Why Royal Enfield is REALLY Good For The Motorcycle Industry...
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What bike do you want to see Royal Enfield make? Do you think they'll make bigger bikes in the future?
850 Super Meteor
They did make an ~800cc V-twin concept bike a few years ago. If they can break in with an affordable V-twin then HD and Indian will have some real competition.
650 premium retro adventure bike.
I'd love to see a 700CC+ Himalayan or other ADV bike from them.
@@13millerd Buy the 650 Super Meteor, get the big bore 865 kit... :)
All credits goes to Mr. Siddharth Lal... who single handedly saved RE
It’s loads of investment from Eicher motors that took it further. So, kudos to em
Also, this is an unstated fact, but the biking culture down *south* (India) has kept Classics Alive, even now you could see tons of old Yezdis, Jawas and Enfields as they were considered a status symbol when India was Swooning over Pulsars and Splendors.
Are you an Indian? That's a myth that he resurrected the company. It's a classic case study of no competition in the segment. Siddharth did nothing but boasting homeself.
Oh did he?
@@OlllOHD and Siddharth lal is the owner of Eicher motors,😂😂😂
I bought a RE Meteor 350 as my first bike at 51 years old. It’s awesome for me. I don’t race or nooner, I cruise around town and back roads at speeds up to 70 MPH. And I ride it everywhere with a smile on my face for less than 5K new and 90MPG. I don’t need massive power, I want to ride around and not die. I like that it’s not a 1000lb bagger and I can jump on it to run for a loaf of bread or a beer
Thanks Chad. I am 56 and in the same boat. I am thinking either 350 Classic or Interceptor in April for your same use cases. The only reason I am considering the Interceptor is for the "highway contingency." YTers Stuart Fullinham and Ol Man Ronin make strong cases related to your point as well.
I'm 53 and am taking the MSF class next week. I thought I was just gonna get the Rebel 500 but I keep coming back to the Meteor or Classic 350. They're just charming bikes that I like a lot!
Well said sir
Same, except I'm a year older! I love this bike!
@@jbkerns jef if you can wait for 6 month 650 Meteor will be out.
I feel like most people don't realize RE is the Harley or Indian of Europe and India. They've been in constant production since 1901. Longer than Harley! These things are built like tanks. My dad road bikes back in the 80's and 90's and had never heard of RE. Literally said it was an off brand bike. On my trip to Texas though, I had multiple people come up to me thinking my Scram was the coolest bike they've ever seen. Seems simple to me, yeah? But there's not many out here yet and the people that know of RE, love it!
My grandad introduced me to RE in the classic section at motorbike exposition about 5 years ago, told me all the history and then I was reintroduced to them by these guys.
This! Plus they have become a great "commuter" item for people in crowded cities where having a car is complicated, and you could opt to use public transit only, but maybe you like the ride, you enjoy parking close to your work.
Also in Latin America it's becoming a really convenient platform to get your "driving" needs met, as cars get more expensive, and gas prices skyrocket.
I think everyone who rides a motorcycle gets it, to be honest...!
I'd go as far as saying that RE is also getting right what Harley, Indian ore even Triumph aren't: affordable, simple, reliable and nice looking is they way to go.
@@r.artilesuriarte599 Although they are simple and inexpensive motorcycles I suspect they're very well designed and very well built. I could see myself buying an Interceptor but I'd never buy a Harley.
The 650cc was a big risk for RE if you look at where they are coming from. They had home market advantage in India for years because the Indian Government put the same kind of duties and fees on imported bikes just like HD in the US. RE spent years making the 350cc motors. The motor in the Himalayan was a step up, but the 650cc motor and it's chassis are huge moves for the company. You have to walk before you run, Spite
RE had many indian competition though from mahindra motorcycle brands, Bajaj, TVS and Hero.
In top 10 highest selling motorcycle brand in the world, 4 companies are from India..
1. Hero
2. Bajaj
3. Tvs
4. Royal Enfield
They did not have home market advantage... All other 3 Indian brands sells insanely more numbers than RE... What RE brought to the table was, Emotion and STATUS...that's right..., riding RE in India is like status and it's says a lot about you...
RE was India's most unreliable motorcycle brand but that didn't stop them from selling numbers and making the new reliable 350cc and 650cc engines.. Who do royal enfield remind you of? That's right.. Land rover brand which is also a British brand owned by india which is known for its unreliability but still sells.. Why? Emotion/status...
@@THUGPUTIN i disagree with you. I dont like RE because of emotion or status. Theyre just a good budget bike with enough power and that classic look which i love
@Freezing icy Well said. RE is more than a homegrown chassis with a cheap Chinese copy of a Japanese engine thrown in. Royal Enfeild purchased the expertise ( Harris Performance) to modernize its motorcycle lineup in-house. In record time, they have become a serious global player. Not just hype.
The big risk for RE was doing nothing differently. That business model was killing the company. The 650 was a natural progression rooted in the 1960s. A modern, reliable version of the 60s interceptor that preserved heritage and increased performance.
I love the fact that Royal Enfield is so into their brand. The fact that everybody that works there has to ride the bikes to really understand what it means to be this company. I think they’re doing a great, fantastic job. I currently ride one of the big four and have never owned a Royal Enfield but that’s not to say that I wouldn’t want to.
Try an Aprilia or MV Agusta next... It will blow your mind!
@@jbb3675 😂 so true but @Asham Gyadi is right. You don't always want your mind blown.
