Really great video 👍 straight to the point, honest AF and touched on every relevant point. Even the bonus extra bikes at the end of the vid. Well done man, thanks for the upload - very good work 10/10
Gosh! Never found so much satisfaction watching a motorcycling video. Perfect amount of everything except maybe passion. It exudes loads and loads of passion. Cheers bro from India.
I love your sound comparisons. No one else does that from my experience. Great work. I've never had a regret with any motorcycle. Maybe I'm not very choosy. Or maybe I just love two wheels so much it does not matter. If I really had to choose a disappointment, it would be a 90's model Suzuki DR200SE. I bought it used for a couple thousand dollars US. It was kind of slow and the seat was good for about 45 minutes in the saddle before you wanted a break. It was still fun to ride and very practical. But I hear ya, If you could have only one . . . My favorite middle weight was a 1982 Kawazaki GPz 550. Awesome motorcycle. I've never ridden a modern motorcycle 🙂
I’m the same way, I’ve never ridden a motorcycle that i haven’t enjoyed. Thank you for the kind words, please share the videos with others who might enjoy it. Cheers!
I'm a new subscriber and this is the 3rd or 4th video I've watched. I definitely learned one thing thanks to these videos ... I like stock exhausts much better than Akrapovic.
I loved when he mentioned "give yourself the permission to be happy to do what it gets to get that motorcycle you've been watching videos about" at 12.32
Thank you for the kind words. And that comment is my favorite part of video as well. Often times we start putting our own happiness on stand by and prioritizing other things and forgetting that being happy makes us a better person. So if getting that motorcycle that we’ve always wanted makes us happy, it is absolutely worth it to do whatever it takes.
Nice vid. In India the price difference is too much between RE Int 650 and other 650s. Will change when Triumph starts manufacturing locally in collaboration with Bajaj. I have seen so many videos as I contemplate on my next bike.. yours stands out for the way you have presented. Hope you can make one for the next 900 cc bracket .. Kawasaki Z900 RS, Yamaha XSR900, etc. Thanks
Thanks for the appreciation. I’m actually pretty happy the RE is finally making good bikes. Triumph-Bajaj partnership is a great step but it could take some time before we actually get to see the price drop. My next comparison series would be small segment bikes because i would really like to share how cool those bikes are as well.
The Kawasaki looks the best but the Honda stock sounds pretty damn good, i wish they'd make the Honda look like an 85' Nighthawk cb700 I'd have to go out and buy one for sure if that was the case!!!!
I'm not sure why so many people want to change the exhausts on their motorcycle. Listening to these, I think the stock exhaust as good or better in most cases. Especially with the Kawasaki.
For street bikes, the performance gains and weight reduction that comes with an aftermarket exhaust is usually imperceptible. Most people do it for a louder sound and some for aesthetics. Both of those things are more about personal preference than about any practical application. On a track bike, it’s a whole different matter, every pound and every hp counts.
@@RiderXp Bit disappointed with the look of the Honda CL500 Scrambler. The exhaust just looks out of proportion (too big) in comparison to the motorbike.
@@johntheaccountant5594 Yeah, it looks like a half morphed Rebel 500 with an out of proportion exhaust. Only upside could be that aftermarket exhaust might look better.
Hi love your video, I'm looking to buy my first bikes, I'm 56 years old and I'm very tall 6,5, so the leg position is very important. Do you any advice for me. Thank you
Thanks for watching, i’m glad you loved it. For your height, I would imagine the XSR700 would feel the least cramped among these and could work as a good first bike. You could also consider low to mid capacity adventure tourers since they tend to be a bit taller. You might want to watch my other videos about sports and adventure tourers. Once have a few bikes shortlisted, try and hop on to those at a dealership before you make the final decision. Good Luck! Happy New Year !
Because I don’t know enough about them and there aren’t dealerships in the area I live where I could get access to them. I would rather not claim to be knowledgeable about motorcycles that I do not know enough about.
The CB650 is an easy choice because of Honda reliability & the right balance between modern & retro. I’ve ridden that engine in a CBR650F already and already been a fan.
