Throughout the years, we’ve had our fair share of iconic engines that have stood the test of time and made it onto all sorts of motorcycles. Right off the top of my head, Yamaha’s versatile and ever-dependable CP2 and CP3 engines are perfect examples of this. So, too, is Suzuki’s 645cc V-Twin found in the SV650 and V-Strom 650. The same can be said about KTM’s LC8c, Ducati’s Testastretta—the list goes on.
But one engine from a once-obscure manufacturer seems to be reaching this level, too. I am, of course, talking about Royal Enfield’s 650cc, air-cooled, fuel-injected, 270-degree parallel-twin. And if you’ve never heard of this engine, it’s probably because you’ve been living under a rock.
You could say that this engine is what propelled Royal Enfield into global stardom. It was and continues to be the defining feature of the original 650 Twins—the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650—which made their global debuts back in 2017. And suffice to say that RE’s milking this powerplant dry, as it has launched a seemingly countless number of new models powered by this engine.
