Can the Royal Enfield Roadster 650 live up to the competition of the other middleweight players?

Question

The middleweight motorcycle segment is a competitive one, with Triumph, Kawasaki and Honda all having products on offer. This crowded market will be joined by the Royal Enfield Roadster 650, which will take on bikes like the Triumph Trident 660, Kawasaki Z650, and Honda CB650R. For one reason or another, these competitors typically have more advanced technology, higher power outputs, and established brand names within the performance bike industry. Although Royal Enfield has a rich heritage, it’s a relatively new face in the modern middleweight class. But the Roadster 650 will almost certainly be competitively priced and will probably trail in outright performance as well as cutting edge features. But Royal Enfield has been growing in popularity for giving a retro style mixed with modern reliability. Can the Roadster 650 cut its own swath through this segment, satisfying riders who want a little more character and accessibility than the very top tier of performance can offer?

@chandan-ku · Accepted Answer

Marketing and brand image will be what it comes down to. RE has a chance to make the Roadster cool and accessible to newer riders looking to move up, or experienced riders looking for something different.

@abhijeet-r · Answer

There is a huge aftermarket support for RE. While it may not be the most advanced out of the box, being able to customize and modify easily will be a big draw for a lot of riders.

@anju-rani · Answer

I think it'll hold its own. The 650 twins have already proved popular and, with some modern touches, the Roadster could be a hit. Not everyone wants, or needs, a high strung sports bike for the street.

@rahul-sahu · Answer

RE's pricing will be key. If they can have a really low price and a decent package overall, they could get a lot of buyers who think that the other middleweights are too expensive.

@abhijeet-r · Answer

This isn’t about spec for spec competition. But the Roadster 650 will be a bike that appeals to another kind of rider – the rider that wants a more relaxed, approachable bike. It's apples and oranges.

@reena-yada · Answer

I'm skeptical. The 650 twin is nice, but it’s underpowered compared to the middleweight competition. There’d also be pressure on RE to drastically renovate the engine, or up the ante with some killer features, because unless then, the more established players might have a hard time stomaching the influx.

@deepak-kum · Answer

Absolutely it can compete! The Japanese and European brands have nothing to match the unique charm of RE. Not all riders want the most powerful or highest tech bike, some just want a cool, reliable bike with character.

Can the Royal Enfield Roadster 650 live up to the competition of the other middleweight players?

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