Here's the thread about the guy here in Toronto who's Royal Enfield broke in the first 3 days and need to be completely replaced: www.gtamotorcycle.com/xf/threads/new-royal-enfield-dealer-in-town.214675/page-2#post-2770523
My brand new Harley Dyna wouldn't start after they rolled it out the showroom. After 9 months, 2 starter motors, endless batteries and 2 wiring looms later, it still didn't run right. All manufacturers have a horror story. HD then made theirs worse as they claimed they wouldn't do any more work on the bike as it was out of warranty. The finish on HD export models is a disgrace, and the components holding the engine together corrode once oxygen hits them. The RE is finished just as well as my Triumphs and to a much better standard than Indian, HD and Buell. Just my experience and opinion to balance out the RE haters! Ride safe, stay upright!
hahah this was me!!!! to this day it was still not fully explained to me what actually went wrong with the bike. they suspected it was cylinder failure but i have no idea what would cause that. and the bike only had about 120km (so less than 75 miles lol) on it. i have to give credit to the dealer i had towed it to (they were not the original dealer i bought it from) for getting in contact with RE North America and in total i was without the bike for 2 weeks before it was fully replaced. RE North America asked me to sign an NDA to not tell anyone but offered me zero compensation (they told me they were basically doing *me* a favour by replacing a broken bike that i had paid for in full lol) so i told them fuck no i'm not signing it. and now my story is immortalized in this video haha. as an update, i have about 7000km on my replacement 2021 GT650 as i split seat time with my ducati (that has magically run perfectly fine for years and years!) and everything is running fine so far. but its definitely left me with a bad taste about the brand overall.
@@notstevelam Hahaha, hey man small world! Can't believe they had the nerve to ask you to sign an NDA, and good on you for having the quality of character to say no way. A lot of people just would have shrugged and taken the easy way out. Glad the replacement bike is good so far! Maybe keep that Ducati just in case? Thanks for leaving a comment and sharing a bit more of your story. Maybe see you around Toronto some time. Ride safe! Adrian
First time I've heard about this type of failure. They make a lot of these - literally one of the best selling models in the world. Major mechanical failures have not been reported previously. These are not Japanese quality, but they have something the Japs lack .... character. Unfortunately, the A-hole dealer in Toronto doesn't know the first thing about customer relations ... surprise .. just like Harley Davidson dealers. They must have gone to the same seminars.
5th Year into OwnerShip on Int 650. Have done only 20k kms but all of them for long drives beyond 500kms . I dont use it in the city. Its a decent bike. I have had no issues. Engine is good. Basic stuff.. Good enough.
As a rider who began in the early 1960s on British bikes, I always find comments concerning vibration, seat comfort, suspension compliance, etc, humorous - even though I can understand later generations of riders have become comfort oriented due primarily to being spoiled by the excellence of the Japanese approach to motorcycle refinement. The Royal Enfield is - in spirit at least- a retro British bike. There may be vibration at certain rpm - there is supposed to be. There may be a forward lean - there is supposed to be. I could expand further but won’t as it would serve no positive purpose. Of the 53 motorcycles I’ve owned and raced, toured and restored, my current RE Interceptor is a delight to ride and provides excellent replication of the bikes of yore. My restored 1959 AJS 650 twin supports the similarities and both still trigger memories of the Nortons, Velocettes, Ariel’s and many others that were so enjoyable in my day. Thanks for your objective approach to bike reviews. My wish for you would be that you ride some of the early bikes to enhance your perspective. Blessings
Thanks for the kind words. I've since taken a second test ride on an Interceptor and liked it enough to buy one. I made a few follow ups to this video, if you find yourself with time to kill. The first one addresses some things I got wrong in this video: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html The second one is about why I still prefer my Moto Guzzi V7 and my Triumph Bonneville: th-cam.com/video/f3lc6tFAWDM/w-d-xo.html
I have had my Interceptor since 2021. Cons:- heavy, had to replace relays with a better product after it cut out a couple of times. Pros:- does “what it says on the tin”, price, attracts attention, super smooth gearbox, good mirror visibility, smooth with little vibration. My neighbour who has the Triumph Bonneville has ridden it and loves it although, understandably says his has more power. I have been riding bikes for almost 60yrs so, at my advanced years, it is the most fun in all conditions, of all bikes I have ridden and keeps me within my limits. I regularly ride with my bike club with no difficulty keeping up.Did I mention that it is heavy?😎
I bought one of these 38 months ago. Now I've got nearly 29k miles on it. 2 light bulbs and a battery needed replacement. The chain and front sprocket at 23k. I'm just changing oil and filters and lots of tires. It starts and runs perfectly every day. It doesn't use or leak any oil anywhere at any time. Zero vibration. I'm absolutely satisfied with this great little bike. Even if it only goes 100 MPH tops I somehow am able to manage. At any speed it doesn't vibrate. At all.
Very similar to my entire experience. The Enfield 650s are better than before, my cousin had a 750 Interceptor in the mid 1960's; they have come a long way. I too have owned a Bonneville SE for ten years and did suspension upgrades along with a full stainless-steel exhaust. I also own a Speed Twin 1200cc and it is not without its faults. I am 72. The Royal Enfield 650s are THE best value in today's market; bar none.
I'd say the Honda CB500 family offers a lot more value. My buddy Wobblycat put over 100,000 trouble-free km on his, taking it all across North and Central America. We'll see if the REs can do 100,000 km as reliably.
I started riding in 1973 and have only owned Japanese bikes. I fell in love with the looks of the INT 650 and purchased a new one in March 2020. Conservative break-in and maintenance by the book. It is butter smooth running up to 80 mph. At 85 mph I start to feel the slightest vibes at the pegs. I purchased a Meteor 350 in August 2021. Love both of these bikes. Both bikes run much better after 3000 miles. Pleased to hear the owner with the "lemon" got his bike relaced under warranty. That kind of thing happens. I too share your concern on how the bikes will hold up over time. A lot of that, IMO, will no doubt depend on their care. I commend your handling of the negative comments. You, Sir, are entitled to your opinions.
My 2003 Suzuki has been rained on a thousand times and abused in numerous ways ( not by me) and is still in good shape , not great because i'm not rich enough to fix everything right away .
Hundreds of professional motorcycles cant' be wrong and there's no better endorsement when they reach into their own pockets and buy one themselves... Ironically Royal Enfield scouted some of the best engineers from England and Japan, used Harris Performance to design the frame and used Paul Young, Australian ex Superbike rider to hone the whole thing together. I dont think any manufacture would have gone to such lengths in the amount of test miles they put it through before bringing into production. I've personally owned 6 Triumph 865's, modified most of them and still think the Enfield 650 has better cohesiveness and balance about it. It's also very easy to work on with the tappet adjusters (no bucket and shims) and easy to bring the wet weight under 200kg. Most of that is found in the double walled exhaust system. Sure its only 650cc with a modest 48hp but the engine seems to be over engineered and can take some serious and hefty modification without ill effect as Revelry Cycles in Sydney has proven on the drag strip. 865cc N/A and running 10's
Discovery Channel did a special on the making of the Harley-Davidson V-Rod. You can actually find the full video on TH-cam. Based on your comment I think you would really really enjoy watching it and seeing the lengths they went to, outsourcing motor work to Porsche, the extreme testing, etc. It sounds like it would be right up your alley. Really cool way to spend 45 minutes if you're into this sort of thing. Out of curiosity, what years were your Bonneville's and were any of them the SE model?
I've been riding an interceptor daily for my full-time job and then all the real estate photoshoots I've done since the end of July. I've already done the first oil change and valve adjustment myself, since it's pretty easy (I have previous mechanic experience). No point in paying the dealer $500-$600 USD for that. Currently sitting at about 530 miles and it's running fine (as one should expect). I bought the bike as a year-round commuter in Seattle. I know lots of people worry about rust and pitting, just spend a little time and wash your bike regularly. Use some proper corrosion prevention after and you'll be alright. I enjoy seeing the various reviews on RE's. They all helped me decide if the bike would meet my needs or not. So far, I'm happy with the quality for how much I paid. With proper maintenance and as long as you're not thrashing the bike then you can expect the bike to be reliable.
@@wildjkphoto7213 nope. Mine bedded in and they ain't moving. I'm over 29k now and if they're good I'm going to think about longer intervals. I'm running 15-50 Mobil 1 with stock filters but next change I'm going with Purolator.
Aesthetics are a personal thing . I’m 62 , I don’t like all the plastic on many of the new bikes . I’ve had my lil 350 classic for one season , so far so good .
