Royal Enfield Shotgun 650
No other marque has been in the continuous production of motorcycles for as long as Royal Enfield. And with that 123 year heritage (count ‘em) it is hardly surprising to see their current model line-up often doff its flat-cap to machines of their past, even the nomenclature is largely mined from their historical fleet. But with the Shotgun, despite the familial artillery title, Royal Enfield have picked a brand new name and set their sights in a new direction, forward.
Hosted at BSMC Shoreditch, the UK launch of the Shotgun included a presentation peppered with reference material of future cityscapes, manga comics and the obligatory Akira poster… No one can deny that the Eighties created the most compelling vision of the future to date. It was from these mood boards that the creative direction of the Shotgun formed. In place of pinstriping you find bold graphic blocks, in place of chrome, paint and powder-coat. Sure, credit is paid to the past, the cast wheel design apes the criss-cross of spokes and Enfield’s iconic rear frame triangle is celebrated, but the overall feel of the Shotgun is at minimum contemporary, with one eye firmly fixed on tomorrow.
If you wanted to box the Shotgun, it would seem to most easily occupy the genre of cruiser, but that is a category in which RE already have a player, the excellent Super Meteor. The Shotgun instead, shorn of chrome, with a comparatively neutral riding position and dynamic ambitions beyond the usually casual standard of the cruiser class, shrugs off the concept of category. And this is entirely deliberate.
From the ground up the Shotgun was created with the intention of providing the owner with a starting point on which to realise their own direction for the bike. With the Bike Shed baiting tagline, “Inspired by custom, for Custom”, the Shotgun immediately invites you to contemplate what you would alter, be it through the extensive parts catalogue, or a more involved build process. But before we fall down that wonderful rabbit hole, what’s it like to ride?
Bloody good fun. Enfield’s much admired 650 twin, first seen in the Interceptor and Continental GT models, is as ever, a willing accomplice. The motor’s modest stats belie an eagerness to work coupled with gymnastic flexibility across the lower gears that I would take over more boastful numbers every time. With 6th and to a certain extent 5th acting as overdrive ratios, the ability to cruise required of the Shotgun’s loosely occupied category is a box predictably ticked. The surprise comes in the bike’s desire to duck and dive.
The spine frame is shared with the Super Meteor, but it edits the more laid-back approach of that machine by steepening the rake and shortening the trail, resulting in a wheelbase some 35mm shorter. That, coupled with the revised rider ergonomic triangle and shift from 19’ to 18’ inch front wheels, yields a machine that begs for bends. Just don’t be surprised by the inevitable grind of those pegs…
That agility, in turn lends itself to the adjust and thrust of city riding. My two-week taste of Shotgun ownership was largely spent criss-crossing London through incessant February rain. That a smile was frequently found beneath my helmet I am keen to attribute to the Shotgun’s willingness to entertain, rather than my creeping winter insanity. Slicing through traffic to the polite burble of the parallel twin is an engaging yet easy-going venture, with the shop windows throwing satisfying reflections back at you… even if my oversized proportions slightly undermine the bike’s undeniable presence.
Beyond riding pleasure, potential Shotgun owners would encounter the much-vaunted value of Enfield ownership, alongside the unlikely bedfellow of quality components; Showa suspension, Enfield’s Google backed Tripper navigation system, satisfying aluminium switchgear and much more. So should you choose to hand over your hard-earned in exchange for a Shotgun, you would be paired with a capable and compelling machine to enjoy as stock. But with an Enfield accented voice nagging in your head, “what’s next?” …Back to that Rabbit hole.
Not shown in the shots of my test bike, the Shotgun is delivered with a bolt on/off rear subframe that can be deployed as a pillion seat, luggage rack or abandoned completely in favour of the solo look. The mounting points for this provide the perfect anchor point for a floating subframe of your own design.
Currently in residence at 384 Old St, the factory-developed custom Shotgun, built for new Netflix movie “The Kitchen” gives an idea of just how far you could take this idea. Check out our YouTube video exploring the design of this incredible custom HERE. At the other end of the scale would be a smattering of parts plucked from the aforementioned aftermarket catalogue, and a play with paint. Neither direction is any more or less valid than the other.
To create high-end inspiration for this journey into modification, Enfield delivered a mystery box of body panels, headlight nacelle, tank and yokes to some of the finest custom builders on the planet, to edit the Shotgun pre-launch, unseen. Check out our Youtube Vid with Rough Crafts founder Winston Yeh HERE to see his stunning take on this programme. For Bike Shed, as champions of custom-culture, it is incredibly refreshing to see a manufacturer actively encourage onward creativity and individuality with a new machine. We cannot wait to see what you do with them… Now, who is going to be ready for the 2024 Bike Shed Moto Show??!