@@RiderXp I am down to the Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor or CB650R. As Honda have 72% of the Thai market, it makes sense to buy the Honda. Royal Enfield is now assembled in Thailand to avoid the import duties from India for your information just as the Honda CB300R is manufactured in India to avoid import taxes from Thailand. I really like the simple retro Honda CB350 Highness that India has but Thailand doesn't.
What I can share from limited experience with the RE interceptor 650 is that while I definitely appreciate Royal Enfield’s effort to improve that platform, it is still rough around the edges and lacks sophistication in the execution of the design. A weird battery case is one such example. If RE continues to improve it, it would become a much better bike.. but in my humbling opinion, supported by the friend who owned one for 6 months and then sold it for those reasons, the CB650 continues to be the better choice.
If it were based on exhaust notes only the Honda would win hands down. Based on looks......got to be honest the Kawasaki in my opinion looks brilliant.
Yeah the Kawasaki is drop dead gorgeous. Especially, the 50th Anniversary edition. That candy brown 2 tone color scheme is pure vintage motorcycle eye-candy!!
Starts video by saying buying a motorcycle is an emotional decision more so than a rational one based on specs and numbers. Proceeds to make a 13 min comparison video breaking down the specs and numbers of various bikes! 😄
Good video mate. I am in the UK and the Z650RS is here. The bike looks really cool when seen with the naked eye. The gold wheels work because the tank has a gold line in paint, which surprised me. It looks better in the flesh than on screen. Mind you, the Triumph is really nice too.
Thanks for the appreciation. I'm glad Kawasaki has delivered on the promise. I hope it does better than the initial perceptions about it's success. The Trident is also a great choice; I came very close to buying one until I realized it was sold out in the US! Cheers mate!
I was a Kawasaki owner many years ago. When I was looking for a new bike many years later, I saw a photo of the Z650rs and purchased one. Didn't look anywhere else. Don't regret it either, does what I want and suits my smaller height
I was considering the xsr7 because it was a cheaper option and I really miss riding but good points were made and to follow my heart I’ll hold out for the z900rs ❤
The Kawasaki Z650RS has a 160/60/17 rear tyre and not a 180 as erroneously mentioned in the video. @tg Thank you for identifying and calling it out. Truly grateful to the audience for keeping me on my toes. Apologies for the oversight.
Nice sounds. I definitely lean towards the Honda, but the Royal Enfield has a nice Raspy growl to it as well. Triumph is really sweet too but that 4 popping Honda is straight up epic, and the power output of the configuration is hard to overlook. I have always been drawn to the inline fours ever since I started riding street bikes back in the early 80's. It's only recently that people started complaining about the Four being "too smooth"😂😂😂. That used to be a huge bonus! Twins from the 70s would have your hands going numb after 10 minutes, and I could ride a four all damn day. Back in the day, we wouldn't think of pulling road trips all over the US. Many times I've done 800-1000 miles in a day when we were needing to get some distance under the belt. Back in 1985 I drove a Honda CB550SC Nighthawk. Even with the reduced displacement, I could rack up the mileage without issues because of the four popper and shaft drive. That little nighthawk was potent too. I remember surprising many 750s, and when the Ninja 600 was released, I'd eat them up in a straight line. I actually used to get a big kick out of that one. There were tons of the Ninja 600s sold, it was a four cylinder engine and really fast for it's time, but they were totally unaware of what Honda had in the 550 Nighthawk and I'd destroy them right off the line. Funny thing was, that nighthawk 550 was faster to 100 mph than the nighthawk 650, and the nighthawk S, 700cc. Now that Nighthawk S would reel me in by about 90-100 mph but it would piss off some folks with bigger more expensive motorcycles 😂😂😂. Every time I'd dust a Ninja 600 rider they were so surprised that they looked like they were going to cry. I don't know what they did with that little 550, but it was a powerhouse!!
