Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 comes with a round headlamp, twin-pod instrument cluster, teardrop shaped fuel tank with monza-style fuel cap for retro feel. Royal Enfield has gone ahead with a very straightforward design approach which gels well with the overall character of the motorcycle. The instrument cluster is also quite basic. You get an analogue speedo and tacho, a digital inset which houses an odometer, fuel gauge and two trip meters. There’s no range indicator or any gear position indicator either, which is standard now, at least at this price point. Fit and finish is considerably better than Royal Enfield’s other products, and is on par with what’s reasonably expected.

The Interceptor is powered by a 648cc parallel-twin, air- and oil-cooled engine, which generates 47.6PS at 7250rpm and 52Nm at 5250rpm. It’s mated to a 6-speed gearbox with assist and slipper clutch. The engine is refined enough to let you easily cruise at triple-digit speeds on the highway, as experienced on our tests.

It has a flat torque curve, with the torque arriving early on in the rev band. This results in brisk acceleration from the standstill, as the torque output is optimally distributed. Thanks to a counter balancer shaft and a 270 degree firing order, the engine feels properly refined, something that isn’t expected of Royal Enfields. The transmission is precise and feels good to use too. There was no clunkiness or any instances of false neutrals on our test ride.

The Interceptor 650 is built on a twin-cradle tubular steel frame developed with Harris Performance, a subsidiary of Eicher. Compared to the Continental GT 535’s double cradle frame, this one has higher torsional stiffness, which is quite apparent while flicking the motorcycle around corners. Suspension components include 41mm forks with 110mm travel and twin shock absorbers at the rear, offering 88mm travel. The 18-inch aluminium alloy spoke rims on both ends are shod in 100/90 front and 130/70 rear Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tyres that have been developed specifically for this motorcycle.

Interestingly, Royal Enfield has revealed the kerb weight, but the value is without fuel. Despite weighing 202kg, the motorcycle feels quick on its feet. Straight line stability is commendable too, thanks to the 1400mm wheelbase.

Apart from the standard dual-channel ABS, the motorcycle is devoid of any electronic aids. For braking, it employs a 320mm front and a 240mm rear disc.