Nice! Overall I like the look of the Interceptor 650. Tank shape is very elegant. Just not sure who's sense of aesthetics thought having a motor 4 different colors was a good idea lol
Mines a 2019, so 3 years old, 24000 miles. Just had calipers done under warranty. Disks about to be done aswell but assume most would be after such mileage. Everything else works well with no issue. Switch gear budget but all works. In UK and ridden through winter. No evidence of rust etc. Overall a good bike and simplistic design is very classical. Always gets people coming over to look when parking up.
@@YouMotorcycle The caliper issue wasn't the caliper itself, but a new kind of de-icing 'salt' being used in some places which attacked the polished caliper bores. RE recalled bike, and replaced with calipers with anodised bores. The recall was initially in areas where the new salt was being used on winter roads, to prevent a potential problem, but eventually world wide (other marques, including one beginning with K, and another with a B, from both the far east and Europe, have had similar localised issues in the past, but haven't re-called, blaming it on local conditions requiring more thorough cleaning, but RE decided on a recall).
@@burtvhulberthyhbn7583 These bikes are meant to be broken in over 1800 Km's Liquid cooled bikes are at about 1000 Km's. Because of emissions everything is so tight and lean they have to be broken in properly, so I'm willing to bet most of the motor problems people have are from improper break-in.
It wasn't held at 6-7k rpm in first gear, it was around 5k rpm momentarily. Red line is at 8k rpm, everything is going to be okay Peter, come down from the ledge lol
My interceptor is nearing 4th year.... I have replaced stock seat and side stand sensor so far... Periodically we have to keep polishing the engine sides to remove stains, engine and gearshifts are perfectly working smooth till date... No complaints so far
My Interceptor 650 has the same problem, having to keep polishing the engine sides to remove stains. I think it's worth complaining about, because I've had 50 year old japanese motorcycles where the engine covers still looked brand new. If Honda could do something as simple as sealing their motorcycles half a century ago, why can't Royal Enfield spend $2 to do this 50 years later?! FYI I'm currently doing a series where I compare my Interceptor 650 vs my Moto Guzzi V7 vs my Triumph Bonneville as I now own all three. If you'd like to check it out the first video in the series is here: th-cam.com/video/hHD-uyBBezI/w-d-xo.html
Look, I bought 650 not expecting anything great -while owning iron Bullet 500 at the same time- I am not dissapointed - i was expecting just what i got😂. I owned multiple expensive bikes over the years and i get the most joy from Re's. A lot of choices we make is via others - which is not necessary whats best for us. I am in a position that I worry less about fading aluminum or paint chip on a bike that is worth next to nothing - in comparison to my past purchases . I really enjoy my 650.
Perfect. You're your own #1 customer so as long as you're happy, that's what counts, you've done your job. My job is to call it like Isee it for the people of the internets lol. For what it's worth I got a few things wrong in this video, and I made a follow up video about that and addressing those issues a few months ago.
I owned a Royal Enfield back in 2005 because they looked cool but It was crap in every imaginable way, just an old bike not retro bike. The new 650s look kinda attractive though and I’m kind of eyeing them. And I’ve noticed the indian nationalists really take offence to any criticism to royal enfields😂
Re: that last part - I had one guy leave me a poorly worded death threat after watching this video 😂 The new ones are much better. I bought an Interceptor eventually, but I didn't keep it long. They still aren't up to Japanese, Italian, or British-made-in-Thailand standards. Not yet.
My Honda CBR 600 was a week old when the motor detonated without any warning at all and 40 mph when running in locking the rear wheel to their credit Honda replaced the engine back tire and the chain/ sprocket set free of charge and it was a great bike after that , people don’t design mechanical failure into things but they happen anyway that’s because sometimes small issues are missed during modern mass production, i do agree that the wiring on my Enfield could be a little better looking but it is pretty good quality so thats a minor issue that I’ve been gradually sorting out myself
Wow. Never heard of something like that happening on a brand new Honda! What kind of stuff have you been doing to sort out the Enfield. Also who goes from a brand new CBR600 down to an Interceptor? You're like a unicorn 🦄 lol
I have no idea where you get your pricing from but in the $7000 to 8000 price range on Autotrader, the Bonnevilles are a 2011. That makes it an eleven year old bike. Not exactly a bargain in my book.
Toronto, Canada. Have you sold a lot of used bike for asking price? Usually they sell for substantially less, but more importantly, don't buy at every day prices, wait for a good deal and you'll never lose.
On the used market, everywhere. I check the classifieds every day. The good deals don't wait for people who only check once a week or once a month and then complain that motorcycles are expensive lol
Your negative comments about high vibrations over 5K RPM are completely at odds with my experiences. I have had my INT 650 for 1.5 years now with almost 10K miles and I've never ridden a bike that has a smoother engine, especially at high RPM. The smoothness of my engine really begins AFTER 5K and if you don't watch it, you are up to redline before you know it. The "vibrations" you seem to remember are probably confused with your other, single cylinder bike and/or the vibrations your suspension picked up from the road while traveling at high speeds. The only problem I've had was with the relays, but that was solved by cleaning the white grease out of the sockets and replacing the SPDT relays with inexpensive SPST Bosh relays (four each).
@@YouMotorcycle I assure you that something is seriously wrong with the engine or the clutch basket because mine doesn't do that. I urge you to tell the owner about it and for them to see if it is covered under warranty.
@@YouMotorcycle Eye, the plot thickens. Perhaps if you would driven my bike, you would have given the INT 650 a more positive review than "just OK." Everybody that I know of, including Yours Truly, loves their bike and thinks it is what the new Triumph should have been. This is exactly why I wanted this particular bike, because it reminds me so well of my beloved 1965 TR-6 that saved my sanity when I was stationed on Guam during the Vietnam War, turning it from a hot, stinking, boring hell-hole into a Tropical Paradise full of fun and adventure. It's everything my TR was only more refined.
I considered buying this bike, but didn't. The 650 here new is $7,000 USD out the door. Instead, for $4,000 USD I bought a 2005 Triumph T100 with 1,610 miles, and it had brand new tires just put on it, to boot. My *barely used Triumph came equipped with factory optional center stand, chrome chain guard, chrome instrument bezel, chrome valve cover, chrome headlight brackets, dual tone paint, hand pinstriping, fender grab rail, OEM Triumph wind fairing, and Triumph TOR performance mufflers. Only a nitwit who knows nothing about motorcycles would pay $7,000 for that Enfield new when you can get a used Triumph like that for $4,000. Everything on a 2005 Triumph is 2 levels above the Enfield on quality --- the plating, paint work, engine power, fasteners, switchgear, levers and controls, seat, rims, spokes, everything. Also thankfully, the Triumph doesn't have fuel injection or anti lock brakes, which i consider to be negatives, not positives. The Triumph is better looking, too. Not to mention, the Triumph Bonneville air cooled started in 2001, so by now we know how they hold up--- very well !
Hey, thanks for the comment. I think going used is always the right choice. The quality on my 2001 Bonneville was still mostly flawless, meaning, the wear that was on it seemed more from actual use, versus wearing out simply from time. I do think there's something to be said for Fuel Injection over carburetors, but that can be a personal bias. I live in Canada, our temperatures swing my 30 C in the summer to -20 C in the winter, so, FI is nice lol. I'm doing a series I think you'll be interested in, comparing my Bonneville vs my V7 vs my Interceptor (yep, I bought one!). FIrst video of the series is here: th-cam.com/video/hHD-uyBBezI/w-d-xo.html I have to admit, I did get a couple things wrong in this video on the Interceptor though, so I address that in my second video, here: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html
I have owned two recent triumphs and both were a pain in the ass and bothe rode like crap at low speeds i don’t like the interceptor but i do have an Enfield that I haven’t had problems with and my pal has an interceptor with 33000+ miles on it without any issues other than consumables and he has a Himalayan 411 with close to 25 000 miles on and that bike has again been trouble free apart from an oil pressure switch that was leaking a bit of oil but was changed under warranty , apparently common on the first few and that bike does not have an easy life and has actual real adventures
I've been watching your videos, specially because I'm divided between a Bonnie SE and the INT 650 (both in the used market) and not many have compared the two. Honest question: what could be the reason why your experience is relatively negative, compared to other reviews but in the UK and Europe? Could most of the issues you've seen be related to the lack of dealerships in North America while in Europe there's a few more? A practical example is your comment of vibrations on the highway. Most of the reviews I watched mentioned that up to 100 / 120 kph vibrations won't have a noticibel impact (reviewers did mention the vibrations start to creep up at over 5000 rpm, confirming your suspicion). Also, it seems Canadians and US citizens are blessed with cheap SE in the used market but in Europe a good SE would cost around 6000 to 6500 EUR/USD, while a INT 650 could be bought for around 5000-5500 EUR/USD. Taking into account the price difference in Europe, would a SE still be a good choice, in your opinion? Thanks for putting out these videos! edit: the vibration example is now a mute point after having watched your newer video.
