How Royal Enfield made the best [selling] retro motorcycle in the world
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 มี.ค. 2022
- This is the story behind the most popular retro motorcycle in the world, the Royal Enfield Interceptor
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Here in india, when some one is riding a motorcycle towards us from distance, we won't say "someone is coming", but "A bullet is coming" (all Enfield bikes are called bullet in here. (Comes from RE's slogan "made like a gun, goes like a bullet").Thats how iconic they are here.
Nope there is a model named bullet
Yes but nobody days a classic is coming.
True story!
I love it. Sending love to India. I love my bike. I’m a Mexican born in America riding an Indian bike 🙌🏽 also will be getting a soccer/football India jersey to wear when I’m riding my Enfield.
You just made it up. No one uses Bullet instead of Someone. You are in RE marketing or something?
I think you missed a key point. Royal enfield did what the Japanese bikes of the early 70s did. They made motorcycling fun. Royal enfield made motorcycling fun again. I own a speed twin and can definitely see a spot in my garage for this bike. Great video.
any bike is fun. getting in the wind. a grom is as fun as a low rider. I welcome more people to ride an see that, but it's not like were all losers that dont ride the style/type u ride, or dig the whole retro thing. honestly I kind of roll my eyes seeing someone on these, much like harleys an triumphs, but I'll nod an give 'em a thumbs up, or wave same as any bike. but Im not shocked an amazed an thinking wow their bikes so much cooler than.. XX or X. your having fun on it, an Im having fun on mine over here. two thumbs up to that my two-wheeled brutha/sis!.
I grew up in that era u see, and bikes have come sooooo far!. Ive been on the UJM train ever since, as I remember everyone else was. back then u were either harleys or UJM's. that was it. I never saw triumphs or anything like this here in US at during that era. heck, two-stroke street bikes ruled the streets at that time- u want 60's-70's retro- get an 3-cylinder two stroke Kawy 500 or 750. the "widow maker" back then. those were alls you saw. yam an suzi same. two strokes. I raced against them on my 2-cylinder 2-stroke RD350 every day in high school. later the bigger 4-stroke 4-cylinders Z1 900 kawy, and honda cb's, I had a cb750 then. and at the same time a yamy yz360 1-cylinder 2-stroke beast Mx bike. laws against 2-stroke street bikes killed them off.
at least a z900rs would be more 'authentically retro" for this time period than this. In the US anyways. sure, the EU and certainly India see this as theyre 'remember those' bike, but not the US. its weird US young people want to harken back to the 60's-70's... but british-ly.
my most fun bike is my smallest bike, a lil-bitty single cylinder 30Hp Kawy KLX 300, disc brakes an liquid cooled 2021, which blows my (old) mind it has those.
looks like a "dirt bike" but its simple an thumpy an torquey, and takes me back to teenager every time I ride it, and with skinny knobbys, I get the looks on the road, an at stops. as in "HEY! u cant ride that on the road!". (it's street legal.) do u "get" me on that bike?. think Im a douche?. or smile nod and wave?. I add smile as I know you'll be in a half face retro helmet, and I'll see it thru my modern-era bleeding edge of design & materials $800 full face Bell race star 3k carbon fiber helmet's visor. see I know how much bugs, dirt, an sh*t u eat in those. looks cool sucks tho. take my advice, stay off freeways with higher speeds, rock trucks an sh*t.
I mean it's a little awkward for me, as I'm from 'there', but dont ride bikes that look like it. or want to.
normie people have come up to me plenty on all my bikes, or given long looks at a stop. thats not because your bike, this bike, thats any bike. u just imagine its your bike, cos your new to bikes altogether. cagers always stare at u/ur bike at stops, heck I do too when en-caged. could be a fellow rider. as for the rest-hey theyre normies dont ride- so, they dont get it. normies freak out anytime they come across ANY bike on the road. lol. u can tell/see it.
or you've fooled a normie into thinking ur some veteran biker/wrencher/restorer who restored some ancient british thing and that would be truly interesting, but whats their face then after they realize ur just some wanna-be hipster retro-look obsessed guy/gal that bought something because its old-looking. doh. if thats what u live for- good on ya, jus saying..
@@ribalderr6052 Smh .. do you think anyone would read that? 😀
@@6meterkevlar923 well I did....
In my honest opinion- before the British Motorcycle brands faced the onslaught of Japanese motorcycles, Madras Motors collaborated with Enfield motorcycles of Redditch, England. The rest is history. Fortunately- other marques are resurrecting. Thanks to the intervention of Indian Multinational Companies- BSA and Norton are back.
Fun, yes but that fun also had a component of Need that went unfulfilled for 45 years. In that time, what it takes for me to have Fun is the RE Classic 500 single. Not just any motorcycle but That motorcycle. Now another aspect of fun not fulfilled by the RE 500 is getting bigger for me.
Hats off to Siddhartha Lal and Eicher Motors for building an iconic cycle that is as suited to the streets of India as it is the backroads anywhere in the world. Also. Don’t forget the Himalayan which was really their first new bike designed from the bottom up
Even Noraly (Itchy Boots) ditched it for something lighter and more powerfull, a Honda 300 Rally.
indian roads are that much challenging that any vehicle which perform well in indian road it can perform in any road of the world
@@cursedtyrany8199 and if you can drive and ride in Indian traffic, then you are good to go for anywhere around the world
Kabir Almighty God Creator of All Souls
@@perpetual4958 she had euro standard 4 or bs4 bike, bs6 Himalayan is smooth
One genius move of Royal Enfield you missed about the 650s is that 47 hp is the exact limit for the beginner motorcycle license (A2 permit) in Europe ! So any rider like myself can buy a great retro bike without waiting two years to have the unlimited-power-license (A permit) and not even minding getting a more powerfull one afterward ! And it is even more a great beginner motorcycle because it is so easy to customize and work on !
