By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Cruiser
Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 (MY2024) vs Super Meteor 650 (MY2023)
Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 vs Super Meteor 650: buy with your heart, but read this first.
At the turn-in for a tightening bend, the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650's weight drops away once it's rolling, and it changes direction without a fight. The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 leans in without asking much.
So which one do you buy?
The Shotgun 650 has the edge if…
Character, looks and sound
Nose ahead: Shotgun 650
The Shotgun 650 nudges ahead on character. That comes from more retro style and a purer look. It's a small gap in a category ruled by taste.
Which one's the smarter buy
Nothing in it on value
At these used prices, the value is even. Neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Shotgun 650
The Shotgun 650's twin doesn't want to be chased up the tach, and it settles into a steady pull from low revs. There's no hurrying this bike. Only a sharp, abrupt bump kicks up through the seat. The Showa suspension swallows everyday broken tarmac.
Nils rode the Shotgun 650 in Montenegro in 2024 (NastyNils Testride).
Super Meteor 650
Sitting just 29.1 in (740 mm) off the ground, the Super Meteor 650 puts its rider low and upright. In corners, its footpegs and exhaust touch down early. A gentle twist of the throttle brings a vibration-free pull from the bottom of the rev range, and there's no hunting for a lower gear. Low-end pull does the cruising.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Super Meteor 650 has the lower seat: 29.1 in (740 mm) vs 31.3 in (795 mm).
- The Super Meteor 650 has the larger fuel tank: 4.1 US gal (15.6 L) vs 3.6 US gal (13.8 L).
- Luggage System: option on the Super Meteor 650, not offered on the Shotgun 650.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both fall short
Neither one is built for long-haul comfort. For big miles, look at a proper tourer or sport tourer.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Both miss here
For back-road fun, both fall short. There are sharper tools for that job.
Look at commuting and running costs and you'll find two bikes doing the same job equally well. Fit is what breaks the tie.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Shotgun 650
Strengths
- Torque you settle into
- Weight vanishes once rolling
- Holds together under abuse
- Characterful 270-degree parallel twin engine
- Eye-catching custom styling
Trade-offs
- Wide open at freeway pace
- One position, no escape
- Nowhere to strap luggage
- Hefty weight for its class
- Factory tires limit wet-weather confidence
Super Meteor 650
What owners say
Strengths
- Classic cruiser styling with modern finish
- Excellent value for money
- Torquey, unstressed engine
Trade-offs
- Heavy for its engine size
- Budget switchgear and no tachometer
- Limited ground clearance
Known problems to check before you buy
Shotgun 650
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Super Meteor 650
- Sixth gear engagement difficulty A few riders note that engaging sixth gear can be notchy, especially when the engine is cold, occasionally resulting in false neutrals or dropping back to fifth.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 2-year-old Shotgun 650 with a 2-year-old Super Meteor 650.
- Shotgun 650
- about $5,800
- Super Meteor 650
- about $5,800
What they share
- Displacement
- 648 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Air/oil-cooled
- Power
- 47 hp (35 kW)
- Peak power at
- 7,250 rpm
- Torque
- 39 lb-ft (52 Nm)
- Peak torque at
- 5,650 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
Where the spec sheets split
| Shotgun 650 | Super Meteor 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.3 in (795 mm) | 29.1 in (740 mm) |
| Wet weight | 529 lb (240 kg) | 531 lb (241 kg) |
| Shotgun 650 | Super Meteor 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 52 mpg (US) / 4.5 L/100 km | 55 mpg (US) / 4.3 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 3.6 US gal (13.8 L) | 4.1 US gal (15.6 L) |
| Shotgun 650 | Super Meteor 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 100/90-18 | 100/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 | 150/80-16 |
| Wheelbase | 57.7 in (1465 mm) | 59.1 in (1500 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Shotgun 650 | Super Meteor 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Luggage System | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