If you haven't already you should check out this video on why I sold my Interceptor 650: th-cam.com/video/f3lc6tFAWDM/w-d-xo.html I could be wrong, but I think my perspective is different from most people because: 1) In my series I'm reviewing a used Interceptor, and part of my disappointment with the bike was that it didn't age well. People reviewing newer ones can't really speak to how they look 5 years later. 2) I've been riding for almost 20 years but still keep very current. Whereas I see a lot of reviews coming from people with < 5 years of riding experience, and others with decades of experience who would rather compare these motorcycles to the standards of the 1970s rather than the standards of the 2020s. Fancy way of saying I'm picky about all my bikes. 3) A lot of people get ego-invested in their motorcycle. They spent a lot of money on it. That's their motorcycle, it's the one, or maybe it's one of just a few motorcycles they have. I have a half dozen motorcycles. I'm not ego-invested in any of my motorcycles. They come and go. So I don't tend to look at them through rose-colored glasses or as forgivingly as people who are ego-invested in their bikes do. 4) I worked in the motorcycle industry at the manufacturer level, the dealership level, and a self-employed level for almost 15 years... so I look at motorcycling not only as a motorcyclist and a content creator, but also as someone who grew up in the industry. I've worked with a lot of people way smarter than me and way more experienced than me who were generous enough with their time to try to teach me something, and, that probably shapes my views and priorities different than others. 5) Like you pointed out there are also probably regional differences in terms of reputation, dealer support, etc. And I just want to wrap this up by pointing out that, everyone's situation is different. The market might be very different where you are. Personally, I'm never looking to buy one or two specific motorcycles, I'm just looking for a deal on a motorcycle that could be fun. If it happens to be this model, or that model, I don't care, as long as it's a fun model that I can get for really cheap and either break even or make a few dollars when I'm done with it I'll probably buy it, so that's why I get my motorcycles for cheap and don't get too personally ego-invested in them. That said, I'm also human, still learning stuff along the way, still making occasional mistakes (Episode 2 of my comparison series acknowledges some), and I'm in a cool position where I get to apply what others have taught me, make content, and see what people have to say about it the comments and sometimes learn more stuff for the next video. Life's good :) At the end of the day, both are fun bikes, both have their pros and cons, just get the one where the deal feels best for you. You can always sell it later and try something else. Diversity is the spice of life... that's why I have too many bikes haha.
@@YouMotorcycle Thanks a lot for the thorough answer. I do share your concern if a INT 650 will look as stunning as a 2009 Bonneville SE looks after 10+ years, only time will tell. If I found a '09 SE, non CANbus version (I just like those old-fashioned clocks!) I would go for it in a heart beat, despite the premium prices on this side of the Atlantic (price and cost of ownership), but I guess they were manufactured for only a year or so, they are very hard to find locally. Recently I'mvw been considering the INT 650, I believe they are still a bit expensive in the used market but it seems that everyone at least agrees it's an easy-going (or endearing) bike to ride and enjoy it without any rush.
I have had my 650 Since June, I have 8000 kms on it, no issues. I have been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and currently own 8 from old 2 stroke Kawi and Yamaha to GSXR's, Love my Royal it is the perfect little bike, it handles amazing, of course not as good at other sport bikes I have owned but its not a sport bike, it wheelies good, its really easy to work on, lots of after market parts available and they are inexpensive. This bike is literally a copy of what they were in the 60's aside from the Anti lock and fuel injection, the bike rides and performs as it would in the 60s but not vibration and that is why you buy this bike, if you want a rocket best to go for Japanese or Italian. This bike you buy it and make it your own, customize it and ride your bike. Triumph are like the Japanese and Ducati and Moto Guzzi and MV and so on, you pay big bucks for them and you can not customize them because they are already perfect and you pay for it and the next year you have a 18 or 2000 buck bike (after taxes and crap) that was yesterdays news. Royal you buy it and you ride and you love it, its unique and fun. I don't know if the person making this review knows what he is talking about or just thinks he does but some of the statements he said implies he does not, "Royal Enfield been around for about 15 years" lol Really. "3 times as much as a used Bonneville", he must be buying them are wrecked or stolen, maybe his other reviews and vids are better but he definitely did not do his research on Royal before he did this vid, he had his mind made up already what he was going to say before he got on the bike. LOL he said "the point of this vid, is if they are good after 5 years but I cant speak to that" Why did you do the vid if the point was if they would be any good after 5 years, why didn't you wait another 2 years and then find one that is 5 years old and do the review. You suffer from Verbal Diarrhea, you are just spewing shit, talking about crap you have no idea about. Shame on you.
Clean your ears or turn on captions instead of being an angry old man. If you could follow along better you would have a lot of your issues with the video addressed. I deleted your name calling and abusive comments. There's really no reason to be so emotional.
@@YouMotorcycle People who don't know what they are talking about should not be allowed to speak. and I watched every second of the vid. "that means at full power it will vibrate" lol , no that is not what it means and no that is not true. They have been around for over 100 years none stop manufacturing, not "about 15 years"
@@YouMotorcycle lol, you did, ya you are right my hearing is terrible but still does not explain the "This means it will Vibrate at full Horsepower", nor does it explain, " 3 times as much as a used Bonneville".
June 2019 til now 37,000+ miles. A new battery and speedo cable is the list of problems so far. Very pleased with its handling in southern California 's mountains up to 10,232 ft. In the desert up to 115F and oul temp only exceeds 200 at stoplights. A remarkable well made engine/ tranny. Never leaks or uses a drip of oil
@@YouMotorcycle battery at 6 months speedo cable at 11k. This cable fractured at 36k so I used $2.02 cents worth of 3 wire rubber covered wire attaching both ends. Headlight and tail light bulbs. That's it so far.
@@burtvhulberthyhbn7583 for comparison, my Harley v-rod in the same mileage only needed a new thermostat... OEM battery lasted 5-6 years. It definitely took me a lot years to put that kind of mileage on it than it took you on your bike, props to you for getting out on two quite a bit. I have several bikes so even on a good year each one will only get a few thousand miles
@@YouMotorcycle side cases look like new but here in southern California I've barely been misted on twice. I just don't do rain . The 2019's had notoriously bad batteries. They all failed early
Seems like a lot of the European people love them. I can honestly say that my 1998 Dyna wide glide is an absolute animal and I’ve never had to do anything other than the regular maintenance. I do like the low maintenance of my ninja but it’s just not the same. I like to have an ample amount of power when I need it. I’m not a big fan of bikes that won’t go over a hundred miles an hour lol 😂
My bike is dead steady at all speeds. I've only had it on the freeway at a little over 80 and I avoid freeway riding, but when I have to, I am not afraid to keep up with traffic.
Where have you been man? The 18" front tire on the Bonneville is a new thing, since they went liquid cooled in 2017. Far more Bonnevilles sold with 19" wheels out on the roads.
Thanks for the quick reply. I’m not up on Triumphs. I ride a BMW 1200GS and Husqvarna 701. I’m 74, I’m having some health issues and I’m looking for a bike with a lower seat height. I’d also prefer a 19” front wheel as I like riding gravel/dirt roads. I still want to travel so I need some luggage options. Been looking at the Royal Enfield and Triumph offerings.
I'm touring across Italy on a BMW G650GS. They can come with seat heights as low as 30.7" which would be even lower and can be much better configured for touring. Here is my touring setup for an example: th-cam.com/video/EnWKHOYTyW0/w-d-xo.html
It's probably not going to last as long after you've revved the guts out of it before it's broken in. Of course you'd be feeling some vibration. And where in the world will you find a decent used Bonnie for half the price? Post some ads.
There are issues with the Interceptor but there are issues with any bike.. you cancelled your own comment. You did make some valid quality points that would apply to any brand. Try breaking it in properly and you shouldn't have the vibration! I don't think the bike likes you. 😂
Someone I used to work at a motorcycle dealership with has offered to lend me his to test ride. Well broken in and maintained. Hoping to get on it and get a review up before it gets too chilly!
If/when I have a problem with mine I'll make a video about. So far so good 👌 also hard to paint all Triumphs with one brush. There are much more technologically sophisticated ones with many more parts that can fail. A used Bonneville by comparison is super simple.
Peak power is at 7000-7500 rpms, so if you're shifting at 5k rpm when its getting very vibraty, you're never getting anywhere close to your peak power. That's the point I'm demonstrating to people. Look at a dyno chart for this bike.