Great video man! I've had a Kawasaki KZ200, ER6-F, Suzuki SV1000, Yamaha MT-01 and Yamaha R1 crossplane 2015.... and now I live in Japan, I am looking at the Royal Enfield Interceptor of all things! Japan has quite slow roads and I suspect the Interceptor would be good with a nice exhaust, just burbling around for fun. It comes down to that or the XSR700 which are everywhere in Japan. Both bikes have the 270 crank, so clearly engine character is high on the list for me (my ER6F was yuck in that regard, but a good bike regardless!). Thing is, I don't want to get stuck with punctures on the Enfield or stuck with bad parts supply (tho I can work on it myself), no problem. Whereas the Yamaha would probably never need anything except oil and being Japanese in Japan, it's easy to own and easy to sell. I'm also 5ft 7.5", so that will probably make the Yamaha a slight struggle to move around. Then there is the issue of the low power on the Enfield, although the strong torque and a good 2 into 1 full exhaust system to eliminate the cats sheds over 10kg and gains very good power (6 to 7 HP). You are spot on with the head vs. heart issue. My head says the XSR because it's probably superior in every way to the Enfield. But the XSR looks like a rolling piece of computer generated design, without a round headlight stuck onto it. Not a totally bad thing - I like that it's engine is almost perfect in every way and the bike is so light. But the Enfield is something more beautiful and timeless. It still has it's roots in very early motorcycling, where things were drawn on paper. Yet, it's brand new and has EFI, ABS and doesn't need to be restored! Overall, how would you rate the Enfield for the bombing around slowly and occasional rides out to the mountains? It seems like both bikes could do it great, but for sure the XSR has a lot more speed and power thrill behind it for the sheer giggles. The smooth inline fours don't interest me one bit!
Thanks for watching the video. I think the Enfield has a lot of character especially for bombing around town. For riding out to the mountain, both the Enfield and the XSR are pretty comparable until you upgrade the suspension (for better feel during corners). I'm with you on the inline 4. I have a ZX6R but it's track only. I've now test ridden the XSR700 and absolutely love it for street riding. It is exactly what I'm looking for. My American friends call it a 'hoot to ride" and I think that's the perfect description. So I may be a bit biased, but I would vote for the XSR because you'd avoid the inconvenience that comes with a tubed tire and more power on tap is always appreciated and the high toque coupled with it's geometry makes it a wheelie happy torque monster. It's kind of like a bigger brother of a KTM Duke 390, only slightly more premium, better power delivery and way cooler looks! Just my two (ahem, maybe more than two) cents!
You have just downloaded the contents of my head - I was here up untill a week ago. After a trip to the Motorcycle live show in Birmingham I chose a 2022 XSR700 in dynamic white with next to no miles on and a huge saving off list (which I spent on goodies). Though the weather in UK December '23 is awful and I've not even ridden the bike, I know I made the right choice. Good luck with your search!
@@RiderXp Thanks brother. I will explain my reason for liking the exhaust note. It reminds me more of the classic inline ripping sound. Nothing against VTwin rumble 👍
That's awesome! I had a CBR650F for a while and I had a CS racing exhaust on it.. There's still a video of that exhaust in a tunnel on the channel. In my opinion, for street riding the CB650R is the perfect bike ! Good luck! Do post videos once you get yours!
I love the looks of the kawasaki and it is propably the most nippy through corners. I had my mind set on the thriumph trident but silly gas throtlle that is holding back stationary and it has no top end power... That makes that the kawasaki is a more satsifiyng bike even underpowered. No not as fast as the yamaha but the yamaha then again is not as nippy. The only question i have is, is the kawasaki comfortable on the highway at 80 mph? Windscreen or not does it vibrate to much or not?
I test ride the Z650RS recently and don’t remember the vibrations to bother me too much on the highway but the wind blast was just as much as any other naked bike at highway speeds.
Thanks for putting this video together! I sat on the Kawasaki Z900 RS Cafe and it feel like a great fit! I need to start smaller though, so the Z650 or Z400 are on my radar. All the bikes you reviewed are great bikes. So much goodness to chose from!
