The original seats that came with these are like sitting on an oak plank. I have three seats now! The original cheapo One the gel saddle and the comfort seat! The gel saddle is the best by far.
@@thefuzzybiker171 I've been thinking about the V7 for my next bike but how do you like it! I love the idea of shaft drive! Does it ride and handle as nice as the interceptor?
Great review - your enthusiasm shines through and makes this very enjoyable to watch. But those roads! As someone else said, maybe we’re not so badly off here in the UK after all! Stay shiny side up 👍
@@thefuzzybiker171 I live in Connecticut we actually tax rich people here and our roads are silky smooth! When your government covers for the wealthy you end up with crappy roads! I've been all over these United States it's the same everywhere Red states have the worst infrastructure!
I get 10,000 miles or more out of Duro tires. They stick well they wear well and they are good in the rain. Very economical as well. Edward Turner who designs the famous Triumph twin always said a 650 and 6,500 RPM are the way to go. You don't need Grand Prix levels of horsepower and Grand Prix levels of maintenance to enjoy riding a motorcycle. I have more fun riding a slow motorcycle than a fast one. The whole point is to enjoy the ride not to be at your destination sooner. I fly an old plane and everyone tells me I should get a newer one and I tell them the whole point of flying if you enjoy flying not to get back on the ground sooner, it's like when you go out on the boat you want to enjoy your time on the boat you don't want to be back in Harbor soon. That's the whole point of being on the boat or flying the plane or riding the motorcycle is to enjoy the time that you are doing it.
I really like the touring seat. It's not that it knocks you out with plushness, but you just don't notice it. The touring mirrors are also a great upgrade. They have excellent optical quality and do not shake at all. I have the tall windscreen and it helps a little with wind on the chest, but I really don't like riding on the interstate because of the wind. At 50 or 60mph on secondary roads, the Interceptor is a dream to ride. I love it. Thanks for a great review!
I think you're right about those mirrors. Definitely the way to go. If this is my motorcycle I would definitely have the tall windscreen like you do. Not only does it work better on the interstate but it provides protection from weather on all roads. Beautiful motorcycle!
An Italian company makes a windshield called the ranger it's big and it works great and it's cheap too I put one on mine looks great knocks the wind right off your chest!
I’ve been a fan of the Int650 since first seeing it in 2019. Great classic look. It’s on my wish list and hoping to have one for this season. On the road price in my neighbourhood ( Toronto🇨🇦) is about $11.5k but I think still a good value. Thanks for the review. Dan 🏍✌️🇨🇦
@@frankmarkovcijr5459 Taxes, shipping costs, PDI, licensing etc. $11000 CAD is about $8175 USD. Been looking for a used one but not many available around here. Owners tend to keep them. 👍
I live in Connecticut our roads are silky smooth newly paved The difference is we don't cover for tax cheats they pay! Then all the bikers show up at the big town meeting and we demand they pave the roads and they do or else they're gone!
The bike should have hydraulically adjusting valves so you never have to mess with them. They should also have a nice clean quiet belt drive like a Sportster. I got 100,000 miles plus out of a belt. I run them till they break and when they break they don't go through your chases like a chain does. I would put on a big set of crash bars if I were yo. I want crash bars on all of my road bikes and the only things I don't have them our my dirt bike. My hardtail Triumph weigh 350 lb with fuel I still I came out of the breakfast joints with the bike leaning on the crossbar because the kickstand sank through the asphalt and it was resting on the crash bar.
@@thefuzzybiker171 today's motorcycles have such complicated valve adjustment procedures you are almost totally restricted to having to take your bike to the mercy of the dealership. When I rode Japanese motorcycles I steered clear of any sane that had a complicated valve adjustment procedure. Of course even with the double overhead cam with the shim adjustment on top of the cam that was nothing compared to the ones nowadays where you have to take the camshaft out in order to check the valve clearance and of course you end up with a $700 tune-up. I tolerate a chain drive on my vintage bikes especially my vintage dirt bikes. My BMWs of course all have shaft Drive. Yeah I have been spoiled with my Harley not needing valve adjustments or having to deal with the mess of maintaining a chain drive. I still have the original belt sprockets on the bike no wear on them at all. Of course I have no need for Grand Prix levels of horsepower or Grand Prix levels of Maintenance and expense.
