Royal Enfield Classic 650 Review: Is It the Best 650 Twin? The new Royal Enfield Classic 650 is reviewed! Discover its timeless design, comfortable ride, and powerful 650 twin engine. We explore how it fits in Royal Enfield's lineup, comparing it to the Interceptor and considering it as an upgrade from the Classic 350. Learn about its standout features like the fuel gauge, Tripper navigation, and effective mudguards. Find out if this LAMS-approved motorcycle, priced from AUD$11,190, offers exceptional value and is the perfect modern classic for Australian roads.
Royal Enfield has never needed to reinvent the wheel. They just needed to perfect the one they've been making since 1901.
There's something to be said for a company that stays true to its roots. While other manufacturers chase the latest trends and technologies, Royal Enfield has quietly perfected the art of being authentically themselves. The Classic 650 is the latest expression of that philosophy, a motorcycle that honours seven decades of heritage while embracing just enough modernity to make sense in 2025.
After three weeks with Royal Enfield's latest 650 twin, the question isn't whether it's a good motorcycle (it is), but whether the world needed another Royal Enfield 650. With six variants now in the range, you could argue they're competing with themselves. But spend time with the Classic 650, and you start to understand why it exists.
Styled by History, Not Trends
Let's start with the obvious, this bike is gorgeous. Not in a flashy, look-at-me way, but in that effortless manner of something designed right the first time. The fuel gauge nestled in the classic speedo, the integrated Tripper navigation that actually looks purposeful rather than tacked-on, and those twin peashooter exhausts that whisper "classic" without shouting it.
We had the Valum Red, a maroon and cream combination that divided opinion in our camp but drew comments everywhere we stopped. Though honestly, that Teal Green option would have been perfect. Some colours just suit certain bikes, and that green suits this one like Sunday morning suits a pie run.
The rear mudguard deserves special mention. It's not just pretty, it works. After testing it through Sydney's winter rain and some questionable dirt road decisions, both bike and rider stayed remarkably clean. Function following form, as it should be.
The Ride: Comfort Meets Character
Swing a leg over the Classic 650, and the first thing you notice is the weight. At 243kg, it's no lightweight, but that mass translates to something valuable, presence. On the freeway, this bike feels planted, like it's been doing this for decades rather than months.
The suspension, particularly up front, soaks up Australia's less-than-perfect road surfaces with the kind of composure that makes you forget you're on a sub-$12,000 motorcycle. Combined with a genuinely comfortable seat and an upright riding position that doesn't punish your back, it's a bike you could happily tour on.
The 650 twin engine remains Royal Enfield's masterstroke. Smooth, torquey, and with enough character to remind you you're riding something special without being temperamental. The gearbox continues to be excellent across the range, no complaints there.
The Reality Check
But let's be honest about the compromises. That weight becomes apparent when you're wrestling the bike into a parking spot, made trickier by those peashooters widening the rear end. The side stand plays hide-and-seek every single time, leading to some unfortunate exhaust blemishes from a stray boot as you hunt for it.
There are minor vibrations at freeway speeds, nothing dramatic, but noticeable if you're used to the silky smoothness of some other 650s in the range. And yes, it takes a moment to gather momentum from a standstill. Physics is physics, and 243kg needs a bit of encouragement.
The Bigger Picture
At $11,190 for the Vallum Red (add $200 for that gorgeous teal), the Classic 650 represents remarkable value. It's LAMS-approved, which means new riders can start their journey on something genuinely special rather than serving time on a compromise. More importantly, it's a bike you won't outgrow, the kind of machine that could happily be your only motorcycle.
The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride proved the perfect testing ground for Tegan. Surrounded by classic motorcycles from every era, the Royal Enfield didn't look out of place. If anything, it looked like it belonged, drawing questions and admiration from riders who appreciate authenticity over flash.
The Verdict
The Classic 650 earns its place in the Royal Enfield lineup not by being revolutionary, but by being right. It's the bike for riders who want the 650 twin experience wrapped in pure, undiluted classic styling. Yes, Royal Enfield might be competing with themselves, but when you're this good at what you do, that's not necessarily a problem.
It's not my favourite Royal Enfield 650, the Bear still holds that title, but it's the one I'd recommend to someone who wants their motorcycle to look like a motorcycle should look. Classic, purposeful, and utterly without pretension.
Sometimes the best compliment you can give a bike is that it makes perfect sense. The Royal Enfield Classic 650 makes perfect sense.
The Classic 650 is available now through Royal Enfield dealers. Test rides recommended – this is one of those bikes that feels better than the spec sheet suggests.