I just picture Royal Enfield being the kind of company that I would want to work for because you can tell they have a passion for what they're doing
I think it’s good that they offer low sticker price bikes. There are a lot of people who would buy a motorcycle without needing to spend $10K+. If people can buy a full size motorcycle for $5-6K then more people would start riding. I’ve not heard anyone complain about quality, only lack of power. There are plenty of people who don’t care so much about power - like me.
Itchyboots rode the hell out of Basanti, her RE Himalayan and I never noticed any real issues that were specific to that brand. Seemed like a solid bike
She renewed the steering head bearings, clutches, chain-and-sprockets, rewelded the sidestand.........in 66,000kms (41,250 miles) Great going !!
@@ramishrambarran3998 clutch and sidestand shouldn't be broken by then but sounds solid nonetheless
@@reneverheij6938 he means clutch plates, that’s completely normal at that mileage. As for the sidestand that’s wear and tear when you’re doing so much off road.
@@ramishrambarran3998 Yikes. My Honda clutch plate broke in 30.000 km, but I guess that's to be expected from a little 110cc scooter. Adventure bikes definitely built tougher.
And that's the Indian spec, remember. Not the export version.
I just started riding this year and the first bike i got was the MT-03.... The Mt-03 was a really good bike and really fun, but my brother got a INT650 and after riding his bike, I knew I made a mistake. His bike was better in almost every way. It was bigger, drove better on the highway because it did not get pushed around by the wind. The Int650 also came with a 3 year warranty and got about the same gas mileage. I traded in my MT-03 and got 4k for it and I was able to get a INT650 brand new for 5.9k and my payment is the SAME as the MT-03....I am not looking back because the INT650 is amazing... I also drove the CFMOTO 650 and 700 and they were fast, but felt cheap compared to the INT650 and even the MT-03 felt better built than the CFmoto bikes... 0-60 the CFmoto bikes were the fastest the MT-03 is quicker than the INT650, but the INT 650 was plenty quick enough and just drove better and feels so solid. The INT650 drives better on the Highway and has more passing power, the MT-03 is only quicker to about 60MPH after that the INT650 will pull away on the highway.
@Asham Gyadi I really think the 650 bikes from Royal Enfield fill a market segment that other manufacture's are just over priced at. The bike is great for the price and for what it is.... Who really cares about other 600cc bikes making 60+HP, 47HP and 52nm of torque are plenty fast enough for anyone looking to do anything on the bike... The bike is just solid AF...
How do you mean the INT650 is bigger, It seems smaller. Never had the chance to see one near a MT-03. The MT-03 is Common in my small city in Brazil but the INT ive seen Just a couple times.
@@v1n1c1u55anto5 The Int650 is much bigger. Everything is just larger, from the seat to the handlebars. I am a bigger guy and the int650 fits me much better. It does not get tossed around on the highway and feels safer...
@@johnjay6370 Thats pretty cool, one of my concerns was It being too small and seeming like an old small bike. I wouldnt ever imagine It was larger than the MT
I love the continental gt650
Glad you made this vid. I got extremely tired of that other channel constantly slating RE's and I don't even own one. They are highly desired in India and serve that nation very well. And now they have stepped up and gone from strength to strength. I think you have to have a less American-centric view on these kinds of things and take these bikes on their own terms.
Agreed. Is a good way to think in general.
I bought a RE 500 Bullet new back in '95 and proceeded to mod the hell outta the old girl. It has been bucket loads of fun to tinker with and ride. I think that this is an aspect of the motorcycling experience that is not much catered to by manufactures these days.
The effort required to learn, experiment with and build a machine into your own special ride takes the motorcycling experience from mere ownership into something more like a relationship.
I'm not much of a car person but I respect the custom street machine attitude.
Enfields are a great bike to do that same sort of thing with. They are a simple enough of a design that an ordinary bloke like myself can make mods, yet not totally screw it up by making it less than it was from the factory... just Different. Personal. Unique.
As in a relationship, the ol' girl has become "mine". But that takes a lot of learning, experience and time.... commitment.
Edit: PS. In three years राजकुमारी वेश्या and I will be celebrating 30 years together. She has been a handful, a lot of hard work... and an Imperial Fukton of fun.
RE is a global company and the U.S. is just a small part of that market. Go outside the U.S. and a 450 in other markets is a big bike, a 650 is a big bike, but here it's a middle weight. You nailed a great comparison to the sportster on making it your own. If you want to build your own it makes a lot of sense to start with a bike at a lower price and put the money into the build over dropping a lot on a new bike knowing you are going to replace a large part of it.
To your point a 450 in Thailand and the Philippines is considered a big bike because due to the way they drive and lack of enforced traffic laws, anything bigger than a 450 is pointless for most of the areas in both countries.
Yeah here in Colombia they consider it a heavy bike.
Yea it's definitely very much an American perspective that anything under 50 horsepower is a beginners bike.
Middle weight with the power of a Walmart mini bike...
I think this is because of the American highway. In Brazil, for instance, most bikes are 150cc, 250cc. Because the function is commuting, and bigger bikes are not as agile in congested roads. What you want is a light bike to ride at 60km/h, and a 150cc can do that pretty well. That's why litre bikes are very rare here.
I think Spite did this video before knowing about the Super Meteor 650. I was sure he would comment about it. Also RE has been developing a V2 850 engine and even showed up a concept bike. I think they are doing exactly what Spite is talking about, but they are not rushing themselves. I am a very happy Meteor 350 owner waiting for my chance of buying a Super Meteor.
