A Royal Enfield is a soul machine. When you’re done being a kid and just want to enjoy what remains of the journey, nothing will suffice like a Royal Enfield.
Nice to hear someone younger who feels the same as me about the direction the world is hurtling in. Gives me hope for the feature after all. I have the Royal Enfield Interceptor, Continental GT and Classic 500 all in chrome. The whole lot less than a decent Harley. These bikes are more fun and capture exactly the good old days, as we like to think they might have been. I have owned many Triumphs and they come in a close second but each new model seems to stray further away from the original classic design which many people love, myself included. Great Vlogs keep up the good work.
Faster than a 883 Harley Davidson too with Harley Davidson extra weight of 43kg the extra 27Nm of torque is used to push the extra weight chuck some slip on's on or big bore headers & air filter the bigger Hardley's like 1580cc get blown away as well the 650 twin definitely punches above it's weight.
@Adam Johnson The classic 500 has been good as gold, i have only done 1400 kms so far but not a single issue. I have just bought a 535 continental GT 2015 with 9,000 kms on the clock but i am confident that it will just be comfortably run in, as that can take some time with these bikes so i am told. I think these new bikes are a very different breed from some of the older bikes from 15 or 20 years ago. I love them!
@@bajamike3803 I personally love the 500 classic, it is a great confidence inspiring stylish ride. I have had loads of more powerful bikes, big Harleys too but they were no more enjoyable to ride and definitely no better to look at. If you want something a bit more sporty looking and not quite so 1950's then you could try the R,E 535 cc Continental GT. I can not tell you from personal experience on this one unfortunately as it has not arrived as yet. The 650 GT and Interceptor are great bikes but you may need to exercise a little more caution while you are gaining experience. Cheers Lester.
Bought 2 of them one for wife and then one for myself for all reasons mentioned , we are all sick of living in this fast hi tech world , riding the interceptor is my time out and time machine, fully agree.
I got a continental gt and that's coming from a Ducati Diavel and I like the gt 650 better. You reviewed this bike perfectly. Just imagine if Ford remade the 67 mustang fastback with a modern motor, suspension, and 1975 prices. Ford wouldn't be able to make enough of them.
Just imagine if Ford remade the '67 Mustang fastback EXACTLY as it was in 1967. I'd empty my life savings and stand in line for weeks to buy one. But NO modern computerized GARBAGE. It just so happens I do own a 1967 Mustang, except it is a coupe instead of a fastback. 289/four speed, light green with gray 5 spoke ARE Torque Thrust wheels. Real deal no computers. It has been upgraded to disc brakes in front, but there are no wires connected to them.
@@geraldscott4302 Lucky man the 67 is one of the highly sought after models as are a lot of vehicles from 67.You are definitely right about the NO COMPUTERIZED Garbage & adding disc brakes is a no brainer & there are plenty of parts available & new old stock for the Mustang,floor pans, bumpers etc...There are still a few 289 Mustang's in NZ & maybe just as many as the 302 models. A Fastback is a great looking car & I like the tunnel ram on the Bonet.I think you wouldn't be the only one to spend all your money to get a new 67 Fastback built the original way but with discs.Any of those cars from mid 50s-1970max era are great whether it a Buick or a Ford or Chevy, Plymouth.
@@geraldscott4302 Modern cars have no soul like the cars of old did & the car was part of the family & memories & the car or bike had a name that's why the Interceptor & Gt are so popular with us over 40s with their no driver aids & 60s look & really do look like a 60s restore but are also popular among younger riders who admire the vehicles of old & their simplicity & soul but just might need a push in the right direction & I reckon a few who watched Vinny's passion & enthusiasm for Royal Enfield HE might have convinced a few younger riders that you don't need buckets of HP to have fun & also the community & comraderie is special & when they test ride one realize that the R.E actually punches above it's weight & blows away 883 Harley Davidson & W800 & with a few upgrades is a magnificent bike when you add Yss forks & big bore headers & air filter & is a customizers dream bike & get looks everywhere you go.
I’ve been watching so many reviews of this bike over the past few years and every reviewer has stated this is the best bike to buy if you want to have the best time riding without wiping yourself out at 300kph! You’re father is a wise man! 🤠
You're 100% right, brother. I've been riding since 1978 and I've had every kind of bike imaginable. I've even got a ZRX that'll do over 175 miles an hour. Still, to this day nothing Thrills me more than my outdated Royal Enfield and I love that bike for all the reasons you just laid out. Great video.
You hit the nail on the head on why we ride and how RE has such a loyal following. Damn, every university marketing professor needs to watch this video. I would have never considered an RE, but the new Meteor, Int/Conti and maybe the Super Meteor cruiser has me wondering.
Exactly, spot-on! 👍👍👍 People are tired of bulshit, they want to enjoy their lives again. RE Interceptor brings back the pure joy of motorcycling, where the rider is in charge of his machine. Not the other way round. "Cool" assistants, riding modes, traction control, electronically adjustable suspension, Bluetooth connectivity? No, thank you! Adventure bike so expensive you are actually afraid to take it off road in case you drop it? No, thank you! All you need is solid, well built bike, that will capture your heart with its look and sound, tacho and speedo, ABS in case you get into trouble. That's it.
21,000 miles on my 2020 650INT, I am buying another soon. 55-plus years experience here, a 2020 Speed Twin, two 2012s: Bonneville SE and Thruxton 900's and a GSXr-750 in my fleet....the R.E. gets all the love ❤ Putting the S&S 743cc big-bore kit in my Enfield, it already has a TEC full stainless-steel exhaust; it weighs 440 pounds full of fuel and gets 73 miles per gallon. Selling my Triumphs....
Nice mate! Sounds like an awesome fleet youve got there and youre too right mate nothing beats riding a slow bike fast smashing through all the gears and having a blast doing so!
@@roadblastmedia speaking of gears, the Royal Enfield 650 has THE best gearbox of any bike ever; it can be up-shifted and down-shifted all day quietly and precisely. Not so with the other brands I have owned.
@@DavidLee-ch9vt happiest with the B'stone Spitfire 11F in size 110/90 on the front, I have bought 3 more because they are discontinued. On the rear I use a B'Stone Battlax BT46 in size 140/70; these are optimum for my liking. I also have a Pirelli SportComp in 150/70 that I have put 500 miles on (I have two each of front and rear wheels), the 150 has the effect of gearing up almost 5 percent and makes the side-stand useless; easier to get the bike on the center stand and a bit more ground clearance with larger tires.
You won the heart of all the Indians! You are right cause royal enfield is not for speed but to enjoy the moment when you ride it. Seen a lot of foreigners and youtube channel saying how slow it is, or how begginersh it is. But they forget that its not just about speed or how much torque it provides, it is for those who love riding and not speed
@@retromojo1 The company is been running strong since World War II so... that's pretty much nullifies you statement. By the way which things out of India were you talking about?
Here in Asia the brand holds up well against the competition, these in a tough climate, they are reliable work horses, if you just want to potter around they are perfect.
Perfect analysis why people buy this bike.👍 Like me, I'm tired of the perfection of a big BMW GS bike and stuff like this, I want to relax and enjoy the ride without hectic and the intention to be the fastest or something like this. That's why in march a Interceptor 650 will be in my garage. Thanks to Royal Enfield for building this kind of bike and greetings to all RE bikers. fRiTz from Germany
By God! I am from India. I have ridden REs all my life coz many friends have them but could not buy coz could not put up the cash till now. Indians love REs and when RE started reaching out to foreign markets I thought no way in hell the foreign markets could appreciate such an oldie bike. But, I guess I was so wrong. I guess the soul of a bike transcends through the bikers without recognising any border.
But you gotta admit the GS-type is just extremely comfortable for longer touring (especially because of wind protection - which would be so extremely awesome if there was a bolt on solution for the enfield). So of course, when i drove to Italy with two GS drivers it was more exhausting for me to get there. But you know what? Once we drove though the countryside or reached the hairpin curves in the mountains - man I had fun. While everybody had to slow down their pace with there heavy bulky bikes, I was having a blast hitting the corners. And you should have seen the look on the old locals or other bikers faces when someone turns up with this fucking beauty ;) cheers
@@DavidLee-ch9vt yep I know what you mean, hitting the corners on these beauties, they handle the twisties really well for a classic style bike. My mates are always surprised when we hit the curves that I'm either leaving them behind or I'm hounding them from the back. It's the type of bike that you can work the gears to keep momentum up.
I love these. I really do. I actually bought a Triumph Bonneville T120 as I wanted more power than the RE offered on longer motorway trips. Also there are more Triumph dealers in the UK than RE. But I genuinely love the RE and would be very, very happy to have one. I think you absolutely nailed the reasons people buy them (it's very similar to why I bought the Bonneville). It's quite odd because in the 1980's I was way ahead of everyone in adopting technology. I made software development and computers my career as well as my hobby. But as I get older I've gone the opposite direction. As everyone else has adopted technology I've gone right back to basics with dropping technology, getting out into nature, owning a 1994 car (Corrado VR6) and a Bonnevile. The past was a better time. I'd have an RE in the garage tomorrow if something happens to the Bonneville. I may even still get one as a second bike. Great things.
Awesome mate you really cant beat a T120 for ticking all the boxes really amazing bikes with great history to boot! I think alot of people are adopting a similar midset of wanting things to go back to the way they were before all of this tech took over everyones minds! Cheers for the comment mate!
It's so cool to hear a younger fellow grasp the essence of motorcycling. Tooling along Back Country Roads is where these bikes shine. All the power you need and can actually use. Well-done Royal Enfield!
I took an interest in motorcycles around 1970 when many of them looked & sounded just like that Royal Enfield. My cousin had a Norton Commando that I walked around & stared at many times. They have all the power I want or need. In fact I'm getting too old to pick up heavy bikes so I'm looking at the RE Classic 350. Absolutely beautiful bike.
You're absolutely right. I was on the lookout for a second-hand Hinckley Bonneville when the Interceptor was announced in 2017 & I thought "That's the bike I always promised myself". When they arrived in the UK in 2019, I bought a new one for the price of a 3+ year-old Triumph. And the Enfield came with that fantastic three-year warranty. Triumph charges a hefty premium for that Bonneville badge, but the bike obviously isn't the cutting-edge performance machine that its namesake was in 1959. And there's only a very tenuous connection between the Meriden brand & modern models. Conversely, Enfield can claim continuous lineage of sorts with the old British company, which makes it seem a little more authentiic.
@@roadblastmedia thanks for the reply i didn't expected one tho . Anyway I am recently 18 and thinking to buy the continental GT 650 as my first bike should I go for it?
Some regard the Interceptor 650 as good beginners bike, but I think it will continue to draw attention of those who appreciate the simplicity of older bikes (without the headaches of carburetors). There's a lot to like about this cycle.
Yes, it's not about speed, it's not about lighter machine. I don't know about the world, but trust me bro, every kid in India always dream to own a Royal Enfield. They are heavy, they're not the fastest. But still Royal Enfield is an emotion to us. The feel you get while riding a RE is of different level. Thanks for praising an Indian Bike. Lots of love from 🇮🇳
For the same reason anyone buys a bike! In this case because these are the most stylish bikes out there. The perpetual search for performance on riding on today's roads is over, and so it should be. R.E sounds a lot like a Triumph, lovely. Good video great hearing that engine.
Great review/overview. The appeal of this bike is simple for me. It's a bike you buy because you love riding bikes. Not because you love speed, braking, handling, or all of the latest tech. This is just a bike. It has just enough power and torque to have fun, it makes all the right kind of noises, and it's relaxed enough to cruise with.
