8 a.m. To celebrate Madras Day, The Hindu organised a day-long curated trail to highlight the unique varieties of this city favourite’s dish. For those of you who could not join us, here’s the list

Both the farmers and the agriculture department are striving to get the GI tag for the coconut, locally called as Ayyampalayam Nettai

The Ambur Canteen serves a variety of flavours that its founders grew up on, including recipes from their mothers, grandmothers and cooks

Two Canada-based Malayali friends brew Taika, an artisanal arrack using fruits, spices, dates and jaggery Their ‘naadan charayam’ label bears the image of an elephant and a Kerala bus

Rampyari Chaiwala Netaji Bhajiawala dishes out snacks such as litti chokha and Kashmiri bondas, uncommon in South India

Rooted in Indian culture, the homegrown dark sipping rum is created and bottled in Jammu and will soon be available in bars and restaurants across the country

Jeremy Zawodny has announced how to ping Yahoo's RSS database when you post to your Movable Type weblog. Yahoo joins weblogs.com, blo.gs, and several others in offering the XML-RPC ping interface. Pinging has the advantage of getting your content much faster into those sites that crawl RSS feeds for news.

While many of us were focused on the election, BYD announced that the YangWang U9 went 391.94 km/h (243 mph). Auto-translate under subtitles helps. This was not a one-off. No track-only equipment (other than a roll cage, for safety reasons), rockets, or gimmicks. It was a street-legal car using street ... [continued]

The post A YangWang U9 Recently Went 243 MPH — What It Says About BYD appeared first on CleanTechnica.

74(11):2024, p.452-457

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Over Labor Day weekend, Phoenix, Arizona, will host Orthodox young adults from all over who'll gather for fellowship, a service project, and the chance to stretch themselves to better live and EXCLAIM their Orthodox faith. To discuss this great event, and share their own inspiring stories, Bill will interview Judge Steven Counelis and George Anagnostopoulos. These enthusiastic visionaries represent the amazing Young Adult League committee that organized this unique and extraordinary event.

In this podcast, Frederica is interviewed at Bryan College about cultural issues, liturgical worship, and her faith.

Can you say Yakima? Ever been? Fr. Joseph affirms the latter; still not sure about the former. (What about Wapato?) Here's a little history of Holy Cross Church/Yakima, Washington. No matter how you say it, it's well worth a visit!

Fr. John shares from Psalm 19.

Fr. John shares the story of the martyrdom of the Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family as an encouragement for us to be faithful no matter what we face in life.

He was a young courtier to the Emperor Trajan, and a secret Christian. When the Emperor and his court were offering sacrifice to the idols, Hyacinth stood apart; he was noticed and brought before the Emperor where, when interrogated, he proclaimed himself a Christian and refused to make sacrifice to the pagan gods. For this he was brutally whipped, then thrown into prison, where the Emperor ordered that he be given only food that had been sacrificed to idols. This Hyacinth refused to eat and, after eight days, died in prison.

He was a young courtier to the Emperor Trajan, and a secret Christian. When the Emperor and his court were offering sacrifice to the idols, Hyacinth stood apart; he was noticed and brought before the Emperor where, when interrogated, he proclaimed himself a Christian and refused to make sacrifice to the pagan gods. For this he was brutally whipped, then thrown into prison, where the Emperor ordered that he be given only food that had been sacrificed to idols. This Hyacinth refused to eat and, after eight days, died in prison.

Fr. Adrian Budica interviews Dr. Katya Hill - Associate Professor at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh and Executive Director of the AAC Institute and clinic a non-profit organization dedicated to serving individuals who cannot talk. (Part 1 of 2)

Fr. Adrian Budica continues his interview with Dr. Katya Hill - Associate Professor at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh and Executive Director of the AAC Institute and clinic a non-profit organization dedicated to serving individuals who cannot talk. (Part 2 of 2)

In Christ's telling of the parable of the vineyard and its wicked tenants, Fr. Andrew connects the story directly with our own lives in the Church.

Using the image of the vineyard placed in a hedge by a householder, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick preaches on all the elements of the placing of that vineyard, and then expands his thoughts on what it means to be separate from the world and why that is a positive experience for Orthodox Christians.

In this special documentary, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick goes on pilgrimage to encounter Fr. Nicola Yanney, an early 20th century Orthodox missionary in America and the first priest ordained by St. Raphael of Brooklyn, whose missionary territory included most of the Great Plains. Join Fr. Andrew as he explores the life of this holy man through interviews, research and prayer in Kearney, Nebraska, asking the question: Is Fr. Nicola a saint? Included with this documentary are 9 bonus tracks of extra interviews and other material that was not included in the main documentary.

Host Matthew Monos interviews the OCF Student Leadership Board Chairman about OCF's "Day of Light," "Breaking Bread," and "Day of Prayer" programs.