Is This Souped-Up New Edition of the World’s Oldest Moto Nameplate the Best-Looking Retro Bike Yet?

Ninety-three years. That’s how long the Royal Enfield Bullet has remained in continuous production, even as the company and the world at large have ridden a roller coaster of highs and lows.

Through it all, the Bullet has endured for many reasons, but perhaps the biggest is simply an unbeatable combination of looks, performance and price. I saw this up close, riding another RE bike, the Himalayan Scram 411, through India’s Himalayas a few years back. 

Royal Enfield

Clad in spiffy weatherproof Dainese gear, we tackled some seriously challenging terrain, only to be regularly humbled by helmet-less locals in sandals casually riding their time-tested Bullets anywhere they damn well pleased.

Considering what a soldier this bike has been for nearly a century, it’s pretty cool to see the brand give it a major upgrade that’s not only gorgeous but also more than ready for its own epic adventures. Meet the 2026 Royal Enfield Bullet 650.

Big bold move

Engine-wise, up till now, the Bullet has traditionally run on an overhead valve single, either 346cc or 499cc (with nameplates followed by 350 and 500, for obvious reasons).

The latest edition sees a new configuration and the Bullet’s biggest engine yet, the air/oil-cooled 650cc SOHC Parallel-Twin power plant that has already proven its mettle in such bikes as the Bear, Shotgun and Classic 650.

Royal Enfield

Installed in the new Bullet 650, this punchy power plant makes 46.4 horsepower at 7,250 rpm and 38.6 lb-ft. of torque at 5,650 rpm. 

While perhaps not mind-blowing, these numbers represent a huge jump over the Bullet 350, whose engine makes 20.2 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 19.9 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.

A 6-speed gearbox and light slipper clutch keep the shifting smooth and satisfying, while a 43mm telescopic fork and twin rear shocks keep the ride balanced and comfortable.

Royal Enfield

The 19-inch front wheel brakes via a single 320mm disc and a two-piston caliper, while the 18-inch rear wheel gets a 300mm disc and a twin-piston caliper.

On a related note, the Bullet 650 boasts a standard feature practically unheard of in 1932: dual-channel anti-lock brakes.

Style for days

As I’ve mentioned before, few if any moto brands can match Royal Enfield for affordable retro style offering instant charm. 

The new Bullet 650 is easily one of the best examples, complete with the authenticity of more than 90 years of heritage.

Royal Enfield

This new edition hews closely to that decorated history, highlighted by such features as a steel tubular frame, stylish bench seat, gorgeous gold pin-striping and classic winged badges on the teardrop tank and the side covers.

I also adore the round headlight nacelle, accompanied by equally retro round mirrors and indicators.  

As something of an exhaust system fetishist, I’d be remiss not to mention those sweet peashooter pipes, which flare out the back on both sides of the bike for everyone on the street to ogle.

Royal Enfield

The styling is honestly so sumptuous, I can imagine those unfamiliar with motorcycles mistaking this 650 for something twice as expensive.

That possibility might, in fact, be the most fitting tribute to Royal Enfield’s appeal to this day.

Availability and pricing

The Bullet 650 will roll out across the globe in 2026 with a starting price of $7,499.

Royal Enfield

2026 Royal Enfield Bullet 650

Royal Enfield rewards the world’s oldest continuously produced nameplate (93 years!) by upgrading its engine to a 650cc parallel twin making 46.4 horsepower at 7,250 rpm and 38.6 lb-ft. of torque at 5,650 rpm. Equally notable is the bike’s gorgeous retro aesthetic, highlighted by a steel tubular frame, stylish bench seat, gold pin-striping, classic winged badges on the teardrop tank and the side covers — and of course a pair of sweet peashooter pipes.

• $7,499 at Royal Enfield

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