[BullettuPaandi]

Originally Posted by Shonith

on the corners the rear feels light almost like it’s going to lose grip.

I thought it was some random youtuber; never would've guessed that he's a "reviewer". I used to watch such videos over a decade ago, before I realised that they're useless. The sheer lack of informative content from our "reviewers" used to enrage me initially, then frustrate me, but now I find it rather weirdly amusing.

Now that you bring up 'losing grip', I'm reminded of a yet another reason for why riders shouldn't try this "hack". While less agility and more nose-dives I mentioned earlier are more like annoyances, this is a potential safety hazard that'd make nose-dives rather the desirable outcome out of the "hack".

When the preload is set too high, the rear can lose grip as you've mentioned. But at least you can feel that and not push the bike further. The effect of this on the front might be even worse. If the front is loaded too much, there is a higher chance for loss of grip on the front tyre, under sudden braking.

Tyres grip well, and subsequently brake well, under load. Ideally, this happens as progressively as the lever is pulled, and as progressively the front forks compress and transfer all the load on to the front tyre. But when the front is already loaded due to such altered geometry, if you (the rider) were to apply sudden brake out of necessity, the braking won't be progressive. At such a high rate of load being transferred to the tyre, the contact path will deform faster than it reforms (which is inherently hysteric). Soon enough the rubber on tyre will lose all its flexibility and won't be able to deform enough to grip the road. You won't feel this loss of grip until the very moment it happens, by which point you'll already be facing the imminent threat that made you brake so hard in the first place.

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by Shonith

If you set the preload to 10 (for a rider weighing 70kg) on the duke it feels like the suspension is non existent. You feel every bump, every undulation on the road, you can forget about riding on potholes. The bike stays inclined with the nose pointing downwards, on the corners the rear feels light almost like it’s going to lose grip.

If you have to set the preload too high, the spring is too soft for you. That's the basic rule of thumb. I love Sagar's reviews but he is quite one dimensional when it comes to his riding style. And you cannot recommend someone else to use a certain preload that worked for his weight and riding style. It's not like compression and rebound values. You can stick with the commonly accepted sag range. But even that's a range and not a hard value that's going to work for every weight and riding style. Sometimes you need the weight transfer to the front and sometimes you need more weight on the back. This depends on a lot of factors. Even GP riders setup their preloads very differently.

[BullettuPaandi]

Originally Posted by b16h22

If you have to set the preload too high, the spring is too soft for you. That's the basic rule of thumb.

How does a higher preload result in a soft suspension? It does the exact opposite.

Feeling every bump and undulation doesn't necessarily mean that the suspension has bottomed out. When there's not enough normal force compressing the suspension (due to the higher than necessary preload), much of the available travel effectively acts as a bump stop, and the bumps and undulations ultimately reach our spine.

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by BullettuPaandi

How does a higher preload result in a soft suspension? It does the exact opposite.

Feeling every bump and undulation doesn't necessarily mean that the suspension has bottomed out. When there's not enough normal force compressing the suspension (due to the higher than necessary preload), much of the available travel effectively acts as a bump stop, and the bumps and undulations ultimately reach our spine.

I don't think you got what I meant. If you are having to add lot of preload to fix a shock because it's soft for you, the spring is too soft and no preload can fix it. It needs re-springing. It is common suspension wisdom. This was directed towards bhpian Shonit's Duke shock remark.

[BullettuPaandi]

Originally Posted by b16h22

I don't think you got what I meant.

Ah, my bad; I misread. Didn't read the 'to' in "If you have to set the preload too high, the spring is too soft for you". Apologies.

[aditya.bhardwaj]

So i have covered almost 450 kms with my Bear and honestly, the ride felt much better than the multiple test rides on different bikes I took. Don’t know whether it’s my bike or something was wrong with the test bikes. I was quite happy overall (my weight is 75 kgs).

As suggested in the recent video by sagar sheldekar, maxed out the preload and it really has made a difference to the ride. Rides much much better than before.

PS: Got a new lid as well.

[TheHelix0202]

I spent last evening getting an audio system upgrade for my Rapid and decided to kill some time by checking out the Himalayan 450 again at the nearest showroom, which was just a stone’s throw away.

