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I think the older you get, the more you realise it isnt all about high horsepower and high performance. I picked up an interceptor 650 a few months ago, and have slowly modified it into a scrambler, which i use to ride to work daily in Melbourne. I rarely get above 60km/h most days commuting in during peak hour, but i have bundles of fun every morning and afternoon riding it....and that's honestly what its all about.
@@John-pe7ru perfect for daily commutes... anything over 2 hours amd the seat becomes uncomfortable, but thats like most motorcycles bar huge hwy cruisers.
Thanks so much for this review Mike. I've watched a few but yours really stands out for the level of accuracy and the kind of technical info that a genuine motorcycle enthusiast would want plus the context (an aching posterior, a good sound as standard, a smooth engine etc). A lot of people have tried to emphasise the English connection but I think you've pitched it about right. It's an Indian machine, made by the Royal Enfield business which survived in India while the original English parent company died in 1971. The Indians have doggedly evolved their machines and now with a little English design help, they've suddenly got a world-beating middleweight. I wish them well.
'am a considerably new rider, only been riding for 6 months (not even daily... only on a weekly basis, 110 kms mostly per trip). But this is probably my next bike in a few months or so, and thankfully it has already been introduced in my country the Philippines. And its start of sale is very much anticipated by many enthusiasts here (costs initially at 375,000 pesos for the standard, I heard). I'm basically a rider who's not really into speed and most of the time is on cruise mode on my 150cc bike, and I think this is gonna be perfect (even on the highways, which is my main reason of getting a bike above 400cc - we have a minimum displacement requirement here when traversing the express ways, as well as minimum speed there of 60kph - which won't be a problem for me and for the GT650), because it looks so badass and, fast or not, it's gonna make me look badass too, lol. The only thing stopping me from getting one is my cheap conscience that tend to tell me "why not a buy a cheaper one" whenever I'm about to buy something I really, really like. Curse of being a cheapskate I guess. Still undecided, really. Whether this, or the Rebel 500, or the Vulcan S (both in the same price range). But this review is so detailed, it has been very informative. Pretty much everything I'm really looking for in motorcycle "reviews", really. Great job, Mike!
Kamusta bro. I also had to choose between gt650 and rebel 500. Try to see the motorcycles in person and test ride them, it might help you decide. I already pulled the trigger on the gt650, ang pogi e haha
Wonderful review, like the way you pointed out the problem with tubes but it wouldn't put me off. I prefer the Interceptor in Orange and in England its great value at £5,500. Thanks.
Be real interesting to see how compares against the Guzzi V7III. Must admit i think Guzzi have lost the plot with the boring black bikes. The classic looking enfield with wires looks great.
I have the 535cc single version. Put a ton of mods into it from Hitchcock which should give me about the same power as the 650cc. The ergonomics on the 650 are improved I understand, because after about an hour the 535 isn't very comfortable. Still not enough to make me upgrade but there could be a 650 Interceptor as a stable mate in my future.
Greg Kerr , keep dreaming mate!!, the 535 comes with 29hp, the 650 have 47hp, and you saying that with some aftermarket parts you gain 18 hp??, do you hit your head or you are just plain IDIOT??
The Interceptor gets the centre stand, but not the Continental. It's the same frame so should be available as an accessory, unless the rear sets interfere with it.
I own this bike here in the US and love it. Was recently back at the dealership last weekend to get a few items and people were waiting in queue to test ride the Conti and the Interceptor they had on the showroom floor.
Review is spot on with what I observed while riding it. The brakes were surprisingly good for being a single disk with enough stopping power. I think the front suspension feels skittish because the initial inch or so of travel is quite soft and underdamped to give that "plush" feeling over potholes here in India. First upgrade would be a fork spring kit :). Also the abs isn't switch able, as you said in the review.
Very good review of this motorcycle. Made me consider some of the finer details. Performance numbers certainly seem more than adequate, although the engine itself looks a little bulky and maybe is slightly heavier than it needs to be. Although the bike sounds pretty good I'd like to see a smaller (ie. shorter and thus lighter muffler on both sides like a set of Staintunes, TEC's or Arrow's). The wheels being spoked and the tires needing to be tubed is not a total deal breaker but RE should offer an upgrade/alternative on these. The mirrors can be ditched for a nice set of bar end Napoleon's or Oberon's. Will still consider this motorcycle when time to refresh what I ride, but I'll be doing a thorough comparison and price matching with preowned bikes such Triumph T series, Street Twin, Street Cup, Moto Guzzi V7 etc.
I was looking for one of these a month ago but decided I wanted more comfort, these modern bikes are like the modern cars with over stiff suspension and seats. I need to be able to go to Europe on, a bit more reliability. I'm fed up with old bikes and breaking down. Found a VFR800X crossrunner for £3600.
Hi Mike, apparently their is a big bore kit for these from S&S custom engines in the US. There is a 750cc and a 843cc I believe. Can l ask what your opinion would be from an engineering point of view of how well one of these RE's could cope with either bigbore kit mentioned above, please?
I am wondering if you would like to get in touch with RE again and make a comparison with the Interceptor! I am sure your subscribers would be happy with another great review. I commented on the RE GT 535 video that a review of the 650 engine would be great, so I try again! Cheers
I found the clip-ons quite comfortable. They are mounted above the top triple clamp which makes a big difference to long distance comfort. I personally prefer this setup over standard bars because the forward lean reduces back fatigue. Still they are not for everyone. You need to try them out to see if they work for you.
@@MikesMachines Thanks Mike. Yeah, I'm looking at this bike as a potential upgrade on my VTR learner's bike. Although I really like the SV650X, if you can get your hands on testing one of those, I'd love to hear what you think!
