Enfield Bear 650 is it Grizzly or Cuddly, let's have a look.
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Hi All
So ive finally got to try out my possible next purchase, the fabulous looking Enfield bear 650. Join me as i go for a ride and a close look at the details.
Hi from West Sussex. After almost 3 weeks and 300 miles, I'm settling into mine really well. Ride is firm but forks are easing up and on aftermarket tyres, it handles really nicely.
I took out the 249 last week from a Welsh dealer, it only had 15 miles on the clock and I was the first potential customer to test it… they were keen to get some miles on it so I had it for two hours up and over the hills through the sweeping bends… up steep inclines over heavily carved up pothole roads…. Yeah, the suspension is a little bit on the stiff side it’s brand spanking you….. but it handled the lump twist and turns with aplomb, never twitching or losing line… and that with a well refined engine and cracking low to mid range torque it was a very, very enjoyable ride…. Everything was set up perfectly for me at 6 foot with 34 inch legs….. everything was so well thought out and function perfectly…. Except for the controls….. they needed adjusting for me….. which I’m going to ask them to set up for another test ride before I park with the money.
Thanks for your review. I can see why it’s appealing to you…. they are a lot of fun. These bikes.
Don't worry about the seat being hard, it needs breaking in as so the suspension. I'm just coming up to 1500kms on mine (same colourway) and it's getting better with every ride.
The tremor in your commentary confirms the suspension is 'firm'😎. Had a look at one a few days ago, definitely looks the part. Memories of The Great Escape and Steve McQueen. Like your relaxed and informal delivery.👍
I'll have to try one of these out. Love the looks but I need to check if I can get my feet down and I have to check that suspension, as enfield seems to have lost the plot on shocks at the moment. They are unnecessarily rock solid and the shotgun nearly crippled me!
Go on, Treat yourself, Good honest review thank you. ,albeit the firm suspension would kill my back. Until the next time, Ride save, Mike Sunny Wales
Cracking ride and review, yes they’re a lovely bike and must try one myself 😊😊
Phil
It looks like they have put the RE Hunter tail pipe on it, imo it should have been chrome.
Hey, you were in Crowthorne, Berkshire about 5 miles out of Surrey 😁. Love the look of the bike but that hard suspension and hard seat doesn't sound good, could hear your voice shaking over the bumps! With all the reviews saying the same thing maybe RE will take notice and make a change. Great review
It’s interesting actually that I’m 6 foot and 14 stone and I didn’t mind the firm suspension…. what I found when I test rode one for two hours last week was really bumpy surfaces it coped really well… much better than bottoming out on a softer set up….
When I set out the machine only had 15 miles on it so still fresh and new…. But regardless of all that it was such a delight.
Two into one exhaust is a big change.
Would you ride it for a 1 or 2k and see if the suspension breaks in or would you plop on some YSS right away? Is the seat wider than the Interceptor? Its a gorgeous bike Im likely a buyer
I wonder if the RE will make a touring seta for the Bear? I had a 400x and toured on it i did 14,999km
It should have gold shocks. It’s doing my ocd no favours but otherwise great.
So I just guessing someone as myself 6'5" and 20st wouldn't have any problem with firm suspension
For tall and heavier person's it seems not to be a problem.
Nice to look at but too many compromises for me. Suspension to hard, off set clock is irritating, reg/rec location is daft, not keen on the chrome bars either. A coffee shop poser for sunny days. For our rubbish Sussex roads I'm looking for something with a better ride quality. Just my opinion, not knocking the review.
It’s interesting actually that I was a little bit unsure following seeing a number of the early reviews…. But I test rode one a week ago for a couple of hours on some pretty carved up bumpy Welsh country roads… I was really surprised how it handled the bumps and never twitching at all but just keeping its line…. I would really recommend that you take a ride., I think you would be surprised just how good this bike is…. Far nicer and more comfortable ride than my original 650 choice the shotgun…..
No centre stand and what is it with fitting electronic clocks off centre? Also don’t like black exhausts and bits tacked on that get covered in mud. It’s an expensive lash up tbh and for 7 grand there’s some impressive second hand bikes out there. I know where my money is going lol.