In the mid 1960's when I started riding a Royal Enfield, Triumph, or BSA 650 were large fast motorcycles. Yamaha Twin Jet 100cc and similar motorcycles were what most of us were riding and we were perfectly happy with them. Back then we didn't have high speed highways. The fastest roads were posted with 45 mph limit's. Your typical road's we're 35 mph and that was about as fast as you could safely go on them. When Honda introduced a 4 cylinder 500cc motorcycle we all thought it was a Widow maker. They the insanely fast Honda CB 750 hit and they became the first Super Bike's.
Honestly I feel the same way. I’m 29 though. Makes me a bit boring to say that😂. But you really shouldn’t go any faster than what an interceptor is capable of. In other news I just picked up a vintage Yamaha rd350😀
Well done vin this has to be one of your best videos! Every time you turn that throttle & let that engine rev,makes the hair stand up! You spoke from the heart & we felt it dude! You put into words perfectly the reason we love REs! Can’t wait to get my Interceptor! Keep up the great work!👍🏻😎
Are you getting a Interceptor? You'll absolutely love it & it'll be a keeper you might hear people say I'll ride to I get a full license or I'll trade up later but once you got one & been apart of the R.E community & comraderie you'll keep it like the rest of 95% of twin owners & shop around for a Euro 4 model if you can they still selling them. E
Subscribed. I bought a Conti for my 60th birthday last year. The demo bike had loud pipes, I came back from my demo ride with a big shit eating grin. I agree with everything you said.
Beautiful mate i love the conti gt thats my personal bike the interceptor is my dads! You cant beat these bikes with a good set of pipes on them the engine absolutely roars like a lion! What colour is your gt?
Hi friend, I'm French and I also own a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. It's a super nice motorcycle to use on a daily basis and its engine makes a pleasant sound. For me it's a crush and when I walk around I no longer want to get off.
A machine with a soul is like artwork...you can't explain why you love it but it just makes sense to you. It's a combination of how it looks, sounds and feels. When all of those are done right...you get bikes like this that you just can't stay off of.
Hello, I am French, I owned 3 caterham, Sir Colin Chapman said "light is right", for the Royal Enfield 650, simplicity is right! Thank you for your channel. Manuanju Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor Crush !!!
Nice video, mate! I learnt how to ride on a vintage RE Standard 350, and that's probably why sportbikes always seemed 'wrong' to me for riding on roads. I own a 150 cc suzuki for commuting in the city where I live in, while my RE Standard 350 stays locked up at my parents' place for when I go down to visit. After riding my RE for a few days, it's actually a little scary getting back on my smaller suzuki! It just feels too light and skittish, even though it's among the heavier 150's out there! The new RE bikes are definitely quicker and more refined than ever, but they all have one thing in common.. they can put a smile on your face like no other bike can! I do miss the 'thunk' of the older engines, but considering how much they have improved on refinement levels, that's an easy compromise to make. Really looking forward to what RE's gonna put out this year. Apparently, there's a 650 cc cruiser and a bobber(ish) model almost ready for the roads in India. Not sure when those will make it to international shores, but it looks like the Classic 350 will make it over sooner. Hope to see your review on that and the Meteor. Happy riding!
Right on Vinnie , Smiles per mile they cannot be beaten. Reasonable purchase prIce and fully maintainable by any owner with the slightest bit of mechanical aptitude , Even Me !! 😁 All adds up to a more than acceptable total cost of ownership experience in a package that although not slow , Does not accelerate faster than your brain can think. Mine are definitely “Keepers” Have fun and ride safe.👍🏻
Thanks for the great video! You were riding my exact bike... The chrome tank is a beaut. Another reason to get an RE here in the States is the odds of running across another one is very slim. So you get the great online community and you get to ride a somewhat rare bike for a fraction of the cost of the common bikes.
You have absolutely nailed it. My dad has recently got back into motorcycling. The reason? Royal enfield. He always had British bikes and for the last 20 years no new bikes have appealed to him (w650 and T100 excluded but expensive for what they are). He says now is a golden era!!!
Awesome mate cheers for the comment my dads exactly the same dad hadnt hopped on a bike for a good 20-30 years until the royal enfields came out completely changed his perspective!
Nice video. I got my Classic 350 Signals (marsh grey) because: 1. ❤at first sight 2. Very affordable 3. Wonderful to ride, so much enjoyment. And yes, definitely a time machine! And it sounds pleasing to the ear.
One reason people buy a Royal Enfield is the price. If an older rider like me (68) wants a parallel twin they have a choice between several models, A Triumph costs twice as much and today there are several Japanese models but only one that has the retro look and that's the W800 from Kawasaki which is still almost twice the cost of a Royal Enfield. With a Royal Enfield twin you still get ABS and EFI and a THREE YEAR warranty. So when older rider look at these things, there is really only one choice, ROYAL ENFIELD.
Yeah mate i think for any rider its a no brainer even myself at 23 chose the enfield for its value and style aswell as being a brilliant ride! Cheers for the comment!
Right on! These bikes take me back to the 60's when I 1st started to ride in 1966. The looks....the sound of the exhaust reminds me of my 67 Triumph Tiger with upswept megaphone pipes....with the added bonus that these modern yet retro Enfield bikes are far and above way more reliable! Your analysis of why people buy these bikes are spot on old chap!
I traded my 2020 GSX-S750 for a brand new RE650 at the end of 2021 and have had my RE650 for about 3 full months. Absolutely love it every time I ride it - it just does everything right. The sound, the comfort, the handling, the transmission and it isn't "too" slow. It is certainly not a master at any of those things, but it gets enough right to be really attractive in one package. One surprise was the fuel economy, I was expecting in the 6L/100km but end up averaging around low 4's. Another surprise weirdly is the low power combined with the awesome 6spd close ratio gearbox, you can actually have some fun and listen to the engine without potentially obliterating yourself into a tree lol.
Yeah, it's got what many refer to as useable power. You can ride it in a spirited manner and have a whole lot of fun doing it, but it's not likely to get you into too much trouble.
Honestly, I think 6 gears is overkill on this bike and makes you have to shift constantly. Just to save a few drops of fuel… But other than that it’s great.
@@DavidLee-ch9vt I suppose it depends on the person, I think the ratios are perfect for the engine's power characteristics and spirited riding but not good for relaxed cruising. Personally I don't find it annoying and it has enough torque to be a bit ignorant with gear changes on hills or when slowing down, and I do enjoy the close ratio's for letting the engine roar at relatively low speeds.
Honestly I thought this would be amateur with under 5k subs but dang, HD video footage and a well spoken run down. This is the first Enfield 650 video where I can hear engine. I'm thoroughly impressed. Keep it up!
I had an RE Interceptor 750 in 1970. 52 years later I now have this 650GT. I've had bike twice this size and many times faster but this bike is a joy to ride. I think you nailed it.
Fantastic video! Although this video provides clear information about the Royal Enfield 650, the last several minutes of this video are truly soulful! This should be something more bike riders should really think about as far as Joy of riding motorcycles is really about. Thanks for making this wonderful video!
I bought an Interceptor at the end of January '22 and ride it every day it isn't raining. The price point was very attractive and especially when you consider what you get for the money, but the main reason I bought it was that it so very much reminded me of my Triumph 650 I had over on Guam decades ago when I was stationed there. That Triumph magically turned Guam from a hot, mildew smelling, boring hellhole with nothing to do but drink, into a Tropical Paradise full of fun things to go to and to do with adventures every day off. This bike is so much like my Triumph only it has anti-lock disk brakes, and electric start and it's lots faster. I never had a bit of problem with my ignition or carburetor the whole time I had the Triumph (always started on the first kick), but I do appreciate the Enfield's EFI and the ECU controlled ignition. I do miss having a kick starter though.
Back in 2010 I was lucky enough to own a brand new Bonnie and Classic 500. The Triumph only stayed with me for a few months as it was a bit soulless. I loved the RE. Great vid.
Currently own a 1989 Moto Guzzi Mille GT 1000 cc that I have had for 20 years. Purchased a 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone at more than 100 pounds less wet weight. Absolutely love it. Will stay with Moto Guzzi for the rest of my riding life. I have owned BMW, Laverda, Ducati, Moto Morini, Triumph, BSA, Zundapp, Indian, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Cagiva and loved them all for different reasons, but the fact that I can physically handle the weight of a bike that will cruise (illegally) at 85-90 mph for as long as I need, looks good, is reliable and affordable and unique. Have been looking at RE as a potential purchase. Bottom line, I agree with your assessment of what motorcycling is about. I have been riding for 55 years and will always stick with the more simple, traditional example of what a motorcycle should be.- -Mike Battle
Ohh nice mate! Its good that youve tried lots of bikes and found what you love! And there is alot to love about those moto guzzis so unique and beautiful! I always love seeing them out and about as theyre quite rare! Cheers for the comment mate!
Great review! And also, I think why people buy these is because RE actually listens to their customers and works to please them by releasing quality bikes at such affordable rates.
Love my Royal Enfield, when I go to the beach, there are a lot of great bikes, Yamahas, BMW, Harley Davidson... I just love how the people stops at the Royal Enfield enjoying it.
Yeah mate! I get that too people walk straight past the ducatis and other super bikes straight to the RE it goes to show its not all about how expensive or fast a bike is!
Your vid came across my feed, as I’ve been watching quite a few RE vids after buying a new 2022 Baker Express with S&S exhausts in December here in the States. I must say young man you are spot on in your assessment! I’m 54 and been riding since the first Honda MR 50 my Dad got for me. I’ve owned a bit of everything over the years, did a lot of track days on various bikes, and am selling my Aprilia Tuono because I’m just not riding it anymore. It’s been said that it’s more fun riding a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow, and this bike delivers on that statement. Good on ya for being so aware of this at your age! Keep riding, keep doing content, and as I tell my buddies here, keep the rubber side down. 👍🏻👍🏻
@@roadblastmedia Truth be told I had my eye on a Baker and a couple other styles, but these bikes are selling like crazy in the States, and it was go with the Baker, or wait 4 more months, and RE couldn’t guarantee what colors they were sending next, so I jumped on the Baker. In Jacksonville, Florida my local BMW/Ducati dealer is now carrying RE. That’s a fair bit of praise considering not that long ago it would have been unheard of.
I have a Royal Enfield Continental GT 535 and I love my wee bike, just by taking the rocket launcher can off it and putting on a straight pipe in my opinion it sounds epic, even better than the twin. I have modified my wee bike the way I like it and it was cheap as chips, with a, at the time a £5500 price tag it has cost me less than £1000 to mod it and it looks, goes and sounds Amazing . Great Channel mate, good luck in growing and going all the way.
You hit the nail on the head with this video. Thanks for the great ride through the twisties. The Int650 is on my wish list as soon as I can come up with the cash. Cheers, Dan. 👍👍🏍🇨🇦
Sold my RT1100 after buying a Meteor 350. You nailed it. Tech has its place, but not in pure motorcycling. Electronic assist BS robs a rider of the joy and challenge of developing rider skills. Been riding 50 years and RE has become my favourite manufacturer. Well done.
Incredible video, i was scared for your life in certain sections but i guess you know these roads. And you're so right, its about the ride. I think its so cool young guys still get what the visceral experience of these bikes is about, it does seem like a lot of modern bikes take away from that, even though its "only" 47bhp, its very man and machine like. Cheers from up over, belgium.