Liked that quote about a good motorcycle! They do seem to be a cheaper made motorcycle and really wish some of the QC was better on them. I really do love the looks but I’d be scared to buy one at this point, esp after hearing the catastrophe of the guy with 200 miles
Shit can happen and it's better to have it happen in the warranty period. No? At any rate, the vast majority of us who ride Royal Enfield HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED catastrophic engine failure! Yep!!! That's correct!!! Our bikes are running real fine
There's a 3 year warranty. Thank God it's there for situations like this. However, to be fair Royal Enfield doesn't have a reputation for building motorcycles with engines that grenade. There's no way they could sell so many bikes (900,000 units annually) to their value-conscious Indian home market and maintain a good reputation.
I was a space booster (Atlas and Delta) test and launch engineer and believe me, I was and am still am very, very, very QC aware. During my entire career, my crew did such fine work, we never had a single launch or mission failure. I can tell you that the QC that was performed during my bike's build was perfectly adequate and I can find no fault in it except I did replace the relays with Bosh units.
Hey @chopperfett thank you, I still say that all the time to this very day, including in the video I put out yesterday which addresses some of the mistakes I made in this video. You can check it out here: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html PS: Are you ever going to start publishing again man?
@bopryszlak3863 hang on, back up, that's not how it works, at all lol. What you're saying is called composition fallacy. It's the assumption that what is true for a part most therefore also be true for a whole... based on zero evidence, just assumption. Just because a company does something in large volumes in a certain market, does not mean they do it right. Look at the airbag company Takata. They are one of the largest airbag manufacturers in the world, in a very safety-oriented market, and they have recalled and replaced tens of millions of airbags.
To be honest, not sure if it's my mic or the bike. I wasn't particularly enamored with the sound. It wasn't terrible either. The Moto Guzzi V7 is probably the best "sounding" bike in this class as far as stock exhausts go, but different pricepoint and has some other pros and cons versus the Royal Enfield.
I think you missed the point... I bought my (used) low mileage Bonneville for less than half the price of a new RE 650... and the Bonneville is a better built better quality bike. That's where the value is.
“dull, boring, plain, completely lacking of any particular character set that makes it easy to talk about” I’m sorry, this is way off from my experience.
'Tested' a bike without taking it out of the city. Heard about someone on the internet who had a problem with a bike so condemns the bike. Really, is this the best you can do? (RE is outselling Triumph by a long margin, even in the UK)
What a silly thing to say. Kia outsells Ferrari by a long margin too, are you saying the kia is the better vehicle because it sells in greater volume? 🤣 I took a continental gt out this year, highway and country roads included. I stand by most of what I said here. Also, INT > CGT.
If your main issue, repeated manny times, is not the apparent quality of a new bike but how does the quality hold up for at least 5 years: Why did you even bother making this video?
To each his own. Price, not very accurate price comparison, and one anecdote horror story of bike which was replaced by re. You should hear the horror stories of triumph customers that were fobbed off. I think owners give arguably the best reviews as they live daily with the bike any usually give an honest appraisal as most people will shame a bad brand if there is anything to complain about. Thanks for the different point of view though.
I've bought a few Bonnevilles over the years. I have price alerts so I get emails whenever they come up for sale for cheap and buy usually within 24 hours of the ad going up.. Many snooze, many lose. As for reviews, honestly, most owner reviews are full of bias. If you look at my V-Rod review I listed 21 pros and 19 cons. When is the last time you saw an owner's review that was so brutally honestly critical of their own motorcycle? You'll be lucky if most owners tell you five things wrong that they don't also try to sugar coat. If you want the most honest review you can, get it from the person who isn't emotionally, financially, and ego invested in the product they are reviewing.
Thanks for the reply, though I wouldn’t say most owners sugar coat their opinion of a bike. Better to get an honest opinion of someone who can give an account of prolonged experience of the bike, eg breakdowns, service experiences, parts wearing out etc. I’m not saying you are not being honest but we all have prejudices. Further, buying a bargain spotted early doesn’t mean that it’s an average price for that bike. Like for like new re int 650 is about 2/3 price of the triumph 👍
You're right, buying a bargain spotted early doesn't mean that's an average price for that bike... but why would anyone want to pay an average price when they could wait a little longer and get one at a good price instead? Because they're either impatient, or don't care. So when I say you can get a Bonneville for half the price, you absolutely can. I've done it three times now. If others choose to spend more than they need to because they don't want to wait or just don't care, that's their choice, but it doesn't mean it's something they have to do.
Honda was just given a recall order for a 300cc model that turns off by itself. It's affecting at least 25k units. What were you saying about Honda my guy?
That they don't make things cheaply and when things do go wrong they stand behind their product even if it means going through great lengths and at great costs to protect their reputation and protect their customers. Look up the number of RE650 owners with brake issues. Where are the recalls from RE?
Keep comparing it to bikes that are nearly double the size and double the price... Seems like comparing apples to oranges. RE I feel are a different breed of raw motorcycle. I think you're right about the unproven record of longevity however. Need to hear more praise about the build quality and the like in order to compete with say, the Japanese market and their proven track record of dependability.
My 10 year old Bonneville is 865cc and (used) cost half the price of this... I'm definitely not comparing it to a bike "nearly double the size and double the price" lol
A little harsh on the review. Maybe review when you have more time, and please get onto the open road. I have a 2015 Road king, great for touring, comfy as. 2021 RE which I enjoy riding so much. Two different rides, both enjoyable.
@@YouMotorcycle thanks my friend 👍 No not my first bike ..been riding for a while. Currently got the int 650 and a 2021 yellow honda monkey ❤️ In the past i have owned: Suzuki Drz400sm 2005 Yamaha yz250 1994 ❤️☠️ Some old yamaha 998cc cruiser Just recently got rid of my Royal enfield classic 500 pegasus edition.(2018).. one of 1000 world wide. I miss that bike.. damn fool i am selling that.. There is a vid or two on my channel of it if you want to check it out.
lol I wasn't fond of the brand. I've had a couple Royal Enfields since making this video. They're fine bikes. Not great, but pretty good. I made a video after this addressing the things I got wrong in this video, and the things I got right too.
Royel Enfield has the Best looking engine because the barrels are tilted forward 😁 Royal Enfield 3 year warranty would take care of any engine leaks. 🤠
I own one of these now (lots of content on it coming soon). It still bothers me every time I look at the engine that the motor is a handful of different colors. It just screams cheapness.
@@YouMotorcycle There is nothing cheap about the Royal Enfield 650 engine, the engineering is vary good, 4 valves, one cam, creat low end torque for a 650cc. The compression is not to high so the engine stays cool and will run on any gas. 🤠 it's the new classic of our times. 😁
LOL. They don't even seal the engine sidecovers, so the polished aluminum is pitted within a few years even if the bike is kept indoors. I bought from the original owner who alwys kept his in a large garage. The bike only has 300 km on it. The motor already looks worse than some of the 1970s Hondas I owned. It's embarrassing that Honda could do it better half a century ago on a little CB350 than Royal Enfield can do today on their flagship model. I try not to think about it so I won't hate my bike. It's a nice bike, but to pretend the thing is flawless is just silly.
As I've said before, I'm just not much of a fan. I've never even ridden one so I can comment. Just the design doesn't resonate with me. The color combo on this one you're demoing is quite handsome though.
No, you can’t comment. RIDE ONE!!!!!! I used to think Hardly Dangerouses were rubbish - still think they’re overpriced lumps, but I love my street glide. Prefer my Interceptor though!
@@nigeltoulson6556 I've never ridden one and I'm not much of a fan but I'll comment anyway. lol I've had one for 2 yrs and love it. Pd 8400 out the door with 0 kms. A blast to ride and no mechanical issues thus far but did require roadside assistance twice. Once for a bad batt which req'd a tow and later I ran out of gas on Canada's WC. Someone in Florida took care of both issues in about a half hour. What I like, apart from everything about it.. easy maintenance. 👍👍
@nigeltoulson6556 Why can't someone say they aren't a fan of a motorcycle without riding one? I can take one look at my buddy's Panigale V4 and say I'm not a fan without riding one, and that's a fantastic motorcycle... if you're into that kind of thing... definitely not for me though. Too expensive for my wallet, too uncomfortable for the long distance riding I do, and too costly to replace things if they break, etc. Me having never ridden it doesn't make my comments any less valid. Likewise, Kraken doesn't need to ride one to know it's not for him. That being said, I have to admit, I did make a few mistakes in this video, even though I did test ride this bike, so I've addressed them here: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html
Been around for about 15 years, Seriously, did you just say that, Oh buddy, you need to get your facts straight before you advertise your own ignorance.
After Taxes and everything you pay 10,000 bucks, with that you get 3 years road side assistance and 3 years warranty and you can do all the warranty checks your self, not having to take it to GPBikes and pay 500 to 800 bucks just to do the warranty service. Lets keep going with this, Review lol you have no clue what your talking about do you. lolol
You can do all the service work yourself on most motorcycles. Familiarize yourself with the Consumer Protection Act, and likewise, the USA's Magnuson-Moss act.