Man yes true, this actually gets u chance to have a bike with that power which is limited to new rider but also there is so much to customise like a an Canvas to an Artist !
Also remember that the HP is limited by restricting the intake and that's a smart way to build it. So even with an 'L' plate the rider gets to use the full torque available at least until 6000 or so and this is WAY better than say a 250 that can scream out 47 horses but is going to be a real dog down low where you ride on the street and new riders can use the friendly power delivery.
Unfettered this engine makes right close to 60 horses at the wheel and has proven to be totally reliable at that power level. Torque is good even on the restricted bike that can't rev real hard and even when the intake and exhaust have been relieved...the motor to me felt like an agricultural device. It would pull to the redline but didn't seem enthusiastic about doing it with the benefit of being able to plonk around with good torque available. Put in the S&S cam which is about as big as you can run with the 650 without hurting the bottom end. It has a LOT more duration and the motor really starts to get with the program once the revs come up a little. Very nice package with superior performance compared to the mid '60's 650's.
Yeah just wish they would sell it unrestricted in the us from the factory instead of saddling us with the limitations of irrelevant continents.
@@42crazyguy
Oh, my gosh! "Irrelevant continents', what an arrogance...
A nice return to you: Royal Enfield is sold all over Asia, which is enormous market for motorcycles, they sell in Europe, in Australia, in South America and even in Africa-in all these places their hp limitation is welcomed. It's not welcomed only in North America, more specific in USA and Canada. So this kinda shows which continent is indeed irrelevant.🙂
@@recoilrob324 hey i might be a bit late, but can you list the kind of modifications you would have to make to "unrestrict" the bike?
I started motorcykling at age 67 and my first bike was a RE Interceptor 650. It will also be my last one. Nice video!
cool man
Nice to hear that
man where you from
@@amalbabz Germany :-)
@@rainerbuege1615 would you recommend it as a first bike to young people?
In Indonesia anything above 500 (well above 250) is considered a big & luxury bike, Royal Enfield is waay cheaper for a 500cc+ new bike compare to other brands.
How are the sales in Indonesia for RE?
Hahah in india even 150cc bikes, some idiots feel and say premium bike like mt15, r15 ,ktm 200 and more hahahha ....
@@gabbar2380 except ktm 200 is a 190cc displacement though.
@@fretted4life the sales ia good, but now few complaint about RE due to delay in getting paper certificate of ownership
that's sad as fuck. Imagine working your ass of everyday in a relatively good job and the best you can afford is a KTM 200cc
"Only the true enthusiasts will know it's not a bike from the 60s" - You make a great point here. I ride a GT650 and everywhere I go, people ask what year the bike is and are amazed when I tell them it's a 2021. I am so happy with it and love that fact that it is, as you say, "modern but as simple as possible".
th-cam.com/video/wu61hXqj9Us/w-d-xo.html plzzzz watch it...🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
normie cage drivers dont know anything about ANY bikes... so.. how would they know. impressing or amazing them is not how I choose MY motorcycle. its silly isnt it?.
The Royal Enfield Interceptor is simple really? With fuel injection and electronics and gizmos from head to stern. Simple would be having carburetors cable-operated drum or disc brakes, traction control would be in moderating the use of your right wrist on the throttle. And braking control would be controlled by your hand and your foot. Fuel injection adds $1,500 to the price of the bike just for the fuel injection nevermind the sensors and the ECU and whatever else you need. Buy 1964 C15 BSA Starfire is simple. And go look at the price of a low mileage original c15b sa-250 is in England. I can get six times what I paid for that motorcycle. It was super low priced and a bargain and I got it because I was there. It is the real thing not a phony a fake a copy or a imitation. It's like a movie the original is always the best and the copies are lukewarm at best and pathetic at worst.
@@frankmarkovcijr5459 simple at looks
@@avi_singhal15december you have got a problem with fuel injection and ABS ? Go and complain to your government. They are the ones that makes these things mandatory. If RE could get away with the carbs and manual drum brakes today, they would have.
I thought I was going to end up upgrading to a different bike a few years after I bought the Interceptor. So far, it hasn't happened. It has so much character! One of the best purchases of my life. I still want a Triumph, but I don't think I'd sell the Interceptor. I'd keep both.
I've had a number of Triumphs. You aren't missing anything unless you particularly need a faster bike. I don't think that's what these kind of bikes are about in the first place. It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast and all that :). Plus you could always do the S&S big bore kit if you are feeling the need for speed.
Love from India
@@Stevel_ That big-bore kit turns them into beasts ,they dont rev when you blip the throttle, they actually crack
Once I’m done paying for my FXLRS, Harley Davidson in a few years, I’m absolutely getting one of these interceptors! I just love, LOVE, that old school, British bike look, and the RE interceptor has it nailed and for the right price as well. A truly, retro motorcycle that costs what a truly retro motorcycle should cost? Yes please!
Pp0p by
.
Traded my `02 FLHRCI for mine. All the reasons you said.
Best bikes ever interceptor and I got one and best price value for 650 no other company can make it in those price .
Its one of the best thing out there for a sunday ride.
And it's pretty reliable as well.
Itchy boots channel bought an Royal Enfield offroad version in India and rode it all the way back to western Europe. I think that is a pretty good test!
I am from Brasil and my beutiful Interceptor, Sunset Strip,has a Indian flag 🇮🇳 my beloved motorcycle is from India ,and i love it i love Indian !
