Upcoming Royal Enfield parallel-twin cruiser spotted again: Top Five Highlights

Aditya Chatterjee Updated: October 14, 2020, 09:03 PM IST

Royal Enfield's upcoming range of motorcycles have been in the news very often lately, be it for their leaked images or details that have surfaced online. And we aren't just talking of the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, which is expected to arrive in the coming weeks, taking the recently launched Honda Highness CB 350 by its horns. This time it is about the company's upcoming cruiser motorcycle, which is believed to be a flagship offering that will be positioned above the Interceptor 650 and the GT 650 parallel twins. Here are our top five highlights of the motorcycle

Muscular design, blackened theme and alloy wheels give the upcoming Royal Enfiled cruiser an interesting design theme

Design of the Royal Enfield parallel-twin cruiser

While the upcoming Royal Enfield cruiser has been spotted earlier, it is this time that one can see more design details. To begin with, we quite like the muscular styling which reminds us of the Moto Guzzi California 1400, especially with the black alloy wheels. The design consists of a large headlight, upside-down forks (first for a Royal Enfield) and a nice tear drop-shaped fuel tank. We expect it to have a larger volume, for a higher overall touring range.

The instrumentation on the upcoming Royal Enfield Cruiser motorcycle could borrow features that were seen on the KX concept as shown in this image (More details here)

The instrumentation will be a twin-pod unit, with one pod being larger than the other. Looking at the leaked images of the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, we are hoping RE offers the latest in terms of connectivity with navigation on this as well, as shown in the Royal Enfield KX concept. The side panels and the rear fender design is in line with the overall theme. Also hosted on the rear fender is the compact taillight. The seat design looks like fits a single unit, which should be comfortable for longer saddle hours. Not too sure if the pillion seat will be as accommodating though, especially for larger occupants.

Traditionally, RE cruisers like the Classic range of even the Bullet have featured tons of chrome. However, it was the Thunderbird X range that brought the blackened roadster theme.

Interestingly, Royal Enfield has not gone too blingy with an overt use of chrome in the whole design, apart from on the obvious places such as on the twin-tail pipes and the instrumentation surround. Most of the design features a blackened theme that looks quite interesting to us.

Underpinnings of the Royal Enfield parallel-twin cruiser

The Royal Enfield cruiser could feature a twin-cradle tubular steel frame, of a different design compared to that of the Interceptor 650 and GT 650 parallel-twins.

The upcoming Royal Enfield cruiser motorcycle will feature upside forks, a first for a RE motorcycle

This can also be seen with the design of the frame around the side panels. Further, as already mentioned, the RE Crusier will feature upside-down forks and gas-charged twin shock absorbers in the rear. We expect the ride quality to be much better and more plush as compared to the Classic 350 or any other RE cruiser so far. The riding ergonomics looks quite laid back with the wide handlebar and feet forward front pegs. Also, unlike the current crop of Royal Enfield motorcycles, the front disc is positioned on the right side of the motorcycle. It's a given that dual-channel ABS will be standard.

2020 Royal Enfield Cruiser motorcycle spotted (Image source)

Engine of the Royal Enfield parallel-twin cruiser

Though there is no confirmation on the exact specifications of this engine, except that it will be a parallel-twin unit, we expect it to be an air-oil cooled 648cc unit from the Interceptor/GT 650. Considering that it will be a flagship offering, it is almost certain that the 650cc engine will be seen here unless RE surprises us with a totally new displacement figure. As it did with a 411cc Royal Enfield Himalayan. Look at the engine casing and you will realise it has distinct styling from that of the GT/Interceptor with prominent RE and Royal Enfield badging on both sides.

The engine powering the upcoming Royal Enfield cruiser could be a parallel-twin 650cc unit from the GT and the Interceptor, but with the possibility of an altered state of tune

The state of tune of this motor could be altered to suit the cruiser characteristics, perhaps with a higher torque rating. This engine will come with a 6-speed gearbox, with a slipper clutch with assist function for fatigue-free shifts. What is not clear from the spied videos and pictures is if the power will be transmitted to the rear wheel via a chain or a belt drive. Also, the twin-pipes look like a sleeker version of the one on the RE GT parallel-twins.

Launch, price and availability of the Royal Enfield parallel-twin cruiser

Presently, the 2020 BSVI compliant Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and the GT 650 are priced between Rs 2.60 lakh to Rs 2.80 lakh, ex-showroom. With its flagship positioning and also the premium equipment to go with it, the Royal Enfield cruiser could be a smidge over Rs 3 lakh, ex-showroom. We are already aware that the launch of the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is just around the corner, encashing on the festive season. The flagship RE cruiser is expected to arrive sometime early next year. Unless the company launches the motorcycle at the absolute end of 2020, which is unlikely.

Competition of the Royal Enfield parallel-twin cruiser

In the real sense, at that pricing, the Royal Enfield 650cc cruiser motorcycle will have no competition. However, if its cruiser form and supposed 650cc displacement are taken into consideration, the only other cruiser is the Kawasaki's middleweight cruiser, the Vulcan S. It is Kawasaki's first and only cruiser offering in the country, powered by a liquid-cooled, 4-stroke parallel twin 649cc motor that puts out 61PS at 7,500rpm and generates 62.4 Nm at 6,600rpm. These numbers do appear superior compared to that of RE's 650cc parallel-twin, but at the same time, the Vulcan S has been priced at Rs 5.79 lakh, ex-showroom, making the upcoming RE motorcycle a far more accessible middleweight cruiser in the country.

2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S priced at Rs 5.79 lakh

Let us know your thoughts and views on the upcoming Royal Enfield 650cc cruiser and if you can point out anything additional than the things mentioned above.