The 865 is more powerful and smoother. It would be hard to pick between the two. I did own a T100 with the 865 engine. For the money the Interceptor is probably the better deal. Lower maintenance cost and such
I picked my '23 RE INT 650 last night and did 114 miles taking it back home. It was my first long and first night ride. And those roads are as bad as Oklahoma roads. That made for an interesting trip. Surprise bumps in the night at 65mph.
@@thefuzzybiker171 the BSA/triumph twin reading shoe brakes from the 1960s were the best brakes they had. Mine can ❤️🔥 rubber stopping. The twin leading shoe brakes on my BMW motorcycle are superior to the wooden discs feeling that you get with the single disk break on the front end. The Japanese twin drum brakes on the front of their motorcycles with much superior to the disc brakes that replace them that did not work worth a s*** in the rain. My Ural sidecar outfit has drum brakes all the way around and the new bike with the brembo disc brakes all the way around stops in the same distance. The only reason you have disc brakes is because of production racing. Disc brakes don't hold up in storage. All of my BMWs with disc brakes on the front end the break goes soggy from long term storage. The brake fluid sucks up water from the air and the master cylinder will rust together and seize. I replaced a broken brake cable on the front end of my gyro in 30 second s. When restoring a motorcycle with a disc brake front end it is a pain in the ass to find new master cylinders or to have the old ones reboard. The drum brakes on late 1970s British bikes are crap. The lack of twin disc on motorcycles today is because of corporate cheap Ness. Drum brakes are also easier to maintain. You don't have to bleed the brakes every year and you don't have to change the brake fluid either. God forbid if you drip any brake fluid on your gas tank because it will eat your paint away. The British 650 twins that were 100 lb lighter than a Royal Enfield started out with single shoe bleeding brakes and went to double leading shoe brakes for more braking power which is more safety. The old Kawasaki 2 strokes that went like hell had brackets on the opposite for extensions so you could add an additional discs if you wanted to. Many motorcycles that had one dish break in America had to disc brakes in Europe because of the higher speeds in Europe. It is better to have twin disc brakes because you can never have too much stopping power.
@@frankmarkovcijr5459 I feel that you can have too much stopping power. I come from a long time with a T140 bonneville. Fantastic feel to the single front and rear lockhead disks. The brakes survived riding in all conditions and for over 80k miles. I bought a Ducati Monster 695 on my return to biking after a 20 year break. The Monster weighs little more than a Honda 250 superdream but has twin disks up front with four pot brembos, on big diameter disks. The 620 version wasn't massively lower powered and only had onre front disk. Round town I'm often using one finger or possibly two for breaking. On the open road ,In the dry this is all fine, there is ample power. In the wet it's not bad but not as reassuring as the now ancient Bonnie. In damp conditions or possibly icy I'm anxious about locking a wheel on the Ducati - its only happened once to me briefly on a dry garage forecourt but it made me realise the braking was a bit sudden. I know alot of people knock old brit bikes whenever they can, but I even once had an MOT tester tell me my Bonnie brakes were among the best he'd ever tested (this was in the 90's). The braking (and lugage carrying capacity) are the two reasons why I'm even considering changing from the Ducati to a Royal Enfield. I guess also that the Enfield is more dirt bike geometry and better suited to our deteriorating roads in the UK.
Great value for money however every Bonneville from 2001 till today are a far better bike. And that would be the 790/865 carbed or fuel injected including the Scrambler. My brother just bought one 0f these RE at ½ the price of the latest Street Twin Speed Twin 900. I have the 1200 Thruxton which is not in the same league. Saying that it is great to have these new retros to choose from.
I could ride this bike all day at freeway speeds. Close to my T100 in that way with lighter handling. Believe this bike could cross the country without problems, mechanical or for the rider.
I took a 2023 interceptor on an extended test run, and was very underwhelmed by it.For a 650 cc it was totally sluggish compared to my 650 triumph Bonneville back in 1971.Brakes are ok,gearbox good but nothing like my 23 yr old Ducati. I'd sum it up as adequate at this price, and price is the real reason that they sell. they are to motorcycling what Mcdonalds are to high cuisine. 😢. I totally cannot understand all the excitement un less you're a salesman.
Interesting. I come from a Bonnie background (or at least my T140 had a Tiger gas flowed head and larger carb). On my interceptor test ride I was also underwhelmed (not enough to put me off completely mind). The interceptor lacked the visceral urge and experience of a Triumph. It felt a bit sanitised and japaneesy (perhaps too smooth!). The gearbox however was probably the best that I've ever encountered, with a nice light clutch. I'm really torn at the moment, I have a Ducati Monster 695, great in most respects but no luggage carrying capacity and perhaps not laid back enough for me. I'd hate to sell the Ducati and buy the interceptor and find that long term it lacked soul. Having said that I've recently discovered the cost and inconvenience of having the valves serviced. I guess I like my bikes a bit old tech. I guess the big question for me is can I make an interceptor into a Bonnie experience, with fewer vibes at speed? Can I get it to Hard Rock cafe standard? [Why oh why is McDonalds so popular?]
