Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
Can a motorcycledo somethingthat no amount of speed awarenesscoursescan achieve clearthe redmist?
This is a magicbike.It can changethe way you ride.
It hasb"n m emwnlinacy year so far. Full of highs and lows, new ways of doing things (or not doing them at all), a whole lot of adjusting, and we still have the 'new normal' to look forward to - whatever that may be.
But for me, all the grim thoughts, frustration and lockdown-induced cabin fever were lifted when we were allowed back on the roads on our bikes. My first ride was a short local run, a gentle jaunt down some quiet country lanes - and it felt fantastic! I had been eager to get back on the bike, yet I hadn't quite realised how much I had missed riding. They say that you don't know how good things are until they go wrong, but I reckon it works the other way too - I had almost forgotten how much I love riding bikes!
FEEL-GOODBIKE
Since the lockdown was eased I have ridden three different bikes. Three VERY different bikes. The first was a Harley Iron 1200,then the Interceptor, and finally a BMW F900XR - a mixed bag, to put it mildly. The
Harley has an ocean of character, the BMW is a precision tool of performance, and the Enfield lets the others do the boasting, shrugs and smiles, and gets on with it all in its own unhurried and understated way.
While I enjoyed riding all those bikes, it was the
Interceptor that really made me happy. It doesn't have the visceral feel and chest-beating machismo of the big H- D V-twin. Nor can it compete with the XR'saristocratic levels of refinement. But what it can do is bring a big smile on your face, make you forget all your worries, and remind you what fun riding a bike can be in its simplest form. It's a feel-good bike like none other.
WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
It's not just rose-tinted glasses and nostalgia that have made me fall hopelessly in love with the Interceptor. The machine is actually far better than I was expecting. It's only early days, so I can't comment on how the bike ages, but so far there has been no sign of any problems, and the
build quality seems high.
The bike rides well, too. With its 47bhp peak power it's never going to be a guided missile, but you never feel like you need more power to keep ahead of all the four-wheeled traffic. Overtakes need to be more carefully planned than with bigger bikes, but they are still easily doable.
The gearbox is not superslick, but certainly a lot smoother than I was expecting, and while I have been running the bike in I have rather enjoyed keeping things calm by short-shifting through the box, keeping the revs down, but still getting a move on.
Braking duties are taken care ofby ByBrecalipers front and back, and they are fine too. Not super-sharp, but with a bit more of a squeeze they bring the bike to a stop pretty well. Not top-quality, but better than you might expect on a retro bike like this.
Only one area lets the whole package down - suspension. The twin shocks and traditional telescopic forks are fine for pottering around town. They are fine even on well-paved A- and B-roads when speed goes up. But as soon as you encounter any uneven surface - let alone a proper pothole - you know about it. Fast cornering only feels enjoyable and safe when the road ahead is as smooth as silk. Hit a pothole in a bend at high speed and it's time to change your underwear.
REFORMING RIDE
All those things, both pros and cons, add up to a riding experience that has changed the way I ride - and the way I approach riding. The positives give you a nice warm glow: the smooth power, the tuneful twin burble, and the easy feel of riding the Interceptor make it a delight to go about your business in a calm and collected manner. Even the suspension, which technically speaking is a
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definite downside, adds to the overall appeal of the bike because it forces you to take things a little easier, not hurry so much, and favour a smooth and relaxing ride over a warp-speed dash through the landscape.
And all of this has changed my riding. I'm much calmer when I'm on the Enfield. I don't get as annoyed by idiot drivers around me. I still make good progress and use the inherent qualities of the two-wheeler to my advantage, but I'm not hell-bent on overtaking every single vehicle in sight. I enjoy my surroundings. I take new routes to my usual destinations. I discover new places. I'm zen. And as I transform, the bike becomes a part of something bigger - a vehicle of exploration, not just a means of transport.
And does that calm and tranquillity last? Well, it did well into the first 10 yards of riding the screaming, roaring and wonderfully mad Suzuki Katana. But that's a different story ...