Namaste 🕉
W
Nd we love Ronaldo, Ronaldiho nd Pele
❤️
Namaste sir 🙏🏻🇮🇳
@@moonlightsonata123 he is taking about Brazilian ronaldo (R9) Google it
Bought a new 2022 RE Interceptor 650 last month. Literally the most fun I have had on a bike in 40 plus years of riding. Simple, honest, balanced and smooth. I get asked constantly "what is that bike" and "what year is it"... many assumed it was a restored bike from the 60's. Sure it is fun to talk to people about it, but, the real fun is clicking off miles on this bike. Visceral and raw is what I like best about it... I dig this bike!
Talking about Royal Enfield's resurgence without mentioning the Himalayan is short-sighted. Yes, I get it, this video focuses on retro bikes, but the Interceptor doesn't carry that banner alone. But really, it is Siddhartha Lal who really did amazing things to the brand.
himalayan is most different royal Enfield , all these 350 and 650 had some history. himalayan is just brand new .
@@Kaavin_dixit Even being new, the Himalayan is like the Lada Niva: ugly, low cost but charming in his brutality and simplicity and taht´s why I rather have one :p
@@Sergiovsousa its not ugly , i own one 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
@@Sergiovsousa probably you must change your spectacles. Everywhere I go people come to have a closer look and are impressed by its look, 99% of them love the look of Himalayan. go check the review by public on youtube.
The Scram411 makes me think bad and wrong thoughts. And the Classic 350...More bikes is a good investment against inflation, right?
I rode RE Electra for 15 years and now upgraded to Interceptor 650.
People ask me at times what bike is this and some say this is their dream bike, and I love the feeling of driving the one that people are dreaming about.
TRUE FAN.
My brother still rocks that Electra.. it even has shifters on the right
Excellent video!! Just bought the meteor 350 here in the states and I’m happy to report best motorbike I’ve ever owned and I’ve had them all. Shines in smooth acceleration, comfort, all around city riding and to boot -nice little thumper engine sound, Even the switches look/feel high-quality. Most of all just a blast to ride. Can’t beat the price which gives you an even wider smile. Cheers mate!
My dad has this bike and for him it's the same opinion. For sure hasn't had as many motorcycles in the past, but the smile in his face says everything while riding this 350.
Where in States? I am in Seattle and trying to get hold of a continental GT. wondering if there will be parts and service issue
Could not agree more..!!
@@kidoman7988 I’m in California. there’s dealers up and down the coast
@@allans7281ever tried continental gt?
This is simply the result of a passionate biker making a motorcycle for passionate bikers. I've got an old Honda right now, but I seriously need one of these things.
got it yet?
RE in India is like a legacy that has been passed on from one generation to the other, it wasn't perfect and came with whole host of shortcomings and constant niggles that became a routine and made the rider accustomed to it.
It was what we had or was only thing available to us and we made the most of it for a very long time and finally the loyalist got their due in the form of newer, better and much reliable machine that doesn't breakdown as often as it used to be in earlier cases.
Today RE is being appreciated world over for it's simplicity, ruggedness, reliability and last but not the least the affordable price. The legacy continues stronger than it ever was.
India has done a good job of keeping the classics alive, wish we could have these on the other side of the border, much love!
i was handed down a bullet 350 by my father and I learnt how to work on it myself. I still take pride in the fact that I can work my motorcycle at any given point. I have another one that I bought back in 2009 and I have done more than 1.5 lakh kms on it. while my touring bike has changed over time, the two REs are still the mainstays in my garage and it is going to be like that until I completely run out of money
@@mohammadnashitsiddiqui2168 Bro !!! You should also see Mahindra owned Brand "Jawa" and "Yezdi" bikes. All are restro bikes but little more advanced than "Royal Enfield"
@@pahadivlogger0426 thanks for your suggestion I will look into them.. I'm looking for something in an offroad Capacity, does any Indian brand make anything in smaller engines, 200-450 cc?
@@mohammadnashitsiddiqui2168 Bro !!! You can go for Bajaj which has 125cc to 400cc "Dominar" bikes (Latest one is F & N250 @Rs.1.40/- Lakh ex showroom) and costs are value for money always or else go for TVS Apache series starting from 160cc to 310cc (Advise apache 310R best design till date) which has littles less power than pulsars costs on higher side comparatively.
Royal Enfield did not just "moved" to India, Eicher motors bought Royal Enfield, and it is not a British motorcycle company anymore, now its an Indian company.
I would absolutely love a Bonneville but they haven’t convinced me that it worth twice what a RE costs.
The Classic 350 is the one, this outsells all other models here in the UK. An instant classic.
350 is crap
Thanks for the clip, that was interesting about the RE boss being a rider, it shows commitment. I love my Continental GT, and it gets a lot of attention. Last week one of my neighbours was asking about it. He said did I restore it or was it restored when I bought it, because he said it looked like new. I said it is new, at least it was new last year. He was amazed and really loved it. He was guessing the price at $20k AUD but I said, no it was half that. So yes, it surprises a lot of people. 👍🇦🇺
you from Australia right!
Really an interesting video. In getting back into motorcycling, I was going to buy a Honda Rebel. But, all it took was a test ride on the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, and it was love at first sight/ride! I was a bit concerned about the reliability versus a Honda. But, it has a better warranty and seems super well put together. Time will tell but I am really loving my Royal Enfield!
I am pondering a Honda or RE myself, There's a RE manufacturing plant in the US now, in Milwakee , WI .
Meteor is the best product from RE so far, in terms of fit n finish, quality levels, vibrations. If you are ok with Power then it is the best choice out there
@@ananddarnal6702 ll p ll kk Kori
Ju
@@ananddarnal6702 actually the new classic 350 has even less vibrations
You don't need to worry about the relaiblity, I own a classic since 2016, it's only got serviced and puncture repairs.
As someone who owns a Classic 500 and was looking for a twin, the reasons you listed here for not buying a Triumph were spot on. Ride by wire? Drive modes? F*** off Triumph, I want a bike, not a computer. Have to admit though that the Interceptor's bench was just too uncomfortable for me. Went with a used W800 and love it! But the Interceptor is a fantastic bike. If I had the space, I'd get one just for the sake of it.