I’m glad you found the video helpful. Thank you for the kind words. And yes,I those two are great. I have a comparison video for those as well on the channel. You might enjoy those as well.
Unfortunately I'm only 5'4 so it will be impossible for me to ride an XSR700. CB650R looks great but might be too heavy. Trident might be the perfect bike for me, although I'm not really sold on the looks, the tank looks too round and plain for me.
Loving bikes since the day I was born... Exactly dude! Great video! Covering technical details but also... the most important aspect of our hobby... the feel of riding the freakin' bike itself! Awesome job! I'm leaning towards the XSR but the Trident is also something else! Not to say that the CBR or the Interceptor are not special... It's always good to have different, good options! Now with the coming of the Chinese bikes the competition in the category has exploded!
Thanks for the kind words. My personal favorite among these is the XSR700 because of the looks, simplicity and mad torque. If you can, I'd recommend test riding your top 3 before you finalize. I like the options the Chinese manufacturers are bringing to the table, more competition is beneficial to the consumer. But I am cautious about their reliability since there isn't enough data available about them yet.
That is an interesting perspective. At the moment, the 650 is the biggest engine. I’m not aware if they’re developing a bigger engine yet. And with the way other manufacturers are going, i would be surprised if they did bother developing a bigger engine. But the idea is exciting for sure.
Excellent focused comparison. Was keen on an Interceptor bit thought it was missing some power. have settled on a 2022 Dynamic white XSR700 with next to no miles on it and with a large discount. you appear to have a soft spot for these too? great comparison that reinforces to me that I made the right choice.
Thank you! I do have a soft spot for the XSR aesthetic & ended up getting the XSR 900 about a year ago. You may enjoy the video I made about that: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gjbTXZd7_9A.htmlsi=sFeWQXy2OD4CpbsN
Yes, once i complete the middleweight comparison series, 300-400 is the next where I also happen to have extensive experience and insights from multiple countries. Thanks for watching and supporting.
Agreed! I’ve actually already covered it in another middleweight naked bikes comparison video even before i ever made this one. You can find it on the channel.
haha! I always liked terminator, looks like i was able to pull it off. I know Ai has gotten pretty good lately, but watch my other videos, not a cyborg just yet.
@@NoWay-xu1ie I've owned many motorcycle since 1964 and most were trouble free, except the Yamahs. I've owned four Yamahas and had trouble with all four of them. I don't buy a motorcycle to have trouble. I buy a motorcycle to ride, and I hope for trouble free riding.
I like simplicity in this screwed up complicated world so don't want electronic "rider modes". The only true retro on this selection, for me, is the Royal Enfield because it has a pair of rear shocks and a proper bench seat. I now live in Thailand and am considering one of these two. Honda CB650R for that 4 cylinder sound and Neo Cafe Racer look after buying a Honda CB300R for my Thai secretary's son. Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor for the real retro look and bench seat for a pillion. I really have a dream of buying a Honda CB1100RS for the combination of both, retro dual rear shocks, bench seat and the 4 cylinders.
Im a triumph guy but that royal enfield would be my pic. Those interceptors are awesome! Plus s&s makes a 900cc big bore kit and its price is excellent
I dig the Kawasaki throwback Green/Gold but the triumph really has me pretty much sold. I was initially looking at a Guzzi V7III but triumph has a lot more things for personally I like.
@@RiderXp exactly! I’ve been out of riding for 11yrs and want to get back in. I’m not a sport bike type of guy and more into cruisers and cafe racers and the trident looks in between sport and heritage style.
4500kms on my trident and it's safe to say it's the best mid range bike on the market. I work at a bike workshop, rode all, and while they are all great the trident has the best peak torque and power curve, at 60kph in 6th gear you still have bloody good pull (I don't actually ride in that high of a gear just tested it out). Dash is the nicest. The closest contender is the Honda, but for daily riding like I do the higher redline is cool but not necessary when the trident starts to hit peak torque at 3000rpm. But honestly we are so spoilt for choice, I would be happy with any of them.