I've watched a lot of Royal Enfield videos and these bikes don't last because of that old school air cooled technology. Many need to be rebuilt after only 25000 miles.
I've had many air cooled bikes with over 50,000 miles. Have also had to rebuild some with as little as 20,000 miles. Currently have over 17,000 on my Himalayan and it's still running strong. Wahoo!
The brakes on the Royal Enfield are an Indian copy of Brembo brakes they are made by a subsidiary of the company. I prefer drum brakes they are much easier to service I want to replace a brake cable on the front of my sidecar outfit in 30 seconds. The thing is you can't have abs with drum brakes. If they offered a motorcycle without the electronics and a carburetor it would be less profitable for them. As far as I am concerned motorcycle should not have any pollution controls they should not be punished for the stupidity of people driving in car. Fuel injection add $1,500 to the price of a motorcycle. Today's motorcycles unfortunately are a collection of government regulations on two wheels. That's what I love about my vintage British motorcycles. They were built as the designer intended. They are also beautiful to look at from any angle. Where they have motorcycle in the dictionary they should have a picture of a Triumph Bonneville. When the British made singles and twins they were derided for being old-fashioned and now everybody is tired of the horsepower race and they want a nice simple comfortable enjoyable motorcycle. The thing is once you upgrade all of the questionable Parts on the Royal Enfield Interceptor then it doesn't become so inexpensive anymore. Sure the stainless steel exhaust system is beautiful but at $1,500 that is a lot of money on a $7,000 bike. If I bought one of those I would ride it until the wheels fell off it. I keep my motorcycles for decade on the road. I put 30,000 miles a year on my road bike just on day trips to get out of the house. My Sportster has four hundred thousand miles and on it and still runs good. My old BMW 105.7 had half a million miles on it at the time of its demise. I give my motorcycles a forever home they never gets sold. They become a member of the family the way a dog does. I hope you enjoy your bike for many years to come. Ride safe.
@@thefuzzybiker171 for the price of the Royal Enfield interceptor I could put my whole motorcycle collection on the road. When I go to a Harley event on my old triumph people walk past rows of CVO Harley and look at my antique. I love it when they videotape me on their phones kicks starting my bike. I show them how to start a real motorcycle and all of my vintage bikes are first Kick bikes. Except for my twenty-five-year-old evolution Sportster which does not have a Kickstarter. I like it in the old days when every motorcycle came with a Kik and electric start.
Yeah! I love that angle on ancient brit bikes. They were beautiful in a designed for function way. And there is not much to match the easy grace of a Bonneville (Matchless Dirt Bikes and the P11 Norton are possible exceptions). I was an anomaly back in the day riding a Triumph when all my mates has Jap bikes. None of them ride now. Now the same type of people are realising that they just want a bike that's enjoyable to ride, not too bulky, with enough power to make it fun. As for comfort. I've covered more miles on my old Bonnie than any other bike and never once though about the saddle or ergonomics, it was just right. It leaves you to concentrate on the ride, with your bike being along side you as a companion.
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The original seats that came with these are like sitting on an oak plank. I have three seats now! The original cheapo One the gel saddle and the comfort seat! The gel saddle is the best by far.
I've got a gel saddle on my V7, very comfortable. Wahoo!
@@thefuzzybiker171 I've been thinking about the V7 for my next bike but how do you like it! I love the idea of shaft drive! Does it ride and handle as nice as the interceptor?
Great review - your enthusiasm shines through and makes this very enjoyable to watch. But those roads! As someone else said, maybe we’re not so badly off here in the UK after all! Stay shiny side up 👍
Oh my, don't get me going about our roads LOL
@@thefuzzybiker171 I live in Connecticut we actually tax rich people here and our roads are silky smooth! When your government covers for the wealthy you end up with crappy roads! I've been all over these United States it's the same everywhere Red states have the worst infrastructure!