Gotta remember it ain't really Triumph anymore, just a company wearing a British suit made in Thailand. I daily a T140, and I love the old girl.
@@KoffinKicker Royal Enfield is not British either.... but Made in India sounds nice
@@Iamalemonwhy Sadly.
It gives me goosebumps when I see these video. I have the Interceptor and I can't stop staring at my motorcycle whenever I pass by. It's a beauty 😍
Mate! If I get one, I'll do the same.
I went from a Triumph Speed Twin, to a Kawasaki Z900RS, to a Royal Enfield Interceptor.
The RE tops the list by being the most fun to ride and the cheapest to run. Though the Interceptor requires more frequent maintenance intervals than the Triumph or Kawasaki, the work can be done by anyone with a basic set of tools. A valve job is a 30-minute affair after you've done it once. The OEM accessories are inexpensive, well-made, and easy to install. The bike subverts all of the industry norms of increasing cost, complexity, and exclusivity. It's an unpretentious machine for people who just want to ride and have fun.
Is there anything you would change about the RE? I'm looking at a z650rs now but the RE is so tempting
@@Brian-li5up I would still go for a Street Twin though. The torque of the engine is just incredible.
Another RE 650 is around the corner, based on SG650 concept, might be named as Shotgun or Super meteor.
@@DerpEye Or...spend a couple of 'K' on the 865cc kit and have a fire-breathing torque-monster that still costs less than the Street Twin....
@@Brian-li5up The only thing I would like more than my GT650 at this time, is a GT800 (GT900?)
Royal enfield is selling their biker here in brazil since 2017 i believe, and its one of the cheapest middle class bikes around. Learning the history of their CEO i can see where the success comes from and i hope their sales increase here too, since we have a severe lack of options, you got a 160 something for 20k (in local currency) or jump to a 600cc for 40k, 50k. Royal enfield jump in to fill the gap between 300/350cc to 1000cc in all royal enfield style. Loving it
Had a Bonneville SE 865cc for 5 years, really nice bike. Rode a test ride on the RE Interceptor and was mightly impressed. You really can't go wrong with the Interceptor, rides really nice, has charachter and a great price.
I just booked my Interceptor a couple of days back and I CANNOT WAIT! It's nice to see so many people from around the world who share the same love for the same bike. Brilliant video bart. I loved it!
Royal Enfield should show some appreciation for this video .
If only the Interceptor had a kick start!! I have a RE Classic 500 with a kick start. Love it!! But at times I am tempted to get an Interceptor but not yet. I am a Royal Enfield fan and have been since my first trip to Chennai (Madras) India in 1992. I heard the put-put of a big single all over the city and even into the night when everything else went to bed. That is when it became My Bike in my heart only until 2 1/2 decades later, and then in my garage too. My Classic fills my Retro Need but an Interceptor will fill the space between my 68 Kawasaki A7 Avenger 350 and my polar opposite RE Classic 500. See?!? I am talking myself into it!! Baker Express anyone?
Love the Baker Express! I think it would be my final pick
i have Classic 500 (squadron blue) love every second on it. It is true blue retro bike. a week ago i got myself a Baker express and boy it too has soul... i used to think that the twins might have become way more modern then it should be, but i was wrong(happily). Classic 500 is classic bike which we are holding on to but INT650 is the bike which will hold us for the future.
@@bendburley take the baker express. I have one in India and absolutely love it.
YEah, my W650 has that....
Baker express it is for me too . Simply love it.
Since I was 17 (am 50 now) and getting my first 125cc bike (here in 🇬🇧), I became a massive fan of Kawasaki, their designs, what they did and what their bikes could do. Though I have owned many many bikes from various manufactures, I've always considered myself to be relevant to that phrase "Cut my wrist and I'll bleed green" lol. Now, back when the W650 was released, I was working for a Motorcycle dealer in Ruislip (near London), and, luckily for me the companies policy was that I was allowed to use most of any bikes in stock as personal transport, and, had a full weekend with the W650, and, though I was more into the 'Sports' & 'Street' style bikes, Zephyr, the old 'Z' range, Suzuki Bandit, GSX etc (I evenm spent a few years on a 4cyl 16v aircooled GSX400F - LOVED IT), I always like the look of the old 'Classic British' style bikes, and that W650 turned out to be quite a good bike. It looked more like a Triumph Bonny than a Bonny did (I'm kidding, but it looked like a clone especially in the red/creme colouring). Low powered yeah, but, I was impressed on it's rideability. Since, Kawasaki released the W800, and to me it just looked to 'Bulky'/out of proportion. Now since Enfield had released the Interceptor, my mind has really considered getting one. The looks are pretty damn fine classically wise, and, soon after release there were firms making bolt on/mod kits to up the power/torque levels, and naturally for customising looks to an individuals taste too...
In all, I agree, Royal Enfield have made a pretty damn fine bike and at a nice price too. One that not only looks good, reliable, can be had with enough power for a pillion, but, simple and understated enough to allow you to just, get on, ride, and enjoy your day with a smile upon your face with no complications. Personally, that's what I look for a bike. I applaud them for that. 👍👏 😎🇬🇧
So I'm old and in my life, I've had over 40 motorcycles. Dirt bikes, dressers, a cruiser or two, trials, enduro, all the H's (Harley, Honda, Husky, etc). The last road bike I really loved was my 1973 750 Bonnie in wine red/silver/white. That bike is still running because my room mate in the 1980's bought it off me to take back east. It did what you said. It had enough power, it went around corners, it hauled two-up around town, it was easy to ride because it balanced so well. Was slim where it needed to be and beefy enough where that was needed.
