If there was the perfect way to transition from the ultra learner friendly Classic 350, it’s surely moving up to this bike – its 650 sibling. Still LAMS approved, it sports a retro cruiser look, and a beefy engine note.
The latter comes from its 648cc parallel twin powertrain, paired to a six-speed manual transmission, and offering 34.6kW of power and 52.3Nm of torque. The sound comes from two chrome peashooter exhausts that adorn either side of the bike.
In the right setting, that system sounds far more solid than it should. Having just picked up this machine, we found ourselves stuck in traffic and fog on Sydney’s M2 motorway. It was cold, so the trusty HJC i71 visor was a little foggy (thanks to the spectacles on the inside).
With the visor open, we rolled into one of that road’s many tunnels, and could hear what sounded like a Harley-Davidson up ahead. Not an overly noisy one, but still, that lumpy low-idle exhaust noise was present.
What we realised shortly thereafter as the traffic moved off, was that there was no other bike. The noise was the very 2025 Royal Enfield Classic 650 we sat aboard, echoing off the walls of the tunnel. It brought a smile to the face of yours truly.
And that sums this bike up. It’s fun to ride, and it will make you smile. Sure, there’s not a whole lot of urgency to the way it operates, but that’s kind of the point. It delivers a relaxed ride, that is meant to be enjoyed.
It’s powerful enough to execute overtakes at speed all day, but you’re not standing it on the back wheel if you get over-excited – if that makes sense. That’s partly because it tips the scales at a little over 243kg, which is hefty, particularly for lighter riders.
In spite of that weight, it turns in nicely, with the 43mm telescopic “big piston” Showa fork up front, and twin tube hydraulic rear end doing an admirable job of absorbing the lumps and bumps of the tarmac, while always feeling constantly planted, regardless of conditions.
There’s 120mm of travel on the pointy end, and preload adjustment on the back (with 90mm of travel). The standard single seat is right up there with the best of them for comfort, and can be optioned with a pillion seat, should you want to bring a friend.
Seat height is a low slung 800mm and ground clearance is 154mm. The latter is decent, and we never felt, given this bike’s relaxed nature, that we were going to scrape the foot pegs. The ergonomic triangle is relaxed and upright too.
Braking, which could be beefier, but is definitely adequate for the Classic 650, comes in the form of a 320mm single front disc and twin-piston ByBre caliper, with a matching 270mm rear disc and single-piston caliper. Bosch dual channel ABS features.
There’s a few little niggles, including the fact the side stand is positioned tightly under the exhaust and the left foot peg and shift pedal, making it super annoying to put down. It caught us out more than once. The exhausts could do with some heat shielding too.
It would be very easy to melt your wet weather gear on the exhaust if you did a lot of rain riding. The tech is basic, but perfectly suited to the 2025 Royal Enfield Classic 650. An analog speedo is joined by a small information display.
That covers off on the important stuff like fuel, the odometer and your selected gear. There are no ride modes, but you do get Tripper Navigation, Royal Enfield’s turn-by-turn mapping system, which comes with its own round screen.
Retro style switch gear and cubes, and a well placed USB port are all handy additions to this model, as is LED lighting all round. Wire spoked wheels (19-inch front and 18-inch rear) add another touch of nostalgia and are shod in decent Indian CEAT rubber.
Backed by a 3-year unlimited kilometre warranty and 3-years roadside assist, this bike has exceptional build quality and would be a great bike for any L or P-plater. More than that, it would be a perfect machine for those after a classic retro cruiser, regardless of age.
As we said already, it’s legitimately fun to run, and easily one of the most relaxed bike’s we’ve ever thrown a leg over. And that says something. Not everything has to be about speed and immediacy, what this machine does is let you enjoy the journey.
Priced from $11,190 ride away, it’s available in Vallam Red, Teal Green and Black Chrome, with the latter two attracting a small premium. You can find out more about the 2025 Classic 650 on the Royal Enfield website, or by talking to your local dealership.
Our test bike was provided by Royal Enfield Australia and New Zealand for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this bike.