I get 10,000 miles or more out of Duro tires. They stick well they wear well and they are good in the rain. Very economical as well. Edward Turner who designs the famous Triumph twin always said a 650 and 6,500 RPM are the way to go. You don't need Grand Prix levels of horsepower and Grand Prix levels of maintenance to enjoy riding a motorcycle. I have more fun riding a slow motorcycle than a fast one. The whole point is to enjoy the ride not to be at your destination sooner. I fly an old plane and everyone tells me I should get a newer one and I tell them the whole point of flying if you enjoy flying not to get back on the ground sooner, it's like when you go out on the boat you want to enjoy your time on the boat you don't want to be back in Harbor soon. That's the whole point of being on the boat or flying the plane or riding the motorcycle is to enjoy the time that you are doing it.
These are great bikes for enjoying the ride ;)
I really like the touring seat. It's not that it knocks you out with plushness, but you just don't notice it. The touring mirrors are also a great upgrade. They have excellent optical quality and do not shake at all.
I have the tall windscreen and it helps a little with wind on the chest, but I really don't like riding on the interstate because of the wind. At 50 or 60mph on secondary roads, the Interceptor is a dream to ride. I love it.
Thanks for a great review!
I think you're right about those mirrors. Definitely the way to go. If this is my motorcycle I would definitely have the tall windscreen like you do. Not only does it work better on the interstate but it provides protection from weather on all roads. Beautiful motorcycle!
An Italian company makes a windshield called the ranger it's big and it works great and it's cheap too I put one on mine looks great knocks the wind right off your chest!
I’ve been a fan of the Int650 since first seeing it in 2019. Great classic look. It’s on my wish list and hoping to have one for this season. On the road price in my neighbourhood ( Toronto🇨🇦) is about $11.5k but I think still a good value. Thanks for the review. Dan 🏍✌️🇨🇦
They are great bikes. Everybody know that has one likes it.
Why is a $7,000 motorcycle in America 11000 + in Canada?
@@frankmarkovcijr5459 Taxes, shipping costs, PDI, licensing etc. $11000 CAD is about $8175 USD. Been looking for a used one but not many available around here. Owners tend to keep them. 👍
@@danielmcneil3004 it's the crankshaft that makes that bike motor so smooth and sweet! The 270 crankshaft is new the old twins didn't have it!
I thought British roads were rough! looks like someone tried to plough that interstate… and the rest! enjoyed the video.
We've got Miles Road like that. Moves along pretty fast though.
I live in Connecticut our roads are silky smooth newly paved The difference is we don't cover for tax cheats they pay! Then all the bikers show up at the big town meeting and we demand they pave the roads and they do or else they're gone!
My God, your roads are in a worse state than ours in the UK! and that’s saying something. Great video though and a wonderful bike.
Yes, our roads could definitely use some work :-)
I'm guessing it's a Republican state! The roads in Connecticut are excellent!
The bike should have hydraulically adjusting valves so you never have to mess with them. They should also have a nice clean quiet belt drive like a Sportster. I got 100,000 miles plus out of a belt. I run them till they break and when they break they don't go through your chases like a chain does. I would put on a big set of crash bars if I were yo. I want crash bars on all of my road bikes and the only things I don't have them our my dirt bike. My hardtail Triumph weigh 350 lb with fuel I still I came out of the breakfast joints with the bike leaning on the crossbar because the kickstand sank through the asphalt and it was resting on the crash bar.
Most bikes are behind our modern times when it comes to valves. All modern bikes should have modern valve trains that don't need adjusting.
@@thefuzzybiker171 today's motorcycles have such complicated valve adjustment procedures you are almost totally restricted to having to take your bike to the mercy of the dealership. When I rode Japanese motorcycles I steered clear of any sane that had a complicated valve adjustment procedure. Of course even with the double overhead cam with the shim adjustment on top of the cam that was nothing compared to the ones nowadays where you have to take the camshaft out in order to check the valve clearance and of course you end up with a $700 tune-up. I tolerate a chain drive on my vintage bikes especially my vintage dirt bikes. My BMWs of course all have shaft Drive. Yeah I have been spoiled with my Harley not needing valve adjustments or having to deal with the mess of maintaining a chain drive. I still have the original belt sprockets on the bike no wear on them at all. Of course I have no need for Grand Prix levels of horsepower or Grand Prix levels of Maintenance and expense.
Good review, How does the Interceptor compare to an 865 Bonnie? Thanks
The 865 is more powerful and smoother. It would be hard to pick between the two. I did own a T100 with the 865 engine. For the money the Interceptor is probably the better deal. Lower maintenance cost and such
Great thank you, better mpg to as well I think
I picked my '23 RE INT 650 last night and did 114 miles taking it back home. It was my first long and first night ride.