I think the RE Interceptor is sort of right there - in the sweet spot 😊
I've owned my 2018 Classic 500 in Battle Green for only a month and get definite head turns and thumbs ups in traffic. Last Friday, went out to the bike at the motorcycle parking area at work and found a sticky note on my helmet...."I love your bike!" it said. Had me grinning the rest of the day. THANK YOU to Mr. Lal and the craftsmen and women who build these iconic motorcycles for the world to enjoy.
I bought an interceptor and upgraded the suspension with YSS Topline rear shocks and the YSS front fork kit. The frame geometry is superb and now the handling is faultless. I also took the sound to a new level with Hitchcock's stainless steel silencers. I ride on public roads and this is probably all the bike that I will ever need. It also looks great.
th-cam.com/video/wu61hXqj9Us/w-d-xo.html plzzzz watch it...🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Plan on upgrading the suspension on my Conti 650 the same way.
Amazing... Keep having fun mate ✌🏻👍🏻
Just ordered the YSS front fork internals for mine!
@@adammoore9088 I think that you will notice how the forks no longer dive with the YSS front fork kit and the bike will feel much more planted.
I test rode the intercepter in Miami and was impressed with the smooth power delivery and transmission. The seat is thin, needs some work and it's kind of small if your 6' or above . I would still buy one but there is no dealership close..Yet!
BART -- thank you so much for bringing this information, history and tribute to TH-cam viewers. Royal Enfield is indeed one of the great classic motorcycle companies.
Designed in UK (Royal Enfield UK Technology Center) and built in India.🤣
I am an Indian who prefer honda bikes. You made me proud of royal Enfield 😀
Dude you are the only one
Not other
If you love Riding then Royal Enfield is the one for you
I am an Indian and I have Yamaha.... but I will soon get a Jawa 42 Bobber and a 650 Interceptor
You are right, Royal Enfield's simple and clean function matters. High tech finnicky hoopla is expensive and a turn off. Royal Enfield's styling is terrific. The basic simple fun to ride and great sound have pulled me back into motorcycling.
I bought a 1970 Interceptor 750 for $1640. Superior bike but was far heavier than my friends other English bikes like Bonnevile, Norton Commando, BSA. I always enjoyed the neutral finder lever. The engine was a joy to ride. The bike had the Norton front Isolastic forks that absorbed a lot of engine vibration. Everyone flipped out over the all chrome gas tank.
lol, if they want a Bonneville, they will buy one, if they don't, they won't... Before I knew RE was importing to the US, I was looking at Bonnevilles.... they proved too costly for my liking, and I began looking elsewhere (coming from a life-long Bonneville fan, this was tough for me) I found out about RE and thought they looked decent, but probably didn't sell them anywhere near me... wrong, they did, so I looked deeper into the bikes, specifically the GT650... Once I made the choice to look at them in person, I hit the dealership. Located inside a HD dealership, they even tried to convince me to get a Harley... that was a hard nope. Needless to say, I bought my 22 GT650 Dux Deluxe and haven't looked back once.... miles of smiles at a great price for sure
miles of smiles :P o'l man ronin subscriber ?
@@SJ_new of course :)
Boy oh boy!!! This Vid's gonna get a heck lot of love from the Indian audience!! Well said, well made, and if any of you guys out there wants to get one of these, go get it! Don't think twice! This baby has proven herself throughout these years!!
I agree with everything Bart. 100% spot on analysis. If Triumph made a $7000 Bonneville, it would sell like hotcakes. I would be the first in line.
They can’t because it would probably be built in China
A motorcycle with character. What a novel concept! That's what I love about my old Harleys and Triumphs. Yes they vibrate and talk to you. If somethings wrong you'll feel it. Try that with your newer bikes. Good luck! Tow truck should be there soon.
Intersting....... Never looked at vibration like that
Yeah a language of bike to the biker 😎
As a Royal Enfield Meteor 350 owner, what I like about RE is that they have everything you need, and nothing that you don't. They have EFI and ABS, but that's basically the modern tech that they have. I don't need or want rider modes or any of that other stuff. For me, motorcycles are about minimalism and going back to basics. When people think of a motorcycle something like the RE INT650 will come to mind; it just looks likea motorcycle should. Compared to other bike makers RE offers good looking, solid, reliable basic bikes at a price folks can live with. IOW, they offer what the Japanese USED to...
I too own a Meteor 350 and completely agree with what you said. Well put!
@@kwood1112thank you!
I'm 25 and interceptor is my 1st motorcycle. I've been enjoying one since last 1.5 years and absolutely beautiful reliable machine. In india the 52 nm torque is more than enough. And it's cheaper here as well. I got mine around 3800usd brand new.
Mileage kiman diye o?
@@ramsay1265 20-30 vitort diye. val quality oil hole 30 usrt diye highway t. Janei aru ear oil r kotha. Bhejal.
As a little fun fact, 47HP is also the limit for european middleweight motorcycle license (A2) at 47.6HP (35kW). (A1 - 14 or 15hp 47)
That’s a Genius Move by RE.
Hey Bart, what a fantastic review. I enjoyed the story and it makes me want an Interceptor too. I've not owned a bike in 25 years, this could be the one.
Cheers mate!
Royal Enfield is always my favorite motorcycle. It's runs so smooth and while traveling long journey no one can complete with it.
Royal Enfield makes beautiful bikes, and the Interceptor was on my radar when I found my W650.
Triumph Bonneville as well, but do to the price, I'm pretty sure I would have gone with a Interceptor if I wouldn't have found a W650 on sale.
