Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 - A Question of Quality
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ค. 2024
- Dispelling the urban myths of the Royal Enfield critics.
This video is about those aspects of the bike which can be perceived by just 2 of the senses….sight and touch. It’s not about mechanics it’s about those components which most critics point to as an example of “cheap” quality. - บันเทิง
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I own a 2021 Continental GT and agree that some components are a bit basic but as you say these can easily be replaced. Let’s not forget though that RE have done a great job on the things that really matter - a superb motor, excellent gearbox/clutch and a decent frame. It’s not everyone that can afford the luxury of a premium bike and these machines offer a thoroughly enjoyable ride for a very modest outlay.
Spot on there Ross the important components are top quality giving a well built and reliable platform for those who want the upgrades whilst keeping an affordable classy machine with all the basics for those who don’t
Thank you Ross for the brilliant comment. This is really what I wanted to know and would be really happy to hear more comments about how well those parts are doing in the British weather. Thank you
The bike is a blank canvas platform for personalisation , no money has been wasted on stuff that'll get replaced !
Perfect way of looking at it 😊👍🏻
They might be made to a price but I think they are magical and no matter what bike you buy you will always change things 😊 great video 😃👍
Cheers buddy I agree completely they are way more than the sum of their parts 👍🏻
There is nothing wrong with changing things on a motorcycle, but I don't see any reason why RE couldn't have used silver paint on the fenders, rims, and forks and a few other things. It's not like silver paint costs any more than black.
@@geraldscott4302 I do prefer the black wheels myself 😃
Great video, really enjoyed watching. I think you’ve effectively honed in on the attraction of these modern classic Royal Enfield’s which for many of us is the desire to tweak and customise to make them our own and RE have factored this in. Thus enabling them to keenly price the bikes by including cheaper (but adequate) ancillary parts, mudguards radiator guards, brake and clutch lever etc whilst delivering an aesthetically pleasing and quality base product for us to enhance if so desired. Loving your content, keep it coming 👍🏻
Spot on sir a blinder played by RE who understand motorcyclists more than any other brand in that way 👍🏻
Interesting one ! yes it is a budget bike at initial cost but part of the enjoyment is upgrading and changing your bike to your taste and for these bikes their are a whole lot of choices which is great .Royal Enfield of course are not the only ones though , and when you look at the Harley Davidson brand which is one hell of a lot more expensive upgrades on them are expected too even to enable peak performance on their engines Triumph do it too they also sell bikes with uncomfortable seats and have comfort seats which you can but at a premium price . The difference being royal Enfield have a very good base price and the better parts "for want of a better way to put it '' are also at very reasonable rates so to me "and I don't own an Enfield '' they seem to be a very good bike and yes some parts might not be fantastic but it's a blank canvas to make it your own the sky is the limit . Ooop's gone on to long 😉👌👍
Absolutely my friend yes it’s a great bike for customising which I think may have been a part of the rationale during the design phase and as you correctly point out priced appropriately 👍🏻
The Royal Enfield line of motorcycles are a perfectlygood set of expendable bikes.
I’ve read a lot of comments here and they are all valid excellent reflections on the personal choices and needs they wish to experience from owning one of these machines.
Enjoyed the video Dave, I think one thing you have overlooked but covered it in great detail. That is the ability to customise the bike to your own choice at a reasonable price. I’ve said it before, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what appeals to one does not to another, just because one person doesn’t like it, it doesn’t make them right or wrong.
I still like the interceptor and will be getting one or something similar as a plaything when I’ve sorted out my next purchase. By that time there will be even more good value second hand machines about. I say “ something similar” because it’s very much a heart over head for me. If I like it then that’s all that matters and the rest of the world can suit itself.
Cheers buddy wise words indeed. Dare I suggest you might have the new BSA on your list? 😁
@@thebingleywheeler actually I was a little disappointed in the BSA i wasn’t as impressed as I had hoped. I thought the RE was a better made product overall
@@andrewdyson4255 I agree I sat on one at the NEC and had the same impression…..
My thoughts exactly ross its built to a price point great value for money i have the 350 classic royal enfield are up there and affordable and sales are beating triump at the moment well done siddhatha lal and co
A very honest review, first let me say that I don't own a Royal Enfield and I don't want to, however at 67 I can remember the British bikes at their peak, I ride an 82 Yamaha XJ 750, (stock)and a highly modded 99 Suzuki sv650s, what's interesting about the comments is the passive aggression that the ugly parts can be replaced, and I agree, however I don't want to immediately swap parts from a brand new bike. I should point out that I am in south east Ontario and have only seen the bikes on TH-cam, Great review, keep it up.