I did. This one was filmed pre Eicma
@@spitescorner Have you also heard about the Himalayan 450 w/ 45hp that's allegedly coming 2023, from what I've read? Since you were talking about a more powerful Himalayan in the video.
I'm in the same boat. I love my Meteor 350, but I'm also stoked about the Super Meteor 650! I'm debating whether to trade in my Meteor 350 on one when it arrives in the US, or to keep it as a 2nd bike...
I really want to get the 650 Meteor
I hated Royal Enfield growing up. They were everywhere and I just thought of them as slow, chunky pieces of metal. I never understood why people love them so much untill I test drove one (Classic 350 reborn). I was blown away by the new model. The fit and finish was just unmatchable at that price point. It was definitely slower than the competition but the character was insane. The riding triangle, exhaust and looks really hooked me over. I ended up buying that bike as my first bike. I strongly believe Classic series is one of the best looking bikes in single cylinder market. It looks phenomenal in Haciyon green especially in sun.
My man, why did you have to say that? I have been trying to convince myself that i don't need a Classic 350 in Halcyon Green ever since RE brought them to Argentina. For the love of the almighty, i already bought an Himalayan from them this year. It's really, really hard saving my money when RE comes up with bikes like these.
My friend bought a Halcyon Green Classic 350 4 days after I bought my Interceptor, and when the dealer wheeled that bike out into the sun we both about fell over. What an impossibly beautiful bike. And I just love the sound of an old-school thumper, so riding next to him always makes me laugh as it burbles down the road.
Recently I got my classic chrome bronze too. It's my first bike 🥰
My brother-in-law loves that green 350 Classic. It’s an amazing color in the sun. I ended up buying the Stealth Black one because I don’t want to clean the pretty green one.
"Make something for the American market..." That is why the Royal Enfield Meteor 650 was just announced as a cruiser. Indian Motorcycle reviews say it won't sell well domestically, but it is squarely targeted at other markets. I would point out that Enfield is not only a beginner bike but a second bike or downsize bike for older riders.
A RE dealer here in Wellington NZ, told me he already has a 1000 customer names down for 650 Meteor, once pre order start.
That's just one dealer.
It will definitely sell. Believe me.
America is THIRSTING for new import cruiser. That's why they love Rebel despite various limitations, especially size (largely because they're designed for Asian people lol).
@@victoriazero8869 I also think that America is thirsting for a SPORTY cruiser! America is thirsting for a cruiser that's fun in the curves, doesn't weigh half a ton, and doesn't require a 2nd mortgage to purchase.
Well said! I'm 60; I own a Meteor 350; and it's my 12th bike. I got it because, at my age, I wanted a bike that's easy to manage; I don't want to be moving a 1/4-1/2 ton bike around anymore. Screw that!
A good beginners bike .
People say that like if you already know how to ride, get something else. I've been riding for over 40 years and have had a variety of bikes, learned to ride on a hopped up CB750 four my dad had, had small and big bikes, sports, dual purpose, and cruisers.
Beginners bike just means it's easy to ride, affordable, dependable, fun, and doesn't leave you feeling like you just ran a marathon.
At 56, I love both my Royal Enfields.
I want to enjoy my ride, relax, lose the world for awhile. I don't think any rider of any level would be disappointed in one of their bikes.
RE dont really need to pander to the American market,there are a couple of billion people in the Indian home market.
Their sales in Europe and the Far East are also massive.
I just traded a Bonnie I owned for 12 years for a Himalayan,and I love it.
Also got an original 350 Bullet,pre unit engine,gearshift on the right.
I live in Scotland,had the little Bullet down the Rhein and Mossel valleys in Germany.
Royal Enfield,just love them for what they are!.
I have a Continental GT 650. Aside from being great value for the money and not having an overload of rider aids, a big factor in my decision to purchase was the huge aftermarket support, especially since I come from a background of modifying cars. I really just use it to putt around town, so power and comfort are adequate for my needs. I did splurge on Ohlins (all around) and it feels amazing to ride. I’ll throw some better rubber on it in the spring and probably a new master cylinder, and then it’ll be perfect in my book - all without breaking the bank. If you ever find yourself in Denver again, you’re more than welcome to give it a spin.
I’m in Denver and have decided to get the Inceptor 650 over the winter.
I'm a beginner rider, so I just love myself some Royal Enfield. The Int650 and Scram 411 are both AWESOME :)
Check out the new cruiser. Meteor 659
You absolutely got it right, they are enthusiastic about riding, and despite kind of pandering to beginners, they are kind of tapping into the same kinda energy that honda did when they cracked the American bike market back in the day, by appealing to people just a little outside the standard bike market. They are also doa really good job of making a bunch of neat retro styled bikes with fewer headaches than owning an actual old bike. I like what they are doing, and hope they keep it up.
TOTALLY 100%! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks RE is doing what the Big Four did 60 years ago when they took the world by storm. RE is building fun, basic, good looking bikes for a price that's easy to live with. The Big Four have drifted away from that winning formula over the years.
See that's such an American perception tho. Under 50 horsepower doesn't mean beginner bike to the rest of the world. A lot of use prefer lighter weight and not having to spend a ton of money and we just don't want to go 100mph everywhere.
@@bena3341There's way more to why most of RE's offerings are beginner oriented than power; very basic suspension (simple shock, damper rod forks) very meh brakes, nothing special seat, switchwork, ect. They are built down to a price compared to Japanese or euro competitors, but they undercut them by a lot, which if you are just coming into riding, then price of entry is a big factor. When I was new, some more upscale components wouldn't have made much of any difference in my life, but having been riding for more than twenty years now, damn does a proper suspension system make or break a day of riding for me. Power absolutely isn't everything, of the five bikes in the garage, I'll usually hop on my 250 dualsport unless I need to take the interstate. Also trying to lump all Americans into a group is like proclaiming that France and Spain are pretty much the same because they are both part of Europe.