The level of quality of those two are very different. The main difference of the two are the engine characteristics. The W is chill and the RE is rev happy.
th-cam.com/video/wu61hXqj9Us/w-d-xo.html plzzzz watch it...🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
@@denchua th-cam.com/video/wu61hXqj9Us/w-d-xo.html plzzzz watch it...🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
royal Enfield can make as many new bikes but the beauty of my royal Enfield standard 1983 model is unbeatable, it was my father's ride now its my ride, and after that my son is going to ride the same bike ❤️
This video certainly influenced me to buy a Royal Enfield. I didn't end up buying an interceptor. Lovely as they are. I bought a classic 350 signals. Desert Sand. To say I love my bike is an understatement. I'm bloody obsessed with it! It's 05:30 on a damp Sunday morning. Here in England, it's been pissing down for 6 weeks. Practically non stop. However, it's not raining this morning so I'm getting up out of my nice warm bed, getting my leathers on, and hitting the road. My bike may be only a 350 but it's my bike people come to look at. Royal Enfield have performed a bloody miracle. 👍😄❤️
Oh great video man! Clear, informative, engaging. Just switched to an Interceptor after thinking I’d go the ADV route and I’m so happy with my decision. Rides great, sounds great, a joy to look at, fun to tinker with.
The high performance bikes form Japan, Italy, Germany and I suppose you could say Triumph, have been constantly selling to a market by pedalling the ever increasing performance as a "must have".
Why? A top speed of 180mph requires a long straight empty road, who rides motorbikes and wants to use straight roads? 125 BHP gets you to 100mph really quickly, and points, fines, or banned even quicker.
I think a lot of people have realised that when motorcycling isn't an everyday necessity what is it? An enjoyable hobby.
The hyper performance is only fun if you can use it, and using comes at the risk of injury to your health, or your freedom, or you wallet, or all of them. It's far more fun to go for a calmer ride, down quiet roads, where you enjoy the ride, where you're not aiming for the highest speed, your aiming for most enjoyment.
You can buy a high performance 2 seater sports car, but what people really want is a Karmann Ghia, an old Lotus, an old MG, all of which are too expensive, so they buy old MX5s, cheap(ish) enough performance, enough reliability and more fun than any other affordable car. Mazda realised in the latest incarnation of the MX5, that it doesn't need more power, Caterham are making a 100 BHP car, power does not equal fun.
That's what the the RE is, enough of everything at an affordable price, a way to get out and have fun without the need to out perform your mates on a CBGSXRS whatever is the latest "must have" hypersports bike.
Simple, stylish enough, powerful enough, fast enough. If you want fun, enough is perfect.
Too much of anything stops being fun: money, drugs, drink, women, speed, it doesn't matter, too much of any and they'll kill off your fun.
Too much of something good is poison. It's an old Indian saying idk if i translated it right
That's precisely why the KLR650 is also one of the most loved motorcycles of all time. Utilitarian and fun.
NAILED IT!
The last line is ❤. I completely agree with you, RE is just simple, calm and fun. That parallel twin sounds like a big cat purring. Riding it on a twisty road is pure mindfulness. I want to own the new cruiser 650 (Super Meteor 650) that will be releasing in a few months.
@@thefellowbreather you're not the ONLY one awaiting the Super Meteor!
I have been riding motorcycles since 1971 and spent 48 years in the trade as a motorcycle mechanic. I still own the 1971 750cc Norton Commando Roadster that I bought second hand in 1972 and I have a few other bikes too. Being in the trade I was lucky in getting to test ride lots of different bikes over the years and for me it got to the point were motorcycles handled, braked and went like a rocket, all with the bonus of not blowing up or falling apart, but for me it became very ho hum, you can't use the bikes performance on the road anywhere near it's top end for fear of losing your license. I often looked at showrooms full of bikes and none of them appealed to the must have demon, that is until Royal Enfield released the Interceptor, they just got everything so right, what a great motorcycle and yes I want one.
I'm 70 years old and have five bikes. I bought the 650GT about four months ago. Now it's the bike I ride most. I have it all decked out. Custom pipes, bar end mirrors, single rider café racer seat, fly screen, LED headlight and I'm thinking about spending $450.00 for the full sport fairing.
I've been riding for more than 65 years now and I know what I want in a motorcycle. I don't so much need a "retro" bike because I was riding in the days when there simply "motorcycles" not "retro looking or retro motorcycles". I saw a photo of a new RE the other day. It was a 650 but looked like an altogether different design. Nice and modern with a fat front tire. For my next bike this one will be of great interest. Of course it will have to be sold in the US where i am. That may or may not happen in my lifetime.
I want to say something here about the new BSA retro type. I like the idea of an oil cooler but what I like the most is the single cylinder with the dual spark plugs. I am a private pilot and own my own Cessna aircraft. Aircraft engines are always dual plug, dual ignition equipped for safety but more to the point is that with two spark plugs the engine develops more power than with one alone. In an aircraft engine one tests each of the ignition systems before flying. On "both" the engine runs at a certain RPM. Turn one plug off and the RPM drops two or three hundred RPMs. The same can happen with a motorcycle. I like what BSA has done here and I wish RE would give the idea some thought.
Thanks for reading...
As an owner of a continental gt i can’t imagine what would have happened had they not had a resurgence. I love my bike it has been an amazing learner bike I got mine with a few scratches for $3800.00 with 1200 miles on it heck people want that for a freaking rebel
They didnt stop, with buying Harris-Performance in Britain to build the frame, they bought another British company who are world-famous race-motor developers and they were part of the motor-development for the 650. These motors are bullet-proof and the overall ergonomics are incredible, which is another reason, outside of looks ,why people love them .
Kikass review!! It's fun, retro, decent power, reliable commuter etc... Not a day goes without riding my inty, such a lovely bike. Thanks for the information on history of RE. ❤️
You need to take a look at the new Suprr Metor 650. Also I would take a touring bike over adventure.
