2018 ROYAL ENFIELD INTERCEPTOR 650 ROAD TEST REVIEW report by zmarttech,   18/02/2019 follow as on facebook and instagram. R oyal ...

2018 ROYAL ENFIELD INTERCEPTOR 650 ROAD TEST REVIEW

report by zmarttech,   18/02/2019

follow as on facebook and instagram.

Royal Enfield and I are both on a dream run. The Chennai-based company is about to enter the world's largest two-wheeler market with their first-ever all-new multi-cylinder motorcycle with the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650. The prices start at Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 2.65 lakh ex-showroom. 

 Royal Enfield Interceptor technical brief

The Royal Enfield Interceptor is a very simple motorcycle. The engine is an all-new 649cc twin-cylinder unit with a counterbalancer for smoothness, a 270 degree firing order for a lovely twin-cylinder thrum. It has fuel injection and is oil-cooled. At 47PS and 53Nm, it isn't an outrageously powerful motor but as we discovered in California, it's a beautifully torquey motor with over 80 per cent of the torque arriving before 3,000rpm. We saw speeds over 180kmph (indicated) with ease and a steady 130kmph cruise was smooth, stress-free and the engine feels stunning in the feel, sound and the mechanical harmony. Royal Enfield also has a new six-speed gearbox with a slip-assist clutch.

The engine is mounted on an all-new double cradle frame that looks similar to the Continental GT 535's chassis. Suspension is basic too - right-side up forks and twin gas-charged rear shocks. Disc brakes at both ends handle braking and dual-channel ABS is standard. The wheels are aluminium spoked rims running tubed Pirelli Phantom SportComp tyres. Tubeless rims would have pushed the price up, says Royal Enfield, although the tyres are very much tubeless by design.

And we are done! Royal Enfield says the UK and Chennai teams worked together on the motorcycle which will be made in Chennai for India, and the world. For simplicity's sake, Royal Enfield is only manufacturing one spec for all markets, the only difference being the regulatory requirements' hardware - number plates, saree guards and what have you.

And it is pretty clear that the motorcycle was designed from the beginning for this stunning price point. Siddartha Lal, CEO Eicher Motors reiterated that the project was expected to deliver a thoroughly modern riding experience, the Royal Enfield design and feel ethos at that price. The price is crucial because Royal Enfield wants to see chart-busting volumes from the motorcycle, not the sort of inconsequential numbers that bikes approaching even the Rs 4 lakh mark in India currently manage.

Design, build and finish

The Interceptor is a simple, retro-cool roadster by intent. And it's a good looking motorcycle. The simple lines of the tank, the almost spartan neatness of a chrome handlebar with a twin-pod analog instrument cluster is very likeable. The simple flat seat, a decidedly old-school bulb-type tail light completes a clean, classy looking machine. People take notice when you come by.

And the best part is that while the price is low, the motorcycle feels well-made and the attention to detail is thorough. I managed to use my amazing intelligence to pick the worst route possible into Goa. This included a 65km ghat section that was so bad that I couldn't even sit down for more than five minutes at a time. This failed to rattle the motorcycle, loosen or damage anything. The Interceptor stayed resolutely smooth and that, to me, is a sign of how much effort RE has put into ensuring that the Interceptor is as close to flawless as possible. Finish is excellent too, although I think there is some room to improve the finish - the meters could have been designed to look more upmarket to be sure. Royal Enfield also uses an old-school dispersion-style headlight and I suspect that a clear, perhaps even LED headlamp might have made the Interceptor looks even smarter.

Performance and economy

The Royal Enfield's is not very quick on the numbers front. 100kmph takes 6.28 seconds, which is about half a second slower than the KTM 390 Duke. Top speed is north of 170kmph and I have seen over 180kmph without any major signs of worry or mechanical distress.

On the flip side, economy is in the 23kmpl region for city riding and it rises to 27kmpl at a reasonable highway clip. However, the bike is sensitive to high speeds and economy can drop to 21kmpl at sustained speeds over a 110kmph - not that you'd be able to do this consistently for a while.

The engine feels composed and unstressed at all speeds and the bike runs a lovely smooth rhythm at any speed. The gearbox shifts neatly too and the experience overall is very satisfying.

(details of top end model)*

DETAILS*

• OVERVIEW
  Dimensions (L x W x H)

  2122 x 789 x 1165

  Engine displacement

  648cc

  Transmission

  6-Speed

  Maximum Power (ps)

  47

  Fuel Tank Capacity

  14

  Mileage (Overall)

  -NA-
• SPECIFICATIONS
  Engine Displacement (cc)

  648

  Cylinders

  2

  Cylinder Config

  Parallel twin

  Spark Plugs Per Cylinder

  0

  Cooling System

  Liquid-cooled

  Maximum power (PS)

  47

  Maximum torque (Nm)

  52

  Gears

  6

  Gearbox Type

  Transmission type

  6-Speed

  Valvetrain

  SOHC

  Fuel Type

  Petrol

  Fuel System

  Fuel injection

  Ignition Type

  Digital spark

  Clutch Type

  Wet multiplate

  Chassis Type

  Steel tubular

  Front Suspension

  41mm front forks

  Rear Suspension

  Twin coil over shocks

  Brakes Front

  320

  Brakes Rear

  240

  Brakes Front Type

  Disc

  Brakes Rear Type

  Disc

  Tyres Front

  100/90-18

  Tyres Rear

  130/70-18

  Headlight Type

  Halogen

  Taillight Type

  Bulb

  Indicator type

  Bulb
• FEATURES      
• Tachometer

  Electric start

  Digital speedometer

  Digital odo

  Digital fuel efficiency indicator

  Fuel gauge

  Low fuel indicator

  Low oil indicator

  Low battery indicator

  Tripmeter

  Shift light

  Pillion seat

  Pillion footrest

  Pillion backrest

  Pillion grabrail

  Stand warning

  Engine turn off switch

  Clip on bars

  ABS

  Clock

  Projector lamp

  LED tail lamp

  Pass light

  Alloy wheels

  Tubeless tyres

  Radial tyres

  Gas charged suspension
• DIMENSIONS
  Length (mm)

  2122

  Width (mm)

  789

  Height (mm)

  1165

  Wheelbase (mm)

  1400

  Ground clearance (mm)

  174

  Fuel capacity

  14

  Reserve fuel capacity (litres)

  Kerb weight (kg)

  202

  Seating

  2
• PERFORMANCE
  0 - 60kmph

  3

  0 - 400m (seconds)

  Top Speed

  172

  60 - 0kmph distance

  City (kmpl)

  21.25

  Highway (kmpl)

  27.15

  Overall (kmpl)

  22.73

  Manufacturer claimed (kmpl)
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• photos of RE Interceptor 650
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  specifications summary

Dimensions (L x W x H)

2122 x 789 x 1165

Engine displacement

648cc

Transmission

6-Speed

Maximum Power (ps)

47

Fuel Tank Capacity

14

                                                                     source:- google