[JessHerbst]

 I’ve read all the reviews, watched all the videos covering the Bear. I think it is a great bike. Tempting to add to my GT in the garage.
 One thing that bothers me is Royal Enfield tendency to place the gauge pods off center. Why? The pod on the Bear is attractive with its chrome ring and has an old school look, at least until you turn it on!
 But why is it not centered?!

[Curious wanderer]

At risk of appearing a bit pointy, and it’s not my intention, it’s because the stylist thought it might allow it to look different from the herd and differentiate it from other bikes in the range and their competitors bikes.
Now we’re notoriously conservative as motorcyclists and don’t like change much. Nevertheless there will be those that like it, those that are not bothered and those fr whom it’s a deal breaker. There’s plenty of alternatives.

[andif62]

But why is it not centered?!

Maybe to better fit a smartphone aside.

[whippers]

I’ve read all the reviews, watched all the videos covering the Bear. I think it is a great bike. Tempting to add to my GT in the garage.
 One thing that bothers me is Royal Enfield tendency to place the gauge pods off center. Why? The pod on the Bear is attractive with its chrome ring and has an old school look, at least until you turn it on!
 But why is it not centered?!

I don’t know but I prefer it off centre. Agree on the Bear but I wouldn’t buy one alongside my Interceptor I’d consider it instead of. I ride now with a buddy who loves unsealed roads and is very fast in them (nobody on the himis etc is anywhere near him on his interceptor).

I think if I was going to ride plenty of unsealed roads the Bear would be the go. The worst thing about it is the name 

[iblastoff]

i like the single gauge. gives me everything i want including a CLOCK! lol.
the map integration looks way better than the overpriced beeline stuff. but too bad its still using the crappy royal enfield app. i also keep seeing comments that you need to leave your phone screen on to use it? how does that makes sense?

i dont like that even with a single exhaust, you're basically at the nearly the same weight as the base INT650. how did this thing gain pounds? the frame?

[cdninty]

... i dont like that even with a single exhaust, you're basically at the nearly the same weight as the base INT650. how did this thing gain pounds? the frame?

Apparently. From the article
https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/royal-enfield-bear-650-first-ride-review/

"Bear sees new wheel sizes, updated ergonomics, a taller subframe, updated suspension, and overall reinforcements to the frame to help handle bumpy trails"

As much as I like it, the price in the Toronto market puts it uncomfortably close to a new late model Moto Guzzi v7. (within $300 cdn)
To me that's tough call to make, if anything leaning v7 over the performance advantage and engine character.

I'm not even in the market and this troubles me lol

[iblastoff]

Apparently. From the article
https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/royal-enfield-bear-650-first-ride-review/

"Bear sees new wheel sizes, updated ergonomics, a taller subframe, updated suspension, and overall reinforcements to the frame to help handle bumpy trails"

As much as I like it, the price in the Toronto market puts it uncomfortably close to a new late model Moto Guzzi v7. (within $300 cdn)
To me that's tough call to make, if anything leaning v7 over the performance advantage and engine character.

I'm not even in the market and this troubles me lol

im in that market too. my 2021 mr clean GT650 cost nearly as much as a triumph speed twin at the time lol.

also, the photos in that article show that the bear doesnt have a center stand??

[cdninty]

also, the photos in that article show that the bear doesnt have a center stand??

I didn't notice that until you mentioned it and yet it still weighs more. Relocating the RR to the front under the oil cooler was the right thing to do. Thinking it would be a pain to do that ourselves.

I would say that new gauge looks fantastic, unlike horrifying thing on the standard v7. Indians beat the Italians on style on that one

[iblastoff]

I didn't notice that until you mentioned it and yet it still weighs more. Relocating the RR to the front under the oil cooler was the right thing to do. Thinking it would be a pain to do that ourselves.

I would say that new gauge looks fantastic, unlike horrifying thing on the standard v7. Indians beat the Italians on style on that one

agree about the RR location (although i havent had particular issues with that yet). im surprised RE didnt take the chance here to provide tubeless tires for the bear 650 though. seems obvious with a 'scrambler' model but ahh well.

[Blazes Boylan]

It’s a beautiful bike and I love the frame, especially in green.  It’s absurdly heavy for an air-cooled 650 though, and I don’t see a lot of obvious ways to reduce the weight.  My Interceptor probably weighs in at about 400lbs (and is now an 865) at this point, which seems about right.

[iblastoff]

It’s a beautiful bike and I love the frame, especially in green.  It’s absurdly heavy for an air-cooled 650 though, and I don’t see a lot of obvious ways to reduce the weight.  My Interceptor probably weighs in at about 400lbs (and is now an 865) at this point, which seems about right.

its not even the weight number tbh for me. i think the weight distribution is just weird with these 650s. i've ridden heavier triumph 900s that 'feel' lighter when needing to push them around.

my ducati scrambler weighs close to 400lbs (might even be under that now after mods) and its insane how light it feels in comparison. i can push it up this slight incline that leads to my parking spot. i cant do that with my gt650 at all, leading me to have to actually turn it on and ride it up lol.

i also just learned that the TFT google maps functionality on the bear 650 is just literally a screen mirror casting from your phone, and thats why your phone screen needs to stay on lol. lame.

[whippers]

The frame is braced, the forks will be heavier etc.. I wouldn’t worry about the weight personally. I agree they feel awkward to push around but are light on their feet when rolling which is what matters.

[Curious wanderer]

i also just learned that the TFT google maps functionality on the bear 650 is just literally a screen mirror casting from your phone, and thats why your phone screen needs to stay on lol. lame.

Your phone screen really doesn’t need to stay on it’s just a data stream. Yes it’s a mirror, no it doesn’t need to “reflect” any thing. Just the same as my sat nav in the car when I’m using Google maps instead of the inbuilt system. The phone stays powered, the screen very much does not. Hope that helps before this gathers some weight due to limited user knowledge 😉

[AzCal Retred]

Mr Darcy & The Ol' Man go to Goa

India Set The Benchmark | We Experience Indian Motorcycle Culture!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RJrmb95jq4

Royal Enfield Bear 650 Review | The Jewel in The Crown?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMEWkC0mKAk

[iblastoff]

Your phone screen really doesn’t need to stay on it’s just a data stream. Yes it’s a mirror, no it doesn’t need to “reflect” any thing. Just the same as my sat nav in the car when I’m using Google maps instead of the inbuilt system. The phone stays powered, the screen very much does not. Hope that helps before this gathers some weight due to limited user knowledge 😉

are you saying you've actually tried the TFT dash or are you saying this video is wrong?

https://youtu.be/pvrV21oS5j8?t=592

the moment he turns the screen off on the phone, the map disappears from the TFT display.

this video says the same thing (in english)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5mJU8fp1rkI