Your comment about the new BSA Goldstar “the massive radiator kills the look” is exactly the reason im not buy it ! Air cooled striped down but modern! That’s my “retro bike” sensibility. At this point, the only new old looking bike brand that I would bike is a RE. And you totally understand my buying sensibility for triumph. I’d much rather have a 60’s area Triumph than a flyby wire one! TY for understanding !
Wow , I'm not a bike enthusiast but your study on Roayl Enfield's success is amazing . This video is so high in class , you'll be a mega youtuber one day , You've one of the best clarities I've seen in a video . Kudos ! Keep it up .
Thanks for this review. I had British bikes and thought fondly of getting one, But, at my tender age a kick start would be an invitation to an intimate relation with my knee doctor! I have had, and have, Japanese bikes. Occasionally now, decades later, my foot will go the wrong way for a down shift. So mixing control reactions didn't seem like a good idea. THEN, the Interceptor arrived on the scene. It was a no-brainer to get one.
On the power aspect, I think it was dumbed down to fit into certain markets, regulations, and insurance brackets. Particularly in Britain where bikes over 50 hp are unavailable to new riders. And Britain was to be a major market. The engine appears to me to be physically oversized for a 650. I expect the intention was to make it strong enough that it could be upgraded as exactly has happened with the big bore kits. Ronn
RE main market is India. It sells like crazy here
Simple to maintain. Good looks. Usable power. Nice price. I love their new bikes! Great Video!
Great info.
Thanks Bart for taking the time (and I do understand the hours of work behind this video) to make this.
A well put video but one thing i would like to say is that along with the british history and design, Siddhartha brought out the Indian essence in the bike. We love the RE bikes and over the time it has completely become and Indian brand literally and emotionally that we dont care about the power or the so called tech. It comes down to the feel of the bike when you are on the road. There are thousands of them on the road here but every single bike is different, every machine has an emotion behind it and that's what drives us. Love from India.
The thing is for around a thousand $/£ you can upgrade almost everything that RE cut back on, such as suspension, exhaust, L.E.D lighting, and still undercut the competition by a couple of grand...
2:32 the same machine my uncle has the design is still fabulous and it still starts in one kick. The vibration and the sound is something every biker would crave for.
I really love seeing this historic brand back in the mix in such a big way. I started riding dirt bikes as a kid in the late sixties, and when I got my drivers license in 1973 I bought a neighbor's 1967 750 Interceptor. It was an amazing bike, but being young I did what young people do and traded it for a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville convertible. Sure wish I had hung on to that Interceptor, but maybe their
e's a brand new one in my future!
True. There's a Himalayan 650 and 450 in the pipeline as well. I reckon the 450's are made on the lines of rally motorcycles.
Brilliant documentary and content! Well done brother! This is one of the best Royal Enfield videos we've seen on TH-cam. Keep it going! ✌️
I was tempted by the Interceptor about a month ago when looking for a new bike and the video on oil quality testing by Ryan of FortNine very nearly convinced me but ultimately I ended up with a beautiful Yellow Moto Guzzi V7 850, I was swayed by shaft drive and extra power (my last bike was around 50hp like the Interceptor but the step up to 65hp appealed). I plan on keeping the Guzzi for quite a while if not forever but I would definitely consider a Royal Enfield as a future bike
I just sold my KTM 1190 and Fireblade and I'm upgrading to a interceptor or GT650. Thats how much I loved riding this bike. Slipper clutch, abs, EFI, just need a quick shifter and it's a perfect town bike.
I have only just seen this, 10 months too late but I have to say that your well thought out and interesting narrative, made it thoroughly enjoyable and you hit the nail on the head in every detail. Just subscribed.
Made very good points. This is one of those cases that larger is not necessarily better. I had two small capacity bikes in my twenties but bikes grew unnecessary larger and complex for my purpose since. Now RE with it's basic safety features, simplicity, reliability of a new bike with warranty & sweet pricing stole my heart again to get back to biking with soon to be released in the US Classic 350 just for getting to work and back on a 15min ride along the lake with it's beautiful landscape instead of the usual train downtown. Big thumbs up to them.
Very crisp yet profoundly covered with awesome facts about RE. Indeed like you said its the best and everlasting in its class worldwide especially since Mr. Lal like no other CEO (perhaps!) has put his passion in re-establishing RE Thanks much for the vedio
I had a 1955 RE Indian. no brakes to speak of and fast. Wish I still had it!
A Chief ? Or Brave? 700c.c. Constellation basically
@@deltabluesdavidraye By the time i owned it the bike had been heavily modified(stripped down). The title said Indian, thats all I know. There was a bike shop in Lexington NC run by Dave Martin that sold Enfields back in the 70s. Went there one time and was blown away, the shop was full of Enfields.
Everyday ride to office and back home on a RE classic 350 feels just perfect. I can say with absolute confidence RE is just pure in its approach to biking. That's why people love it so much. Hope to buy a interceptor soon!
7:50 Royal Enfield of India had never built a twin before the current Interceptor. The bike you're referring to was built by the parent company in England in the late 1960s.
You have done your research sir. Much appreciated.
That's a glowing yet fair review of RE's newish 650 twins. They are so BY FAR the most bang for the buck that I'm astonished Triumph isn't already in bankruptcy with their similar Thai-built offerings at near twice the price. I'm still happily thumping around on one of the last of those original "old school" 1954-design Bullet 500 preunit single engineering fossils (mine made in '05), which I just adore. But at some point I can see myself giving one of those twins a good home. For me, with their forward-inclined engine, they're reminiscent of my old Norton 750 Commando, but without all the "drama" and ceaseless need for fettling. Another new model of theirs that might also tick the boxes of more sedate riders like me, especially older or returning ones, might be their new J-engined 350 singles like the Meteor or the gorgeous "Classic" line just coming out now. If you're OK just dodging the butterflies in the 50s or 60s on something light and nimble yet substantial-looking, a 350 might scratch that itch.
