As a kid growing up in the sixties on Long Island, NY there was a small motorcycle dealer down the road from the house I grew up in. They sold Triumph, Royal Enfield and scooters. I don’t remember if they were Vespa or Lambretta but regardless I was most impressed with both the Triumph and Royal Enfields. Just beautiful machines. Their chief mechanic, a Brit, barely tolerated us kids who were fascinated by the bikes and pestered him with questions until he would shoe us away so he could get back to work. I have a distinct memory of him road testing a new Interceptor, riding past my house, giving it the beans looking at me and smiling as he passed. This would have been around 1966 or ‘67. Prior to the onslaught of the Japanese manufacturers.
Excellent video. And easy to see the origins of the lastest model in it's grandad there. When you see the old model, the styling key points are all present. A good history lesson for us all.
Every big inspires me too get off my arse and go for a ride! Sometimes I manage it too! Nice to see you're not overly precious about the bike. Bikes are only alive when they're being ridden! Stay well Ed
I thought I knew roughly the RE story but I was so wrong,... very useful and interesting information for next time anyone else admires my bike, a newish interceptor. Glad you brought 270 degree crank subject up, would like to hear your views of the minus and pluses and differences of the two systems one day. Anyway great video👍.
Well despite my best efforts, I have learned some more new stuff today. As a relatively new entrant to the RE fan club, I feel I'm starting to actually get to know the brand a bit thanks to you. Beautiful bike and nice little ride in the late summer sun. Thanks.
I remember going into a RE dealer in the late 70s, he was selling used Constellations and Interceptors. The wooden floor and drip trays were always a wash with oil, hence the Royal Oilfield name. Good to see you seem to have cured the problem. I bought a Bonneville. Great video, cheers.
Glad to hear that the Interceptor featured here is the pride of your collection. Looking forward to seeing more of it in the future. I don’t criticise younger bikers for lack of knowledge about older bikes but I find the lack of curiosity sometimes surprising. I can’t say I’ve ever seen an original Interceptor on the road, only ever at motorcycle shows. As far as big bikes were concerned all the British motorcycle manufacturers (not just Royal Enfield) were obsessed with the USA market in the sixties to the detriment of UK customers. It seems strange to us now but at the time people still cared about our balance of payments deficit, which was dreadful. The UK Government wanted foreign currency and did what it could to encourage exports. Then in 1967 Harold Wilson’s Government devalued the pound from $2.80 to $2.40 to £1 so we had to sell even more bikes to bring in the same dollars. I wonder if American bikers benefited from lower prices ? 🇬🇧
Haven’t seen one of these since the 60’s & you know what they’re still one of the best looking bikes ever. You said you are lucky owning & you very much are, envious I am 😉 Ride safe
I'm 62 been obsessed with motorcycles all my life. I'm totally aware of the original interceptor but TBH I can't remember seeing one. May be because I live up northwest of England. Certainly on the look out for one now.
I had a high school chum whose dad had Interceptor, an earlier model with straight pipes and that had been around a bit. He said his dad wouldn't let him ride it but he did fire it up for me. It was loud as hell, a real beast. I thought it had the prettiest engine I'd ever seen.
That has always been my dream bike.Yet i own a 2020 interceptor and it is still the best bike i have ever owned . 20,000 with a sidecar across mountains ,deserts and great plains wind it has its own advantages.
Really interesting video VB! I understand how you feel privileged to own the bike, being so rare. I have a 1946 Watsonian Meteor sidecar and they only made 601, so it’s the pride of my garage! Great video!
Great bike .. I first saw an Interceptor in I believe 1965 and was smitten by it to say the least. I was 18 at the time and recall as if it were yesterday.
I really enjoyed hearing about the 60s Interceptor and seeing a rare example too!👍👍 Not only does it pull like a tractor, it sounds like one also😁😁. It is remarkable to see one running and in great condition. I also love my modern modified Interceptors 👌.
Beautiful machine, "The pride of the fleet" as old naval expression goes. The audio quality was great to, you can clearly hear booth the bike and comentary..
All those British companies like Royal Enfield and Panther that went out of business in a few short years, because their bikes were "old fashioned". They are now highly prized for the qualities that made them the way they are.
Greetings from Australia, great video, I had no idea they made 750 interceptor🎉 way back then. I had a 71 Norton commando 750, I wish every single day that I still had it, worts day of my life when I sold it.. your bike is a gem, lucky man to have one. Cheers. pS I would love to see some pics when you clean n polish that bike 👍
Great bike in it's day ! Even the new one is a great bike. Nice bit of information love the video. My best wishes to you from the Philippines ❤️💪👍😉😀😁🏁🏍️🛺🐑🇵🇭🏴⭐
Really enjoyed that video, you certainly know your history on Enfields Mr Brown . I had Constellations coming out of my ears 50 years ago and wouldn't touch any other bike in those days .