Cheers mate! Haha yeah there was one corner there which had me a bit shook but i have ridden these roads heaps of times my local playground as they say haha really appreciate the comment mate well said!
Год назад+1
Before watching the episode, if one is 47 years old, he perfectly knows why he is buying these. 1st nostalgia: I rode on the 2nd seat over my father on a similar style bike - we had so much fun, adventures, fishing, mushrooming, camping. Before I was born, my father traveled with my mom around, abroad, into the mountains, all over in the summers. When I was small, dad bought a sidecar bike, and we traveled with my younger sister inside the sidecar... cool travels and adventures. I miss those days and feelings so much, so I decided to buy a classic motorcycle, reliable, simple enough, to show my son and wife what is like. It would be so so sad if the next generations would not have such adventures possible.
I rode bikes in the 1960s when motorcycling was king. Cars were never as reliable in those days as motorcycles. We went everywhere on them. Saturday night was a source of entertainment with your mates at the local coffee stall and you had no trouble getting female ballast on the back to keep the rear wheel trimmed. On Sunday in summer when the weather was good off to the coast with your mates and the girls it was just fun all the way and the ride was the special part. During the week we would ride out to the Johnsons cafe near Brands Hatch just for the ride ending back at the Chatham coffee stall for a Humphries meat pie. The bike always seem to go better at night it would purr like a kitten. Now I am 85 and still riding I had the Interceptor but I had to give it up in the end it become too heavy for me when parking at home. So I now have a Yamaha Tricity three-wheeler easy for me as it has stand-alone. Not the same but at least I can keep riding. I find it is the thrill of having the machine beneath you and with a modest twist of the throttle it responds and as the speed increases the rush of the air and the noise of the exhaust you know you have total control. Motorcycling is the combination of all these feelings that make it exciting. Even when you are 85, on a 300cc Tricity. I now live in Perth Australia it is motorcycling pretty well every day most of the year-round as the weather is so good. One of the favourite places to ride to on a Sunday morning for Breakfast is a small town called Toodyay where many motorcyclists meet to share their stories and show off their bikes and have their favourite eggs and bacon and a large coffee ready for the ride home. There is no other pleasure like it. It tops them all. The 650cc Interceptor is a remarkable bike capturing the very essence of the 60s motorcycling cloaked in a modern machine.
As an owner I can say you've probably summed up why these bikes are selling so well. I was just about to purchase a 2nd hand Suzuki V-strom 650 when the Interceptor came on my radar. So I researched it and instead of it becoming another reject I was sucked into the hype. I went for a test ride and that sealed the deal. I should add that the simplicity and possibility of doing my own maintenance was also a big draw - something that I would not have even considered with the V-strom. Secondly I saw the "just enough power and performance.." as a good thing. I'm 56 and don't want to be tempted to use power to the max and end up killing myself. The engine sound and feel alone make me smile and I can cruise and soak up the scenery rather than feel the need to get an adrenaline rush from racing everywhere.
I agree with what I can agree with. I'm 26 and I only ever driven an old 50cc bike that reaches like 50km/h. Honestly even that was fun. My other memory of bikes was when my dad drove me around on his CBR600RR.. Then a sick old man swerved into his lane on a mountain road he lost his life. This halted my will to ride. A few years ago I discovered the cafe racer modified bikes and they reignited my love for bikes. In the meantime I got more and more drawn to old stuff. I collect cassette tapes, fantasize about old cars and now bikes but I know nothing about bikes really and I didn't know if I could ride them safely. Then a few weeks ago I discovered the Interceptor and I couldn't believe they still make such a perfect bike. Because of my past I don't want a fast bike. I just want to enjoy myself and in theory and what I keep hearing these are made just for me. Funnily enough I saw a Royal Enfield a few days before I delved into the Interceptor and to think it could very well have been made 50 or 5 years ago is crazy
Excellent video and commentary! You completely get it! Riding use to be a passion and I like to actually just go into the garage or sit at a coffee shop after a ride and look at my bike. Very few bikes do that. This might be one of them.
Nailed it my friend. I've been riding for 20 years and had many powerful bikes in this time. Recently I sold my MT09. FTR1200 and 1050XT and am working my way backwards to smaller bikes that you can ride hard everywhere. Much more engaging and enjoyable. Now on a Int 650 for road and 450MT for ADV. Little bikes for the win!
Sometimes going faster isn't as important as connecting with your bike and enjoying the ride... Royal Enfield provides the opportunity of doing both without causing a hole in your pockets..
Haha, what a great blog Vinnie, have to agree with everything you have said. I think it's the accumulation of everything, price, looks, sound, performance, feel, and of course the grin factor, and if you're grinning you're winning. They put absolutely no pressure on a rider in having to ride a certain way. You can rag them out, cruise to your hearts content, tour, backcountry blast all without having to keep up with any sort of pigeon holing that other riders seem to put each other in. Everyone I've seen riding a Royal Enfield seems to reflect their personality in the bike they have chosen, including the way the have modded them. When they ride together there is a certain comradeship that exists. Yep they aren't the most powerful, technically shod, not the most sought after, but damn....that sound...they're just addictive.
Well said J.P & I've removed my baffles & I think it was best I did it home as on mine the bolts fall inside the mufflers.At home I used some budget glue & it worked.Sounds awesome now leave them out permanently.
@@julianperry5141 heck yeah pie run on the cards good thing about us in the north as i can film it all haha so we can get real time reactions of how good our pies are!
Couldn't agree more about these classics and your reasons for why people love them. I'm 63 and have been a Bonneville lover since the 60's where I grew up in the US thinking they were American bikes (but was just as happy when I learned that they were British, like The Beatles...) Well, I recently bought a brand new Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster, and I don't feel it is missing anything; it still has the feel and look of the old Bonneville (as do the T-100/T-120, Street Twin, etc.); but, yes it's evolved some to be what an older Bonneville rider/owner would expect them to be - classic, yet up to date, and top quality. I do not want a carburetor. I've fixed enough of them, and for me, fuel injection is what my bike should have, and ABS, and even traction/cruise control. And, I appreciate a bit more power when I need it, especially down low (McQueen and Ekins were always looking for more power.) With swept back beach bars, a classic style 12L tank, spoked wheels (with tubes,) simple gauge set up (with some digital ability,) beautiful chrome exhaust pipes that growl, simple headlamp and indicator lights (yet all LED)... I have not lost anything with this bike. I have gained, and I can still enjoy the naked classiness of it as well. And, I would not hesitate to buy a RE too. They are both retro, yet suit different needs. Ride on!
Nice mate! Very well said i love a triumph aswell theyre absolutely beautiful machines just a bit out of my price range but no doubt theyre great bikes and they look awesome too even their sports bikes seem a little classier than the rest! Cheers for the comment mate!
I like the way you rode that! You hit the nail on the head with your commentary. I’ve been riding a Street Triple for the last few years and have just picked up 1976 Triumph Bonneville. I had them back in the day and it’s so much fun to be on one again. I considered the Interceptor also, and I still may get one. Royal Enfield absolutely nailed it with this bike, that’s why they’re selling thousands upon thousands of them! People get sort of emotional about bikes like this, seriously if I’d seen this video a few weeks back with the way you rode it, I might of bought one on the strength of it alone!
"I was into my Sports Bikes & then"hahahaha 😂🤣Takes you back to a Simpler time Simpler bike where you'd ride to your mates to see him instead of texting first.I would ride everywhere when I was younger,now you use your phone first to make sure someone home instead of just jumping on bike & blasting there & enjoying the trip if your mate home or not. FANTASTIC VIDEO.🏍️👍
I love the 650 royal enfield I have done countless reviews and talked to people that own them. It's the perfect motorcycle,the price is perfect and it's extremely reliable a sold 10 out of 10 all the way around.
Crackin' review. I don't own one......yet, but I am absolutely obsessed with this bike. I remember the days when the guys who rode the bonnies, the Norton Commandos, and the BSA lightnings were the real bad a$$es on the road. They had the sound and the purpose built look that will forever be "classic" I will have one someday..oh yes..
Well done review. This is one of a few videos that convinced me to test drive a new RE Interceptor 650... came home with the bike the very next day. Simply the most fun I've had on two wheels in over 40 years of riding and owning HD, Honda, Yamaha, etc...as pure as it gets if one is seeking a visceral, soul pleasing ride, time after time.
I rented both last summer and now it's time to go buy my first Enfield, but I still can't decide between the GT and the interceptor. Both bikes are great.
@@UPOLTommy Mate, are you a tourer or the type to slam the bike through twisties? How old are you? Do have prior riding experience running sports bikes? If you ain’t a tourer and you like to hit the twisties and an aggressive stance is no problem then GT. If not, buy the Interceptor. Interceptor is very practical and all rounder. She is the girlfriend who is fun and intelligent and you can take her back to introduce to your mom. Continental GT is the party gal who thrills and excites you, when you keep her at the edge. Any slower and the magic disappears. Hope this helps! 😉
@@neosmith166 First of all thanks for the comment. Secondly That's exactly what I was scared. I'm 35 years old and this will be my first motorcycle.My friends recommended the Interceptor for comfort, versatility and the ability to modify it to GT style. 😀
@@UPOLTommy I would recommend the interceptor if it's your first bike. The Gt has a more aggressive riding position whereas the Inter is more relaxed & gives you more leverage on the handle bars. Important if you have little experience.
You friggin' nailed it man. Great to see that a young guy like you gets it. 'Mechanical!' 👏 Going on 15,000 miles on my Interceptor and I get upset when I'm off it for more than 2 days! Triumph? Nah. Sportsbike? Meh.
@@DavidLee-ch9vt i have only ridden on the standard ceat and pirelli tyres i have a mate who has put bridgestone battlax tyres on and he swears by them they look nice and chunky too lots of grip
@@DavidLee-ch9vt I have just got the BATLAX BT 46 Tyre's & they are great & look better too.If money is no object get the Conti Road Attack 3 Tyre's but cost twice as much & I'm very happy with the BT46 tyre's.
So nice to see the beautiful NZ countryside in Summer! I’m moving back in the next week or two after 15 years away and this has made me particularly excited. Firstly because the chief horse of NZ has just resigned and secondly this is the bike I’m planning on buying as my first bike when I get to NZ soon. Thanks for your commentary on the bike and particularly about the simplicity and escape from the increasingly mad world out their. Two things I’m most certainly looking for.
It's a pleasure to watch you ride. Great technique and confidence. How much faster could you really go on the same bit of bitumen on a bike with double the power and all the tricks? By the look of the way that you were riding, I'm guessing, not much faster in the "real world". Thankyou for your content, it was enjoyable and informative.
Cheers mate exactly on a bike with double the power youre not really going to beable to go much faster at all maybe a bike with betger handling would do well but i find it more fun and skillful to go fast on an interceptor it feels really rewarding and satisfying. Cheers for the comment mate! 🤙
@@roadblastmedia Well said mate..It's always more fun to ride slow bike faster than a fast bike slow as in most cases we are not fully able to utilize power of our heavy bikes anyway 👍
The looks are definitely what drew me to the bike. I've always liked classic looking bikes and the new triumph Bonnies. But upgrading from a Grom I was looking at a bit of everything. Dad showed me a picture of the interceptor he saw at my local dealership, and I said Yeah....yeah that's the one. A few days later I went home with me. Now has a MK India design Cafe Racer fairing kit on it now.
I put the s&s 2into1 race version on my continental along with stage 2 air filter. I love it. Glad I spent the money. Great sound and a good kick in the nuts as well. Dennis kirk is a good site to shop for the exhaust.