Brilliant video you genuinely know what you talking about and glad you mentioned about ceo he has worked really really hard. Down to earth guy very humble he has huge plans for RE. He has done what no ceo in world can do . Made his company profitable
I picked up my Ventura Blue INT 2 weeks ago. I bought it for college commutes. I love it
I have a friend in India who was looking to buy a new motorcycle for commute after he got married and moved to a new job location. He was set on buying an unassuming 115cc commuter bike called the Bajaj Platina, but his wife intervened and directed him towards the Interceptor.
Indian women prefer their men to ride Royal Enfiends, lol.
Huh, thank you for this video. Based on the titled I was expecting a video about how the bikes were cheap, but that's about all they had going for them. But you kept on going, and that shoe never dropped. I enjoy my Continental a lot, and it's nice to hear Royal Enfield get some love.
Heritage, character, quality, and value is a good combination.
As a moto guzzi rider I've really grown to admire RE. Next bike?? Maybe.
I really wanted a Bonneville but went with the Interceptor because of all the simplicity and modern perks. I didn't see the Value in the Bonneville at their Price point vs the Interceptor.
This bike will never grow old from generations to generations.
Well I'm loving my Conti Gt 650... Had a lot of bikes over the years but this I would say is the one that just fun..
I love the BSA 650 and it's radiator- it might actually cool enough to run a decent water temp ie 170 instead of 240! Shoot I need one of those- simple with no frills and water cooled. Love it!
I own one it is more than one realize.Its absolutely reliable and tight very refined let alone the heritage and looks.Absolutely and irresistibly affordable.Then the simplicity and self servicability.Then the extremely affordable customization.Oh and that great gas mileage.
Excellent documentary. The Interceptor is a great bike and can be custom configured to whatever the owner desires. That spells success across the board.
I love the interceptor. RE isnt the best if youre looking for performance and power but as far as riding on indian roads is concerned, the Interceptor works great. with the insane amount of traffic and the poor road conditions, there is no need for something more than this.
How many spotted the diesel bullet snuck into the video about three minutes in? Allegedly it could do 1000km on a tank....you might wanna fact check that tho....
That is true, it does give 75-80 kmpl. Can do close to 1000 km of full tank
I noticed it
I want one
I owned 2 of them 20 years ago.One we used with a sidecar for milk delivery from the farm.Slow as hell but what character and fun especially out in the countryside on bad roads.One of the bikes ,I restored and we shipped it to a customer in the Uk.
Legendary bike
It was not just Japanese companies,,
New Indian motorcycle companies like Bajaj and TVS started to dominate the biking scene in India...and even in some cases, they even had more technology, more refined than its Japanese counterparts
Bajaj- kawasaki, hero-honda collaboration benefitted bajaj and hero.there is no hero and bajaj without japanese.
@@oblivion_007 likewise there is no KTM without Bajaj
@@sagnikdebsarkar169 its just financial help. Bajaj coudnt hold a candle infront of ktm's technical prowess
@@oblivion_007 the statement that I made still holds true, even if it is just for the finance
I have one, this same color model, my first bike I bought at 31 years of age.
It's a joy to ride.
Puts a smile on my face every time I ride or see it.
This brand-new 2007 Thruxton languished in the showroom for almost a year before I decided to buy it. I wanted a regular Bonnie but did not like the bend between the header and the exhaust. The Thruxton's upswept pipe looked much better. The riding position was not ideal for me so I ditched the clip-ons and replaced them with an LSL triple clamp with a regular handlebar. I also fitted a flat Bonnie seat to make two-up riding more comfortable. My friends who rode it thought it felt great. When the RE Intrercepor came out in 2018, I thought it looked just like my Thrux. 9:43
1- You forgot to mention one very important thing: it was not only Harris Performance frames that they invested on. They created a design and development center in UK, in Hinkley, literally 31 minutes ride by car from Triumph and poached a lot of good developers and designers from Triumph. I remember joking with a friend of mine that worked at Triumph PT, saying that finally triumph designers had received the correct Briefing... he started joking, saying I was an idiot to think that, T. engineers would never abandon the T.brand for RE... until I sent him the Linked in employers list filtered by RE/ UK. more than 50% WAS indeed from Triumph.
2- THey done even better by fostering the Custom scene and modification parts, doing competitions or giving away bikes for custom houses to modify, and now you have more options and mods than on the new bonnies, that if you cut a wrong wire, it kills the bike due to all the electronic dependency between systems.
3- but Triumph is also right. they do not compete between themselves. Triumph gets the people that want a Recognisably GOOD LAST retro motorcycles with pedigree, and low depreciation(they have much more quality than RE) , and the pizazz of having a Triumph (just like for HD, brand matters)... They sell on margin and long lasting relationships. RE interceptor caters to the person who wants a sufficiently GOOD motorcycle for the fun, but does not want to spend a lot of money on it as it is probably a new biker and will be upgrading for a Speed twin, or a thruxton in a few years, or a comeback that is just looking for the biking pleasure/performance they had 40 years ago... that is what Interceptor provides.
The interceptor is a great bike at a great price. I had a deposit on one and then I looked at a W800. I wanted the best quality, most retro bike available and price was a less of a concern, so the W was what I ultimately bought.
Awesome! How do you like it? Such a beautiful bike
@@bartmotorcycle I really am enjoying it. It has so much character and it really feels like riding a classic bike, except it always starts, stops and doesn't leak oil! I think if Kawasaki reduced the msrp by 2K they would lure away some Enfield buyers.
@@roywane354 right on that's awesome! I agree it's just a but too pricey
My father rode for the Royal Enfield trials team as an amateur , I'm from Redditch Worcestershire and remember when the factory closed down.
Ohh man..., the best review out there! Congrats!! Cheers from France!