Do you watch Paul Henshaw’s channel Performance Classics? He’s a big Enfield fan and has had a few of the twins on his channel and always says they are an impressive bike performance wise!
Well, if you shouldn't be the owner of this beautiful machine, who should? I've never come across anyone, with that much knowledge on these old bikes. And the newer models, for that matter... I've had the licence since 1983, but didn't have my own bike before 2010. I haven't gotten to a RE yet, but I'm concidering. Right now, I'm on a Suzuki 250 V-Strom. Yep, with a 270 crank... 🙄😏😂
Great video, nice to see you out on the 750,it sounds great! Are you going to ride it through the winter as you dont have to worry about wet sumping?I try and ride my trident all year round as I do have to be aware of wet sumping,while my GSX1400 generally stays in the garage, also have you any luck with the replacement clocks on your Interceptor?
Sorry i have to disagree with you about the Norton Atlas I bought a restored one back in 84 & it's still with us keept by my son now love NORTON classics .
You are indeed lucky to have a mk 11 and the mk1a and the mk 1....I only know one other person who also has all three ....he kindly let me have a ride on the mk 11 it was a bit of a shock after lots of Triu 14:48 mphs...Norton...and B S A the Enfield mu h smoother and loads of grunt ..gearbox not that great but ok ...I had a Constellation which I liked but thr Clutch which went out of adjustment when it got hot in traffic ...but still a nice bike to ride
Hi dave the soul reson why i ride the Royal enfeild continental-gt 650 is becouse my grandad owned the conserlation 700 cc in london were he owned a motorcycle parts shop on green street westham the same shop were my mum and dad first meet back in the 1960s at time royal enfeilds 700 cc was the fastest bike on the road
It's ok of young blokes don't know shit about shit. With age comes wisdom. Don't lecture at them just tell them what they don't know. Educate them. They aren't stupid they just don't know yet. It's good that a young bloke has a bike and is riding it.
I got a 2010 Classic Bike Magazine Issue 362 with a bike like yours same colour owned by Richard Steven's who was a test rider fir Royal Enfield from 1967-70. 40yrs later HE brought one & us the main story & very interesting. HE rode the 800 Mk 2b Interceptor in 1970 too.I can't believe that guy didn't know about the early Interceptor or even the RE history & Rich History it is too.The Americans loved the RE 700-750(736cc) bikes loved the torque delivery compared to other British bikes & as you said the smoothness.I'm jealous you own one let alone 3😲 especially the 1970mk 2a.I saw a 1960's Chief 700cc custom for sale in NZ on bike trader a US import for 6k so £3200😲 I should of brought it pastel blue colour similar to the new 350 Halcyon Blue bike.It was in South Island though which bikes are cheaper than North Island but South Island is like you Brits traveling to France on ferry but 2½ times the as far on ferry & 3times as rough on a good day.
South Island is NZ🇳🇿 motorcycle mecca high bike ownership per population & better roads & less traffic better views but colder. Also only has between ¼-⅓ of NZ'S Population so less traffic.Cause bike ownership high & population low used bikes are cheaper & get some bargains even new bikes have better specials than North Island.I got a get down there on bike one day maybe to Bert Munroe festival but that's at bottom of the South Island & is the Worlds most Southern city & Southern Hemisphere biggest Bike Festival & has a World Class Truck & Bike Museum with heaps of bikes with everything almost like Brough Superior,Vincent etc. Bert Munroe bike is not in the Museum but in the Local Hardware Shop as per HIS wishes as mate owned the shop.Take me 3 days atleast 4 maybe from top to bottom of South Island since I broke my back but love to do it atleast once.A mate went down last year spent 14days down South.
VB, if you make video blabbering about crank angles and different versions of bikes for 2 hours, I will still watch it all! .. I think about that stuff myself often. The 270° cranks are the new hot thing as they left the old V-twins in the past, mostly for money reasons. Everyone do it.. The 3/4 of the 4 Japanese brands do it, KTM does 285°. The young bloke probably has ridden just standard Japanese 180° bikes and in-line-4s before his new Int. .. Their 180° twins are short strokes, buzzy high revs.. Fast but boring. Yamaha started that 270° crank trend back in the 90's with their Tenere 750 / TDM 850 and the people loved them. The 650 engine aside, I love what India is doing with the brand and they are selling like hot cakes at the moment, I ordered one of the 350s myself.. Waiting to arrive next week.