@@YouMotorcycle you are not allowed to do the warranty service work on Triumph they will not allow you to but Royal Enfield will as long as you go the receipts
@@karlsquire8148 incorrect. Federal laws protect us from that from any and all automobile/powersports manufacturers. I've already given you the name of the laws for both the US and Canada. Educate yourself.
@@karlsquire8148 I don't have to. The law takes precedence over whatever someone there has to say. More importantly though, I'm from Toronto, why would I go to gp bikes? There's Powersports TO, my local triumph dealer, 2 km away
Probably the worst review of anything I’ve ever heard in my life in respect of how it was compiled, I think I could probably say exactly the same thing about a BMW GS, because”I” don’t like them, Enfield is a wonderful bike for the market they are aiming for, you obviously aren’t it
You can’t ride in traffic. All of my injuries have been from riding pillion on riders such as this Probably the big takeaway is concentrate on riding. Talk later
No not at all. See my review of my favorite motorcycle, my V Rod. I listed about 15-20 things wrong with it. I'm probably more honest about a motorcycle's faults than most people.
You are in the minority old chum, And mostly talking absolute rubbish, I've owned an Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 for Two and a half years from New, And it's brilliant 👍 I've also bought a Royal Enfield Hunter 350 which is also excellent 👌 They are absolutely brilliant Machines, After 50 years of Motorcycling experience, Also those protection things on the engine,are practical, These engines get very hot, because they are modern lean burn engines. I think I'm qualified to be making my opinion on them 👍 Oh, Bye the way, People just come up and talk to me and talk to me all the time on Royal Enfields, More than any other motorcycles, They certainly attract attention 👍 Cheers Paul Foster
I got a few things wrong about this bike. I admit them here: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html - I liked one enough the second time I rode one to buy one, but it's still far from perfect.
@@YouMotorcycle Very good, But the finish is down to the the owner being lazy nowadays, Sorry but frankly it is, Blingy bike's need to be looked after, I've owned my Interceptor over two years, And it's like show room condition 👌 It's not rocket science, Merry Christmas Cheers Paul
@@paulfoster5432 no not really... My BMW adventure bike has ridden across two countries, is 11 years old, looks better than it did brand new, and has never been polished in its life. Royal Enfield uses aluminum engine casings and is too cheap to seal them so they get pitted and need elbow grease that motorcycles from nearly any other brand don't. Two years is nothing! Lol. Merry Christmas and Happy New year to you and yours! 🎄🥂
@@YouMotorcycle LOL 😅 That's my point, Years ago Honda used to cover the alloy with a protective plastic, But you couldn't polish it, And eventually it would just oxidize from the inside, so we had to strip it off, And polish it, Now we don't have to, You keep on top of it, If you don't want to do this type of thing, Either buy the black engine version, Or a different bike 👍 But after 50 years of Motorcycling experience I've got quite good at cleaning bike's 🎉🎄 Cheers Paul 👍
Lmao, no I wouldn't say it's that bad. It's a fine bike. It's a great first bike when you don't know how much better that better bikes are, or a great last bike when you don't care for anything better because you just ride around here and there willy nilly. People in between will want better.
You keep bringing up 5 years. Your riding the damn bike in crappy city traffic. Instead of insinuating that it wont hold up which you admit your "out of the box" review can't evaluate stick to the important handling characteristics of the bike. Otherwise don't do the ride and waste peoples time.
It's "You're", not "your" and "people's" not "peoples". Please make sure your content is on point before you go criticizing someone else's. ...Otherwise don't do the comment and waste "peoples" time 😂😂😂
Here's the thread about the guy here in Toronto who's Royal Enfield broke in the first 3 days and need to be completely replaced: www.gtamotorcycle.com/xf/threads/new-royal-enfield-dealer-in-town.214675/page-2#post-2770523
My brand new Harley Dyna wouldn't start after they rolled it out the showroom. After 9 months, 2 starter motors, endless batteries and 2 wiring looms later, it still didn't run right. All manufacturers have a horror story. HD then made theirs worse as they claimed they wouldn't do any more work on the bike as it was out of warranty. The finish on HD export models is a disgrace, and the components holding the engine together corrode once oxygen hits them. The RE is finished just as well as my Triumphs and to a much better standard than Indian, HD and Buell. Just my experience and opinion to balance out the RE haters! Ride safe, stay upright!
hahah this was me!!!!
to this day it was still not fully explained to me what actually went wrong with the bike. they suspected it was cylinder failure but i have no idea what would cause that. and the bike only had about 120km (so less than 75 miles lol) on it.
i have to give credit to the dealer i had towed it to (they were not the original dealer i bought it from) for getting in contact with RE North America and in total i was without the bike for 2 weeks before it was fully replaced.
RE North America asked me to sign an NDA to not tell anyone but offered me zero compensation (they told me they were basically doing *me* a favour by replacing a broken bike that i had paid for in full lol) so i told them fuck no i'm not signing it. and now my story is immortalized in this video haha.
as an update, i have about 7000km on my replacement 2021 GT650 as i split seat time with my ducati (that has magically run perfectly fine for years and years!) and everything is running fine so far. but its definitely left me with a bad taste about the brand overall.
@@notstevelam Hahaha, hey man small world! Can't believe they had the nerve to ask you to sign an NDA, and good on you for having the quality of character to say no way. A lot of people just would have shrugged and taken the easy way out.
Glad the replacement bike is good so far! Maybe keep that Ducati just in case?
Thanks for leaving a comment and sharing a bit more of your story. Maybe see you around Toronto some time. Ride safe!
Adrian
First time I've heard about this type of failure. They make a lot of these - literally one of the best selling models in the world. Major mechanical failures have not been reported previously. These are not Japanese quality, but they have something the Japs lack .... character. Unfortunately, the A-hole dealer in Toronto doesn't know the first thing about customer relations ... surprise .. just like Harley Davidson dealers. They must have gone to the same seminars.
When you have had a motorcycle for 25 years and 400,000 miles on the original engine, my 1999 883 Sportster has.
5th Year into OwnerShip on Int 650. Have done only 20k kms but all of them for long drives beyond 500kms . I dont use it in the city. Its a decent bike. I have had no issues. Engine is good. Basic stuff.. Good enough.
Fair and honest review ^ I'm glad it's working well enough for you!
As a rider who began in the early 1960s on British bikes, I always find comments concerning vibration, seat comfort, suspension compliance, etc, humorous - even though I can understand later generations of riders have become comfort oriented due primarily to being spoiled by the excellence of the Japanese approach to motorcycle refinement. The Royal Enfield is - in spirit at least- a retro British bike. There may be vibration at certain rpm - there is supposed to be. There may be a forward lean - there is supposed to be. I could expand further but won’t as it would serve no positive purpose. Of the 53 motorcycles I’ve owned and raced, toured and restored, my current RE Interceptor is a delight to ride and provides excellent replication of the bikes of yore. My restored 1959 AJS 650 twin supports the similarities and both still trigger memories of the Nortons, Velocettes, Ariel’s and many others that were so enjoyable in my day. Thanks for your objective approach to bike reviews. My wish for you would be that you ride some of the early bikes to enhance your perspective. Blessings
Thanks for the kind words.
I've since taken a second test ride on an Interceptor and liked it enough to buy one. I made a few follow ups to this video, if you find yourself with time to kill.
The first one addresses some things I got wrong in this video: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html
The second one is about why I still prefer my Moto Guzzi V7 and my Triumph Bonneville: th-cam.com/video/f3lc6tFAWDM/w-d-xo.html
I have had my Interceptor since 2021. Cons:- heavy, had to replace relays with a better product after it cut out a couple of times. Pros:- does “what it says on the tin”, price, attracts attention, super smooth gearbox, good mirror visibility, smooth with little vibration. My neighbour who has the Triumph Bonneville has ridden it and loves it although, understandably says his has more power. I have been riding bikes for almost 60yrs so, at my advanced years, it is the most fun in all conditions, of all bikes I have ridden and keeps me within my limits. I regularly ride with my bike club with no difficulty keeping up.Did I mention that it is heavy?😎
Fair observations, thanks for sharing them! Glad that it's working out well for you, aside from the fact it's a little heavy :)
I bought one of these 38 months ago. Now I've got nearly 29k miles on it. 2 light bulbs and a battery needed replacement. The chain and front sprocket at 23k. I'm just changing oil and filters and lots of tires. It starts and runs perfectly every day. It doesn't use or leak any oil anywhere at any time. Zero vibration.