Cheers you make some very good points…much appreciated 😊👍🏻
Interesting topic. Agree wholeheartedly that quality is subjective to a point. I think the bigger issue for RE is consistency. My Classic 350 alone demonstrates this admirably. The chrome tank is superb. You can see you face in it ease, I mean I could probable shave with it. That’s the best bit of chrome on the bike but is a main feature of the bike and to doing anything less would be eyesore which unfortunately the BSA Goldstar has done; the tank chrome is abysmal!
My chrome rear rim looks nice, not the same quality as the tank but decent unlike the front which looks like you headlight, striations abound under the chrome. (The Interceptor could easily have black painted headlight brackets which would cost no more and look better). Apart from that everything else is decent and the metallic bronze paint job is faultless unlike the chrome reds my dealer had in stock which had horrid orange peeling. In fact, my dealer told me just last week that they often receive bikes from RE with blemishes here and there some of which they can mitigate others need new parts. I guess I should of asked for a new front wheel; too late now.
I took a test ride of a W800 Cafe recently and the finish and detailing is a level even above the new Super Meteor; speaking of which! The one I saw was excellent throughout (although I question why they chose a textured powder coating for the frame, that’s going to be a bugger to clean) especially the green/black/gold stripe tank, very classy.
I think this demonstrates RE can, if they were minded to, produce an excellent product but it seems clear to me they, as a matter of costing I would suggest, allow sub-optimal components to be fitted during production (where Kawasaki or Triumph etc would not) making it a crapshoot.
Good comment, thank you
Let’s just turn the clock back a couple of years! When Royal Enfield relaunched there Brand ie The new RE Interceptor They went by the Slogan MAKE IT YOUR OWN! RE got it right straight from the start in my opinion, they invested money in the right places as you correctly pointed out The Engine & Frame (remember they bought out Harris Performance Company to help out!) what RE gave us was a very well made bike at a good price in other words a Blank Canvas to work with & said Make It Your Own! Go forth & Modify young man/woman! I Thank RE for that! They made motorcycling Fun Again FOR EVERYONE!
Yes agree totally that was the plan and they pulled it off handsomely
Thanks! A few comments:
The "front mudguard mounting bracket" is actually a fork brace - in that it keeps the forks aligned and is thus a critical structural item.
The back lights are not made of "Perspex". Most probably they're made in an acrylic plastic.
Regarding upgrading parts, it's worth bearing in mind that Harley Davidson gets over 40% of their revenue from upgrade parts. Most bikers seem to want to embellish their bikes with after-market bits. I think they should just ride the more rather than fiddling, but that's just me.
I've noticed that each new RE bike launch shows an improvement in finish. The Interceptor was a leap forward from the old 500, the Meteor was better than the Interceptor and the Classic 350 better than the Meteor. Now we have the Super Meteor which is better still. It shows that RE are really on their game.
loved you video as I am planning a ride from BKK to UK and back again..and the Interceptor keeps popping up as opposed to bike adventure bikes..I am of the old school T150V, Rk3, and Commando, thought I do have a Harley and Honda 1300, but I got my eye on a RE 650, so cheers
You’re very welcome and thank you…..that trip on an Interceptor will be fantastic
Great video, I am now a new subscriber.
Thank you Martin I really appreciate that 😎👍🏻
I totally agree with your remarks 👌
Hi fantastic video thanks for making it, I have changed many of the items you have. Most fun I’ve had on a bike in years! Can I ask what hand guards you use? They look like RE ones but can’t find any for the interceptor 🤔
Hi yes they are RE hand guards available from www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com
That was a classic motorcycle book. Readable forever ♾️.
Having watched this well balanced video based on the views and opinions of the biking community. I can both see and understand how some people or, should I say, what appears to be the majority view the intercepter.
Whilst the items raised are purely a matter of opinion, I think you were right to use the author's comments on the difficulties when approaching this subject.
We are all different when it comes to choosing what we ride, each having different stature and, as they say, there's no such thing as one size fits all.
My only comment is when noting that a lot of the parts aren't premium on the bike, well, you've personally owned as I a Honda Goldwing and would note the following.
The Goldwing has plastic mudguards, plastic mirror housing's plastic lenses on the and enough plastic to cover anyone's desire to coat a motorcycle with plastics, enough said.