No reason whatsoever to not listen to your heart! Kawasaki’s 650 engine has been bulletproof for more than a decade now, that should convince the head as well.
To me, in no particular order. 1. Looks 2. Sound 3. Ergo's...maybe most important...I am tallish and don't like my legs to be too cramped 4. Power 5. Price 6. Reliability. In my experience Triumph is among the worse. Excellent review. Small niggle. Ergo's are king. At 5'8" and 6'1" with long legs and arms, this may change a person's view of what bike is best. Seat height is the whole story. Rider triangle, weight on the hands etc is big.
I only came across this channel because of looking at reviews of the Honda CB300R. I must have watched 50+ reviews before buying the Honda CB300R (2022) model for the 18 year old son of my secretary.
great vid! I agree that the RE is faster that what it says on paper. I had the Conti for a while and road it fast enough to the point where people were surprised that an RE could run that fast. its stable at highway speeds too and i think the weight has a lot to do with it. Anyway, i've moved on to teh z900rs cafe now and love it. On that note, I think the z650rs is a looker too but the features that the trident comes with plus a triple cyl note to boot is hard to beat.
Hi! I'm currently undecided wether to go for the RE Continental GT or the Yamaha XSR 700. What I'm looking for is a bike that's really fun to ride and those two are my top choices. My main concern is that since it will be my first bike ever I've heard that the CP2 from Yamaha is not for begginers, but I'm also concern that if I buy the RE I get bored of the lack of power very soon and want to buy a more powerful bike in the 650cc category Could you give me your honest opinion? I'm more inclined for the RE btw
Thank you. I like your suggestion. At some point in future I do intend to add a lot more to these comparisons. It will take a while before I can get the kind of resources that Automotive Media houses have built over decades. I appreciate your support.
really good video there. I have the 2022 Trident 660 in the garage with black Zard exhaust, Corbin seat, evotech levers and rad guard, etc. Also a KZ900B that is pretty mint. I love that side by side these 2 bikes still have a lot of the same ergonomics and mechanical traits although 47 years apart, I can still ride by my experience.
Thank you. The Trident is a good choice! I recently test rode the Trident 660; it's got quite a peppy character without egging you to be a hooligan like the XSR700 does. What I love is the plethora of options available in the market in the 650cc class with twins and triples with a lot of usable power to enjoy motorcycling relatively safely which is harder to say for full sized siblings.
i love my XSR700 have it for almost a year and it's without doubt one of the best gift i could give to myself... now i'm thinking about changing the exhaust and i'm between the Akrapovic and the Mivv Black that looks more or less the same it's a though decision😅!
@@RiderXp oh yeah, it was a great experience however I see that you didn't mention one chinese that I think is a good bike the Voge 500AC. It is a bit less power than those, but I would be glad if you can make a video on it or any other chinese bike
No doubt all these motorcycles are beautiful and powerful as compared to Royal Enfield but with more power comes more price tag. In India RE650 costs ₹320,000 INR ! Then comes Honda 650 & Triumph 660 and Kawasaki costs almost ₹800,000 - ₹950,000 INR ! So the difference is huge... And RE650 gives sweet power to cost product.. ❤️👍
Oh absolutely! Honda’s pricing is absolutely bonkers in India… i have some friends in Honda India and unfortunately they don’t seem to have a convincing answer except the sales volume and import duties but Triumph has to deal with that too and they have still delivered on price. I’m super impressed with the RE Interceptor and some of my racer buddies here in the US are also very keen to try it. It’s a very good feeling. Thank you for your comment.
Oh and may I say that for Indian traffic dynamics, RE Interceptor 650 has enough power and torque, I was super impressed with it when i rode it from Delhi to Rajasthan on NH8. For US, it may not be a big speed monster but it can easily do highway speeds which are about 80MPH & the RE can easily do 100MPH (160KMPH)
@@RiderXp right...good to know you like India 🙏😇 These days there are few Interceptor & GT650 guys complaining about the chasis getting crack and broken. I think Triumph, Honda, Kawasaki may charge excess but the build quality is very strong and premium !