Very smart comments bloke. Fast enough is fast enough on the straight or through the corners. How many of us take a bike to the race track where we can wring it's neck legally. Otherwise its a bit of a wank having an H2 Kawasaki or Hayabusa. I have had a 900 Sprint an MT09 and an R1200RT and never came close to the top speed or scratched the pegs. (Unlike the 2 Harleys I rode where I scraped the pegs and nearly died of fright trying to get the pig around a corner.) Most high performance bikes never get used anywhere near their limit and these RE bikes are just fine
Well said mate yeah most of the crazy powerful bikes are made solely for the track and they almost choke when theyre on the road because the speed limit is only a fraction of what they can do! Still love big power bikes but nothing beats revving out every gear and not getting into too much trouble!
Nice bikes you've owned & a Mt 09 is one of the bikes of the moment.I'd like the XSR myself but my Interceptor is a keeper.You've owned bikes which a alot riders would pick but you are right about not using all the power on some bikes & a R.E650 twin has enough power for ear to ear smiles for miles & look absolutely awesome the community is great & the low down torque delivery surprises a few people too.
@@ruahinesrider Yup. 'Zactly right. I still have the BMW r1200RT and also have a Honda NC700D which has the DCT. The Honda I picked up for $4,700 with 14,000 Kilometers on it. That is a derided bike but it has the same low down the rev range torque as the Interceptors. It is so easy and stress free to ride I ride it more than the 2 year old BMW which I paid 4x as much for. The MT was quick and handled well but t was a bike that was not great as a daily rider. It was very noisy with a loud whine from the air box and was hard to keep at a constant speed on the road. Made it very tiring to ride so I traded it for the BMW. The BM does everything really well and you can ride it all year round in comfort. But you should with how much they cost!!!!!!!
@@broncosgjn I really like XSR 700 looks better than the XSR 900 & the XSR 700 is a twin & the 689cc version is 73hp & 61Nm & be more Rider friendly than the beast XSR 900 & 73hp t& 61Nm is more than enough power & be a more practical bike as the beast 900 more at home on the open road.But the Interceptor is a all rounder a tourer & a town bike & is just a great bike to look at you know this if you look over your shoulder for another look as you walk away or go out the into shed with a cuppa admiring it also the R.E community & comraderie is special.
Awesome review gave me an idea of what actually it is made for. Simplicity, laid back feel, peace, and fun 🤩 . What else one can ask for ? Nice bike ❤️
I have owned a 650 continental GT.Best bike I have ever owned for fun riding.As you said great sound , great looks , amazing gear box.Also you can easily maintain it yourself.
Hope all is well down in the Mount. Very attractive looking bikes I feel. Great comradeship in Royal Enfield, I would agree. For me the RE reminds me of the classic bikes back in the 60s & 70s. Sounds like you better get a job and Smiths or perhaps CEO of RE…NZ. People who like Triumph like RE and vice versa.
Cheers mate all is well down here in Tauranga! And yeah i do love the triumphs alot! They are the highest standard of modern classics in the market for sure! Aswell as making some of the best sports bikes on the market had the pleasure of riding a tiger 800 and was smiling all the way would love to swing a leg over a bonnie aswell! Always good to hear from you john!
Yeah have to agree John, I was following a t120 up the Kaimais the other day, and they are a beautiful machine that I'd love to own one day. The RE gives me that same vibe of yesteryear that I dont want to give up. How are you enjoying that new Bonnieville?
Hi John been on anymore rides to Thames?I think most R.E owners could have another retro bike a Triumph would be the one.A T100 or T120 be great & most would want a Street Twin if they could afford it but a T120cc be awesome alongside the R.E 650 & 650 was originally designed to be a 750 but with thicker sleeves to reduce capacity to 650 that's why 865 big bore kit be great as it won't stress the engine & would be cheaper than owning 2 bikes & make one hell of a sleeper.
@@julianperry5141 Hi Julian ! Went to Holeshot and have ordered 6 accessories all being practical which I need. So hopefully everything arrives within 2 months. And 1st service could be done in 4 weeks time. Also on the 26th of January the ceramic coating will go on. Sadly everything costs. Triumph leather jacket as well if I can afford.
@@ruahinesrider Hi Ruahines ! Apart from last week, and the previous one before that nothing this weekend. Although Lanie’s son went to Taupo yesterday for a ride. Am still waiting on the new rear shocks to arrive. We’ll get there in the end. At this rate I’ll be in the bankruptcy courts. Are you still doing more than required oil changes ? I’m going to do the double the frequency required.
One of most sane review(if I may term it as a review) ..in a long time I have seen ..talking about the real things the bike is meant to be ..& not cribbing about what it isn't designed to be n then expecting exactly those things n then whining the whole time It's as simple as that...do a market review ..test ride one ..if it suits you ..buy it ..if not get what fits your criteria instead of not even owning it n talking all kinds of bs about it ..love your practical approach on why to take it or why people would take it Cheers from the Home of RE 🇮🇳
Great review. I feel the same about my Vulcan 900 custom . simple , not mad power , make it your own , reasonable cost , head turner . these are on my list for my 2nd bike along with the w800 and new BSA .
Cheers mate! Gotta love a Vulcan aye! I would say go interceptor over w800 as it's alot cheaper and makes about the same power figures also sound a bit better with the 270° crank!
@@darrylredmill4376 good idea mate the bsa looks brilliant! And is that right? thats fair enough then theyre a good 4-5k more expensive over here in nz
@@roadblastmedia yes , the w800 didn't do well over here so prices have dropped to RE levels. Both are around £6000 new , a few deals on RE might drop price by £500 but not much more. I just wish that they would make 65 to 70HP instead of the licence restricted 47HP. Rumour has it that the BSA can be had in more powerful version .
@@darrylredmill4376 Have to wait after the first BSA Goldstar 47hp one's to hit the market & then probably a further 6 months & then hopefully they'll release the 60-65hp model. R.E 650 are actually 750 but with 650 pistons & sleeves that's why you can get big bore kits & since it was originally going to be 750 a 865cc is the one & put you into the 62-65hp & 75-83Nm range & with a power commander & S&S cam & tune can reach to 80-90hp & 80-90Nm.
A Royal Enfield is a soul machine. When you’re done being a kid and just want to enjoy what remains of the journey, nothing will suffice like a Royal Enfield.
Well said mate!! 🤙
100% why I own one and sold my gsxr1000!
This is not just about speed, rather watching the scenery with plenty of speed and fun.
Yah, you should seriously write copy for RE ads.
@@vaibhavsane2 Wow! Thank you.
Nice to hear someone younger who feels the same as me about the direction the world is hurtling in. Gives me hope for the feature after all. I have the Royal Enfield Interceptor, Continental GT and Classic 500 all in chrome. The whole lot less than a decent Harley. These bikes are more fun and capture exactly the good old days, as we like to think they might have been. I have owned many Triumphs and they come in a close second but each new model seems to stray further away from the original classic design which many people love, myself included. Great Vlogs keep up the good work.
Well said mate! Sounds like you have a beautiful selection of bikes and cheers for the kind words! 🤙
Faster than a 883 Harley Davidson too with Harley Davidson extra weight of 43kg the extra 27Nm of torque is used to push the extra weight chuck some slip on's on or big bore headers & air filter the bigger Hardley's like 1580cc get blown away as well the 650 twin definitely punches above it's weight.
@Adam Johnson The classic 500 has been good as gold, i have only done 1400 kms so far but not a single issue. I have just bought a 535 continental GT 2015 with 9,000 kms on the clock but i am confident that it will just be comfortably run in, as that can take some time with these bikes so i am told. I think these new bikes are a very different breed from some of the older bikes from 15 or 20 years ago. I love them!
@@lesterhall5310 which royal enfield would be good for a new rider? I’m looking for a lower power one to learn on
@@bajamike3803 I personally love the 500 classic, it is a great confidence inspiring stylish ride. I have had loads of more powerful bikes, big Harleys too but they were no more enjoyable to ride and definitely no better to look at. If you want something a bit more sporty looking and not quite so 1950's then you could try the R,E 535 cc Continental GT. I can not tell you from personal experience on this one unfortunately as it has not arrived as yet. The 650 GT and Interceptor are great bikes but you may need to exercise a little more caution while you are gaining experience. Cheers Lester.
Bought 2 of them one for wife and then one for myself for all reasons mentioned , we are all sick of living in this fast hi tech world , riding the interceptor is my time out and time machine, fully agree.
Awesome mate! Well said cheers for the comment! What colours did you get?
I got a continental gt and that's coming from a Ducati Diavel and I like the gt 650 better. You reviewed this bike perfectly. Just imagine if Ford remade the 67 mustang fastback with a modern motor, suspension, and 1975 prices. Ford wouldn't be able to make enough of them.
Well said mate! I love my GT aswell i dont think i will ever sell it! 🤙
Nah not Ford bro (f🤬 k out on race day)more like 55-57Chev.
Just imagine if Ford remade the '67 Mustang fastback EXACTLY as it was in 1967. I'd empty my life savings and stand in line for weeks to buy one. But NO modern computerized GARBAGE. It just so happens I do own a 1967 Mustang, except it is a coupe instead of a fastback. 289/four speed, light green with gray 5 spoke ARE Torque Thrust wheels. Real deal no computers. It has been upgraded to disc brakes in front, but there are no wires connected to them.
@@geraldscott4302 Lucky man the 67 is one of the highly sought after models as are a lot of vehicles from 67.You are definitely right about the NO COMPUTERIZED Garbage & adding disc brakes is a no brainer & there are plenty of parts available & new old stock for the Mustang,floor pans, bumpers etc...There are still a few 289 Mustang's in NZ & maybe just as many as the 302 models.
A Fastback is a great looking car & I like the tunnel ram on the Bonet.I think you wouldn't be the only one to spend all your money to get a new 67 Fastback built the original way but with discs.Any of those cars from mid 50s-1970max era are great whether it a Buick or a Ford or Chevy,
Plymouth.
@@geraldscott4302 Modern cars have no soul like the cars of old did & the car was part of the family & memories & the car or bike had a name that's why the Interceptor & Gt are so popular with us over 40s with their no driver aids & 60s look & really do look like a 60s restore but are also popular among younger riders who admire the vehicles of old & their simplicity & soul but just might need a push in the right direction & I reckon a few who watched Vinny's passion & enthusiasm for Royal Enfield HE might have convinced a few younger riders that you don't need buckets of HP to have fun & also the community & comraderie is special & when they test ride one realize that the R.E actually punches above it's weight & blows away 883 Harley Davidson & W800 & with a few upgrades is a magnificent bike when you add Yss forks & big bore headers & air filter & is a customizers dream bike & get looks everywhere you go.
I’ve been watching so many reviews of this bike over the past few years and every reviewer has stated this is the best bike to buy if you want to have the best time riding without wiping yourself out at 300kph!
You’re father is a wise man! 🤠
Yeah mate such an awesome bike! Endless hours of fun!
i think so Mick well said mate thanks for the kind words
You're 100% right, brother. I've been riding since 1978 and I've had every kind of bike imaginable. I've even got a ZRX that'll do over 175 miles an hour. Still, to this day nothing Thrills me more than my outdated Royal Enfield and I love that bike for all the reasons you just laid out. Great video.
Cheers mate! Cant beat a classic aye!
You hit the nail on the head on why we ride and how RE has such a loyal following. Damn, every university marketing professor needs to watch this video. I would have never considered an RE, but the new Meteor, Int/Conti and maybe the Super Meteor cruiser has me wondering.