Premium parts are generally on your "premium bikes" if that's how you view the German, Italian or Japanese brand of motorcycle. I don't have an opinion on any brand or the parts they use as it's down to your own personal preference.
Thanks for the video it's a touchy subject to approach and no doubt will ruffle a few feathers but none the less enjoyable.
Thank you for your kind comments you raise some very valid points indeed 👍🏻
Great point. These motorcycles are like a platform. Instead of paying a premium for all of these components, you can start enjoying your motorbike sooner and upgrade as you go, replacing only the parts that you mind about. Also, it may be enjoyable to some to source the parts and customize to your liking... should you upgrade your Mark 2 to be as much chrome as possible? Or should you be more restrained with the shine? A matter of taste, and a form of individual expression, and so no two RE 650s will be the same. And as others have said: the parts that really matter are where your money is going, in terms of quality: you know what you have paid for.
Absolutely…..it’s a form of artistic expression….customisation is a bit like sculpting 😂👍🏻
I think people just want too much these days. Real motorcycles require input from the owner, it keeps you in touch with the machine and really, maintaining a clean bike and tinkering with it is a pleasurable aspect to owning a bike.
I love how the Intercepter 650 turned out and I'd gladly own one and mess with the detail, and enjoy it.
Yes, I like what you say, it kind of allows and intimacy with your machine doesn’t it….
I have been happy with my 1965 TR-6 for 40 years. When you have had your bike for 40yrs let's see how much you want it.
What a great vid that was. Well done. Could spend all day discussing the content on this one. Will try to keep this brief. Firstly, your headlamp bowl isn’t good, mine is nearly 4 years old & still looks immaculate. So I wonder if quality control has dropped off a touch.
I think as far as cost cutting measures are concerned, most bikes are built to a price point, so there will be compromises somewhere.
The stainless steel mudguards, saw one at Sherburn in the summer with em, it looked superb.
Lastly, if you are riding this time of year, keep an eye on your engine case finishing. Keep em clean after every ride.
Cheers buddy I’ll be attending to that headlamp at some point. I always polish up the casings with Maguires metal polish 😃
As an update on my initial comment, yea I use meguiars too. To bite me on the arse with me bragging how immaculate mine is, washed it a couple of days later, & I have some tarnishing on the engine side covers! Gutted. It’s either road salt from only the couple of rides I’ve done this winter or it’s condensation from my garage. Obviously my winter protection hasn’t been good enough this year. Now to find a remedy!
@@martinowl hi Martin just use 1200 grit and then 2000 grit wet and dry followed by maguires….it’ll come up like a mirror 👍🏻
Thanks for the reply. I didn’t want to rush into breaking out the wet & dry before checking out any other options, but that is probably what I will do.👍
Never mind the quality, feel the Width! Cheers DINO.
😂😂😂
Great scrutineering, though poor Eddie thought you were talking to yourself 😂👍👏👌
😂😂😂🐕
I was lent an Interceptor while my DL1000XGT was in for service. On taking it back, I immediately traded the big Suzuki in for a brand new Baker Express. On the loan bike, I noticed some finish issues, but was delighted to find my new bike was a 100 % better. No marks on the engine casings. Even the levers were good. So, the issue really is in quality control. Mine had running issues though and eventually required a new ECU. Overall, I'm delighted with my purchase. Don't get you logic on upgrading parts though. Why pay twice? There must be a huge pile of unused exhausts somewhere. Seems ridiculously wasteful to me.
It’s a fair point but in the case of the Interceptor the oem exhausts are very heavy and don’t sound that good. I’m definitely glad I changed them 😊👍🏻
Interesting thoughts on what constitutes 'quality'.. and does it matter that much sometimes? As an example, in my opinion the brake/clutch levers, oil cooler gaurd, lights. bracket and so on found on this bike are perfectly functional (as you rightly say) and I wouldn't personally bother going to the expense of changing much (not satisfied with the headlamp cover chroming aside :) ) in fact I don't see much of the aftermarket kit as any sort of upgrade and even takes away from the retro style of the bike. I have the same two seats as you and to be honest the standard seat is (for me) better and lower.. it's good we aren't all the same. My advice is save your money and invest it where it really counts.. suspension upgrades, quality rubber, quality drive chain.. doesn't take much to make a very good bike into a cracking bike!