They are great bikes. They seem to attract begginers, or SUPER experienced riders who realize what pure machines they are. All they do is grow the sport and sell more bikes down the road for all the other OEMs. It's a win-win for all involved.
I am waiting for the spring to get my license, and the Royal Enfield line has been really tempting. The Fortnine video on oil cleanliness (Sample size was one bike from each manufacturer so not by any means a thorough test) was what made me start looking at them.
Dear Spite, this vid is yet another reason I'm glad you have your own channel. I own a Harley and a Royal Enfield. "Pure motorcycling" is the Royal Enfield way.
I bought a 2021 RE INT650 with a grand total of two months of riding experience (on a Suzuki TU250) in NYC. I took off and left. I started heading west with it and kept riding until the bank account ran dry. I ended up living off the back of that thing for eleven months and clocked 23K miles. It was an incredible experience I'll never forget or regret. I honestly am so glad I did it on a Royal Enfield. I don't think a single other bike on the market would have been accessible to me price wise as a new bike and also been a bike that captivated my imagination in the sort of way that made me say "screw it" and take off and see the country. I love that bike and I love that company. honestly RE jut makes some really fun bikes that are super accessible to new riders and captivate their imaginations.
amazing story
real life forrest gump moment where he just ran across states
The RE bikes still have a soul to them. I love my Interceptor because of the simple back to basics of it. The new Super Meteor is what I was wanting to see them make and I fully plan on trading off the interceptor for one once they hit the states.
While it’s still a 650, the super meteor looks much more upscale than anything Royal Enfield has produced in the past, and I’m looking forward to the day you can review one.
Someone said to me back when the Conti GT first came out with an underwhelming spec-sheet: "You can't quantify character on a spec sheet".
RE has more character in their slightly garbage front master cylinder than a lot of the derivative small bikes that the big companies crap out by the truck load.
after watching lots of YN i was convinced i’d get a Svartpilen 401, better weight, quicker, a little nice tech and cheaper than the RE 650s, but damn. seeing these 650s in person, hearing them, they are just so much cooler. planning to grab an int650 soonish. plus so many mods for the 650!
You won't regret it! Just be prepared for the onslaught of people talking about how cool your bike is 😀
I really like the Ptwin. It's a great little engine and it runs like a champ
@@spitescorner I'm sure you have figured it out by now, but Yammie was only good at one thing, dumping on any bike or any group(Dad riders as one example) he felt was beneath him. 90% of his channel was and still is, is about hurling constant insults yet claiming wanting to get people interested in motorcycles. It appears you see that. If somebody even has a scooter, they are a potential rider and should be encouraged. We all have to start somewhere.
Im i the only one who like gt650 more the int 650.
@@jidhum5740 nah man, most of the guys i talked to at the royal enfield dealership seemed to think that. i actually like the tank shape of the GT more, but the interceptor has a paint job i like more than any of the colors the GT comes in. with some lower clip ons the GT looks fucking sick
I have a '22 Classic 350 and I love it. I have owned a couple of Harleys and they were fine but there is some kind of indescribable charm and joy that I get from the Royal Enfield that the Harleys never gave me. If it had 20 more horses, it would be perfect. The super meteor looks cool but I would be way more interested in a Classic 650 or even if they brought the Bullet 500 over here.
They discontinued Classic 500. That bike was amazing but I believe they are planning to launch a bike similar to Classic in 650cc segment.
@Rishabh Malhotra I sure hope so. I love the look and industrial feel of the classic but, In the US, a bike really needs to comfortably do at least 80MPH if you want to get on the interstate highways for more than one or two exits.
@@Theonlytruekevin
Yep, in USA you gotta have a bike that can run 70-80 and not be run over.
Wait a bit..a Classic 650 is in the works.
@@Theonlytruekevin classic 650 is definitely in the works.
Royal Enfield is great for the same reason Ducati and Triumph are great. They're about bikes, not other "designed by committee" products. But, lets not be too hasty in pushing them to become premium. They might turn into something we don't like.
There's a reason why Royal Enfield is in business even after 121 yrs. Honestly in India, RE is our pride and is seen as an equivalent or even superior (on some aspects) to Harley Davidson.
RE has an unique retro heavy metal charm unlike some of the newer plastic bikes.
It’s all about the feeling, the sixth sense, how does riding this bike makes me feel. To me the spec-sheet means nothing, happy with my Meteor 350.
Totally agree Daniel!... but I think I'll be trading up to the 650 when it arrives here in Australia simply because it makes my jaw drop every time look at the photos. It'll be like riding a work of art... Right now I love my 350 Meteor and cant keep off it. :)
@@chrisandrew852 you aussies are super lucky to have revelry cycles there. I’m jealous! I want one of their throttle bodies next!
By India Standards, the 650 line is the top of the notch, it is what you desire...they are aspirational motorcycles. And I would bet that more than half of RE sales worldwide come from that market. Bigger motorcycles aren't "usable" there... high price, high consumption, and low road quality "kills" them. You are right... IT is great to have RE infusing the market with preppy little motorcycles, fueled by a gigantic aftermarket parts. I remember the first time I saw the Interceptor, I was joking with a Triumph representative that said he was zero afraid of those bikes (Int and GT)... he was wrong and the Street triple and T100 sales suffered. The good thing is as you say, they are perfect first motorcycles... and people tend to upgrade some years down the road... and start looking for bigger and more expensive motorcycles as a natural progression.