Cheers mate! Go for it aye would highly recommend the 650 twins!
Exactly, spot-on! 👍👍👍
People are tired of bulshit, they want to enjoy their lives again. RE Interceptor brings back the pure joy of motorcycling, where the rider is in charge of his machine. Not the other way round. "Cool" assistants, riding modes, traction control, electronically adjustable suspension, Bluetooth connectivity? No, thank you! Adventure bike so expensive you are actually afraid to take it off road in case you drop it? No, thank you!
All you need is solid, well built bike, that will capture your heart with its look and sound, tacho and speedo, ABS in case you get into trouble. That's it.
Well said mate! Cheers for the comment! 🤙
Absolutely correct..! This one takes you to the time when the man and machine came together without any gizmos.
Love from India..✌🏻
Cheers mate well said!! Thanks for the comment! 🤙
21,000 miles on my 2020 650INT, I am buying another soon. 55-plus years experience here, a 2020 Speed Twin, two 2012s: Bonneville SE and Thruxton 900's and a GSXr-750 in my fleet....the R.E. gets all the love ❤ Putting the S&S 743cc big-bore kit in my Enfield, it already has a TEC full stainless-steel exhaust; it weighs 440 pounds full of fuel and gets 73 miles per gallon. Selling my Triumphs....
Nice mate! Sounds like an awesome fleet youve got there and youre too right mate nothing beats riding a slow bike fast smashing through all the gears and having a blast doing so!
@@roadblastmedia speaking of gears, the Royal Enfield 650 has THE best gearbox of any bike ever; it can be up-shifted and down-shifted all day quietly and precisely. Not so with the other brands I have owned.
@@frederickwoods5943 i agree mate buttery smooth changes!
@@frederickwoods5943 which tires were you most happy with on the int650 so far?
@@DavidLee-ch9vt happiest with the B'stone Spitfire 11F in size 110/90 on the front, I have bought 3 more because they are discontinued. On the rear I use a B'Stone Battlax BT46 in size 140/70; these are optimum for my liking. I also have a Pirelli SportComp in 150/70 that I have put 500 miles on (I have two each of front and rear wheels), the 150 has the effect of gearing up almost 5 percent and makes the side-stand useless; easier to get the bike on the center stand and a bit more ground clearance with larger tires.
You won the heart of all the Indians!
You are right cause royal enfield is not for speed but to enjoy the moment when you ride it. Seen a lot of foreigners and youtube channel saying how slow it is, or how begginersh it is. But they forget that its not just about speed or how much torque it provides, it is for those who love riding and not speed
Thanks mate well said!! 👍
the bike is junk, I rode one, I have rode scooters that was a better bike. most things out of India are not worth the money..... this proves it
@@retromojo1 It's okay, not 100 percent of people will end up liking it. Enjoy what you love.
@@retromojo1 It's ok bro...👍👍...Enjoy with whatever you like..👍
@@retromojo1 The company is been running strong since World War II so... that's pretty much nullifies you statement. By the way which things out of India were you talking about?
Here in Asia the brand holds up well against the competition, these in a tough climate, they are reliable work horses, if you just want to potter around they are perfect.
Thats cool to hear mate! Cheers for the comment 🤙
Perfect analysis why people buy this bike.👍 Like me, I'm tired of the perfection of a big BMW GS bike and stuff like this, I want to relax and enjoy the ride without hectic and the intention to be the fastest or something like this. That's why in march a Interceptor 650 will be in my garage. Thanks to Royal Enfield for building this kind of bike and greetings to all RE bikers. fRiTz from Germany
Well said mate! Cheers for the comment! 🤙
By God! I am from India. I have ridden REs all my life coz many friends have them but could not buy coz could not put up the cash till now. Indians love REs and when RE started reaching out to foreign markets I thought no way in hell the foreign markets could appreciate such an oldie bike. But, I guess I was so wrong. I guess the soul of a bike transcends through the bikers without recognising any border.
But you gotta admit the GS-type is just extremely comfortable for longer touring (especially because of wind protection - which would be so extremely awesome if there was a bolt on solution for the enfield).
So of course, when i drove to Italy with two GS drivers it was more exhausting for me to get there. But you know what? Once we drove though the countryside or reached the hairpin curves in the mountains - man I had fun. While everybody had to slow down their pace with there heavy bulky bikes, I was having a blast hitting the corners. And you should have seen the look on the old locals or other bikers faces when someone turns up with this fucking beauty ;) cheers
@@DavidLee-ch9vt yep I know what you mean, hitting the corners on these beauties, they handle the twisties really well for a classic style bike. My mates are always surprised when we hit the curves that I'm either leaving them behind or I'm hounding them from the back. It's the type of bike that you can work the gears to keep momentum up.
Bmw gs perfect bike ?
You really understand what these machines are all about, simplicity and fun, just how a good bike should be.
Cheers mate! 🤙
I love these. I really do. I actually bought a Triumph Bonneville T120 as I wanted more power than the RE offered on longer motorway trips. Also there are more Triumph dealers in the UK than RE. But I genuinely love the RE and would be very, very happy to have one. I think you absolutely nailed the reasons people buy them (it's very similar to why I bought the Bonneville).
It's quite odd because in the 1980's I was way ahead of everyone in adopting technology. I made software development and computers my career as well as my hobby. But as I get older I've gone the opposite direction. As everyone else has adopted technology I've gone right back to basics with dropping technology, getting out into nature, owning a 1994 car (Corrado VR6) and a Bonnevile. The past was a better time. I'd have an RE in the garage tomorrow if something happens to the Bonneville. I may even still get one as a second bike. Great things.
Awesome mate you really cant beat a T120 for ticking all the boxes really amazing bikes with great history to boot! I think alot of people are adopting a similar midset of wanting things to go back to the way they were before all of this tech took over everyones minds! Cheers for the comment mate!
It's so cool to hear a younger fellow grasp the essence of motorcycling. Tooling along Back Country Roads is where these bikes shine. All the power you need and can actually use. Well-done Royal Enfield!
Cheers mate!
Dude you really nailed that you are a bloody philosopher. Mate I'm well impressed.
Cheers mate! Appriciate it!
Just watched this again. Mate it's a bloody feel good tonic.
@@daintree2455 cheers bro! Thats good to hear! I see your comment has gained a few likes too! People must agree!
“ When you hop on it…its almost like hopping into a time machine” … FELT THAT BRO
Haha cheers bro!
I can honestly say this is the best Interceptor review on RUclips. Every word spot on. Keep up the good work and stay safe.
Cheers mate!! 😀
I took an interest in motorcycles around 1970 when many of them looked & sounded just like that Royal Enfield. My cousin had a Norton Commando that I walked around & stared at many times. They have all the power I want or need. In fact I'm getting too old to pick up heavy bikes so I'm looking at the RE Classic 350. Absolutely beautiful bike.
Nice one mate! Cheers for the comment!
You're absolutely right. I was on the lookout for a second-hand Hinckley Bonneville when the Interceptor was announced in 2017 & I thought "That's the bike I always promised myself". When they arrived in the UK in 2019, I bought a new one for the price of a 3+ year-old Triumph. And the Enfield came with that fantastic three-year warranty. Triumph charges a hefty premium for that Bonneville badge, but the bike obviously isn't the cutting-edge performance machine that its namesake was in 1959. And there's only a very tenuous connection between the Meriden brand & modern models. Conversely, Enfield can claim continuous lineage of sorts with the old British company, which makes it seem a little more authentiic.
Great comment mate! Cheers!
As an Indian i am proud to see other people loving our bike
Cheers mate!
@@roadblastmedia thanks for the reply i didn't expected one tho . Anyway I am recently 18 and thinking to buy the continental GT 650 as my first bike should I go for it?
@@3320mdxm yeah bro go for it!
@@3320mdxm Arey bhai, if you can, you should.
Some regard the Interceptor 650 as good beginners bike, but I think it will continue to draw attention of those who appreciate the simplicity of older bikes (without the headaches of carburetors). There's a lot to like about this cycle.
Well said mate!
And, if as a 'beginner's bike', it's enough to advance on without getting a different bike.
It's no 'racer', but then neither is my Bonneville.
@@roadblastmedia For sure, a 650cc bike will take you anywhere a bigger bike will go. I really like mid-range 500-750cc bikes for many reasons.
Exact...une moto à l'âme d'antan, plaisir simple mais efficace permettant de retrouver le sourire vrai
Yes, it's not about speed, it's not about lighter machine. I don't know about the world, but trust me bro, every kid in India always dream to own a Royal Enfield. They are heavy, they're not the fastest. But still Royal Enfield is an emotion to us. The feel you get while riding a RE is of different level.
Thanks for praising an Indian Bike.
Lots of love from 🇮🇳
Nice one bro! Cheers for the comment! 🤙
For the same reason anyone buys a bike! In this case because these are the most stylish bikes out there. The perpetual search for performance on riding on today's roads is over, and so it should be. R.E sounds a lot like a Triumph, lovely. Good video great hearing that engine.
Great review/overview. The appeal of this bike is simple for me. It's a bike you buy because you love riding bikes. Not because you love speed, braking, handling, or all of the latest tech. This is just a bike. It has just enough power and torque to have fun, it makes all the right kind of noises, and it's relaxed enough to cruise with.
Cheers mate well said!
In the mid 1960's when I started riding a Royal Enfield, Triumph, or BSA 650 were large fast motorcycles. Yamaha Twin Jet 100cc and similar motorcycles were what most of us were riding and we were perfectly happy with them. Back then we didn't have high speed highways. The fastest roads were posted with 45 mph limit's. Your typical road's we're 35 mph and that was about as fast as you could safely go on them. When Honda introduced a 4 cylinder 500cc motorcycle we all thought it was a Widow maker. They the insanely fast Honda CB 750 hit and they became the first Super Bike's.
Cheers for the comment mate very interesting! 🤙
Honestly I feel the same way. I’m 29 though. Makes me a bit boring to say that😂. But you really shouldn’t go any faster than what an interceptor is capable of. In other news I just picked up a vintage Yamaha rd350😀
@@anonymous4040 haha i think alot of people feel the same way mate! And great going mate the rd350 is a legend!
@@roadblastmedia thanks bro. Ride safe!
Well done vin this has to be one of your best videos! Every time you turn that throttle & let that engine rev,makes the hair stand up!
You spoke from the heart & we felt it dude! You put into words perfectly the reason we love REs! Can’t wait to get my Interceptor!
Keep up the great work!👍🏻😎
Thanks mate! Appreciate the kind words! How long until you get the inty? You must be excited as i know that feeling for sure!
Are you getting a Interceptor?
You'll absolutely love it & it'll be a keeper you might hear people say I'll ride to I get a full license or I'll trade up later but once you got one & been apart of the R.E community & comraderie you'll keep it like the rest of 95% of twin owners & shop around for a Euro 4 model if you can they still selling them.
E
Subscribed. I bought a Conti for my 60th birthday last year. The demo bike had loud pipes, I came back from my demo ride with a big shit eating grin. I agree with everything you said.
Beautiful mate i love the conti gt thats my personal bike the interceptor is my dads! You cant beat these bikes with a good set of pipes on them the engine absolutely roars like a lion! What colour is your gt?
Man, your narration. Just wow. It alone made me book an Interceptor Mark 2 and now it's home. What a beautiful machine it is. Pure motorcycling fun.
Thats awesome mate!! Cheers for the comment!
