The world's largest event for Royal Enfield enthusiasts, Rider Mania "Motoverse," took place in the coastal state of Goa, India, on November 24, 25, and 26, 2023. The event, spanning a vast outdoor venue, included off-road racing, an impressive custom motorcycle exhibition, test rides, demonstrations of current and new models, a shopping mall, a cinema, live interviews, and three music stages. To top it all off, at the end of the first day of Motoverse, Royal Enfield Managing Director Siddhartha Lal took to the stage to unveil a very special model.
This motorcycle is yet another new addition to Enfield's rapidly expanding modern retro lineup, which has taken the Enfield brand to entirely new heights. This special edition model, based on the upcoming Royal Enfield Shotgun 650, which goes on sale in the coming weeks, is aptly named the Shotgun 650 Motoverse Edition.
Taking center stage on the Motosonic festival's massive stage, Sid unveiled the model to an enthusiastic crowd of thousands of Royal Enfield supporters. His announcement began with a neo-noir, sci-fi-inspired CGI video of the Shotgun 650 racing through the world, Bladerunner-style. The film ended with an animated version of GM riding the new model, with the words "Inspired by Custom for Custom" lighting up the sky. After the film ended, the Motoverse edition of the Shotgun 650 was wheeled onto the stage, eliciting a burst of applause and cheers from the crowd.
Speaking about the special edition model, Sid described the Shotgun 650 as a genre-defying motorcycle, combining elements of classic roadsters, bobbers, and other unconventional styles. He described the new bike as a triumph of design and engineering, praising the hard work of his company's development team. He then noted the unique paintwork of the motorcycle next to him, inspired by the SG650 concept that Royal Enfield unveiled at EICMA in 2021. Then came the shocking announcement that this motorcycle is one of 25 units that will be offered exclusively to attendees of the 2023 Motoverse festival.
The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Motoverse Edition is destined to become a collector's item, as it is produced in limited quantities and available only to Motoverse enthusiasts. Its signature feature is its hand-painted neo-noir bodywork, a mix of black and turquoise with neon yellow accents and emblems. The Motoverse version also comes with a blacked-out engine with polished Royal Enfield castings on a glossy black body. It also features a blacked-out 2-into-2 exhaust system, a bobber-style floating seat, and a black headlight nacelle, also inspired by the SG650 concept. The Motoverse Editions' unique appearance is complemented by several unique accessories, such as side mirrors and LED turn signals.
As for the rest of the motorcycle, this model is identical in specifications to the upcoming Shotgun 650. Powered by Enfield's renowned 650cc twin-cylinder engine, it's expected to produce around 47 hp and 52 Nm of torque. The wheels are cast 10-spoke units, and the bike comes standard with ABS, USD forks, and dual rear shock absorbers. Price is set at ₹4.25 lakh (approximately $5,100), but I'm sorry to report that all 25 units are likely already sold out.