Lots of excitement for the RE Super Meteor....🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
😅
I agree with where you are going with this. I think most motorcycle manufacturers have lost sight of what the average (and most numerous) rider wants and need. They have gone after a more select group of thrill seekers with huge wallets. I believe that this will lead to the deterioration of the sport if there are not companies like RE that will supply us with affordable and easy to ride bikes. I have been riding for 56 years and have had trouble finding new bikes that fit my needs and wallet. I would like to see RE build a bike with and engine like their 650 punched out to about 850cc in an adventure bike chassis and suspension. I would have strongly considered buying one like that when I bought my Moto Guzzi V 85TT. Choices are always nice.
S & S builds an 850 kit for the 650s.
By all reports it's a reliable modification.
I am a couple months into my INT650 (my first bike) here in AZ. Havent had a single issue and managed all maintenance so far by myself. I dont have a lot of time for riding apart from my commute, but I am loving every second of it.
At 60 years old, with 30 odd years riding experience, I have changed my 20 year cruiser riding for a Scram. Does everything that I need it to and has character at a reasonable price. Royal Enfield have impressed me with their honest, down to earth approach to motorcycles and I suspect I will be riding them for many years to come.
Motorcycling is more than a stat sheet. There's a reason Harley guys love the bikes they ride. Royal falls into that same camp. You love it for it's flaws. Not in spite of them.
I ride a Harley and have for many years. got the chance to test ride a RE classic 350 this summer and after a 20 minute ride i realized i was grinning like a fool and giggling every rev. The thing is bloody brilliant. My Road King felt like a fat cow after riding that Classic 350. Im definitelty on the RE band wagon now and will buy one soon
Just bought a RE classic 350 chrome bronze. Get compliments all over the place. Has so much old world charm and character it feels like a living thing. It’s Basically a family member. Don’t even want to see another bike. I want to keep the bike forever.
Super smooth clutch.
Easy to find neutral.
Feels like cloud on the road.
Spite, as a Royal Enfield Meteor 350 owner, I have some thoughts. One, when you were at the old channel, I never took you guys' remarks about RE seriously, as you hadn't RIDDEN them; that always helps! Two, RE is becoming popular for the same reasons that the Big Four took the world by storm 50-60 years ago: they build good, nice looking bikes for a price we can live with. Three, RE bikes aren't just for beginners; plenty of us experienced riders like 'em too. My Meteor is my 12th bike! I've had bigger, faster bikes, but none that are as fun. Four, RE builds and sells bikes mainly for the Indian market. Why wouldn't they? They build and sell more bikes in India by themselves than all motorcycle manufacturers sell here. Five, Royal Enfield is identifying overlooked niches of the motorcycle market and filling them, e.g. small-midsize cruisers, lighter weight ADV bikes, and so on. Finally, RE is building bikes with soul; they're building bikes that make you lust after them. They're making bikes that make you feel and say: "I want that bike!" The Big Four haven't done that in ages. Just compare the Kawasaki Vulcan S to the upcoming Super Meteor 650. See what I mean?
Hey Mark, enjoy your commentary over on the Forum. You hit the nail on the head here. I would add that RENA is increasing their Dealership presence. It will just take time. I hope too that they are paying attention to the few issues some people are having and tweak their quality. Take care.
@@michaelabernathy7013 thank you! I'd like to see RE grow here.
Yeah, I agree.. wholeheartedly what you said here. Fortnine did an oil test that represented the engine build quality of all the major brands, and Royal E scored Very well. And learning what you said about the spirit of the company brings the brand up a few notches for me.
I'd love to see what they could build with a $10k budget.
I have a 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan. It's a very slow bike, but it's one of the most interesting bikes I've ever owned.
I call it my "hipster dirtbike". It's such a wonderfully strange combination of old school low tech with modern features. I can do all the work on it myself with a air cooled single, yet it has GPS and app integration, gear indicators, ABS on/half/off, side stand indicator, fuel gauge and more.
It handles the dirt/gravel roads in rural North Texas extremely well. Sometimes I just go out exploring with nowhere in particular in mind.
I just wish it had 10 more mph on the top end.
650 meteor was a big wow!
A dealer in Wellington told me,
They already have 1000 customers who put their names down.
For Once pre orders start.
That's just 1 dealer.
I think where Royal Enfield really hits it is in the vintage styling of these bikes. I wanted a vintage bike when I first started riding but quickly realized that I didn't have the skill or money to maintain a vintage bike for the amount of miles I wanted to ride. Enter in Royal Enfield, classic looks for a low cost but with modern tech (no carbs).
Yes Spite I think you hit the nail on the head. I am kind of a Honda guy but I love modifying a bike to suite me, I think you made an excellent point.
My neighbor just bought a Continental GT and it looks amazing. We rode out to the countryside, found an old barn and took some black and whites of it next my Fury and it looks straight out of an old vintage photo from the 60's or 70's. His bike has so much bang and charm for the buck I'm really surprised that there aren't more of them on the road here. Some of the bigger brands have bashed RE for so long but their time has come for sure. It's harder to get motorcycling into the average consumer budget but RE's are so easily affordable it's understandable how they sell 3 machines worldwide for every one that HD sells.