I'm absolutely satisfied with this great little bike. Even if it only goes 100 MPH tops I somehow am able to manage. At any speed it doesn't vibrate. At all.
just say 3 years
Very similar to my entire experience. The Enfield 650s are better than before, my cousin had a 750 Interceptor in the mid 1960's; they have come a long way. I too have owned a Bonneville SE for ten years and did suspension upgrades along with a full stainless-steel exhaust. I also own a Speed Twin 1200cc and it is not without its faults. I am 72.
The Royal Enfield 650s are THE best value in today's market; bar none.
I'd say the Honda CB500 family offers a lot more value. My buddy Wobblycat put over 100,000 trouble-free km on his, taking it all across North and Central America. We'll see if the REs can do 100,000 km as reliably.
@@nothanks237 3 years and 4 months
I started riding in 1973 and have only owned Japanese bikes. I fell in love with the looks of the INT 650 and purchased a new one in March 2020. Conservative break-in and maintenance by the book. It is butter smooth running up to 80 mph. At 85 mph I start to feel the slightest vibes at the pegs. I purchased a Meteor 350 in August 2021. Love both of these bikes. Both bikes run much better after 3000 miles. Pleased to hear the owner with the "lemon" got his bike relaced under warranty. That kind of thing happens. I too share your concern on how the bikes will hold up over time. A lot of that, IMO, will no doubt depend on their care. I commend your handling of the negative comments. You, Sir, are entitled to your opinions.
Hi Michael, thanks very much for the kind words. I appreciate it. Glad you're enjoying yours and hopefully you continue to do so! Ride safe :)
My 2003 Suzuki has been rained on a thousand times and abused in numerous ways ( not by me) and is still in good shape , not great because i'm not rich enough to fix everything right away .
Hundreds of professional motorcycles cant' be wrong and there's no better endorsement when they reach into their own pockets and buy one themselves... Ironically Royal Enfield scouted some of the best engineers from England and Japan, used Harris Performance to design the frame and used Paul Young, Australian ex Superbike rider to hone the whole thing together. I dont think any manufacture would have gone to such lengths in the amount of test miles they put it through before bringing into production. I've personally owned 6 Triumph 865's, modified most of them and still think the Enfield 650 has better cohesiveness and balance about it. It's also very easy to work on with the tappet adjusters (no bucket and shims) and easy to bring the wet weight under 200kg. Most of that is found in the double walled exhaust system. Sure its only 650cc with a modest 48hp but the engine seems to be over engineered and can take some serious and hefty modification without ill effect as Revelry Cycles in Sydney has proven on the drag strip. 865cc N/A and running 10's
Discovery Channel did a special on the making of the Harley-Davidson V-Rod. You can actually find the full video on TH-cam. Based on your comment I think you would really really enjoy watching it and seeing the lengths they went to, outsourcing motor work to Porsche, the extreme testing, etc. It sounds like it would be right up your alley. Really cool way to spend 45 minutes if you're into this sort of thing.
Out of curiosity, what years were your Bonneville's and were any of them the SE model?
I've been riding an interceptor daily for my full-time job and then all the real estate photoshoots I've done since the end of July. I've already done the first oil change and valve adjustment myself, since it's pretty easy (I have previous mechanic experience). No point in paying the dealer $500-$600 USD for that.
Currently sitting at about 530 miles and it's running fine (as one should expect). I bought the bike as a year-round commuter in Seattle. I know lots of people worry about rust and pitting, just spend a little time and wash your bike regularly. Use some proper corrosion prevention after and you'll be alright.
I enjoy seeing the various reviews on RE's. They all helped me decide if the bike would meet my needs or not. So far, I'm happy with the quality for how much I paid. With proper maintenance and as long as you're not thrashing the bike then you can expect the bike to be reliable.
Just a heads up. I've adjusted my valves per spec. The last time they needed a tweak was at 12k. 18 and 24k all 8 were in spec.
I call that quality.
@@burtvhulberthyhbn7583 Nice! I had a couple that were out of spec, but not by much. I doubt they'll move much.
@@wildjkphoto7213 nope. Mine bedded in and they ain't moving. I'm over 29k now and if they're good I'm going to think about longer intervals.
I'm running 15-50 Mobil 1 with stock filters but next change I'm going with Purolator.
Valves at 500 miles wow and why
@@Deertracks123 recommend per the RE maintenance schedule. It's actually recommended at 300 miles in the manual.
Aesthetics are a personal thing . I’m 62 , I don’t like all the plastic on many of the new bikes . I’ve had my lil 350 classic for one season , so far so good .
Nice! Overall I like the look of the Interceptor 650. Tank shape is very elegant. Just not sure who's sense of aesthetics thought having a motor 4 different colors was a good idea lol
Mines a 2019, so 3 years old, 24000 miles. Just had calipers done under warranty. Disks about to be done aswell but assume most would be after such mileage. Everything else works well with no issue. Switch gear budget but all works. In UK and ridden through winter. No evidence of rust etc. Overall a good bike and simplistic design is very classical. Always gets people coming over to look when parking up.
Good to hear it's holding up well, side from brake caliper. That's kind of scary.
@@YouMotorcycle nothing wrong with calipers but was part of a recall.
@@timgarnett7636 Right, but recalls are expensive. They wouldn't have issued a recall unless there were problems with other people's calipers.
Obviously
@@YouMotorcycle The caliper issue wasn't the caliper itself, but a new kind of de-icing 'salt' being used in some places which attacked the polished caliper bores. RE recalled bike, and replaced with calipers with anodised bores. The recall was initially in areas where the new salt was being used on winter roads, to prevent a potential problem, but eventually world wide (other marques, including one beginning with K, and another with a B, from both the far east and Europe, have had similar localised issues in the past, but haven't re-called, blaming it on local conditions requiring more thorough cleaning, but RE decided on a recall).
50km bike. Not run in and being held at 6-7 k rpm in first gear. Very vibrant. It would be. Change gear
I would be pissed if I bought a bike where someone red lined it before it’s first gallon of gas
No kidding huh? Who does that?
@@burtvhulberthyhbn7583 These bikes are meant to be broken in over 1800 Km's Liquid cooled bikes are at about 1000 Km's. Because of emissions everything is so tight and lean they have to be broken in properly, so I'm willing to bet most of the motor problems people have are from improper break-in.
It wasn't held at 6-7k rpm in first gear, it was around 5k rpm momentarily. Red line is at 8k rpm, everything is going to be okay Peter, come down from the ledge lol
Exactly.. no usual nor normal riders will ride this way.. nitpicking absolutely
My interceptor is nearing 4th year.... I have replaced stock seat and side stand sensor so far... Periodically we have to keep polishing the engine sides to remove stains, engine and gearshifts are perfectly working smooth till date... No complaints so far
My Interceptor 650 has the same problem, having to keep polishing the engine sides to remove stains. I think it's worth complaining about, because I've had 50 year old japanese motorcycles where the engine covers still looked brand new. If Honda could do something as simple as sealing their motorcycles half a century ago, why can't Royal Enfield spend $2 to do this 50 years later?!
FYI I'm currently doing a series where I compare my Interceptor 650 vs my Moto Guzzi V7 vs my Triumph Bonneville as I now own all three. If you'd like to check it out the first video in the series is here: th-cam.com/video/hHD-uyBBezI/w-d-xo.html
Look, I bought 650 not expecting anything great -while owning iron Bullet 500 at the same time- I am not dissapointed - i was expecting just what i got😂. I owned multiple expensive bikes over the years and i get the most joy from Re's. A lot of choices we make is via others - which is not necessary whats best for us. I am in a position that I worry less about fading aluminum or paint chip on a bike that is worth next to nothing - in comparison to my past purchases . I really enjoy my 650.
Perfect. You're your own #1 customer so as long as you're happy, that's what counts, you've done your job. My job is to call it like Isee it for the people of the internets lol. For what it's worth I got a few things wrong in this video, and I made a follow up video about that and addressing those issues a few months ago.
I owned a Royal Enfield back in 2005 because they looked cool but It was crap in every imaginable way, just an old bike not retro bike. The new 650s look kinda attractive though and I’m kind of eyeing them. And I’ve noticed the indian nationalists really take offence to any criticism to royal enfields😂
Re: that last part - I had one guy leave me a poorly worded death threat after watching this video 😂
The new ones are much better. I bought an Interceptor eventually, but I didn't keep it long. They still aren't up to Japanese, Italian, or British-made-in-Thailand standards. Not yet.
