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RIDE REVIEW I 2026 ROYAL ENFIELD CLASSIC 650
happened. The Royal Enfield
500 Twin, along with its younger
sibling, the 350 Bullet, will always
be known as the first production
motorcycles to feature a swing-
ing-arm rear suspension system.
The 500 Twin later evolved into
other parallel-twin models for
Royal Enfield, such as the Super
Meteor, Constellation, Shotgun
and Interceptor (INT in the U.S.).
Now, we have the Classic 650.
Not only does the Classic 650
borrow elements from the 500
Twin, but also from the compa-
joy of pure motorcycling."
The Classic 650 draws inspi-
ration from the company's first
parallel-twin motorcycle, simply
named the 500 Twin, unveiled in
1948. This bike was truly ex-
ceptional, not just for its engine
but also for its rear suspension.
Months earlier, Royal Enfield
introduced the first motorcycle,
a prototype trials bike, equipped
with a swinging arm suspension
system. Other manufacturers
scoffed at it, claiming it wouldn't
work. Well, we all know what
Royal Enfield, which is cel-
ebrating its 125th anniversary,
chose St. Augustine, Florida, the
oldest city in the nation, to of-
ficially welcome the Classic 650
to North America. "Launching the
Classic 650 here in St. Augus-
tine, a place where history isn't
preserved behind glass, it's lived
every day, and this spirit mirrors
what the Classic 650 represents:
timeless design paired with
modern performance that invites
riders to slow down, savor the
journey, and reconnect with the
The Royal Enfield Classic 650 is now available
in the North American market.
