My GL1000 and my VFR1200 were both heavier than this bike by about 50lbs lol. It is a good looking bike for sure.

What persuaded you to choose this over the Interceptor?

well, it certainly wasn't the weight :lol: This bike is 50lbs heavier.

It calls to me. I can't really explain it better than that. I was actually looking at the 2024 Interceptors on the Royal Enfield website when I noticed "Shotgun 650" in the menu, and I clicked it just out of curiosity. I had no idea this model even existed as a concept.

If you have ever seen my GL1000, a bike I built to fit my style, and you would see where my tastes tend to lay when it comes to bikes. The VFR was an exception to my normal, and I loved it to death, but most modern styled bikes look like ugly transformers.

My GL1000 (my favorite picture of it)
https://i.ibb.co/thv7QZw/gl1k.jpg

I love retro looks, but with a modern twist, and I think RE hit it out of the park with the Shotgun styling. The bike looks modern and new, but also would fit in at a classic bike rally. C'est magnifique!

Other reasons include:
- I have wanted a cruiser of some sort, but I am not the biggest fan of forward controls. This has mid controls. which I adore, just like a Goldwing, but without the annoying cylinder heads making my feet hot.
- It's got a unique "Doesn't fit" quality to it. It doesn't fit any real class of bike, or any single purpose. It's a blank canvas. Want to make it a small CC Touring bike? You can. Want to make it a city runner/commuter? Sure. Want a more laid back bike but with a little tiny bit of sportiness to keep things fun? Yup.
- I like it.

I get it. I have always liked the idea of a stripped-down Gold Wing. Personally I'd keep the front fender, perhaps bobbed a bit, and some of the rear fender. For the REs, I'm still inclined to the Interceptor but I like the solo seat and luggage rack on the Shotgun. Don't care for the name, sounds too much like pandering to the wannabe-macho American types. But I could overlook that if I was OK with the mid foot controls. I've never cared for cruisers per se. More the traditional naked bike look.

My more or less local dealer doesn't have any Shotguns, but they do have two new 2022 Interceptors for $6000 OTD. But I'm not buying anything this year. Paying off both credit cards in the next 12 months, then I am free and clear of all debt (paid cash for my fixer-upper house). Just groceries, utilities and my small property tax.

I think that era of wannabe macho Americana is a dead memory now at least in the USA.


This has modern bolly wood action movie written all over it. It's India making a bold statement that it actually has balls...


Also R.E was a firearms manufacturing brand during the Old British Empire phase so there's a little bit of a homage to that while blasting the door of its hinges type of feeling about it regarding the name.


Mostly though I think its the head CEO trying to turn a page of R.E away from its old hat ingrained origins while still keeping some of that old school magic.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_hJXWQy_-E

I see that you are not all that familiar with Harley riders.....:lmao:

OK, not saying they are all that way, but there is that subgroup in their population. I suspect it's a pretty big subgroup.

My Goldwing wasn't that stripped down. No front fender, and a flush cut rear fender. Everything else about the bike is pretty much how it was in 1975 other than the paint color and seat. The only reason I had no front fender was simply because I never had a front fender for it, and I liked the look with just the fork brace.

Mid controls aren't really a Cruiser thing. Just a "Standard" bike thing. All the UJM bikes back then had mids. Most manufacturers went to rear sets ,or some odd compromise between rear sets and mids in the last couple of decades, mainly for better cornering clearance I would assume.

As far as debt. I will have this bike paid off in 6 months, no sweat. I have no real debt other than a couple of credit accounts, both of which I could pay off in a month or two if necessary, but I keep active to help my credit score. Debt/Credit is a weird game to play. I am putting a third of the bikes price as a down payment and going for the 24 month financing for the 1.99% interest rate, but will then be paying double or triple on each payment.

Oh, it definitely has a "macho action movie" vibe to it with the advertising. They are also playing off of the more American stereotype of the "Lone Gunman" western cowboy kind of vibe here in the U.S.

The name Shotgun is a little odd for a bike, but it also kinda suits RE. Hell, they have had a bike called the Bullet for decades. Again, a homage to the old days of gun manufacturing

You are right. The CEO and the brand as a whole are working to bring RE into the spotlight. They are one of the very few motorcycle manufacturers not floundering in the modern market. They can barely keep up with the demand for their bikes.

They are also modernizing a little bit, with the new 450 engine being liquid cooled and being put into the Himalayan, as well as a "scrambler" style bike. 40hp 450cc single road bikes? Once my Shotgun is paid off I may have to get one of those.

Oh, and I love Stuart Fillingham's review videos on this bike. It was actually that very video that made me consider going in to try it out over the Interceptor.

Oh, famous last words!

