Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
Mikko takes delivery of the coolest bike ever produced in India
There's a lot to love about the Enfield twin. Not least the price!
Ithink I'm getting old. Or maybe a bit more sensible (no, surely not!)? Whatever it is, it has made me re-evaluate how, where and what I ride.
The change has been coming for a while, with track days being replaced by gentle jaunts down green lanes, and adrenalin-filled Sunday blasts with rides that don't necessarily turn the scenery into a blur, but let you enjoy it instead.
I suppose you could say that I have got slow (or rather, even slower than before), but it's not just that. I still feel the need, the need for speed, but there's a time and place for that. And that's not when I'm commuting on busy roads.
With all that in mind, I thought long and hard about what to do about this year's long-term test bike. It had to be something relevant to a good number of MSL readers, something interesting and new(ish), and ideally a little 'out there' - all that without being an angry, supercharged missile, ready to pull my arms out of their sockets as soon as I even look at the twist grip.
Luckily,I had just the right bike in mind for this: the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 twin had been on my mind since I'd first laid eyes on it last year. To begin with, it had been just the looks that had mesmerised me, then I realised how cheap it was (not just relatively speaking, but actually in a way that a lot of folk can actually afford it without long and difficult conversations with their bank manager), and then came the initial ride impressions from colleagues and friends who all seemed reasonably happy with the bike. It sounded just like what th e imaginary doctor had ordered.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Last year we had the
Interceptor's cafe racer sibling, the Continental GT, on test (incidentally, that test is in this issue, on pages 46-55) and I enjoyed a little ride on it. I didn't go far, just enough to get a feel for the bike. And I liked it. But I have never been that keen on cafe racers in general. The low bars and sporty seats don't really do it for me. Give me big wide bars, a bench seat, and an upright riding position any day! So, the expectations were high as I waited for the Interceptor to roll into my life.
My first love was the orange Interceptor (for some reason that colour really does it for me), but when I got my hands on the long-term test bike in the Ravishing Red colour scheme, it didn't take long for that one to firmly establish itself as the second choice should I go shopping for Interceptors. And the only difference in the colours is the tank, so it wouldn't be too difficult to customise the look yourself.
With its parallel twin engine and classic looks, it's difficult not to compare the Interceptor to a Bonneville, but if you do, just remember that the smaller of the Bonnevilles, the TlOO,starts at £8900. Higher cost means higher spec, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the Enfield feels like it's lacking something unless you ride the two back to back. For me, the question is whether the Interceptor will keep me happy for the duration of the riding season. We'll see!
FIRST FEW MILES
I managed to get out on the Interceptor for a couple of quick rides before the lockdown, and the first few miles confirmed that the little bike seems to be punching above its weight in some respects, although if it is to be a real big-miles workhorse it will need a few little modifications.
The very first impression when I started the engine was that of surprise - with such classic looks I had expected the engine to run and sound a little rough, but it came to life with not a hint of drama, and carried on running smoothly and fairly quietly. It seemed very refined compared to what I had imagined it to be.
Jumping on board, the good vibes continued (with only marginal bad vibes through the pegs) as I enjoyed the easy feel of the ride. As there is no screen, the riding can get a bit hard going if you are covering long distances on big roads, especially on a windy day, but that's the same for any naked bike. Thinking of the positives, maybe I will have a six-pack by the end of the summer?
One thing I love about the Interceptor is the simplicity of the bike. This is perfectly illustrated by the clocks - you have analogue speedo and tacho, with digital fuel gauge, odo and two trips. That's it. No modes, no settings, no connectivity, just the main ingredients for a motorcycle ride. And I like that. Mind you, that means that I have to resort to maths for things like mpg figures. With my maths skills that could be interesting ...
MORE TO COME
As I'm writing this the UK is in lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, so I'm not sure how much riding I will be able to do over the next few weeks, but I can't wait to get more miles on this bike and discover just how well it fits into my life!