Hi friend, I'm French and I also own a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. It's a super nice motorcycle to use on a daily basis and its engine makes a pleasant sound. For me it's a crush and when I walk around I no longer want to get off.
Awesome mate cool to have another person from france! I agree with everything youre saying! 🤙
A machine with a soul is like artwork...you can't explain why you love it but it just makes sense to you. It's a combination of how it looks, sounds and feels. When all of those are done right...you get bikes like this that you just can't stay off of.
Great comment mate!! 😀
Hello, I am French, I owned 3 caterham, Sir Colin Chapman said "light is right", for the Royal Enfield 650, simplicity is right! Thank you for your channel. Manuanju Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor Crush !!!
Awesome mate! Youre my first French commenter very cool! You have some awesome roads in your country would love to go there one day!
The engine is cooler than anything Triumph makes. This big 650 engine is as smooth as any from Japan.
Too right mate cant beat that sound with the 270° crank theyre also the cleanest running motorcycle engines in the world which is awesome!
Nice video, mate! I learnt how to ride on a vintage RE Standard 350, and that's probably why sportbikes always seemed 'wrong' to me for riding on roads. I own a 150 cc suzuki for commuting in the city where I live in, while my RE Standard 350 stays locked up at my parents' place for when I go down to visit. After riding my RE for a few days, it's actually a little scary getting back on my smaller suzuki! It just feels too light and skittish, even though it's among the heavier 150's out there!
The new RE bikes are definitely quicker and more refined than ever, but they all have one thing in common.. they can put a smile on your face like no other bike can! I do miss the 'thunk' of the older engines, but considering how much they have improved on refinement levels, that's an easy compromise to make. Really looking forward to what RE's gonna put out this year. Apparently, there's a 650 cc cruiser and a bobber(ish) model almost ready for the roads in India. Not sure when those will make it to international shores, but it looks like the Classic 350 will make it over sooner. Hope to see your review on that and the Meteor. Happy riding!
Thanks mate! I will try get on the classic and meteor soon! Also trying to get on a himalayan keep an eye out for videos in the future!
Really nice bike!
I have a Kawasaki W650 and love it, not too slow, not too fast, just enough. And such a blast on twisty forrest roads.
Nice mate those W650s are really nice machines! Cheers!
Right on Vinnie , Smiles per mile they cannot be beaten.
Reasonable purchase prIce and fully maintainable by any owner with the slightest bit of mechanical aptitude , Even Me !! 😁
All adds up to a more than acceptable total cost of ownership experience in a package that although not slow , Does not accelerate faster than your brain can think.
Mine are definitely “Keepers”
Have fun and ride safe.👍🏻
Well said mate cheers for the comment!
Thanks for the great video! You were riding my exact bike... The chrome tank is a beaut. Another reason to get an RE here in the States is the odds of running across another one is very slim. So you get the great online community and you get to ride a somewhat rare bike for a fraction of the cost of the common bikes.
Cheers for the comment mate!
You have absolutely nailed it. My dad has recently got back into motorcycling. The reason? Royal enfield. He always had British bikes and for the last 20 years no new bikes have appealed to him (w650 and T100 excluded but expensive for what they are). He says now is a golden era!!!
Awesome mate cheers for the comment my dads exactly the same dad hadnt hopped on a bike for a good 20-30 years until the royal enfields came out completely changed his perspective!
Nice video. I got my Classic 350 Signals (marsh grey) because:
1. ❤at first sight
2. Very affordable
3. Wonderful to ride, so much enjoyment.
And yes, definitely a time machine!
And it sounds pleasing to the ear.
One reason people buy a Royal Enfield is the price. If an older rider like me (68) wants a parallel twin they have a choice between several models, A Triumph costs twice as much and today there are several Japanese models but only one that has the retro look and that's the W800 from Kawasaki which is still almost twice the cost of a Royal Enfield. With a Royal Enfield twin you still get ABS and EFI and a THREE YEAR warranty. So when older rider look at these things, there is really only one choice, ROYAL ENFIELD.
Yeah mate i think for any rider its a no brainer even myself at 23 chose the enfield for its value and style aswell as being a brilliant ride! Cheers for the comment!
Right on! These bikes take me back to the 60's when I 1st started to ride in 1966. The looks....the sound of the exhaust reminds me of my 67 Triumph Tiger with upswept megaphone pipes....with the added bonus that these modern yet retro Enfield bikes are far and above way more reliable! Your analysis of why people buy these bikes are spot on old chap!
Thanks mate! Cheers for the comment
I traded my 2020 GSX-S750 for a brand new RE650 at the end of 2021 and have had my RE650 for about 3 full months. Absolutely love it every time I ride it - it just does everything right. The sound, the comfort, the handling, the transmission and it isn't "too" slow. It is certainly not a master at any of those things, but it gets enough right to be really attractive in one package. One surprise was the fuel economy, I was expecting in the 6L/100km but end up averaging around low 4's.
Another surprise weirdly is the low power combined with the awesome 6spd close ratio gearbox, you can actually have some fun and listen to the engine without potentially obliterating yourself into a tree lol.
Well said mate! Goes to show power isnt everything 🤙
Yeah, it's got what many refer to as useable power. You can ride it in a spirited manner and have a whole lot of fun doing it, but it's not likely to get you into too much trouble.
Honestly, I think 6 gears is overkill on this bike and makes you have to shift constantly. Just to save a few drops of fuel… But other than that it’s great.
Yss forks are specifically designed for R.E twin & will transform your bike.
@@DavidLee-ch9vt I suppose it depends on the person, I think the ratios are perfect for the engine's power characteristics and spirited riding but not good for relaxed cruising. Personally I don't find it annoying and it has enough torque to be a bit ignorant with gear changes on hills or when slowing down, and I do enjoy the close ratio's for letting the engine roar at relatively low speeds.
Exactly why I bought an interceptor, I wasn't really sure why I love the interceptor until I saw this video, it all makes sense now, thanks Vinnie
Cheers mate! Thanks for the comment!
nice one Tony
im vinnie dad
Honestly I thought this would be amateur with under 5k subs but dang, HD video footage and a well spoken run down. This is the first Enfield 650 video where I can hear engine. I'm thoroughly impressed. Keep it up!
Thanks mate! Funnily enough i only had about 500 subs when i released this video and it quickly climbed after that! Cheers for the comment!
I had an RE Interceptor 750 in 1970. 52 years later I now have this 650GT. I've had bike twice this size and many times faster but this bike is a joy to ride. I think you nailed it.
Thanks mate thats awesome to hear!
Fantastic video! Although this video provides clear information about the Royal Enfield 650, the last several minutes of this video are truly soulful! This should be something more bike riders should really think about as far as Joy of riding motorcycles is really about. Thanks for making this wonderful video!
Cheers mate! Thanks for the comment! Made my day 😀
I bought an Interceptor at the end of January '22 and ride it every day it isn't raining. The price point was very attractive and especially when you consider what you get for the money, but the main reason I bought it was that it so very much reminded me of my Triumph 650 I had over on Guam decades ago when I was stationed there. That Triumph magically turned Guam from a hot, mildew smelling, boring hellhole with nothing to do but drink, into a Tropical Paradise full of fun things to go to and to do with adventures every day off. This bike is so much like my Triumph only it has anti-lock disk brakes, and electric start and it's lots faster. I never had a bit of problem with my ignition or carburetor the whole time I had the Triumph (always started on the first kick), but I do appreciate the Enfield's EFI and the ECU controlled ignition. I do miss having a kick starter though.
Cheers mate! Great comment!!
Back in 2010 I was lucky enough to own a brand new Bonnie and Classic 500. The Triumph only stayed with me for a few months as it was a bit soulless. I loved the RE. Great vid.
Nice one mate! Good to hear you held on to the classic we have one getting delivered in a couple weeks so excited to ride it!
Currently own a 1989 Moto Guzzi Mille GT 1000 cc that I have had for 20 years. Purchased a 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone at more than 100 pounds less wet weight. Absolutely love it. Will stay with Moto Guzzi for the rest of my riding life. I have owned BMW, Laverda, Ducati, Moto Morini, Triumph, BSA, Zundapp, Indian, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Cagiva and loved them all for different reasons, but the fact that I can physically handle the weight of a bike that will cruise (illegally) at 85-90 mph for as long as I need, looks good, is reliable and affordable and unique. Have been looking at RE as a potential purchase. Bottom line, I agree with your assessment of what motorcycling is about. I have been riding for 55 years and will always stick with the more simple, traditional example of what a motorcycle should be.- -Mike Battle
Ohh nice mate! Its good that youve tried lots of bikes and found what you love! And there is alot to love about those moto guzzis so unique and beautiful! I always love seeing them out and about as theyre quite rare! Cheers for the comment mate!
Great review! And also, I think why people buy these is because RE actually listens to their customers and works to please them by releasing quality bikes at such affordable rates.
Cheers mate well said! Theyre a great brand making a difference!
Love my Royal Enfield, when I go to the beach, there are a lot of great bikes, Yamahas, BMW, Harley Davidson... I just love how the people stops at the Royal Enfield enjoying it.
Yeah mate! I get that too people walk straight past the ducatis and other super bikes straight to the RE it goes to show its not all about how expensive or fast a bike is!
Your vid came across my feed, as I’ve been watching quite a few RE vids after buying a new 2022 Baker Express with S&S exhausts in December here in the States. I must say young man you are spot on in your assessment! I’m 54 and been riding since the first Honda MR 50 my Dad got for me. I’ve owned a bit of everything over the years, did a lot of track days on various bikes, and am selling my Aprilia Tuono because I’m just not riding it anymore. It’s been said that it’s more fun riding a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow, and this bike delivers on that statement. Good on ya for being so aware of this at your age! Keep riding, keep doing content, and as I tell my buddies here, keep the rubber side down. 👍🏻👍🏻
Cheers for the kind words mate and i love a bakers express great choice!
@@roadblastmedia Truth be told I had my eye on a Baker and a couple other styles, but these bikes are selling like crazy in the States, and it was go with the Baker, or wait 4 more months, and RE couldn’t guarantee what colors they were sending next, so I jumped on the Baker. In Jacksonville, Florida my local BMW/Ducati dealer is now carrying RE. That’s a fair bit of praise considering not that long ago it would have been unheard of.
Perhaps the best philosophical video I have ever seen about the "Royal Enfield spirit". Great job, great speech.
Thanks mate!!
I have a Royal Enfield Continental GT 535 and I love my wee bike, just by taking the rocket launcher can off it and putting on a straight pipe in my opinion it sounds epic, even better than the twin. I have modified my wee bike the way I like it and it was cheap as chips, with a, at the time a £5500 price tag it has cost me less than £1000 to mod it and it looks, goes and sounds Amazing . Great Channel mate, good luck in growing and going all the way.
Cheers for the comment mate!
I have had one for nearly three years and couldn't be happier with it
Nice one mate! Theyre such awesome bikes!
I think you hit the nail on the head with everything you said. What a road you were on; where is this!? Beautiful countryside.
Cheers mate! That road is in Tauranga New Zealand
J’adore ma Continental GT ❤ !!! Quel pot d’échappement avez vous installé ?
You hit the nail on the head with this video. Thanks for the great ride through the twisties. The Int650 is on my wish list as soon as I can come up with the cash. Cheers, Dan. 👍👍🏍🇨🇦
Thanks mate appreciate the kind words! Hopefully you get it soon mate! 🤙
He missed the best Twisties I think HE said he ran out of batteries or similar just as we hit these mean Twisties it was real fun.