My Honda CBR 600 was a week old when the motor detonated without any warning at all and 40 mph when running in locking the rear wheel to their credit Honda replaced the engine back tire and the chain/ sprocket set free of charge and it was a great bike after that , people don’t design mechanical failure into things but they happen anyway that’s because sometimes small issues are missed during modern mass production, i do agree that the wiring on my Enfield could be a little better looking but it is pretty good quality so thats a minor issue that I’ve been gradually sorting out myself
Wow. Never heard of something like that happening on a brand new Honda! What kind of stuff have you been doing to sort out the Enfield. Also who goes from a brand new CBR600 down to an Interceptor? You're like a unicorn 🦄 lol
I have no idea where you get your pricing from but in the $7000 to 8000 price range on Autotrader, the Bonnevilles are a 2011. That makes it an eleven year old bike. Not exactly a bargain in my book.
Toronto, Canada. Have you sold a lot of used bike for asking price? Usually they sell for substantially less, but more importantly, don't buy at every day prices, wait for a good deal and you'll never lose.
Lol a bonneville for half the price? Where?
Indeed..... 🤣
On the used market, everywhere. I check the classifieds every day. The good deals don't wait for people who only check once a week or once a month and then complain that motorcycles are expensive lol
I'm 57 and I love my Interceptor 650, canyon red !
Enjoy! How many miles on it?
I'm gonna get Canyon Red too !!
Your negative comments about high vibrations over 5K RPM are completely at odds with my experiences. I have had my INT 650 for 1.5 years now with almost 10K miles and I've never ridden a bike that has a smoother engine, especially at high RPM. The smoothness of my engine really begins AFTER 5K and if you don't watch it, you are up to redline before you know it. The "vibrations" you seem to remember are probably confused with your other, single cylinder bike and/or the vibrations your suspension picked up from the road while traveling at high speeds. The only problem I've had was with the relays, but that was solved by cleaning the white grease out of the sockets and replacing the SPDT relays with inexpensive SPST Bosh relays (four each).
You can literally hear the shaking from the vibration in the clip I talk about it
@@YouMotorcycle I assure you that something is seriously wrong with the engine or the clutch basket because mine doesn't do that. I urge you to tell the owner about it and for them to see if it is covered under warranty.
@@oldgeezerproductions the dealer was the owner. They are already no longer an Enfield dealer.
@@YouMotorcycle Eye, the plot thickens. Perhaps if you would driven my bike, you would have given the INT 650 a more positive review than "just OK." Everybody that I know of, including Yours Truly, loves their bike and thinks it is what the new Triumph should have been. This is exactly why I wanted this particular bike, because it reminds me so well of my beloved 1965 TR-6 that saved my sanity when I was stationed on Guam during the Vietnam War, turning it from a hot, stinking, boring hell-hole into a Tropical Paradise full of fun and adventure. It's everything my TR was only more refined.
I considered buying this bike, but didn't. The 650 here new is $7,000 USD out the door. Instead, for $4,000 USD I bought a 2005 Triumph T100 with 1,610 miles, and it had brand new tires just put on it, to boot.
My *barely used Triumph came equipped with factory optional center stand, chrome chain guard, chrome instrument bezel, chrome valve cover, chrome headlight brackets, dual tone paint, hand pinstriping, fender grab rail, OEM Triumph wind fairing, and Triumph TOR performance mufflers. Only a nitwit who knows nothing about motorcycles would pay $7,000 for that Enfield new when you can get a used Triumph like that for $4,000.
Everything on a 2005 Triumph is 2 levels above the Enfield on quality --- the plating, paint work, engine power, fasteners, switchgear, levers and controls, seat, rims, spokes, everything. Also thankfully, the Triumph doesn't have fuel injection or anti lock brakes, which i consider to be negatives, not positives. The Triumph is better looking, too.
Not to mention, the Triumph Bonneville air cooled started in 2001, so by now we know how they hold up--- very well !
Hey, thanks for the comment. I think going used is always the right choice. The quality on my 2001 Bonneville was still mostly flawless, meaning, the wear that was on it seemed more from actual use, versus wearing out simply from time.
I do think there's something to be said for Fuel Injection over carburetors, but that can be a personal bias. I live in Canada, our temperatures swing my 30 C in the summer to -20 C in the winter, so, FI is nice lol.
I'm doing a series I think you'll be interested in, comparing my Bonneville vs my V7 vs my Interceptor (yep, I bought one!). FIrst video of the series is here: th-cam.com/video/hHD-uyBBezI/w-d-xo.html
I have to admit, I did get a couple things wrong in this video on the Interceptor though, so I address that in my second video, here: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html
I have owned two recent triumphs and both were a pain in the ass and bothe rode like crap at low speeds i don’t like the interceptor but i do have an Enfield that I haven’t had problems with and my pal has an interceptor with 33000+ miles on it without any issues other than consumables and he has a Himalayan 411 with close to 25 000 miles on and that bike has again been trouble free apart from an oil pressure switch that was leaking a bit of oil but was changed under warranty , apparently common on the first few and that bike does not have an easy life and has actual real adventures
Hey there. What were the Triumphs that you mentioned owning? I'm suprised to hear about your experience with them!
I've been watching your videos, specially because I'm divided between a Bonnie SE and the INT 650 (both in the used market) and not many have compared the two. Honest question: what could be the reason why your experience is relatively negative, compared to other reviews but in the UK and Europe? Could most of the issues you've seen be related to the lack of dealerships in North America while in Europe there's a few more? A practical example is your comment of vibrations on the highway. Most of the reviews I watched mentioned that up to 100 / 120 kph vibrations won't have a noticibel impact (reviewers did mention the vibrations start to creep up at over 5000 rpm, confirming your suspicion). Also, it seems Canadians and US citizens are blessed with cheap SE in the used market but in Europe a good SE would cost around 6000 to 6500 EUR/USD, while a INT 650 could be bought for around 5000-5500 EUR/USD. Taking into account the price difference in Europe, would a SE still be a good choice, in your opinion? Thanks for putting out these videos!
edit: the vibration example is now a mute point after having watched your newer video.
If you haven't already you should check out this video on why I sold my Interceptor 650: th-cam.com/video/f3lc6tFAWDM/w-d-xo.html
I could be wrong, but I think my perspective is different from most people because:
1) In my series I'm reviewing a used Interceptor, and part of my disappointment with the bike was that it didn't age well. People reviewing newer ones can't really speak to how they look 5 years later.
2) I've been riding for almost 20 years but still keep very current. Whereas I see a lot of reviews coming from people with < 5 years of riding experience, and others with decades of experience who would rather compare these motorcycles to the standards of the 1970s rather than the standards of the 2020s. Fancy way of saying I'm picky about all my bikes.
3) A lot of people get ego-invested in their motorcycle. They spent a lot of money on it. That's their motorcycle, it's the one, or maybe it's one of just a few motorcycles they have. I have a half dozen motorcycles. I'm not ego-invested in any of my motorcycles. They come and go. So I don't tend to look at them through rose-colored glasses or as forgivingly as people who are ego-invested in their bikes do.
4) I worked in the motorcycle industry at the manufacturer level, the dealership level, and a self-employed level for almost 15 years... so I look at motorcycling not only as a motorcyclist and a content creator, but also as someone who grew up in the industry. I've worked with a lot of people way smarter than me and way more experienced than me who were generous enough with their time to try to teach me something, and, that probably shapes my views and priorities different than others.
5) Like you pointed out there are also probably regional differences in terms of reputation, dealer support, etc.
And I just want to wrap this up by pointing out that, everyone's situation is different. The market might be very different where you are. Personally, I'm never looking to buy one or two specific motorcycles, I'm just looking for a deal on a motorcycle that could be fun. If it happens to be this model, or that model, I don't care, as long as it's a fun model that I can get for really cheap and either break even or make a few dollars when I'm done with it I'll probably buy it, so that's why I get my motorcycles for cheap and don't get too personally ego-invested in them. That said, I'm also human, still learning stuff along the way, still making occasional mistakes (Episode 2 of my comparison series acknowledges some), and I'm in a cool position where I get to apply what others have taught me, make content, and see what people have to say about it the comments and sometimes learn more stuff for the next video. Life's good :) At the end of the day, both are fun bikes, both have their pros and cons, just get the one where the deal feels best for you. You can always sell it later and try something else. Diversity is the spice of life... that's why I have too many bikes haha.
@@YouMotorcycle Thanks a lot for the thorough answer. I do share your concern if a INT 650 will look as stunning as a 2009 Bonneville SE looks after 10+ years, only time will tell. If I found a '09 SE, non CANbus version (I just like those old-fashioned clocks!) I would go for it in a heart beat, despite the premium prices on this side of the Atlantic (price and cost of ownership), but I guess they were manufactured for only a year or so, they are very hard to find locally. Recently I'mvw been considering the INT 650, I believe they are still a bit expensive in the used market but it seems that everyone at least agrees it's an easy-going (or endearing) bike to ride and enjoy it without any rush.