And those roads are as bad as Oklahoma roads. That made for an interesting trip. Surprise bumps in the night at 65mph.
You're gonna love that bike!
A bike that heavy should have twin disc on the front end. All street bikes should have twin disc straight from the factory.
Love twin disc. Remember the old front drums, how we had to plan ahead for a stop?
It doesn't need twin discs. It stops fine.
@@thefuzzybiker171 the BSA/triumph twin reading shoe brakes from the 1960s were the best brakes they had. Mine can ❤️🔥 rubber stopping. The twin leading shoe brakes on my BMW motorcycle are superior to the wooden discs feeling that you get with the single disk break on the front end. The Japanese twin drum brakes on the front of their motorcycles with much superior to the disc brakes that replace them that did not work worth a s*** in the rain. My Ural sidecar outfit has drum brakes all the way around and the new bike with the brembo disc brakes all the way around stops in the same distance. The only reason you have disc brakes is because of production racing. Disc brakes don't hold up in storage. All of my BMWs with disc brakes on the front end the break goes soggy from long term storage. The brake fluid sucks up water from the air and the master cylinder will rust together and seize. I replaced a broken brake cable on the front end of my gyro in 30 second s. When restoring a motorcycle with a disc brake front end it is a pain in the ass to find new master cylinders or to have the old ones reboard. The drum brakes on late 1970s British bikes are crap. The lack of twin disc on motorcycles today is because of corporate cheap Ness. Drum brakes are also easier to maintain. You don't have to bleed the brakes every year and you don't have to change the brake fluid either. God forbid if you drip any brake fluid on your gas tank because it will eat your paint away. The British 650 twins that were 100 lb lighter than a Royal Enfield started out with single shoe bleeding brakes and went to double leading shoe brakes for more braking power which is more safety. The old Kawasaki 2 strokes that went like hell had brackets on the opposite for extensions so you could add an additional discs if you wanted to. Many motorcycles that had one dish break in America had to disc brakes in Europe because of the higher speeds in Europe. It is better to have twin disc brakes because you can never have too much stopping power.
@@frankmarkovcijr5459 I feel that you can have too much stopping power. I come from a long time with a T140 bonneville. Fantastic feel to the single front and rear lockhead disks. The brakes survived riding in all conditions and for over 80k miles. I bought a Ducati Monster 695 on my return to biking after a 20 year break. The Monster weighs little more than a Honda 250 superdream but has twin disks up front with four pot brembos, on big diameter disks. The 620 version wasn't massively lower powered and only had onre front disk. Round town I'm often using one finger or possibly two for breaking. On the open road ,In the dry this is all fine, there is ample power. In the wet it's not bad but not as reassuring as the now ancient Bonnie. In damp conditions or possibly icy I'm anxious about locking a wheel on the Ducati - its only happened once to me briefly on a dry garage forecourt but it made me realise the braking was a bit sudden. I know alot of people knock old brit bikes whenever they can, but I even once had an MOT tester tell me my Bonnie brakes were among the best he'd ever tested (this was in the 90's). The braking (and lugage carrying capacity) are the two reasons why I'm even considering changing from the Ducati to a Royal Enfield. I guess also that the Enfield is more dirt bike geometry and better suited to our deteriorating roads in the UK.
Great value for money however every Bonneville from 2001 till today are a far better bike. And that would be the 790/865 carbed or fuel injected including the Scrambler. My brother just bought one 0f these RE at ½ the price of the latest Street Twin Speed Twin 900. I have the 1200 Thruxton which is not in the same league. Saying that it is great to have these new retros to choose from.
Always love that Thruxton 1200!
your road conditions looks dangerous for motorcyclists all those cracks, potholes etc , be safe and ride safe
Some roads are better than others. Always keeping the eyes open. Wahoo!
How are the vibes at freeway speed?
I could ride this bike all day at freeway speeds. Close to my T100 in that way with lighter handling. Believe this bike could cross the country without problems, mechanical or for the rider.
@@thefuzzybiker171 How much does it vibrate?
I took a 2023 interceptor on an extended test run, and was very underwhelmed by it.For a 650 cc it was totally sluggish compared to my 650 triumph Bonneville back in 1971.Brakes are ok,gearbox good but nothing like my 23 yr old Ducati. I'd sum it up as adequate at this price, and price is the real reason that they sell. they are to motorcycling what Mcdonalds are to high cuisine. 😢. I totally cannot understand all the excitement un less you're a salesman.