Sold my RT1100 after buying a Meteor 350. You nailed it. Tech has its place, but not in pure motorcycling. Electronic assist BS robs a rider of the joy and challenge of developing rider skills. Been riding 50 years and RE has become my favourite manufacturer. Well done.
Thats awesome mate! Cheers for the great comment!
Incredible video, i was scared for your life in certain sections but i guess you know these roads. And you're so right, its about the ride. I think its so cool young guys still get what the visceral experience of these bikes is about, it does seem like a lot of modern bikes take away from that, even though its "only" 47bhp, its very man and machine like. Cheers from up over, belgium.
Cheers mate! Haha yeah there was one corner there which had me a bit shook but i have ridden these roads heaps of times my local playground as they say haha really appreciate the comment mate well said!
Before watching the episode, if one is 47 years old, he perfectly knows why he is buying these. 1st nostalgia: I rode on the 2nd seat over my father on a similar style bike - we had so much fun, adventures, fishing, mushrooming, camping. Before I was born, my father traveled with my mom around, abroad, into the mountains, all over in the summers. When I was small, dad bought a sidecar bike, and we traveled with my younger sister inside the sidecar... cool travels and adventures. I miss those days and feelings so much, so I decided to buy a classic motorcycle, reliable, simple enough, to show my son and wife what is like. It would be so so sad if the next generations would not have such adventures possible.
Great comment mate!!
most fun on two wheels, my Dory has all of 200 miles on her now, saved 3grand over the triumph and have just as much fun!
Nice one mate! Cant beat the value for money! 🤙
I rode bikes in the 1960s when motorcycling was king. Cars were never as reliable in those days as motorcycles. We went everywhere on them. Saturday night was a source of entertainment with your mates at the local coffee stall and you had no trouble getting female ballast on the back to keep the rear wheel trimmed. On Sunday in summer when the weather was good off to the coast with your mates and the girls it was just fun all the way and the ride was the special part. During the week we would ride out to the Johnsons cafe near Brands Hatch just for the ride ending back at the Chatham coffee stall for a Humphries meat pie. The bike always seem to go better at night it would purr like a kitten. Now I am 85 and still riding I had the Interceptor but I had to give it up in the end it become too heavy for me when parking at home. So I now have a Yamaha Tricity three-wheeler easy for me as it has stand-alone. Not the same but at least I can keep riding. I find it is the thrill of having the machine beneath you and with a modest twist of the throttle it responds and as the speed increases the rush of the air and the noise of the exhaust you know you have total control. Motorcycling is the combination of all these feelings that make it exciting. Even when you are 85, on a 300cc Tricity.
I now live in Perth Australia it is motorcycling pretty well every day most of the year-round as the weather is so good. One of the favourite places to ride to on a Sunday morning for Breakfast is a small town called Toodyay where many motorcyclists meet to share their stories and show off their bikes and have their favourite eggs and bacon and a large coffee ready for the ride home. There is no other pleasure like it. It tops them all. The 650cc Interceptor is a remarkable bike capturing the very essence of the 60s motorcycling cloaked in a modern machine.
Great comment! Cheers mate!
As an owner I can say you've probably summed up why these bikes are selling so well. I was just about to purchase a 2nd hand Suzuki V-strom 650 when the Interceptor came on my radar. So I researched it and instead of it becoming another reject I was sucked into the hype. I went for a test ride and that sealed the deal. I should add that the simplicity and possibility of doing my own maintenance was also a big draw - something that I would not have even considered with the V-strom. Secondly I saw the "just enough power and performance.." as a good thing. I'm 56 and don't want to be tempted to use power to the max and end up killing myself. The engine sound and feel alone make me smile and I can cruise and soak up the scenery rather than feel the need to get an adrenaline rush from racing everywhere.
Well said mate! Cheers for the comment! 🤙
Same here! Although I don’t see myself ruling out owning an 650 vstrom alongside my interceptor in the next few years eventually:)
I agree with what I can agree with. I'm 26 and I only ever driven an old 50cc bike that reaches like 50km/h. Honestly even that was fun. My other memory of bikes was when my dad drove me around on his CBR600RR.. Then a sick old man swerved into his lane on a mountain road he lost his life. This halted my will to ride. A few years ago I discovered the cafe racer modified bikes and they reignited my love for bikes. In the meantime I got more and more drawn to old stuff. I collect cassette tapes, fantasize about old cars and now bikes but I know nothing about bikes really and I didn't know if I could ride them safely. Then a few weeks ago I discovered the Interceptor and I couldn't believe they still make such a perfect bike. Because of my past I don't want a fast bike. I just want to enjoy myself and in theory and what I keep hearing these are made just for me. Funnily enough I saw a Royal Enfield a few days before I delved into the Interceptor and to think it could very well have been made 50 or 5 years ago is crazy
Cheers mate thanks for the comment
Excellent video and commentary! You completely get it! Riding use to be a passion and I like to actually just go into the garage or sit at a coffee shop after a ride and look at my bike. Very few bikes do that. This might be one of them.
Cheers mate! I know the feeling i do the same haha things of beauty they are!
@@roadblastmedia Your review was amazing! I hope you do another one!
@@p-dub7422 will do mate! Have just moved house so havent had time for any new videos but ive got 52 videos in total so far lots of vids to check out!
@@roadblastmedia Thanks I will check them out.
Nailed it my friend.
I've been riding for 20 years and had many powerful bikes in this time.
Recently I sold my MT09. FTR1200 and 1050XT and am working my way backwards to smaller bikes that you can ride hard everywhere. Much more engaging and enjoyable.
Now on a Int 650 for road and 450MT for ADV.
Little bikes for the win!
@@TheSar oh nice mate! Funnily enough i work at a cfmoto dealership now selling 450mts great bikes!
@@roadblastmedia Good one man.
Yeah the 450mt is a ripper
Sometimes going faster isn't as important as connecting with your bike and enjoying the ride... Royal Enfield provides the opportunity of doing both without causing a hole in your pockets..
Well said mate!
Probably the best motorcycle test I have ever seen on RUclips. The conclusion at the end of the video is spot on and I agree 100%. Thank you 😊🙏
Cheers mate thats awesome to hear! Thanks for the kind words!
Nice job sharing your perspective. I'm warming up to the idea of purchasing a Continental GT.
Nice one mate you should do it! Im 3000km in on my gt and absolutely love it!
Get one.👍
Easy question, 1) good looking 2) affordable 3) fun.
You know it mate!
Haha, what a great blog Vinnie, have to agree with everything you have said. I think it's the accumulation of everything, price, looks, sound, performance, feel, and of course the grin factor, and if you're grinning you're winning. They put absolutely no pressure on a rider in having to ride a certain way. You can rag them out, cruise to your hearts content, tour, backcountry blast all without having to keep up with any sort of pigeon holing that other riders seem to put each other in. Everyone I've seen riding a Royal Enfield seems to reflect their personality in the bike they have chosen, including the way the have modded them. When they ride together there is a certain comradeship that exists. Yep they aren't the most powerful, technically shod, not the most sought after, but damn....that sound...they're just addictive.
Couldnt have said it better myself Stig we will have to get out for another ride soon!
@@roadblastmedia yeah, I feel there maybe a pie run in the making...haha, rumour has it a North v South challenge. I'm sure sausage rolls will count.
Well said J.P & I've removed my baffles & I think it was best I did it home as on mine the bolts fall inside the mufflers.At home I used some budget glue & it worked.Sounds awesome now leave them out permanently.
@@julianperry5141 heck yeah pie run on the cards good thing about us in the north as i can film it all haha so we can get real time reactions of how good our pies are!
@@roadblastmedia of course we have NZ award winning Patrick pies at Bethlehem, that would be a good start.
Couldn't agree more about these classics and your reasons for why people love them. I'm 63 and have been a Bonneville lover since the 60's where I grew up in the US thinking they were American bikes (but was just as happy when I learned that they were British, like The Beatles...) Well, I recently bought a brand new Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster, and I don't feel it is missing anything; it still has the feel and look of the old Bonneville (as do the T-100/T-120, Street Twin, etc.); but, yes it's evolved some to be what an older Bonneville rider/owner would expect them to be - classic, yet up to date, and top quality. I do not want a carburetor. I've fixed enough of them, and for me, fuel injection is what my bike should have, and ABS, and even traction/cruise control. And, I appreciate a bit more power when I need it, especially down low (McQueen and Ekins were always looking for more power.) With swept back beach bars, a classic style 12L tank, spoked wheels (with tubes,) simple gauge set up (with some digital ability,) beautiful chrome exhaust pipes that growl, simple headlamp and indicator lights (yet all LED)... I have not lost anything with this bike. I have gained, and I can still enjoy the naked classiness of it as well. And, I would not hesitate to buy a RE too. They are both retro, yet suit different needs. Ride on!
Nice mate! Very well said i love a triumph aswell theyre absolutely beautiful machines just a bit out of my price range but no doubt theyre great bikes and they look awesome too even their sports bikes seem a little classier than the rest! Cheers for the comment mate!
Well said. It feels like hopping onto a time machine. So nicely narrated as to why one would buy and ride a Royal Enfield.
Cheers mate!!
I like the way you rode that! You hit the nail on the head with your commentary. I’ve been riding a Street Triple for the last few years and have just picked up 1976 Triumph Bonneville. I had them back in the day and it’s so much fun to be on one again. I considered the Interceptor also, and I still may get one. Royal Enfield absolutely nailed it with this bike, that’s why they’re selling thousands upon thousands of them! People get sort of emotional about bikes like this, seriously if I’d seen this video a few weeks back with the way you rode it, I might of bought one on the strength of it alone!
Cheers mate! That comment means alot thank you!!
"I was into my Sports Bikes & then"hahahaha 😂🤣Takes you back to a Simpler time Simpler bike where you'd ride to your mates to see him instead of texting first.I would ride everywhere when I was younger,now you use your phone first to make sure someone home instead of just jumping on bike & blasting there & enjoying the trip if your mate home or not.
FANTASTIC VIDEO.🏍️👍
Haha cheers bro!
@@roadblastmedia ruclips.net/video/KwhDAd8c6YU/видео.html
I love the 650 royal enfield I have done countless reviews and talked to people that own them. It's the perfect motorcycle,the price is perfect and it's extremely reliable a sold 10 out of 10 all the way around.
Thanks for the ride ! It had been a while since I last had that sensation. A real biker ! Really enjoyed that,
Cheers mate! Appreciate the kind words!
Too many testers, compare this bike to others... You did the right thing, you tested it for what 'it is' a really nice thing to ride and own 👍
Crackin' review. I don't own one......yet, but I am absolutely obsessed with this bike. I remember the days when the guys who rode the bonnies, the Norton Commandos, and the BSA lightnings were the real bad a$$es on the road. They had the sound and the purpose built look that will forever be "classic" I will have one someday..oh yes..
Cheers mate! Yeah theyre an awesome machine, love those old bikes had a 650 lightning come in to my work the other day 😀
Well done review. This is one of a few videos that convinced me to test drive a new RE Interceptor 650... came home with the bike the very next day. Simply the most fun I've had on two wheels in over 40 years of riding and owning HD, Honda, Yamaha, etc...as pure as it gets if one is seeking a visceral, soul pleasing ride, time after time.
Cheers mate! Great comment!
@@roadblastmedia I ended up purchasing a new Classic 350 a few months after I bought the Interceptor. I really dig what RE is doing!