"My Goldwing wasn't that stripped down." :lmao:

No side by side, but the lock stock GL1000 had Chrome all over the place, and was meant/ready for aftermarket fairing/luggage.

Attachment 31250

Your Gold wing looks like a 60s Triumph chopper compared to the OEM vehicle!

Just sayin' ;)

I had a friend with a faired GL1000. He drifted around on that bike all of Northern New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona, always had a girl on the back.

The original GL1000 was slower than my little 1976 GS550, but much more comfortable. He let me ride it, but I couldn't borrow one of his girlfriends.

Right.. and if you change the exhaust and remove the fenders from view that's 90% of the "Chrome all over the place" missing from my bike. Other than the little grab handle at the back and the mirrors.

So, yes, minus 2 objects and a different exhaust, seat, and mirrors really isn't that different. My VFR had a different Seat and exhaust, paint job, different badging, and a removed lower tail section. Still basically the same bike. It's basic superficial changes.

Just sayin' ;)

Also, the GL1000 was NEVER meant for fairings. Ever. ALL Fairings and bags on any GL1000 are aftermarket. Honda did't do factory luggage and fairings on the Goldwing until the 1200,and even the 1200 came in a "Standard" version, aka naked, all the way up to 1985. After that point, all Goldwings were giant full fairing and luggage equipped ocean liners.

Most Harley riders I see now either have zimmer frames in the garage or are more chodes than chads...

Sad to see you let the VFR go but given the reasons you made the decision i can understand why. Meanwhile here is me pondering a new bike of some sort in the near future. Nearly bought a '22 Navi a couple months ago but life came up and didnt allow for it at the time. But i may still try to pick something up by mid summer

The Navi is a weird little scooter. I definitely u derstand the whole "life" issue. Hopefully things are better now.

I wholeheartedly approve!!! Love the Shotgun. We don't have them here quite yet. On their way. There are mainly two RE forums out there. I recommend this one. Friendly place. Lots of good info and guys. No dicks.

https://www.royalenfieldowners.com/index.php

Yea, Was looking at them and the Grom. I need to build leg strength and flexibility again before i could look at anything higher then a cruiser. But for the amount of time per week i have for riding..the Navi made sense. Ultimately i will likely look for another honda CB or a Yamaha XS650 at some point. I wish there was a local RE dealer around here so i could see if any of the RE line up would work.

I love the Shotgun too. It's been a long time since I looked at a bike and fell in love with it right away. The last bike to do that was my VFR. This is the first bike I have fallen in love with that I could buy new. I couldn't get my hands on a VFR in 2010, and then my back injury happened one year later and I had to take a break from riding for a while, followed by a greatly reduced income. That is actually where my story with the Goldwing.and then my Hawk a few years later, comes in.

As for not having them. Technically speaking we don't either, much to my chagrin. They got in that demo bike for drooling fools like me to check out and test ride. They should be arriving sometime this week, and I have a deposit to hold one of the 2 Stencil White bikes they are getting in out of an order of 8 to 10 bikes, and only 3 bikes were still open after my deposit.

Thanks for the forum recommendation! I was looking at that one and considering joining. Now I will for sure.

What do you need out of a bike? Just a low seat?

At this point in time yes that is the main requirement. I can just barely get my leg over the seat of a CB300/CBR300 at this point. I can comfortably throw a leg over a new Rebel but those are out of price range at this point. Kind of a disappointment really when only a few years ago i could have thrown a leg over a Buell Ulysses without issue.

The Rebel 300 is 4900 bucks, probably 5700 OTD at most dealers. I've seen used 500's with very little miles on them for 4-5k lately as well, or is that too high at the moment?

Update. Got the call that my bike has arrived. I did some of the paper work over the phone. I will be picking my bike up Saturday.

Factor in Canadian prices vs US prices and the rebel 300 starts at $7156 new. Haven't looked into used prices here yet.

Ahh, yes, I forgot about Canada and their import taxes and other fees. I'm surprised anybody rides in Canada with how expensive it is. I know insurance is outrageous too.

Honestly its the main thing keeping me from ordering a CSC bike

You're going to love the 650 engine. Not super powerful, but very useful powerband.

The engine is the reason I was so interested to begin with. I rode an Interceptor a couple of years ago, and it is the perfect road bike engine. Some may call it a bit small for highway use, but I find it more than sufficient to do legal speeds on most highways without issue, and it has good passing power since it sits right in the peak of the torque curve at said highway speeds in 5th and 6th gear.

Good luck today Dan! WE NEED LOTS OF SMILING PICS FROM THE PARKING LOT!!!!! SHOW US THEM CHICKLETS!
EDIT: Just checked my dealer. The Shotguns have arrived.

Pictures is no problem. I got the bike home and am now getting a ride to retrieve my car.