Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor Assessment – Motorbike Check

Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor Assessment

Royal Enfield has been on a tear ever since they launched the 650 twin platform to the Australian market early in 2019.

The Interceptor 650 and Continental GT hit the proper notice from the off. Their launch signalled a dramatic step up in high quality and competence from the Indian producer. This noticed native distributor City Moto Imports promote greater than 2500 of the machines to Australian consumers within the first two years. The fashions additionally discovered appreciable gross sales success over the ditch in New Zealand, which I’ve seen with my very own Mark I Eyeball.

Amongst early adopters, round 35 per cent selected the sportier-styled Continental GT, whereas round 65 per cent plumped for the Interceptor 650 and its extra relaxed driving place.

After they first went on sale right here 5 years in the past, the Interceptor 650 was priced at $8840 plus on-road prices, and the Continental GT at $8640 plus on-road prices. Within the interim now we have suffered by the pandemic, which has appeared to inflate the value of every little thing, bikes included. Fortunately although, not an excessive amount of on this case, with the Interceptor 650 ranging from $9690 plus on roads in 2024 and the Continental GT from $9990 plus on-road prices in 2024.

Whereas there are some tweaks for the 2024 mannequin yr, basically, little has modified in regard to the dynamics of the machine.  We get seats which are barely extra snug by way of higher padding.  Adjustable levers and improved switch-cubes additionally debut in 2024 alongside a USB port and LED headlamp.

Added to the vary are some new Seventies-inspired takes on the Interceptor, with the ‘Barcelona Blue’ and ‘Black Ray’ choices becoming a member of the line-up, full with solid alloys that permit the usage of tubeless rubber.  The opposite departure from the remainder of the Interceptor vary is the blacked-out engine and exhaust system.

I feel the Barcelona Blue mannequin carries off the entire 70s theme one of the best, as its tank graphic has a little bit of the previous Dangle Ten surf model to it.  I used to be additionally reminded of the previous Sundowner version Ford Panel vans, Sandman Holdens and Drifter Valiants. Job achieved by the designers, then you possibly can say…

Persevering with in 2024 can be the chrome tanked ‘Mark 2’ together with equally spoked rim and chrome completed engine and exhaust of the ‘Sundown Strip’, ‘Black Pearl’, ‘Canyon Pink’ and ‘Cali Inexperienced’ choices.

The sportier-looking Continental GT additionally will get a few darkish choices in 2024. The blacked-out engine, pipes, and alloys characteristic on the brand new ‘Slipstream Blue’ and ‘Apex Gray’ choices.

The chrome engine, pipes and spoked rim look on the Continental GT continues within the ‘Dux Deluxe’, ‘Rocker Pink’, ‘British Racing Inexperienced fashions and likewise within the chrome tanked ‘Mr Clear’.

I bought reacquainted with the machines not too long ago and spent the majority of my time on the extra relaxed Interceptor, leaving from UMI’s Pascoe Vale headquarters and braving the lower and thrust of Melbourne’s morning visitors as we headed down the Mornington Peninsula to Arthur’s Seat.

The return run hugged the coast to make for a reasonably busy 200-kilometre day by the point we did some photograph runs and lunch.

Regardless of it being fairly rattling heat and the considerably rushed timeline, one way or the other, the happy-go-lucky nature of the Royal Enfield rubbed off on me, and I stored my cool. After dwelling within the nation for happening 15 years, driving within the metropolis, or just about doing something within the metropolis, usually does my head in.  However you already know that entire carefree relaxed type of vibe that Royal Enfield push with their advertising, the Interceptor truly type of carries that off…

That parallel-twin additionally performs its half in the entire zen a part of the vibe. It has a satisfying timbre to its nature, and whereas the facility supply is relaxed compared to what skilled motorcyclists is perhaps accustomed to, it might really feel very muscular certainly in comparison with nearly each different learner authorized bike on sale in Australia.

It jumps away from the lights effectively due to respectable bottom-end torque, a lot so that each purple gentle signalled one other drag race amongst the assembled scribes on the trip.

47 horsepower doesn’t sound like a lot, however it’s about pretty much as good because it will get for learner bikes. It’s the comparatively sturdy bottom-end urge in the direction of its peak torque variety of 52 Nm at 5250 rpm that makes the distinction.

There are a few LAMS bikes that finest these numbers, together with the rather more modern-looking 650NK from CFMOTO. However with most LAMS choices round 450 cc or smaller, there may be not a lot else in learner land that grunts out of the basement just like the Royal Enfield 650s.

Even the water-cooled CFMOTO 650 requires much more revs to rise up and going, whereas the Indian bikes simply waft alongside with out a lot throttle required. The best way it goes about it’s affable sufficient to additionally carry a smile to the dial of skilled riders who’ve spent loads of time driving bikes with 4 instances as a lot energy.

Within the metropolis, it’s nearly excellent, actually. Sufficient grunt to beat 99 per cent of visitors from the lights and sufficient prompt urge to string the needle by the gaps in visitors whereas at pace.

Getting on and off it’s a cinch. The driving place is tremendous snug and the seat helps you fairly effectively, for the primary couple of hours… However prolonged stints within the saddle have you ever transferring your bum round within the seek for some reduction. So whereas the brand new seat is perhaps higher, it nonetheless isn’t nice, removed from it in truth.

Dealing with is competent sufficient. Pegs go down in case you are having a crack, and it does battle with mid-corner bumps, however total, it’s nice sufficient so long as you aren’t going to play boy racer by the curves. It doesn’t declare to be overly sporting, and it isn’t.

The brakes are, likewise, competent. Ideally, they’d have a bit extra energy and a nicer really feel on the lever, however then they’d possible overwhelm the usual forks. Thus, on steadiness, they work with the remainder of the machine homogeneously.

Nonetheless, after I sampled the unique 650s on the world launch in California late in 2018 I used to be bowled over by how a lot these machines managed to attraction me. I even thought-about shopping for one, and know various skilled motorcyclists that did precisely that.  They haven’t misplaced that capability to attraction me, and if I did must endure within the metropolis from each day, I feel that one may truly get my cash for working round city. Particularly with the non-obligatory throw-over smooth panniers that add a bit extra practicality.

Clearly, these bikes should not inside a rustic mile of the all-round capability, dynamics, and touring capability of one thing like, say, a Honda CB500F, whose dealing with, consolation and total dynamics are on one other degree in comparison with the Indian machines, however to steal a line from The Fortress’s Darryl Kerrigan, ‘it’s simply the vibe of it’.

By now a few of you’re considering, ‘poor ole Trev has gone a bit smooth within the head’, however go strive an Interceptor out for your self a while. Or in case you can’t go previous the cafe racer appears to be like of the Continental GT, and are a bit extra limber within the joints than I, strive certainly one of them on for dimension, they may shock you.

At round 11k trip away with a three-year guarantee and roadside help, they do have a good bit going for them. They even handle to place me in an amazing mind set when battling city roads, and that’s saying one thing…

2024 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Specs