Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Vs Harley-Davidson Street 750: Real-world Performance Comparison

We compare the RE and Harley on the basis of real-world test figures

The Royal Enfield Interceptor has piqued interest among enthusiasts by not just being the most affordable 650cc bike on sale in India, but also having a parallel-twin motor that makes the right noises and delivers loads of low-to-mid range grunt. What a lot of our readers have wanted to know though, is how does the value for money Interceptor 650 compare to the Street 750, the most affordable Harley-Davidson you can buy? We have tested both bikes for performance, rideability and fuel efficiency all of which give a good indicator of how both bikes stack up against each other and what you can expect in the real world.

Also read: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650: Road Test Review

Performance:
On paper, the Harley-Davidson Street 750 has the upper hand with its 750cc liquid-cooled V-twin motor making 59PS at 3750rpm. Comparatively, the Interceptor 650 has a simpler air-cooled parallel-twin construction (with an oil-cooler) that puts out a modest 47PS at 7250rpm and 52Nm of torque at a higher 5250rpm. However, the Interceptor weighs just 202kg (without fuel) whereas the Street 750 tips the scales at 233kg (kerb weight). That allows the Interceptor to come quite close to the Street 750 in terms of performance.

Also read: Harley-Davidson Forty Eight Special And Street Glide Special To Launch On March 14

During our test runs, the Interceptor turned out to be quicker in the 0-60kmph sprint. While the Street 750 has the advantage of more torque at lower revs, it just about gets to 60kmph in first gear and that's when you lose time - shifting to second. The Interceptor does 65kmph in first gear and hence has the upper hand here. When it comes to 100kmph, the Street 750 shows its superiority by being quicker, albeit marginally. It’s the same story when it comes to quarter-mile times. So, overall, both bikes are evenly matched in terms of performance.  

In city riding:

Where the Street 750’s motor impresses is with its flexibility and tractability. The Street 750’s abundance of torque at low revs makes it a quicker bike in the city. That's not to say the Interceptor 650’s parallel-twin is a slouch. This RE has a trick up its sleeve. A 270-degree crank gives it V-twin-like power delivery characteristics, so you have good grunt at low revs and a sweet signature soundtrack. It also radiates less heat than the Street 750 so you’d be more comfortable riding the RE during summers.

Out on the highway:

Both bikes are effortless to ride at 100kmph out on the highway. Given its parallel-twin motor’s inherent vibe-free characteristics and the addition of a counterbalancer, the Interceptor 650 feels more relaxed on the highway. The fact that you have a usable top-end makes overtaking at high speeds effortless. The only issue we found was the seat which is too soft and narrow to be comfortable on longer rides.

4000rpm at 100kmph is a sweet spot for the Street 750 as beyond 5000rpm, the motor starts to feel strained. The Street 750’s stronger mid-range make it a tad quicker than the Interceptor. It is also more comfortable for touring.

Braking:

The Interceptor 650 offers phenomenal braking for a bike that weighs over 200kg, besting the braking times of lighter bikes like the KTM 390 Duke. While the Street 750’s brakes have improved a lot over the years and the new one does come with ABS, the rear does tend to step out under hard braking leading to poorer braking distances.

Fuel efficiency:

In city riding conditions, the Interceptor offers better fuel efficiency, but out on the highway, it is the Street 750 that does better. But then again, the difference in fuel economy between the two bikes isn’t all that much.

Summing it up:
Both bikes offer similar performance and fuel efficiency, so it all boils down to your specific needs. For the budget conscious, the Royal Enfield Interceptor is a no-brainer as with prices starting at Rs 2.47 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), it costs less than half of the Street 750’s asking price of Rs 5.31 lakh (ex-showroom, India). However, if you like your bikes to be more American in their styling and nature, rather than classic British, and are looking for that characteristic V-twin performance, the Street 750 remains a good entry point into the fold.