THE RIDE VERDICT
‘It offers something new, and needed, to the retro market’
LET’S REFRAIN FROM getting all tabloid and declaring the Interceptor 650 to be the best-value bike in the history of the universe. Just £60 more buys Honda’s ultra-practical CB500F (£5559), and only a few hundred pounds separates it from Suzuki’s far more exciting and capable SV650 (£5842). But there’s no doubt that the Interceptor really is a lot of bike – with miles more garage presence than a CB or SV – for not very much money. And in 2019 it really does offer something new, and much needed, to the retro market.
Clearly, for most RIDE readers, the Interceptor is a very long way from being quick, complete or capable enough to be their only machine. What Enfield has created instead is an ideal sidearm – a chilled, sunny Sunday peace-seeker that looks and rides more than well enough to earn a place alongside the main bike. And at just £5500, it’s a lot easier to make the case for a second bike than with an £8000 Triumph Street Twin, a £10k Kawasaki Z900RS or a £12k BMW R ninet.
The Interceptor has its issues. A few of the fasteners and welds look a bit cheap and ugly; in use, the front mudguard does little to keep muck off the engine; and the official service schedule looks excessive.
And yet, at this price, it’s a lot easier to forgive a few shortcomings. And in a funny way, its affordability and simplicity also accentuate its authentic retro charm — its lack of power, gadgets and posh chassis parts genuinely are a plus when you’re trying to pretend it’s 1960 again.
Best-value bike? No. But best-value retro? Without a doubt — for the money, no other rose-tinted roadster comes close.
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Bought a Royal Enfield 650? Tell us about your experience: email ride@ride.co.uk SPEC ROYAL ENFIELD INTERCEPTOR 650 Price from £5499 Engine 648cc sohc parallel twin, 4v per cyl, a/c Power 44bhp @ 6900rpm (tested) Torque 40lb·ft @ 5000rpm (tested) Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame steel double cradle Front suspension 41mm forks, 110mm travel, no adjustment Rear suspension twin shocks, 88mm travel, adjustable preload Front brake 320mm disc, 2-piston caliper Rear brake 240mm disc, 1-piston caliper Front tyre 100/90-18 Rear tyre 130/70-18 Wheelbase 1398mm Rake/trail 24o/106mm Seat height 804mm Kerb weight 216kg (measured) Fuel capacity 13.7 litres