Tyres and suspension are next on the list watch this space…..I agree with much of what you say though 👍🏻
I love the basics of the bike which are premium: the engine, which by all accounts is over engineered, the double cradle frame with welding the like of which I’ve never seen before for quality and precision, and the tank. As other people have said, everything else is upgradable.
Engine definitely over engineered which is why it will take the 850cc upgrade
Irony is , a lot of parts mentioned in this video are also replaced/upgraded on so called premium bikes , hence the massive aftermarket industry , so while people deride bikes like RE as being poorly made , the very same people who have paid fair bit more for their far better bike are throwing away the cost of all those so called better quality parts and replacing them ! So in my book if you wish to personalise your bike and most do , why pay for parts that you are ultimately going to take off and bin , you can buy an RE and upgrade various parts to a reasonable spec for less than you would pay for many other similar bikes OTR price , I think it`s jealousy on the part of others who have spanked huge wads on bikes , then realise they could have achieved the same goal with an RE for far less , yes I`m a big RE fan , had them for many years , alongside all other marques and everytime I sell the other bikes , but the RE`s stay !
All very true Steve there is a lot of undeserved cynicism out there from people who’ve never ridden a Royal Enfield
Great video 😊 great book 😊
Thank you sir! 😊👍🏻
As more than one person has commented, if it was acceptably good, RE owners would not be replacing 25% plus of the bike ! It looks quite nice, but the performance is the most 'retro' thing about it 😁. Certainly, in the UK, RE 's marketing is formidable, targeting older riders with nostalgia of burbling along rolling country roads of the late 1950's on a British bike. Only the older riders are actually too young to remember those halcyon days lol.
I think for many, a used premium Japanese or European bike would not only be an eye opener but a much better choice for actual riding.
Zen & the Art of Motorcycling is one of the best books of the 1970's. However, unfortunately, the title puts many off reading it if they have no interest in motorcycling, despite the fact it is primarily a book on the philosophy of life.
But you won’t get a 3 year warranty with a second hand jap bike 😊👍🏻
The bevel drive of the Kawasaki W800 is head and shoulders above the cam chain drive in the Re's.
well done ,, tell it like it is and we know where we stand ;;
Thank you Simon
I tend to use the term "emotionally" instead of "romantically". And I am the type that tends to be far more emotional about motorcycles than about their function, as long as their performance and reliability are adequate. Function is certainly not my number one priority. But besides its appearance I also include it's sound and feel. In fact, sound and feel are the two main characteristics that attract me to motorcycles, and they are something which modern motorcycles don't seem to have. As the former owner of a 1966 Bonneville back in the 1980s, I just had to check out the "new" Bonneville around 2002. I found its appearance quite ugly compared to the '66, the tank and engine looked fat and bulbous, and it had that horrible kink in the exhaust. But the real letdown came when I started it. It was a sewing machine on wheels. It was smooth and quiet and souless, without a hint of character of any kind, totally opposite to a 1960s Bonneville. I also checked out Kawasaki's W600, which came out just before the Bonneville. It was beautiful. It looked far more like a 1960s Bonneville than the real "new" Bonneville. That bevel gear cam drive kind of stood out, but I definitely preferred it to a cam chain, which is the weak link in any engine that has one. But once again, when I started it, it was almost impossible to tell that it was running. Almost no sound or vibration. Gorgeous looks, but no substance. Since selling my '66 Triumph, I have been riding Harley Sportsters to get the sound and feel I want. I currently own 3 Sportsters, one 883 and two 1200s, all carbureted. H-D had now discontinued the Sportster, and Royal Enfield has discontinued the original Bullet 500, so there are no longer any motorcycles that provide the visceral riding experience I want. And yes, I have read Robert Pirsig's book. It's one of those books that should be required reading for all motorcyclists.
As for the Interceptor 650, the first thing that immediately jumps out at me as being seriously ugly are the black front fender, black forks, and black rims. It's just black, black, and more black. The fenders should be chrome, the forks should be painted silver, and the wheels should be either bright aluminum, chrome, or painted silver. Besides the frame, seat, tires, grips, handlebar switches, cables and hoses, there really should not be much of anything else black on a motorcycle, unless the gas tank and side covers are painted gloss black. I used to own a 1983 Yamaha XS650 Heritage Special with gloss black tank and side covers, with chrome Yamaha emblems on the tank, and a chrome gas cap. This fad of literally dipping an entire motorcycle in flat black paint has gone a bit too far. Aside from being hideously ugly to begin with, flat black quickly turns brown or whitish gray.