Loving the bike! Picked up one new but I'm thinking they didn't balance the front wheel. There's no weights on it and it's shuddering/jumping around quite a bit, especially at higher speeds. A bit disappointed in that but overall it's a fantastic bike overall!
Roos are usually only a problem at dawn and dusk and I avoid riding at those times of the day if possible. However I did hit a small Roo one morning many years back on my Guzzi Daytona. The Roo came off second best and there was no damage to the bike so I was very lucky.
Shipping costs are listed here: answers.teespring.com/article/shipping-costs Orders can be placed here: mikes-machines.creator-spring.com/ I am unsure if orders for the UK are still printed in the EU post Brexit. They may be shipped from the USA.
I have tested this bike on a road test, since I was very curious about it. I literally adore the style of the bike, the riding position, the smoothness of the engine. It's a very intuitive bike, really "natural" to ride. Nevertheless I was not satisfied with the general level of quality: painting, switches, finishing, and so on. The fork was rattling on harshest bumps. But above all I was not impressed by the general performances of the engine. Sure it's smooth even at very low rpm's, but the acceleration and speed are poorer than those of a mid size scooter (350-400cc). Really frustrating. That's a real pity, because the engine is great from the technical point of view (4 valves, 270 degrees crankpins). Maybe Enfield has designed the flywheel inertia and the cams profile for a very indian customer, not for anything sportier. I do like your videos and approach, and for these reasons I would like you to share your point of view about the above aspects. What do you think?
I don't consider this a sports bike (it's more retro than sports) so I wasn't expecting much in the way of performance when I rode it. It's not a Triumph Thruxton and costs a fraction of one. The front end is a bit firm but the one I rode didn't rattle. The bike handles nicely, the engine is responsive, the finish is fine for the price and overall it's fun to ride. I just enjoyed the overall experience. I think that the factory will release a bigger capacity model within a year or two though. S&S are offering big bore kits for the 650 now which is a good indication of what the basic design is capable of.
@@user-sw2lv3zp6o II can live with that " but a VERY limited choice in tyres I don't think so" , I would have to get the rear wheel changed to a 17 so I can run my beloved P5,s.
Tire choice includes the superb Avon Roadrunners. Continental also makes a great tire for this bike. The Pirelli's the bikes come with are made in Brazil and have half the tread depth of regular Pirellis but same tread design.
I went to look at one of those at my local Brisbane Royal Enfieild dealer today. I mentioned I liked the aluminium rims and was told, no that is just paint, I was told they were steel. At 3:15 Mike says they are aluminium rims. Who should I believe (or have RE cheapened the machine in the year since this video was made) ?
@@Mr.Amberman Well yes they were made of an aluminium alloy but most metal we encounter is an alloy including steel and bronze (it just tells us the material is not one pure element but instead is a mix). Saying something is an alloy excludes very little.
Part 2: I bought one of those bikes (a demonstrator with 1000km on it for $9000 AUD) and checked the rims with a magnet. There was a slight attraction which puzzled me since these were obviously aluminium (aluminum if you live in the US) rims. It wasn't until weeks latter it dawned on me the attraction was from the steel wire embeded in the bead of the tyre (or tire if you live in the US).
An interesting comparison as they both have a similar design philosophy. I haven't ridden the Street Twin 900 but it costs about 30% more and boasts around 30% more horsepower than the Enfield 650. On paper the Triumph looks better but if you are on a limited budget the Enfield is a bargain.
I've ridden the earlier MG V7s and they are very similar in performance and handling to the Continental GT. The Moto Guzzis are better finished but then the price in higher.
In many respects they are quite similar. They both weight around 200kg and have roughly 50hp on tap. The V7 does have more torque though courtesy of its extra 100cc. It's been awhile since I've ridden a V7 but from memory they both handle in an old school manner and are easy to live with. The quality of finish on the V7 is a bit higher but then so is the price. You really need to ride both before you make a decision but the price of the Enfield is very appealing.
Kawasaki W800. 360 degree crank with counter balance. Simple air cooling and a long stroke engine. Excellent fit and finish and bevel driven upper end, but a bit higher in price than the very good Interceptor and Continental.
They are quite different bikes. The SWM is small and nimble whilst the RE 650 is bigger, heavier but with a lot more horsepower. For highway cruising the RE 650 is great but on tight twisty roads I reckon the SWM is more fun.
Can I ask where you got hold of one of these please? Was it a loaner, or a hire bike? if it was a hire bike who hires them out? Ta. No roadside puncture repair without taking the wheel out!? What? Don't you remember FINNILEK? Just out of interest, can I ask your weight height and perhaps inside leg measurement. I was thinking my wife might like one of these, but it is a matter of scale, as she is on the small side.
The one I rode was a demo bike from a local dealer. In regards to punctures, yes you can try one of those cans of puncture repair but I've rarely had a good experience with them. The seat height is listed as 793mm which is not as low as some mid sized bikes (I'm just over 6 ft.).
@@MikesMachines Sorry to ask the question about where it was available, I had that answered at the end of the clip, A1 motorcycles in Ringwood, thanks. Six feet tall aye, hmmmmmm....that bike looks big next to you so did you find it easy to put your feet flat on the ground with slightly bent knees? I don't believe it will suit my wife diminutive stature at all, even with that unforgiving thin seat rubber offered. Enjoy your reviews by the way.
The seating position was fine for me and I did have my feet flat on the ground. Seat height is a real problem for women which why the smaller cruisers sell so well I guess. Both the Guzzi V7 III & Ducati 696 Monsters have a 20mm lower seat than the 650 Continental GT if you are looking for something a bit different for your wife.
It's ok , if you must have a new bike, and you're on a 6k budget, But I would take a used Triumph any day for the same money, Only my humble opinion after riding Both,
