[ValuableRecluse]

Alright, folks, it’s been just over a month since I welcomed my shiny new Bear 650 into my life. I bought this beast because I loved its stance and I needed a city bike that wouldn’t break a sweat on the highway.

Now, I didn’t test ride it before buying. Newbie mistake, I know, but I devoured every review out there. All of them warned me, “The suspension is stiff.” What they didn’t say was how stiff.
Let me put it this way—if concrete could ride a bike, it’d be on the Bear 650.

I’m a solid 90 kg and when I sat on the Bear, the rear suspension barely budged—1 cm of sag, max. One centimeter!
Yes I checked, the spring preload was on the minimum setting.

On the plus side, provided you’re on the pegs, this thing eats speed breakers, potholes, and rumble strips for breakfast—at 60 km/h and above, it doesn’t flinch.

But for city cruising?
Let’s just say even the tiniest bumps turned me into a human jack-in-the-box. Not exactly the dignified biker vibe I was going for.

Hoping the suspension would soften up after some miles, I embarked on a 1,300 km round trip to the Melghat Tiger Reserve with my buddy (who, incidentally, was riding his stiff Bear).







Fantastic trip over varied surfaces and beautiful jungle scenery, but that’s another story.

Enroute, I made it my mission to punish the suspension: every pothole, speed breaker, and bumpy off-road trail we encountered got a full-throttle treatment. Sure, the suspension loosened up a bit, but it was still about as supple as a BMC park bench.

Inspite of the punishment, the bear refused to squeak or rattle, testament to the good build quality of the current gen RE’s.

Back in Mumbai, I found myself avoiding the Bear and gravitating toward my Ather 450X.
My neighbors were baffled—“Didn’t he just buy that big, bad bike?”
But I couldn’t help it. Between the stiff ride and the weird sporty lean toward the handlebars, my back was staging daily protests.

So, I did what any self-respecting biker does: I started modding. First up, I swapped out the Bear’s rear shock absorbers for the golden shock absorbers from the Interceptor 650.


Yes, I knew I’d lose some ground clearance, but at that point, I was more interested in saving my spine than tackling tall curbs.



To keep things balanced, I pulled the fork tubes up the triple tree to maintain the original rake.



Out with the old, in with the new!

Of course, the festive season delayed the installation, but I finally got it done. Here’s the verdict:

Bear 650 with Interceptor Shocks
Advantages:
• Plush, comfy ride—no more pogo-ing over tiny bumps.
• I don’t have to stand on the pegs every time I spot a ripple in the road.
• The lower stance keeps the Bear from looking like it’s about to tip over when parked.

Disadvantages:
• I miss the tall, “I can ride over anything” scrambler vibe.

Next, I swapped out the handlebars for the ones from the Meteor 350. This also required longer clutch and throttle cables, but it was worth the hassle.

Meteor 350 Handlebars on the Bear 650
Advantages:
• The increased leverage makes the Bear feel 30 kg lighter.
• The relaxed reach makes long rides way more comfortable.
• No more bone-rattling shocks to my wrists and shoulders every time I hit a bump.

How much did it cost?



They were kind enough to give me a discount so worked up to about 15.5k.



I’ll update this thread with measurements once I’m back in Mumbai, but so far, the Bear 650 is finally starting to feel like my kind of ride. Moral of the story? Sometimes, even the toughest Bears need a little softening up—and so do 48-year-old bikers.

[SedanGuy]

Lovely write up mate.

Bear is a stunning looking bike and you have managed to tame the bear (pun intended). For a scrambler it’s a shame to be this stiff. What baffles me is why is RE producing more and more stiffer bikes catering to the western markets but at the same time majority of their sales (80% of it) come from India.

[rajeevsulu]

The modifications you have carried out are very functional. I own an Interceptor and when I test rode the Bear last week,I was thinking about the stiff setup. I could feel every ridge on the road when riding slow.

I asked the service advisor as to why it was so stiff. Wonder why Royal Enfield messes up with suspensions most times.

Happy riding.

Cheers

[CU23]

Interesting!
Following this thread for long term reviews.

[Crank270]

Congratulations on a very useful mod. The Ohlins or YSS would do a better job but that would be an expensive purchase.

BTW can you tell which clutch cable did you install? I installed a handlebar riser and feel my Interceptors cable is too tight when turned to the right.

[masterChief007]

Wow the bear looks gorgeous !! Due to some personal issues (a.k.a a busted knee) and office schedules not able to go out and get the test ride for this machine. Lot of reviews the gripes were about suspension, so this has addressed it's main issue.

In my opinion this is the most beautiful 650 RE has in their line-up (from arm-chair perspective as I have yet to test ride this in person).

[CrusingSoul]

Originally Posted by ValuableRecluse

I’ll update this thread with measurements once I’m back in Mumbai, but so far, the Bear 650 is finally starting to feel like my kind of ride. Moral of the story? Sometimes, even the toughest Bears need a little softening up—and so do 48-year-old bikers.