I agree with many of your sentiments other than for me the chrome interceptor does look better with black wheels. It’s all very subjective….and I do like Harleys 😊👍🏻
Thanks Dave, interesting video. I've recently bought a Baker Express interceptor and I love it, the look and the way it sounds. The seat isn't ideal though, could I ask where you got yours from, I have looked on line and can only see ones you have to import, that's no problem but concerned about import taxes etc. Cheers Garry
Hi Gary and thank you….the excellent touring seat is in stock with those wonderful people at Hitchcocks motorcycles…..here is the link
accessories.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/44870?cont_page=Royal-Enfield-Interceptor-650-Accessories&page=4&year=2022
Thanks Dave appreciate that👍
@@garrysmith9246 any time at all 👍🏻
i think RA are very clever they make the bikes for 2 markets domestic and overseas, domestic market just want cheap transport, overseas they know people will customise the bikes to fit own taste, (fyi i own a 2021 conti GT) they do keep their cost down, ie the chrome is one area, like the headlamp for instance, they must take the basic pressed shell very little polishing then copper plate, nickle plate then chrome on top, hence the lack of deep shine, but they give you a cracking petrol tank so your eyes detract from the poor finishes, exhaust is another area that down the road may have issues with rust if you note the areas suppose if i did spend more i would be in the for instance Kawasaki w 800
Yes the chrome tank is stunning on both the Inty and conti…..best colourway by far 😊👍🏻
Hank Schneider with the bike review 👌
I guess im a romantic, because I find the Kumar Brothers, hand paInted stripes on my old Bullet 500, more pleasing than my computer painted Harley.
The difference between a lower quality bike and a higher quality bike is the perceived need to change every part that came with the bike from new. I have just bought a Kawasaki 900 rs se and wouldn't change a thing.
Perceived being the correct term since it is only a perception….from a riding perspective I prefer the Interceptor over the W800 I also think the Interceptor is a much more authentic looking classic given that the likes of Kawasaki weren’t kicking about in the 50s and 60s
@@thebingleywheeler a retro bike for me is a bike I can remember, the k900 z1 was around in my youth but then I couldn't afford one. British bikes were before my time really and I am 64.people who could remember them from the past would probably be too old to ride a bike from the 50's and 60's, that would make them 83 to 93 years old if they were 20 at the time they could remember them from ? So it is somebody else's nostalgia?
A Beval drive is the way to go.
I just bought an ex demo one from appleyards in kieghley. It was delivered Friday and its going back Tuesday because it keeps blowing fuses in the lighting circuit hence no headlight taillights brake lights etc. I love the bike so they will repair it under warranty but I'm Disappointed in appleyards as this bike clearly wasn't checked properly prior to delivery. I'm also on the fence now about quality of the bike going forward. I'm beginning to think I should have bought a used triumph instead
That’s very unusual indeed and it’s the first I’ve heard of problems as you describe them. Appleyards are relatively new to the scene as a Royal Enfield dealership but you should certainly be getting a good standard of service. It sounds like a simple warranty fix. Don’t lose faith at such an early stage….if I had to have a bike with an electrical problem then I would much rather it was a Royal Enfield than a triumph….
What's going on with upgrading a brand-new Interceptor which still has a manufacturer guaranty service?
Why not?
those panniers are nice
They’re great kit…Givi 👍🏻
Robert M. Pirsig a Bi Polar brother, crossed the USA and it was only at the end that his son got to see the beauty of the trip rather than seeing his farther back.
It’s an amazing book operating on several levels…well worth reading more than once 👍🏻
Guessing that including upgrading parts on the RE you get a bike for your ❤ and still better price than others in this market!
Yes all day long 😁👍🏻
great discussion that very subject, any idea if a new classic 500 on the cards?
I think a Classic 650 is slightly more likely
@@thebingleywheeler next near?
@@stanleylawson9015 next near?
@@thebingleywheeler year
Possibly as the year is young
Plus suspension & tires, calculate the total cost & compare it to a New Triumph Street Twin. Upgrades are presents for the next owner.
I’ve no interest in a T100 at any price tbh….not keen on looks and issues of reliability with the electronics
“Perfectly Adequate”, a phrase you used a lot for the RE650. I wouldn’t want to describe my bike as perfectly adequate. You get what you pay for of course but the Interceptor is not cheap compared to many alternatives now.
