The Royal Enfield Classic 650 lives up to its name, taking cues from the 500 Twin of the 1950s. Right: Color options include Chrome Black, Vallam Red, and Teal.
R oyal Enfield, which celebrates 125 years of continuous motorcycle production in 2026, is known for its timeless designs, and the new Classic 650 is the most classic of the bunch. It carries over the nostalgic cues from the Classic 350 – with a few of its own touches – while sporting a powerful enough engine to be more attractive to American motorcyclists, some of whom complain that the 350 platform is not enough motorcycle for their needs.
Fittingly, Royal Enfield invited us to the oldest continuously inhabited European- established city in the U. S. to test out its newest machine. Riding the Classic 650 amid the Spanish- styled stone- walled buildings, the salty air, and the swaying palms in St. Augustine, Florida, you could’ ve convinced me that I had somehow rolled back in time, if not for the Starbucks around the corner.
Further adding to the aura of days gone by, Royal Enfield’ s brand historian, Gordon May, provided a historic tour of the Classic 650’ s lineage via a walk- around of past models in the shaded courtyard of the Lightner Museum. The story starts in 1948 when Royal Enfield unveiled its 500 Twin,
RIDERMAGAZINE. COM / OCTOBER 2026 / 13