Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 First Ride Review

I have been bitten once by a supposedly well engineered Royal Enfield motorcycle. From the day I took delivery till the day I got rid of it, the Himalayan had given me innumerable memories, most of which were worth a quick shift+delete. So when the Interceptor got raving reviews from almost all auto journos, I had to test the hype. There had to be a chink in its armour and I had to find it. So with a heavily critical mindset, I reached the RE showroom and asked for a test ride. With true RE professionalism, they obliged.

I must admit, the Interceptor is a well built, handsome looking motorcycle. The resemblance to the Triumph Bonneville is unmistakable and yet it has a Royal Enfield hint to it. The overall fit and finish, the quality of the paint and chrome all show that Sid Lal & Co have not cut corners when it comes to build quality. A gentle press on the starter and the 650 twin settles into a mild rumble. There is no trademark RE thump but there is one family tradition carried over from older generation Royal Enfields: Tappet noise! The engine is refined by RE standards, not quite so by twin cylinder standards but the vibes are mild and do not intrude normal everyday riding. Take it off the stand and the bike feels heavy. The handlebars are set slightly far away from the rider giving you just the right amount of forward lean to inspire confidence. The pegs are neutrally set and they brush against your shin bone when you keep your feet down. Something one needs to be mindful of in stop go traffic. Again that's something RE has brought over from the Bonnie.

The clutch throw is long and the pulling action is light. First gear, dump the clutch and you realise how torquey this 650 twin is. You also realise that the heavy feel of the motorcycle almost instantly disappears. If the motorcycle scores a perfect 10 in any department, it's the transmission. The gear ratios are tall and matched perfectly with the torque curve. Twist the throttle and you will see yourself cross 80 kph with ease in 2nd gear itself. It's not a scary, hard hitting acceleration. It's a smooth, strong pull and the bike doesn't scare you while at it. What also inspires a lot of confidence to push the bike harder is how well it drops the anchor. The ABS equipped Bybre brakes have a sharp bite and good progression inspiring a lot of confidence for the novice and the experienced rider alike.

What summarises the Interceptor then is how friendly this motorcycle is. I keep repeating this but the bike feels very close to riding a Triumph Bonneville. And then you realise that RE have priced it at 1/3rd the price of the Bonnie. RE surely have a winner at their hands then. However..... There is a problem. And a big one. Easy to ride as this motorcycle is, it misses that one quintessential ingredient that draws throngs of loyalists to the Royal Enfield banner: Character. The jack of all, master of none kind of character may not appeal to most Royal Enfield loyalists. The motorcycle is also not technologically advanced enough to bring in converts from Japanese brands to RE. The only marketing card up Sid Lal's sleeve is to play on nostalgia. The 50+ erstwhile Triumph T-100, BSA and RE owner, now having the purchasing power to relive those memories will surely appreciate the package that RE has served him. For someone younger seeking more thrill, refinement and proven reliability, the KTM 390s or the Kawasaki Ninja 300 still make a lot more sense in that price range. All in all, appreciate what Royal Enfield have done here. Have they done enough to make me put my money on a Royal Enfield again? Not quite.

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