HD is doing a jv with Hero motocorp based in India. They're looking for the 350 cc segment. If it is successful, they may bring it back home. If their cult followers don't mind a smaller displacement horse, that is!
@@ayonbiswas4186 A 350cc low cost machine would be awesome. I'd pick one up in a heartbeat. I don't get why small displacement here in the US is commonly overlooked. It's so much more fun to have a bike you can wring out than have a bike wring you out. I love my big bike but my Svartpilen 401 is so much more fun and nimble.
There's a reason why these bikes are consistently among the top selling bikes in the UK. It's not surprising that you'd come to understand after actually riding one. Dismissing things out of hand is rarely a good way to go.
Glad to see your channel is doing so well spite 🤘
The most thing I relate to in this video is Spite checking on the indicator button again and again, oh man I feel the anxiety to keep checking it too!
Yep. I do the same thing. Haha
I love my 2023 Classic 350. A guy who was used to a heavier Triumph tried it. He pulled up from around the corner with a huge smile and said "It's so light!". Not to mention its easy to work on, and 90% of the bike is metal, even the fenders
One of the reasons I got my Himalayan was because you guys were shitting on it so bad, lol.
I have a good relationship with the dealership (Royal Enfield of Fort Worth) and the folks there love the brand and get excited to see people mod their bikes up after purchase. They let me hang out in the garage and we got my bike ready for the NMBDR.
I'm a new rider and, the Himalayan is awesome. Other riders I meet love it as well.
Idk why Americans like to shit on TE so much 😂 They honestly make some great bikes
Great review Spite! I like how your comments on your reviews are so succinct - to the point, and on point... As you said - there is too much emphasis on spec sheet numbers, and too little actual seat time and expressing the feelings that riding any motorcycle can bring to your life. Keep up the good work Spite!
I had a Himalayan a couple years ago; it ran perfect no issues at all through the 3500 miles I put on it. I sold it because I became nervous about dealer support if something were to go wrong; the nearest dealer is 450 miles away. It’s was a poor decision on my part. I’ve regretted selling it and I plan to buy another soon.
they are working on a single 450 liquid cooled mototr which would produce double the power.wait for it,
@@shankyrocking92 A liquid cooled Scram 401 would be on my list to try. The current one is good looking, just a bit too heavy. In fact, I'd rather it lost weight than gain power but I'll take it.
@@kevincrockett5155 Yes the new 450 Himalayan is rumoured to be lighter than the current 411 model with 40 bhp.
I recently read an interview with the RE CEO. He said when RE introduces a new bike, it needs to make since for the India market. Why? India is the largest motorcycle market in the world. RE sells more bikes in India in a month than they sell in Europe in a year. Although India's economy is growing, India is still relatively poor compared to the US or Europe. What we call a 'beginner bike', India calls 'affordable transportation'.
The Super Meteor looked cool but I"m holding out for a Hunter 650. (RE, that was a hint)
Spite, congratulations on 90K subs
Hunter 650, 2-1 exhaust, USD forks (from super meteor 650) ...yes please.
They showed their 838cc V-Twin concept(based on a 1100cc RE V-Twin from the 30s) a few years back. I really wish they release a working model with that powerplant.
I agree with almost everything you presented. I'm 55 and an RE Interceptor owner now. Beginner bike is a little bit of short thinking. The whole lineup, including the New Super 650 was thought out and appeal to riders of all experience. My first street bike was a 2002 Honda VTX 1800 S. That was my beginner bike. RE? Nope, just enjoyable rides that allow you to take in everything around you and get back to motorcycling in its purest form with a smile on your face. Cheers!
I will call any bike less than 2000cc and weighing less than half a ton as a 'beginner' bike or a 'ladies bike' - what then?, will they build a 10,000cc 1 ton bike? - this is nonsensical. A bike is a bike, be it 100cc or 1000cc. All of them are enjoyable if you are a joyous person.
I legitimately thought about a royal enfield at one time. I’m also starting to see them every once in a while where I live and a couple of years ago I did not. That’s gotta say something for their popularity as well.
Some well thought out comments, much better than grabbing the low hanging fruit and ragging on them ! ....enjoying the channel 👍🏻
I’ve been riding various types of bikes on and off road for 30 years and my all time favorite is the INT650 which I got a few months ago.
9:49 at this tri junction I had this "Real" Deja Vu, when back in 2013 I was riding my friend's Royal Enfield thunderbird in a hilly place called Yercaud in Southern India and the turn was exactly like that and I approached it exactly like you did here. It was my first Royal Enfield experience and I never liked it before and I loved it since, later in 2015 I owned an used Thunderbird for 7 months during my stay in Mumbai, sold it before leaving Mumbai.
3000+ miles on my Himalayan and it's exactly what I was looking for. Two wheeled jeep. Seriously looking at adding a Conti 650 in the next year or so. Glad you're giving the brand an honest look.
I love seeing your success since leaving the other guy. Your content pops up in my feed constantly and his never does anymore and I didn’t change any settings. I love the fact that you’re over 90,000 subs, keep up the good work!!
Your awesome spite! really like your content ! Iv listened to you from the beginning of you career at YN. And I must say your grate on your own. grate voice, good points, relaxed, chill, intelligent! cant say enough good about you bro! keep it going!
There most definitely needs to be a brand that produces pure bikes for a good price. I'm honestly sick of all the electro-gadgetry bullshit. I don't want to scroll through menus, I don't want an infotainment screen, I don't want modes or assists, I want to work on the bike myself. I just want a pure and liberating riding experience for a reasonable cost. One of the reasons I love my SV650. Isn't this the whole point of riding a motorcycle?