Sounds like you've had some mighty fine bikes.
Interesting. I come from a Bonnie background (or at least my T140 had a Tiger gas flowed head and larger carb). On my interceptor test ride I was also underwhelmed (not enough to put me off completely mind). The interceptor lacked the visceral urge and experience of a Triumph. It felt a bit sanitised and japaneesy (perhaps too smooth!). The gearbox however was probably the best that I've ever encountered, with a nice light clutch. I'm really torn at the moment, I have a Ducati Monster 695, great in most respects but no luggage carrying capacity and perhaps not laid back enough for me. I'd hate to sell the Ducati and buy the interceptor and find that long term it lacked soul. Having said that I've recently discovered the cost and inconvenience of having the valves serviced. I guess I like my bikes a bit old tech. I guess the big question for me is can I make an interceptor into a Bonnie experience, with fewer vibes at speed? Can I get it to Hard Rock cafe standard? [Why oh why is McDonalds so popular?]
I've watched a lot of Royal Enfield videos and these bikes don't last because of that old school air cooled technology. Many need to be rebuilt after only 25000 miles.
I've had many air cooled bikes with over 50,000 miles. Have also had to rebuild some with as little as 20,000 miles. Currently have over 17,000 on my Himalayan and it's still running strong. Wahoo!
The brakes on the Royal Enfield are an Indian copy of Brembo brakes they are made by a subsidiary of the company. I prefer drum brakes they are much easier to service I want to replace a brake cable on the front of my sidecar outfit in 30 seconds. The thing is you can't have abs with drum brakes. If they offered a motorcycle without the electronics and a carburetor it would be less profitable for them. As far as I am concerned motorcycle should not have any pollution controls they should not be punished for the stupidity of people driving in car. Fuel injection add $1,500 to the price of a motorcycle. Today's motorcycles unfortunately are a collection of government regulations on two wheels. That's what I love about my vintage British motorcycles. They were built as the designer intended. They are also beautiful to look at from any angle. Where they have motorcycle in the dictionary they should have a picture of a Triumph Bonneville. When the British made singles and twins they were derided for being old-fashioned and now everybody is tired of the horsepower race and they want a nice simple comfortable enjoyable motorcycle. The thing is once you upgrade all of the questionable Parts on the Royal Enfield Interceptor then it doesn't become so inexpensive anymore. Sure the stainless steel exhaust system is beautiful but at $1,500 that is a lot of money on a $7,000 bike. If I bought one of those I would ride it until the wheels fell off it. I keep my motorcycles for decade on the road. I put 30,000 miles a year on my road bike just on day trips to get out of the house. My Sportster has four hundred thousand miles and on it and still runs good. My old BMW 105.7 had half a million miles on it at the time of its demise. I give my motorcycles a forever home they never gets sold. They become a member of the family the way a dog does. I hope you enjoy your bike for many years to come. Ride safe.
You should give one of these a forever home, would look good next to your Triumph ;)
@@thefuzzybiker171 for the price of the Royal Enfield interceptor I could put my whole motorcycle collection on the road. When I go to a Harley event on my old triumph people walk past rows of CVO Harley and look at my antique. I love it when they videotape me on their phones kicks starting my bike. I show them how to start a real motorcycle and all of my vintage bikes are first Kick bikes. Except for my twenty-five-year-old evolution Sportster which does not have a Kickstarter. I like it in the old days when every motorcycle came with a Kik and electric start.
Yeah! I love that angle on ancient brit bikes. They were beautiful in a designed for function way. And there is not much to match the easy grace of a Bonneville (Matchless Dirt Bikes and the P11 Norton are possible exceptions). I was an anomaly back in the day riding a Triumph when all my mates has Jap bikes. None of them ride now. Now the same type of people are realising that they just want a bike that's enjoyable to ride, not too bulky, with enough power to make it fun. As for comfort. I've covered more miles on my old Bonnie than any other bike and never once though about the saddle or ergonomics, it was just right. It leaves you to concentrate on the ride, with your bike being along side you as a companion.
The service interval are a killer and so expensive. 3k and valve clearances! A deal breaker for me!
You're right, valve intervals are short. However, easy to do yourself. Hoping they increase those intervals in the future.
Recheck those intervals. I bought mine Because I can easily do it all myself. Major plus for me.
the 3k interval is just a check over which any biker should be doing themselves anyway. Valves are every 6k along with oil and filter.