Royal Enfield is on something of a new model tear.  Its newest model, the Meteor 350 (and three variants) will be released on November 6th.  Supposedly not too far behind are the brands’ Hunter and Sherpa models.  But it looks like the Thunderbird 650 could be the next machine to be revealed.

A recent “spy shot” seems to indicate that the Indian brand is quite close to releasing a new premium cruiser expected to be called the Thunderbird 650.  According to the Financial Express, the new bike is to be Royal Enfield’s flagship cruiser.

Thunderbird 650

Showing a photo that appears on 91Wheel’s website, Financial Express says “the motorcycle gets a good road presence and looks like a proper cruiser with quite decent dimensions.”  Ultimately, the photo shows a cruiser type bike with a round headlight.  You can also spot the bike’s inverted fork.

But what is likely the star of the photo is the bike’s engine.  It appears to be Royal Enfield’s popular 650cc parallel-twin powerplant.  It’s this engine that is helping to make the company’s Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 twins very popular.

Royal Enfield’s Thunderbird 650 cruiser (Photo credit: 91Wheels)

Financial Express says that the engine may come in a different state of tune than the engine in the two existing models.  Those models put out about 47 hp and 38 lb-ft of torque.  The Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 engines connect to a six-speed transmission with a slipper clutch.  Financial Express says the same setup will likely to be used with the Thunderbird 650 as well.

You can also see that the new machine has a split seat with a smaller passenger pad sitting directly on top of the rear fender.  Maintaining cruiser style cues are also dual chrome exhausts and a small retro-style circular taillight.

There’s no word on pricing.  But Financial Express speculates it will be priced somewhere around $6,000.

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