Royal Enfield Bear 650 Review

Used Buyer Review

The Bear 650 is Royal Enfield finally getting their act together with the parallel twin platform. Used examples are popping up now and honestly, they're worth a serious look if you can stomach the brand's historically patchy reliability reputation. The 648cc motor pulls cleanly from low revs, the ergonomics are genuinely comfortable for all-day riding, and it looks the part without screaming 'try-hard retro.' Build quality has improved dramatically over older RE stuff, though you'll still want to inspect electrics carefully on any used example. Check service history obsessively. Early owners sometimes skipped break-in oil changes, which matters on this engine. Look for fork seal leaks and inspect the final drive chain — some owners run them bone dry. The switchgear feels budget on close inspection and the stock exhaust is embarrassingly quiet, so most used bikes will have aftermarket pipes already fitted, which is actually a bonus. At used prices, you're getting a genuinely characterful middleweight that punches above its cost. Don't expect Japanese reliability, but maintained properly it'll reward you handsomely.