Ever since I started riding the Royal Enfield Bear 650, I have been complaining about its hard suspension, and more recently, the poor grip in wet conditions. Yet, I find myself reaching out for its keys more often than you’d imagine. Why, though? I hadn’t given it much thought until I started taking the bike out just to understand that.
Being the quick one off the signal, or through the traffic has its perks and the 649cc parallel-twin engine allowed me to do just that — without any stress. And though I had noticed those small pops and bangs when I first rode the bike, there’s noticeably more of it, especially in the first two gears — something that’s keeping the autos and other two-wheelers from coming too close.
Weaving through the rush-hour traffic with this heavy brute could never be easy, and I made peace with that. The ergonomics, though, made things slightly more manageable but I’d often end up with some discomfort on my right foot. I blamed the implant in my leg until I realised the awkward guard covering the rear brake servo was to be blamed — the solution? Keeping the foot slightly outwards or just resting the foot flat on the ‘peg.
I’ve been doing everything I can to adapt to the motorcycle and soften the ride — dropping tyre pressures and adjusting rear preload. And while the pillion seat is well-cushioned, the stiff rear springs still send enough jolts to earn me an earful almost every time the missus hops on.
And yes, I haven’t forgotten about my resolution on taking this off-road. Thanks to the early onset of monsoons, the trails are already slushy, and now my biggest worry is not just punctures, but also wading through the mud on this 216-kg bike.