The ever-friendly Mr. Amit Gowda from Acclaim Motors welcomed me as usual and suggested that I try the Bear 650 first instead of the Himalayan. I had no intention of even considering the Bear, but I thought—why not?—and went for it.

I must say, I was positively blown away by the overall fit and finish of the bike. That trip console is a treat for the eyes, and the yellow color looked fantastic.

But that’s where the pros ended. The tubed spoked wheels, the 210+ kg weight, the less-than-symphonic exhaust note from that hideous pipe, and the stiff (rather than plush) suspension all made me drop this bike as a potential second ride—though with a heavy heart.

Right after the Bear, I rode the Himalayan, and honestly, it was even worse than I remembered. Perhaps it just needed a service, but the bike was also rattling quite a bit.

[Blackmambaa02]

Buying a new motorcycle is always an exciting experience, so this post is going to be a long one!

But getting my hands on the Royal Enfield Bear 650 was something truly special. As an avid rider, I had been eagerly waiting for this machine, and once I finally got it, I knew I had to make it my own. This article is a deep dive into my journey—from purchasing the bike, adding accessories, taking it on its first long ride to Hyderabad, and how it felt to ride.

About myself & Why the Bear 650?

I have been riding 1995 CI engine which my parents bought me in the year 2008 for 35k (because it was the cheapest option, as Karizma R was 82k, Which was a big no no at the time) which was already with a new bore and a fresh coat of paint. I was always been a fan of crusing the roads, rather than racing over it.

I bought my first car in 2021 Feb - Thar 4X4 Petrol AT HT - Which on the first look in showroom stole my heart. And no, I don't use it to go over sidewalks, and nor do I have spacers on the tires to make it "ROAD-BIG", Running on all stock rims and tyres. Frequently take it offroading in Madikeri and Chickmagalur.


When the time came to buy the bike which checked all the items on my list,

• Stress free engine at 100 kmph
• Map functionality for city use
• Less Maintenance
• Factory Kia-Like bike connect features

and for the price of ₹4,48,000 on-road, there isn't a bike that is as reliable as the soon-to-be legendary RE 650 twin-cylinder. There is no comparison between this engine and KTM’s grinder of an engine, which was my only other option. No hate to the brand—just that the RE's twin-cylinder engine is EXTREMELY refined.

Gear:
For Myself:
A friend/guru of mine who thought me how to do off-roading (He has a Gurkha and a serious bike tourer - has covered all of India multiple times),
Rides with Solace brand jacket which he had loaned me for a ride, I loved the ventilation options it had, hence:

Jacket: SOLACE Furious Pro Touring Jacket (Black & Neon)
Pant: SOLACE COOLPRO V3T.0 Mesh Pant (Black & Neon)
Gloves: SOLACE Rival Carbon CE Gloves (Neon)

For the Bear:
There is this store in Namma Bengaluru's celebrated JC Road - Autonity,
Went there to get handle bar raisers for it as it feels low for my 6 ft frame.

They own a brand called Legundry Customs, where they had manufactured bear accessories, and asked me if I can loan my bike to get it fitted for a photo shoot, and If I wanted to buy them, they would give me discount as well. So I got the below:

• Saddle Stay
• Top Box Mount
• Back rest
• Crash guard (which I gave back as it mounts to the two bolts near the neck of the chasis, which I thought was unsafe with all the Himalayan's chasis being broken) -- Got OEM later - which doen't bolt to the same place.
• Sump Guard (which I also returned as there was buzzing on the left footrest at 2.5 RPMs) -- GOT OEM later
• Maddog Alpha (Switch and wiring harness pro)
• Headlamp Grill
• MX Knuckle Guards
• AEW Performance CAT (Midpipe) - Sound has increased ever so slighly
• BOBO anti vibration waterproof phone holder
• RYNOX NOMAD SADDLEBAGS - Because it has an angle at the back to make way for the angled silencer on the right.
• LS2 Storm II helmet - With pinlock
• Bluearmor C30 Intercom - With their new "Tuned by blu" speakers (Not JBL anymore), Lacks base, But extremely good when it comes to phone calls and loudness of the music.