Looks more attractive now. Could you please post the riding posture before and after changing the handles?

[DieselAnna]

Originally Posted by ValuableRecluse

I’ll update this thread with measurements once I’m back in Mumbai, but so far, the Bear 650 is finally starting to feel like my kind of ride. Moral of the story? Sometimes, even the toughest Bears need a little softening up—and so do 48-year-old bikers.

Positively waiting for your update after this mod. I am seriously considering this bike since its launch and the 2 biggest cons have been solved for you.

I am also from Mumbai, and would like to personally check out your bike, with your permission once you are back.

[paragp2006]

A couple of weeks ago, our garage welcomed a new family member—the mighty Bear 650—and oh boy, what a whirlwind romance it has been! In just a few weeks, this beast has devoured 2000 kilometers, carrying not just me but also my wife, who has become my permanent co-pilot in this newfound biking adventure.

Let me tell you, I’ve read some chatter about the suspension being stiff. Honestly, I wouldn’t know. Why? Because from the moment the Bear 650 roared to life, I’ve never ridden solo! Every mile we’ve clocked has been with both of us aboard, soaking up the roads and life together. For two-up touring, this bike is the Goldilocks of its kind—just right in performance, comfort, and, importantly, budget.

Here’s the twist: we were die-hard car road-trippers until recently. What changed? My wife’s determination to squeeze the most out of life before we hit the big 4-0. “Why stay boxed in when we can feel the wind, the sun, and the open road?” she said. And, well, how could I argue with that logic? Now, our car quietly sulks in the driveway as we hit the highways on two wheels, chasing sunsets and adventures.

Of course, I couldn’t leave the Bear 650 in its stock avatar. Some tinkering was inevitable. So far, I’ve added:

A Meteor 350 windscreen to keep the wind at bay,
RE fog lamps to light up our nocturnal escapades,
And Himalayan 450 knuckle guards for those rugged terrains.
But wait, there’s more! I’m eagerly awaiting delivery of Zana quick-release saddle mounts, saddle bags, and tail mounts. They’re expected this week, and I’m like a kid waiting for Christmas morning!

Now here’s a confession: in all our riding excitement, we’ve barely paused to take pictures. Can you believe we have just one photo of the Bear 650? That’s how much fun we’ve been having! I promise, though, if time and the road gods allow, I’ll sit down to share a full travelogue of our escapades soon.

Until then, here’s our one and only snapshot of the Bear. It might not capture all the memories, but it’s a start.

So, fellow riders and road warriors, if you’re considering swapping four wheels for two or just want a bike that doubles as a magic carpet for adventures, I can’t recommend the Bear 650 enough. And if you’ve already joined the Bear tribe, drop a comment below and share your mods and stories. Let’s keep the wheels turning and the adventures rolling!

Ride safe, ride happy.

[sc15523]

That's a great write-up. And I really liked the mod you did in your Bear 650. I too own a SM650 and I have also changed the rear shock absorber with a Hagon Shock Absorbers from UK. Those were expensive but worth of it. Atleast the shock absorber cost is less compared to Spine Surgery or Replacement

Share your experience more on the shock absorber as I am planning to replace my Mahindra Mojo soon.

Originally Posted by ValuableRecluse

Alright, folks, it’s been just over a month since I welcomed my shiny new Bear 650 into my life.

[paragp2006]

As mentioned before, I got my shipment for Zana saddle stays, quick release bags, top rack and fork sliders. All of this from Zana has costed me 15k including shipment. I spent another 1k for installation. Here is how my bear 650 looks now. It's now well prepared for 600kms trip over next weekend.

[kkSolo]

Any idea if any of the RE alloys are a direct fit to the bear? Thinking of the 19 inch front rims from the Meteor 650 and the 17 inch rear from the shotgun. OR can the 18s from the interceptor fit this directly if the tyre profile remains the same, only question being the if the bigger rear brake discs will fit? Also any ideas on the center stand yet?

[Oreen]

I ride a V-Strom 650, and am looking for a city bike (Bullet 350, BSA 650, Bear 650, Classic 650), but then a Scrambler has always been a dream. I turned my AVL 350 Machismo into a scrambler long back, and then tried the same thing with my Triumph Street Twin 900 (with disastrous results to the electronics/electricals), but the desire for a scrambler hasn't died down yet...am soon gonna be 54, but maybe the Bear can be one last hurrah :-P

Thanks for the thread. Following it keenly.

[Blackmambaa02]

Originally Posted by paragp2006

A Meteor 350 windscreen to keep the wind at bay.

How is the windshield helping with the wind blast? Can you post a photo from the front and also, do we need to buy any extra fittings to install it?

[Standalone]

Hey, this is fantastic.

I own a Bear too and it's a month old baby.

I am also planning to change the rear suspension post my first service.

Just one question, though..

Any reason for pulling the fork tubes up?

Kindly let me know.

Thank you...