The specific component are “adequate” whereas the whole bike is way more than this. I’d love to know which other company makes a cheaper 650 twin modern Classic…do tell 😊👍🏻
@@thebingleywheeler ah, I didn’t specifically say modern classic. 😃. The engine cc is an interesting comparison and one could make all sorts of arguments towards comparing it to a 400cc water-cooled machine instead but that’s for another day. I think it would have to be a 2nd hand W800 for me if I was trying to hit that price point. But great to have the choice of course.
No complains about the built quality and performance...its just adequate for the real world for the price you're paying...but just one small thing Royal Enfield could have improved in esthetic point of view is the engine size could have been a bit less bulky for the capacity like the old triumph 650s or even the W800...just again it's not a complain just nit picking by esthetic point of view in my personal opinion which some are very satisfied with .But overall a spot on design and value for money product.
Yes completely agree 😊👍🏻
@@thebingleywheeler 👍🍻😊
When you said you was summing up at the end of the video, I thought you were going to tell us how much all those changes cost on top of the purchase price.
For somebody like me, who’s had a break from motorcycling, bringing up a family and illness. I’m a bit out of touch on the costs of all these bits and pieces ….
With the rise in popularity of retro, looking motorcycles and Royal Enfield, seemingly upping their game in coming up with some really nice, looking bikes (romantic), I certainly would love to know how well much of the standard parts fair in British weather…. I can almost imagine some of the original parts degrading quite quickly as did the old British bikes back in the day….. I still have romanticism of the days when I 🎉had a Norton 650 BSA thunderbolt, 650 and C15 250, I also still have a BMW R 80/7 much more “classic” than “romantic” to coin the phrase as you did….
Even though I do have a kind of romantic outlook on some of these machines, I always go back to the classic practicality and particularly as I have a one off chance of laying out the cash to buy a leisure machine…. Not withstanding that there are a lot of excellent Japanese motorcycles out there, I’ve never really been drawn to buying one….. perhaps back in the day, it was because riding British motorcycles was an intimate affair the performance delivery was kind of a RAW, really feeling the motorcycle beat between your knees, as well as getting to know the machine when it needed to be repaired. Not that I want that particularly in a motorcycle today.
Thank you for your review and I really do appreciate the way you deliver, straightforward and direct to the point, and you don’t seem such a bad guy either ha ha ha
Cheers, John
Thank you for those kind comments John they are very much appreciated
The best feature of a Kawasaki w800 is the bevel drive to the top end. So many metric bikes including all of my Honda has died from Camp change breaking and destroying the motor. Like Gear Drive in my Sportster a bevel Drive last forever. That is a Kawasaki 800 best feature.
Yes the bevel drive is a great idea 😊👍🏻
Subjective till the inferior parts break ! So no it’s not subjective but it can be tested and documented for fit and finish, mechanical functionality and quality /plastic cracking,fading metals rusting and pitting …. longevity… but that being said it’s completely paired to cost of purchase and ownership . Here in the states the 2022 w800 is about $3000 more than the 2022 RE Continental GT
The W-800 has a bevel drive which will never snap and destroy your motorcycle like a cam chain will like all of my Hondas did inspite of regular maintenance. Abevel drive is expensive compared to a chain drive. A gear drive or abevel driveis a sign of a superiory design.
Bonneville nailed it W800 is close but the RE is still a decent runner and easy on the pocket.
W800 lovely bike….I just can’t get excited about Bonnevilles
Why don't you just strip and polish the headlight brackets..just done my fork brace and it came up well
Good idea 👍🏻
@@thebingleywheeler Going to do mine soon, and the tail light bracket..
Do you ever get pulled with your vintage style number plate?
Not so far…..they should have better things to do 😂
@@thebingleywheeler I'd like one on my 350 classic. But it would be just my luck! The local police don't seem to catch the thieving scrotes with no registration plate's but would probably put the effort into stopping me 😭😂
@@robertcostello9473 I know from my 30 years of coppering that you’re right there a lot of the time 👍🏻
Not sure of your point; being a motorcycle enthusiast who owns neither bikes for me p*ssing competitions are a waste of time. If you love the look of A go with A if it's B so be it.I would sooner have a cheaper bike and do things myself that I would like with the savings. Love the K but it comes at a price 🤔
My point is that their are critics out there who continually reference quality without bothering to think about what it actually means 😊👍🏻
Yes, great book. And…would some kind Brit ship a 2001 Kawasaki W650 to me ? I’d finally found one and then got that silly illness and missed it. Not only are they scarce over here, IF you can find one that hasn’t been thrashed (or “modified”) they want a packet for them. I was all set to get an Int 650 and then … I got distracted by the Ws and W800s are all over here . Oof .