I think an issue is that in North America, motorcycles are seen like more of a toy than actual functional transportation. Therefore the market skews towards fat-wallet squids that just do highway pulls on Super-Sports.
If RE were to drop a 650 Himalayan, I'd have a deposit on one immediately! Fingers crossed the release one at some stage.
I think it's coming soon
They are doing a new himmie but not a 650 it will be a liquid cooled 450
They are going in a 650 adv route in 2024-25, but for now they are releasing their 450cc water cooled Himalayan with 40 bhp first which is said to be lighter than the current Himalayan ( rumours as of now not a concrete thing).
I have a Himalayan that I’ve been building into a brat style. I loved the continental, but had issues with my knees on the tank cutouts, but I’m going to go to an INT next. I will say, there are a ton of bad cred towards the brand, I mean the Himalayan used to have a garbage frame that was fixed and reinforced before it hit the world market. I have more conversations with people because of my RE logo on my tank than any of the other guys I ride with. There’s always the older generation who had bullets, the original interceptors, etc., and the stories they have are awesome. I know their social media is kind of gimmicky and hipster-esqe now, but I love that they make bikes for people to get out and ride and are awesome to work on. It’s simple, sleek and affordable.
Royal Enfield has slowly started to become my favorite motorcycle brand. They seem to genuinely care about what they do.
I bought my INT 650 in July of 2019. I've done all the service on it myself, that's how easy they are to work on. I have made modifications that suit me which I like very much! I will say that every motorcycle will have it's flaws but that's what makes them unique. You can overcome and customize them as you see fit. The Royal Enfield community is huge and is only getting bigger, with it's aftermarket parts and accessories. They have come out with I think 4 or 5 new models since the Twins. If these bikes are India road worthy then they can be ridden anywhere.I've had people ask me how i kept my vintage bike so clean and new...lol. When I tell them it's a 2019 they can't believe it! They have one of the best frame builds that i have seen in forever. I've owned bigger CC bikes and lesser but the 650 is the Goldilox zone for me. It's the Grin factor i feel for alot of us who ride them..... Cheers! from TN
Just bought the RE Scram, a really fun, quirky bike. Love it! ❤️
We have a Scram for green laning UK. It climbs it jumps it goes wherever you want to aim it
I agree 👍, I like Royal Enfield. I currently ride a BMW S1000r hp, living in New Jersey next to Pennsylvania and having great and wonderful roads that run up along the Delaware River. I find myself as well as many of my friends who also ride hyper naked bikes, Ducati streetlight Aprilia tuono, and Kawsaki ZH2, were looking for a fun inexpensive cruiser under 10,000 dollars, new with a warranty. And we all agree that Royal Enfield Int650 is the best inexpensive motorcycle with a classic look and a throwback to a really cool area 😎. Sometimes, you just want to slow down and enjoy the ride.
While not fast or powerful...they are loads of fun in the twisties. You have to use gears, you learn how power boads actually work and low stakes enough that you can make errors and end up 6 feet under...
A worthwhile consideration too that had me eyeballing their Himalayan for the gf, was they have dramatically improved their QC it seems like. FortNine's oil analysis review as well as other third party deep dives seems to show a company that is really focused on playing to win.
You are a racist
@@juicetin942 Can't say I've been called that for talking positive about a motorcycle company before.
✔️ that off my list 🤣
I have been looking at RE for about 3 years thinking of getting a bike now that I am no longer tempted by speed as much as just the joy of a good ride and I live in 4 Corners CO filled with amazing roads and sights. Looking around the market they were the only company that made something that was different and better looking (IMO) than everything else out there except maybe Triumph. I always remember being disappointed a Sammie Boob review tearing them apart when almost everyone else seemed to really enjoy and get what they were about. I hope they dont Americanize themselves to much for the dollar, at the moment I do not think you can get more fun for your money on 2 wheels than a RE. Two weeks ago I bought a CGT 650 and a Himalayan cannot wait for spring to get out and have some fun.
I think that Royal enfield's strength is in what they do. Bringing motorcycling to the average Joe on the street. A simple no fuss and relatively cheap motorcycle, that looks good and goes ok. I agree a very good gateway in to motorcycling. The himi/scram and all the 650 range are out side of enfield's safe zone and I believe they have more to give. Patience is a virtue.
Spite, to be perfectly frank, I always thought you were the best part of Yammie Noob's channel and he was holding you back in a lot of ways. I've really enjoyed your independent content since the split. Please keep it up and I have every confidence your channel will continue to take off!
I’m stoked about the super meteor. Looks great.. enough hp for around town riding… what’s not to like?
The ground clearance and that it gets heavier than the current 650 options.
Granted, judging by your name, ground clearance probably not that much of an issue for you xD. Out here, road can turn into off-road at moment's notice. Odd shaped speed breakers every now and then cause bikes with less than 150mm GC scrape the belly.
@@nycscribe538 we have great roads up here and you could always throw taller shocks in the back to give the bike a boost. In the boot lol
Great reflection on the Himalayan. Royal Enfield’s vision is going good. Couple of decades ago, their engines were the achilles heel. And for that alone they were not selling (even in India). Glad their present day engines have been better. And their offerings are pretty decent entry level motorcycles which don’t look tacky. But for Royal Enfield to take a dig at something other than their past generation models might take a while. Let’s wait and watch.
Hey my friend. Really happy that you are doing good with your channel. Love your content.