Gears photo:


The First Ride: Hyderabad Bound
Had been to Kukke Subramanya temple on the day of delivery and came back and give it first service the very next day - Around 550 km round trip from Mysuru. And this was with the bare - Bear.

Now, With everything set up, I decided to go for a proper test on the highway. The destination? Hyderabad - had to meet my team there (I work in an IT company), so thought instead of taking a flight from Bengaluru, why not ride there.
The ride covered long stretches of highways, like extremely long, actually there isn't a single curve on it, and with occasional city traffic, giving me the perfect opportunity to test the bike’s performance in crusing conditions.

From the moment I twisted the throttle, the 650cc parallel-twin engine purred effortlessly, delivering smooth power. The torque delivery was impressive, making overtaking effortless - 6th gear all the way.

The riding posture was comfortable - but the rear suspension is really bad.
Good but a late fix which I found:

Sagar Sheldekar Offcial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPsCKrn8Av8

He suggested to set the pre load to MAX, and surprisingly, I can now live with it. Haven't been on a ride after, but Bengaluru roads in certain places, clearly showed me the difference.

Likes and Dislikes:
Likes:

• Engine smoothness - Nothing within this price range comes closer
• Torque - Helps in not changing gears a lot single a lot of top speed focussed thumpers (Single Cylinder engines)
• Ride connect app - All my stops and my travel is tracked in RE app. Also shows the location of where the bike is at all times. (Even with the ignition off)
• Smooth gearbox - Engaging first gear hurts your heart - BIG THUD, moving through the rest of the gears literally feels like there are two gear boxes.

Dislikes:

• Suspension
• Excessive heat from the engine - Shoes and pant are a must to ride this within city.
• No center stand - Even after removing the big stock CAT, we still need to do some welding to fit the Interceptors center stand. (Missing a rod on the chasis which stops the stand from rotating at an angle when stood upright)
• Headlights - Worst!
• Weight - Should've been 15 kgs lighter

Now, After I reached and finished my work, While I was heading back I stopped in Gandikota. I made a few stops along the way, enjoying the scenic views and chai breaks, something every rider loves. As I reached Bengaluru and now, I realized how much I had fallen in love with this machine—it was not just a bike anymore, it was an experience.

This is my first post, So please be gentle on the replies, Also, please ask me any questions on the bike or gears I have.

Few pictures:

First Pooje in front of Mysuru Palace (Kote Anjaneya Swamy temple):


With all the accessories.


On my way from Mysuru - Bengaluru home (Kanakapura Road)


Rayalaseema toll:


Gandikota:


Total BLR - HYD - Gandikota - BLR:

[rakesh_r]

Originally Posted by Blackmambaa02

[*]AEW Performance CAT (Midpipe) - Sound has increased ever so slighly

Nice set of mods, with the cat con gone would the bike clear the emission tests?

[TheHelix0202]

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Nice set of mods, with the cat con gone would the bike clear the emission tests?

Easily. For context, even a BS3 390 would still clear emission tests without a cat-con.

[rajeevsulu]

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Nice set of mods, with the cat con gone would the bike clear the emission tests?

Though it is not a bike,my BS 1 Hyundai Accent GLE clears the emission tests easily. So does my Interceptor which has the full system Powerage exhaust.

Cheers

[glvenubt11]

I am getting this beast next week, has any current owners managed to get a center stand ? Looking through multiple threads, it appears only a paddock stand is a viable option.

[SithDefender]

Test rode the Bear 650, and man it is fantastic!

A little bit of context : I was the owner of the original Interceptor 650 and loved it to bits. Unfortunately, I had to sell it off because of various reasons described in https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motor...ml#post5833577 (Ridden: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 & Continental GT 650 Twin).

To keep it short, the main issue was the messed-up ergonomics (especially the shins which interfered every time), the hard suspension and seat, and the weight. I have always missed the bike, but there was nothing to do but wait for RE to bring in an improved version. However, the refreshed Interceptor also had more of the same ergonomic issues. Pls note that these are my personal observations, and other owners may not feel that way. That is fine, just stating my personal experience here.