I’ve had mine for almost a year and I love it! About to put a tek 2-1 exhaust on mine :D
Nice mate ive got that on my GT absolutely amazing!
Love from India, here the craze for Royal Enfield is very much among our hardworking boys
Makes alot of sense bro the perfect reward for a hardworking man! The best relaxation tool!
I rented both last summer and now it's time to go buy my first Enfield, but I still can't decide between the GT and the interceptor. Both bikes are great.
Can you give me some advice ? 😀
@@UPOLTommy Mate, are you a tourer or the type to slam the bike through twisties? How old are you? Do have prior riding experience running sports bikes? If you ain’t a tourer and you like to hit the twisties and an aggressive stance is no problem then GT. If not, buy the Interceptor.
Interceptor is very practical and all rounder. She is the girlfriend who is fun and intelligent and you can take her back to introduce to your mom. Continental GT is the party gal who thrills and excites you, when you keep her at the edge. Any slower and the magic disappears.
Hope this helps! 😉
@@neosmith166 First of all thanks for the comment. Secondly That's exactly what I was scared. I'm 35 years old and this will be my first motorcycle.My friends recommended the Interceptor for comfort, versatility and the ability to modify it to GT style. 😀
@@UPOLTommy I would recommend the interceptor if it's your first bike. The Gt has a more aggressive riding position whereas the Inter is more relaxed & gives you more leverage on the handle bars. Important if you have little experience.
@@Mrflymess So I bought an interceptor-sunset strip😂
I just bought a Classic 350 few week ago and I love it, Royal Enfield is really great brand, I may plan buy another Himi too.
Nice mate!! Great bikes! 😀
You friggin' nailed it man. Great to see that a young guy like you gets it. 'Mechanical!' 👏
Going on 15,000 miles on my Interceptor and I get upset when I'm off it for more than 2 days!
Triumph? Nah. Sportsbike? Meh.
Thanks mate! Cant beat a modern classic done properly and i feel the same mate i find myself out in the shed just looking at it when i cant ride!
Which tires have you ridden and can you recommend? I’m undecided between pilot active, road classic and Bridgestone bt46
@@DavidLee-ch9vt i have only ridden on the standard ceat and pirelli tyres i have a mate who has put bridgestone battlax tyres on and he swears by them they look nice and chunky too lots of grip
@@roadblastmedia thx, Bridgestone is number one on my list so far, too. Just trying to get some input, before ridin season.
@@DavidLee-ch9vt I have just got the BATLAX BT 46 Tyre's & they are great & look better too.If money is no object get the Conti Road Attack 3 Tyre's but cost twice as much & I'm very happy with the BT46 tyre's.
So nice to see the beautiful NZ countryside in Summer! I’m moving back in the next week or two after 15 years away and this has made me particularly excited. Firstly because the chief horse of NZ has just resigned and secondly this is the bike I’m planning on buying as my first bike when I get to NZ soon. Thanks for your commentary on the bike and particularly about the simplicity and escape from the increasingly mad world out their. Two things I’m most certainly looking for.
Cheers for the comment mate! Will be good to have you in nz!
Chief horse?
@@quiet7632 our now former prime minister
It's a pleasure to watch you ride. Great technique and confidence. How much faster could you really go on the same bit of bitumen on a bike with double the power and all the tricks? By the look of the way that you were riding, I'm guessing, not much faster in the "real world". Thankyou for your content, it was enjoyable and informative.
Cheers mate exactly on a bike with double the power youre not really going to beable to go much faster at all maybe a bike with betger handling would do well but i find it more fun and skillful to go fast on an interceptor it feels really rewarding and satisfying. Cheers for the comment mate! 🤙
@@roadblastmedia Well said mate..It's always more fun to ride slow bike faster than a fast bike slow as in most cases we are not fully able to utilize power of our heavy bikes anyway 👍
The looks are definitely what drew me to the bike. I've always liked classic looking bikes and the new triumph Bonnies. But upgrading from a Grom I was looking at a bit of everything. Dad showed me a picture of the interceptor he saw at my local dealership, and I said Yeah....yeah that's the one. A few days later I went home with me. Now has a MK India design Cafe Racer fairing kit on it now.
Awesome! Sounds like youve got yourself a really cool bike! Cheers for the comment
I put the s&s 2into1 race version on my continental along with stage 2 air filter. I love it. Glad I spent the money. Great sound and a good kick in the nuts as well. Dennis kirk is a good site to shop for the exhaust.
Nice one mate! Love the s&s 2 into 1 looks real tough!
Very smart comments bloke. Fast enough is fast enough on the straight or through the corners. How many of us take a bike to the race track where we can wring it's neck legally. Otherwise its a bit of a wank having an H2 Kawasaki or Hayabusa. I have had a 900 Sprint an MT09 and an R1200RT and never came close to the top speed or scratched the pegs. (Unlike the 2 Harleys I rode where I scraped the pegs and nearly died of fright trying to get the pig around a corner.) Most high performance bikes never get used anywhere near their limit and these RE bikes are just fine
Well said mate yeah most of the crazy powerful bikes are made solely for the track and they almost choke when theyre on the road because the speed limit is only a fraction of what they can do! Still love big power bikes but nothing beats revving out every gear and not getting into too much trouble!
Nice bikes you've owned & a Mt 09 is one of the bikes of the moment.I'd like the XSR myself but my Interceptor is a keeper.You've owned bikes which a alot riders would pick but you are right about not using all the power on some bikes & a R.E650 twin has enough power for ear to ear smiles for miles & look absolutely awesome the community is great & the low down torque delivery surprises a few people too.
@@ruahinesrider Yup. 'Zactly right. I still have the BMW r1200RT and also have a Honda NC700D which has the DCT. The Honda I picked up for $4,700 with 14,000 Kilometers on it. That is a derided bike but it has the same low down the rev range torque as the Interceptors. It is so easy and stress free to ride I ride it more than the 2 year old BMW which I paid 4x as much for. The MT was quick and handled well but t was a bike that was not great as a daily rider. It was very noisy with a loud whine from the air box and was hard to keep at a constant speed on the road. Made it very tiring to ride so I traded it for the BMW. The BM does everything really well and you can ride it all year round in comfort. But you should with how much they cost!!!!!!!
@@broncosgjn I really like XSR 700 looks better than the XSR 900 & the XSR 700 is a twin & the 689cc version is 73hp & 61Nm & be more Rider friendly than the beast XSR 900 & 73hp t& 61Nm is more than enough power & be a more
practical bike as the beast 900 more at home on the open road.But the Interceptor is a all rounder a tourer & a town bike & is just a great bike to look at you know this if you look over your shoulder for another look as you walk away or go out the into shed with a cuppa admiring it also the R.E community & comraderie is special.
@@ruahinesrider yep. I have never ridden the XR700 but it sounds good. I also liked the looks of the XR900.
Awesome review gave me an idea of what actually it is made for. Simplicity, laid back feel, peace, and fun 🤩 . What else one can ask for ? Nice bike ❤️
Thanks mate! 🤙
It is that a basic fun ride. On a bike that isn’t going to rip your head off the moment you give it to much throttle in a corner.
I have owned a 650 continental GT.Best bike I have ever owned for fun riding.As you said great sound , great looks , amazing gear box.Also you can easily maintain it yourself.
Nice one bro! What colour?
Hope all is well down in the Mount. Very attractive looking bikes I feel. Great comradeship in Royal Enfield, I would agree. For me the RE reminds me of the classic bikes back in the 60s & 70s. Sounds like you better get a job and Smiths or perhaps CEO of RE…NZ.
People who like Triumph like RE and vice versa.
Cheers mate all is well down here in Tauranga! And yeah i do love the triumphs alot! They are the highest standard of modern classics in the market for sure! Aswell as making some of the best sports bikes on the market had the pleasure of riding a tiger 800 and was smiling all the way would love to swing a leg over a bonnie aswell! Always good to hear from you john!
Yeah have to agree John, I was following a t120 up the Kaimais the other day, and they are a beautiful machine that I'd love to own one day. The RE gives me that same vibe of yesteryear that I dont want to give up. How are you enjoying that new Bonnieville?
Hi John been on anymore rides to Thames?I think most R.E owners could have another retro bike a Triumph would be the one.A T100 or T120 be great & most would want a Street Twin if they could afford it but a T120cc be awesome alongside the R.E 650 & 650 was originally designed to be a 750 but with thicker sleeves to reduce capacity to 650 that's why 865 big bore kit be great as it won't stress the engine & would be cheaper than owning 2 bikes & make one hell of a sleeper.
@@julianperry5141 Hi Julian ! Went to Holeshot and have ordered 6 accessories all being practical which I need. So hopefully everything arrives within 2 months. And 1st service could be done in 4 weeks time. Also on the 26th of January the ceramic coating will go on. Sadly everything costs. Triumph leather jacket as well if I can afford.
@@ruahinesrider Hi Ruahines ! Apart from last week, and the previous one before that nothing this weekend. Although Lanie’s son went to Taupo yesterday for a ride. Am still waiting on the new rear shocks to arrive. We’ll get there in the end. At this rate I’ll be in the bankruptcy courts. Are you still doing more than required oil changes ? I’m going to do the double the frequency required.
One of most sane review(if I may term it as a review) ..in a long time I have seen ..talking about the real things the bike is meant to be ..& not cribbing about what it isn't designed to be n then expecting exactly those things n then whining the whole time
It's as simple as that...do a market review ..test ride one ..if it suits you ..buy it ..if not get what fits your criteria instead of not even owning it n talking all kinds of bs about it ..love your practical approach on why to take it or why people would take it
Cheers from the Home of RE 🇮🇳
Cheers for the comment mate!
Great review. I feel the same about my Vulcan 900 custom . simple , not mad power , make it your own , reasonable cost , head turner . these are on my list for my 2nd bike along with the w800 and new BSA .
Cheers mate! Gotta love a Vulcan aye! I would say go interceptor over w800 as it's alot cheaper and makes about the same power figures also sound a bit better with the 270° crank!
@@roadblastmedia in the UK they are about the same price now £6k , waiting for the BSA to be tested and priced .
@@darrylredmill4376 good idea mate the bsa looks brilliant! And is that right? thats fair enough then theyre a good 4-5k more expensive over here in nz
@@roadblastmedia yes , the w800 didn't do well over here so prices have dropped to RE levels. Both are around £6000 new , a few deals on RE might drop price by £500 but not much more. I just wish that they would make 65 to 70HP instead of the licence restricted 47HP. Rumour has it that the BSA can be had in more powerful version .
@@darrylredmill4376 Have to wait after the first BSA Goldstar 47hp one's to hit the market & then probably a further 6 months & then hopefully
they'll release the 60-65hp model.
R.E 650 are actually 750 but with 650 pistons & sleeves that's why you can get big bore kits & since it was originally going to be 750 a 865cc is the one & put you into the 62-65hp & 75-83Nm range & with a power commander & S&S cam & tune can reach to 80-90hp & 80-90Nm.
Can you imagine honest sensible people ran the world. Brilliant video, cheers.
I know the world would be a much better place! Cheers mate 🤙
Spot on, mate. Enjoy your casual delivery and real enjoyment of the ride. Keep it coming, and just subscribed. 👍🏼
Thanks mate appreciate it! 🤙
Wasn't even considering one but a few weeks ago I test rode one on Saturday, bought one Sunday. She's my new mistress! Love her.
Nice mate!! What colour?
@@roadblastmedia Chrome. 2019 model with the black and gold stripes. Looks sweet.
@@andrewbosman2883 nice mate thats the best colour! 😁