Like your new channel! Good review man! Thanks from Egypt 🙌🏽
RE its already a big family, its a diferent brand.
I like all brands but i felt in love with RE because of this, its a family.
My Himalayan its not the best bike but i can do everything with this litle bike, i call her My litle Tank.
Another good one from Mr Spite 💪💀
Greetings from Portugal 🇵🇹
Amazing timing, I am currently looking at either the Scram 411 or GT 650 from Royal Enfield to be my first bike
Great warranty. 3 years (Europe l)
I am glad you are still at it spite!
We don't need another 800 pound 30,000 dollar motorcycle. Royal Enfield filled a space no one else wanted. They Rock.
Spite Rules!
I totally agree that their main issue is that they don't have any second or third bikes. So while you may start on a Yamaha MT125, later upgrade to an MT07 and finally an MT10 or XSR900 for example, with Royal Enfield, no matter how much you love the brand, you can't really stay within it for long.
What I'd like to see from RE:
- The Meteor, but with the 650 or even a bigger engine
- The Himalayan with the 650 or a bigger engine
- Some kind of cruiser / bobber bike, I think they could pull that look and feel off very well! If they could make an awesome Triumph Bobber / Speedmaster competitor with a decent (V-twin, perhaps?) engine, I think they would be absolutely killing it!
They just announced the Super Meteor 650. Look it up.
They are doing exactly the same things you mentioned above some models will be released in 2023 and the remaining in 2024.
It's like hipsters realising vinyl records have more depth and heart.... As a 50 something I watched the yammie vids dissing RE and it reminded me of my kids sneering at my record collection clutching their iPod's.
Glad to see Spite's channel doing so well, giw content is just as enjoyable as Yams.
I've just bought a Int650 Black Ray and I already loooooove it... everything is so smooth but at the same time with so much character in that bike... love it!
You’re vlogging is superb, glad you have left yammy and doing well on your own.
I have been riding for nearly forty years. I have had too many motorcycles to count. I recently sold my last go-fast big-bore bike and have an Interceptor 650 and do my ADV riding on a KTM 390 Adventure. I still have a Husqvarna fe501 for desert riding and a Beta 300rr Race Edition for single-track / enduro riding but, getting back to the true joy of motorcycling that the Interceptor and 390 provide has reignited my interest in what originally got me into riding. It's not always about speed and power but about the visceral experience of being out there on a machine that only an enthusiast can understand. You can call small-bore bikes "beginner bikes" if you want to but, they really are much, much more. JMS - Austin, TX
My 2022 Lake Blue Himalayan is easily the most fun I’ve ever had owning a bike. I love everything about it.
Excellent video, Spite! RE is doing great things, and I think they understand that accessible machines were an outstanding missed opportunity by the other manufacturers. They’re showing that affordability doesn’t preclude desirability, an outstanding concept in the marketplace. It’s no accident that they’re doing well, and I think they’re going to be continuing to increase sales in the coming years. I’d like to see a scrambler version of the Interceptor, something they’re showing at EICMA, and a production version of the SG650 in the near term, as well as a Classic 650. The Super Meteor looks like a home run, and I think the Hunter is going to be a big success.
Nice to see a video on 'the bikers feel' rather than just the bike. Cheers. ..from a RE fan and owner (Int 650 & hopefully soon a 450 Scram).
Taking delivery of my interceptor 650 the day after tomorrow can’t wait
I've been riding for 30 years, and my Interceptor 650 is my favorite bike so far. I've had bigger and faster bikes, but the RE hits that sweet spot of how I actually ride on the street. The look and the sound makes me smile every time.
While I won't say it's impossible, it's defo not a priority for RE. Here in India, 650s are the big bikes in the street. Their performance is frankly better than ~95% of vehicles here, and they're regarded as one of the fastest motorcycles that an upper-middle class person can buy. They're more likely to explore the 650 and sub 650 range before launching more powerful stuff, imo.
Man I’ve had 10 bikes over the years. 21 HD RKS, a bunch of other Harley’s, Ducati monster, KLR but I choose my Himalayan all day. To each their own!
Hi Spite. This might be a long comment but would appreciate if you read it. Im glad you made a video like this. To be honest, at YN you guy's were exposed to a lot of quality big bikes, from big brands. I guess RE never really got a chance to be loved at that channel due to the meme culture it created. But lets be real. RE is one of the oldest brand and manufacturer of motorcycles and rightly said by Yammie himself, comes with a lot of legacy. Being a proud owner of a Continental GT650, i can tell you that a lot of people here in India have masssivveeee respect and are always looking at Royal Enfields with a loving eye. There is an absurd amount of aftermarket support from various garages and brands that have become big names after the release of the new continentals and interceptors. All of this would not have been possible without the brand itself. Having a lot of friends with big bikes as well, any RE motorcycle always comes back loved at the end of the day. If you look at the new Advert of the Hunter 350, the lyrics of the song go "The streets are ours" and in frame is a bunch of friends hanging out having fun. That's motorcycling. That's also RE'S widespread vision.
The Continental and interceptor might be slow. But they're fun. At the end of the day a smile on your face is all worth it.
Lovely Video brother. Keep it up.
I think you guys corrected the opinion on Royal Enfield at your previous channel at the right time. Because Royal Enfield did make some clunky bikes for awhile and they did step it up a few years ago. Part of the reason I started to reconsider Royal Enfield was the YN video praising them. That, and my local Harley Davidson dealership is a Royal Enfield dealer now. I rode an Interceptor 650 and I love the thing. It's a dream compared to my 89 Softail. I might get one.