Hi Lisa the W650s are a very popular customisation platform here in the UK as can be seen with some of the TH-cam content. The W800 perhaps less so. They are a hugely underrated bike….especially the green one! I’ve recently recovered from that silly illness myself so you have my sympathy….get that Interceptor! 😁
@@thebingleywheeler The green one , the 2001 ? That’s the one I missed ! And probably “yes” on the Interceptor 👍🏼. Besides, if the right deal came along down the road on a W650…who says a gal can’t have 2 bikes ? I’ve seen I few of the W650s over there that’ve been bobbered or cafed or, hehe, that were pretty beautiful. Of course the seats they tend to end up with, cool look, sore ass!Good to hear you recovered well ! I’ll drop a comment when I’ve made a happy purchase .
The green one! Why not 2 bikes…I have three 😊 I’d love to do a W650 project over winter….keep me posted on your progress 😎👍🏻
I think I’m on my own as a romantic here,, but the exhaust silencers on the Interceptor are such a big turn off I can’t look past them. Even the aftermarket options don’t do it for me. I think that’s called a quandary! Looking back to the original Interceptor I see a “better” form of silencer but still not the “best it can be”. Overall the Interceptor does offer a “quality machine” depending on your persuasion but I’m inclined to think at the end of the day a second hand T100 shakes my tree more……. I don’t think I’m alone on that!
Good luck getting a 3 year warranty on a used T100 though 👍🏻
@@thebingleywheeler what could possibly go wrong with a used trumpy…?! Get your point!
Just curious about my height. I'm 6'2" I'm looking for pictures of someone my height on the Interceptor.
I’m 6’1” so I’ll see if I can find a shot….my pal is 6’4” and he has no problems 👍🏻
Not another SF,one is more than enough…
Once you up grade all the substandard parts they are not so cheap anymore.
After watching many reviews on this bike & others similar, I think I will just keep on riding my 67 BSA Lightning & not buy new. I see few upgrades & a few downgrades, hp for 1, from my old 67
Hello..just a quick "share". In S.California and grew up with British Bikes closely around me. I have 2 Bikes and Love Them Both!! 1966 BSA Lightening & a 2019 RE Interceptor 650. I personally have no desire to part with either one!!
Great bikes there Steven 😎👍🏻
Do you work for TEC by any chance? I personally wouldn't put anything from them on my Interceptor, mainly cheap Chinese crap.
I don’t work for them and what I’ve received from them is far from “Crap” as I hope to show in the next video 👍🏻
Ah the headlight body is plastic like most Japanese bikes.A steel one is available and not really expensive
You get what you pay for, low money equals low quality. Yes, you can upgrade some parts, but you are raising the price of the bike.
All part of the enjoyment of ownership 👍🏻
You get it or you don’t royal Enfield have made a bike that transcends ownership, the feel of the ride fills you with joy you can’t explain, it’s not like any other bike I’ve owned . Riding fast doesn’t matter any more it’s the way it makes you feel , great video.
Thank you yes you cannot put a price on how it makes you feel in your heart 👍🏻
The finishes look as good as the finishes on the cheap Japanese bikes
Absolutely!
I think you are picky on these issues. The overall bike is excellent. I have owned a shop for restoration for 35 years and have seen many bikes but for the money this is a good choice. But hen again you are British.
Picky about what?
The Kawa W800 is a hugely overpriced piece of crap. The Interceptor is a better, more sorted bike for much less outlay.
Here in Australia, the Kawasaki 800 is about $15K on the road, the Interceptor, $11K.
I imagine you could do a lot with $4000 Aus
Just buy a Bonneville, don't need to upgrade it then.
No thanks…twice the price, less reliable and not as authentic 👍🏻
@@thebingleywheeler A T100 is maybe 25% dearer, not double. BS and BS. If a RE Int 650was $8k and not $13.5k, might be worth it. But a T100 is 0nly $17K . it is like comparing ebay/Ali Express to retail.
What do you mean by “BS” please?
@@thebingleywheeler Bullshit.
Please respect decent standards of language here as profanities are entirely inappropriate and will be deleted in future, thank you