So it was with some trepidation that I stepped up to the Bear 650 on a fine afternoon. I couldn't flat foot it, of course, but it was still manageable. The weight was far less. Also, the move to a single sided 2x1 exhaust means this is now more agile and nimble, where the Interceptor felt somewhat clumsy in traffic as you have to take care of the protruding exhausts on both sides. The handlebar was raised, with a slight lean, but felt taller and thus easier to reach than the Interceptor. And the seat felt softer too, compared to the rock hard seat of the older version. All this contributed to the bike feeling more like a bigger Hunter 650!

I am pleased to announce that the shins no longer interfere. This one thing is a major improvement. Other factors are also positive. The handlebar grips were rounded this time (like the Meteor and modern Interceptors), instead of arrow straight grips that caused my palms to go numb in a short while.



The seat was very comfortable, a big surprise. Strangely, the blue seats do not look so garish in person.



The display was just fantastic! Gone were the old twin pods, and in their place was this giant TFT screen - that too in color. I cant wait to see Google Maps on this. It even gets a gear counter !!

On the go, it felt eager and quick. RE's parallel twin is a gem of an engine, with smooth torque rolling off instead of a manic rush. The exhaust sound was different too, but the Interceptor seemed to sound better (especially given a pair of aftermarket exhausts).



During the very short ride, I noticed no cramping in the legs. No finger numbness. No shoulder pain. No butt pain. Incredible! Incredible that they have addressed so many pain points!



The fuel cap still comes detached, instead of staying in place, a bad omission. But it is not a deal breaker. That said, they should have offered tubeless tyres and a wee bit softer rear suspension. Other than that, this is nearly perfect!



This grizzly makes me feel alive!

[Growler86]

Hi fellow BHPians!

I am a proud owner of the OG Bullet 350 CI Engine 2008 model. For almost ten years i have been thinking of upgrading to twins but then life happened. I have been doing casual weekend rides in the city on the Bullet but i have long overgrown that thump and tired of the vibrations. Though I have strong emotional attachment to the bike, I have finally decided to sell her to someone who is passionate about the CI Engine.

Since the RE twins came along, I have been inclined towards the Interceptor. I'd mostly be doing weekend rides and the occasional touring, may be once in a year. I was drawn even more towards the recently updated ones with tubeless tires and alloys.

But come winter, came the disruptive Bear 650 that has completely grabbed my attention. I am yet to test ride it but have definitely devoured all the YouTube reviews and vlogs. So far, I have been able to draw the following conclusions:

1. Tubeless tires. The top end Interceptor with alloy wheels costs about 20K less on road in Chandigarh than the base variant of Bear. However, in choosing the former, I will be losing out on significant upgrades like the USD Showa forks, Higher ground clearance, better seats and Tripper Dash navigation etc. Is trading tubeless tires for all these upgrades worth in the long run?

2. Stiff suspension. Almost all reviews mention this. Frankly speaking, upgrading from a semi-vintage motorcycle it does not seem to bother me much. Am I overlooking this issue? Is it actually a dealbreaker?


I'd be glad to hear some opinions on these matters. May be it'll clear up my mind and help me make a better decision.


Thanks in advance!!!

[SithDefender]

Originally Posted by Growler86

1. Tubeless tires. The top end Interceptor with alloy wheels costs about 20K less on road in Chandigarh than the base variant of Bear. However, in choosing the former, I will be losing out on significant upgrades like the USD Showa forks, Higher ground clearance, better seats and Tripper Dash navigation etc. Is trading tubeless tires for all these upgrades worth in the long run?

2. Stiff suspension. Almost all reviews mention this. Frankly speaking, upgrading from a semi-vintage motorcycle it does not seem to bother me much. Am I overlooking this issue? Is it actually a dealbreaker?

1. Forget everything about the USD, seats, tripper dash etc. The shins on the Interceptor are set in a way that block your feet while you try to tiptoe or reverse the motorcycle, especially in busy traffic. This particular thing has been a huge concern for me, and this is addressed in the Bear 650 which has moved the footpegs away. To me, this is the biggest advantage (besides the 2x1 exhaust).
NB : You can, of course, change to tubeless tyres on the Bear. It is an additional expense, but not impossible.

2. Yes, the suspension is bloody stiff. If you take regular breaks while riding, you may be able to adjust to an extent.

Ultimately, you should ride both bikes and decide. For me, the Bear is the better Interceptor. Good luck in your search !