Own bunch of bikes have looked at R E but quality control has me quite sceptical
I'm looking forward to seeing how these do or don't hold up over the next 5 ish years. Then we can know for sure.
Basic bike at a basic price, you only get what you pay for.
Pretty much. It's fine for what it is. I wouldn't rave about it as either great or terrible.
I have had my 650 Since June, I have 8000 kms on it, no issues. I have been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and currently own 8 from old 2 stroke Kawi and Yamaha to GSXR's, Love my Royal it is the perfect little bike, it handles amazing, of course not as good at other sport bikes I have owned but its not a sport bike, it wheelies good, its really easy to work on, lots of after market parts available and they are inexpensive. This bike is literally a copy of what they were in the 60's aside from the Anti lock and fuel injection, the bike rides and performs as it would in the 60s but not vibration and that is why you buy this bike, if you want a rocket best to go for Japanese or Italian. This bike you buy it and make it your own, customize it and ride your bike. Triumph are like the Japanese and Ducati and Moto Guzzi and MV and so on, you pay big bucks for them and you can not customize them because they are already perfect and you pay for it and the next year you have a 18 or 2000 buck bike (after taxes and crap) that was yesterdays news. Royal you buy it and you ride and you love it, its unique and fun. I don't know if the person making this review knows what he is talking about or just thinks he does but some of the statements he said implies he does not, "Royal Enfield been around for about 15 years" lol Really. "3 times as much as a used Bonneville", he must be buying them are wrecked or stolen, maybe his other reviews and vids are better but he definitely did not do his research on Royal before he did this vid, he had his mind made up already what he was going to say before he got on the bike. LOL he said "the point of this vid, is if they are good after 5 years but I cant speak to that" Why did you do the vid if the point was if they would be any good after 5 years, why didn't you wait another 2 years and then find one that is 5 years old and do the review. You suffer from Verbal Diarrhea, you are just spewing shit, talking about crap you have no idea about. Shame on you.
Clean your ears or turn on captions instead of being an angry old man. If you could follow along better you would have a lot of your issues with the video addressed. I deleted your name calling and abusive comments. There's really no reason to be so emotional.
@@YouMotorcycle People who don't know what they are talking about should not be allowed to speak.
and I watched every second of the vid. "that means at full power it will vibrate" lol , no that is not what it means and no that is not true. They have been around for over 100 years none stop manufacturing, not "about 15 years"
@@karlsquire8148 I said I had been riding for 15 years, you just have bad hearing.
@@YouMotorcycle lol, you did, ya you are right my hearing is terrible but still does not explain the "This means it will Vibrate at full Horsepower", nor does it explain, " 3 times as much as a used Bonneville".
June 2019 til now 37,000+ miles. A new battery and speedo cable is the list of problems so far. Very pleased with its handling in southern California 's mountains up to 10,232 ft. In the desert up to 115F and oul temp only exceeds 200 at stoplights.
A remarkable well made engine/ tranny. Never leaks or uses a drip of oil
You mentioned another issue on my other video
@@YouMotorcycle battery at 6 months speedo cable at 11k. This cable fractured at 36k so I used $2.02 cents worth of 3 wire rubber covered wire attaching both ends. Headlight and tail light bulbs.
That's it so far.
@@burtvhulberthyhbn7583 for comparison, my Harley v-rod in the same mileage only needed a new thermostat... OEM battery lasted 5-6 years. It definitely took me a lot years to put that kind of mileage on it than it took you on your bike, props to you for getting out on two quite a bit. I have several bikes so even on a good year each one will only get a few thousand miles
@@burtvhulberthyhbn7583 how are the engine side cases doing? Have you been polishing them every so often? Is the climate dry where you are or humid?
@@YouMotorcycle side cases look like new but here in southern California I've barely been misted on twice. I just don't do rain . The 2019's had notoriously bad batteries. They all failed early
Seems like a lot of the European people love them.
I can honestly say that my 1998 Dyna wide glide is an absolute animal and I’ve never had to do anything other than the regular maintenance.
I do like the low maintenance of my ninja but it’s just not the same.
I like to have an ample amount of power when I need it.
I’m not a big fan of bikes that won’t go over a hundred miles an hour lol 😂
Why should that be a big deal. I get it if you race formula 1 bikes however.
@@johnmartin7158 because I ride fast
@@RidingHumboldtCounty 100% Argee
@@AdventureGlide 🤘👍
@@johnmartin7158 It's nice to have a handful in reserve at 80/85...
I didn't find it buzzy on the highway , however at 70 it did that scary shimmy in the back , swing arm or what- idk .
Always, or just sometimes?
My bike is dead steady at all speeds. I've only had it on the freeway at a little over 80 and I avoid freeway riding, but when I have to, I am not afraid to keep up with traffic.
I’m not seeing where a T100 has a 19” wheel.
Where have you been man? The 18" front tire on the Bonneville is a new thing, since they went liquid cooled in 2017. Far more Bonnevilles sold with 19" wheels out on the roads.
Thanks for the quick reply. I’m not up on Triumphs. I ride a BMW 1200GS and Husqvarna 701. I’m 74, I’m having some health issues and I’m looking for a bike with a lower seat height. I’d also prefer a 19” front wheel as I like riding gravel/dirt roads. I still want to travel so I need some luggage options. Been looking at the Royal Enfield and Triumph offerings.
I'm touring across Italy on a BMW G650GS. They can come with seat heights as low as 30.7" which would be even lower and can be much better configured for touring. Here is my touring setup for an example: th-cam.com/video/EnWKHOYTyW0/w-d-xo.html
It's probably not going to last as long after you've revved the guts out of it before it's broken in. Of course you'd be feeling some vibration. And where in the world will you find a decent used Bonnie for half the price? Post some ads.
5k rpm is revving the guts out of it? 😂 Red line at at 8k rpm!
@@YouMotorcycle 5k in first and you wonder why the vibration? It's not under load.
2 years, 10.000km, 0 problems! Hug from Portugal
Obrigado. Respeito de Toronto Canada!
*_I might stop and look twice if I saw one parked somewhere. But I have no desire to ride one. LOL, But thanks for the review._*
It's worth the try, if only to see what all the fuss is about. Besides that, meh... *shrug of indifference*
There are issues with the Interceptor but there are issues with any bike.. you cancelled your own comment. You did make some valid quality points that would apply to any brand. Try breaking it in properly and you shouldn't have the vibration! I don't think the bike likes you. 😂
Someone I used to work at a motorcycle dealership with has offered to lend me his to test ride. Well broken in and maintained. Hoping to get on it and get a review up before it gets too chilly!
What’s the reliable of used Triumphs? Consumer Reports placed them below the Japanese manufacturers, but above BMW.
If/when I have a problem with mine I'll make a video about. So far so good 👌 also hard to paint all Triumphs with one brush. There are much more technologically sophisticated ones with many more parts that can fail. A used Bonneville by comparison is super simple.
Not on topic, but I'm always impressed with how clean Toronto is.
Thanks!
Here's an idea......shift.
Peak power is at 7000-7500 rpms, so if you're shifting at 5k rpm when its getting very vibraty, you're never getting anywhere close to your peak power. That's the point I'm demonstrating to people.
Look at a dyno chart for this bike.
Liked that quote about a good motorcycle! They do seem to be a cheaper made motorcycle and really wish some of the QC was better on them. I really do love the looks but I’d be scared to buy one at this point, esp after hearing the catastrophe of the guy with 200 miles
Shit can happen and it's better to have it happen in the warranty period. No? At any rate, the vast majority of us who ride Royal Enfield HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED catastrophic engine failure! Yep!!! That's correct!!! Our bikes are running real fine
There's a 3 year warranty. Thank God it's there for situations like this. However, to be fair Royal Enfield doesn't have a reputation for building motorcycles with engines that grenade. There's no way they could sell so many bikes (900,000 units annually) to their value-conscious Indian home market and maintain a good reputation.
I was a space booster (Atlas and Delta) test and launch engineer and believe me, I was and am still am very, very, very QC aware. During my entire career, my crew did such fine work, we never had a single launch or mission failure. I can tell you that the QC that was performed during my bike's build was perfectly adequate and I can find no fault in it except I did replace the relays with Bosh units.
Hey @chopperfett thank you, I still say that all the time to this very day, including in the video I put out yesterday which addresses some of the mistakes I made in this video. You can check it out here: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html PS: Are you ever going to start publishing again man?
@bopryszlak3863 hang on, back up, that's not how it works, at all lol. What you're saying is called composition fallacy. It's the assumption that what is true for a part most therefore also be true for a whole... based on zero evidence, just assumption. Just because a company does something in large volumes in a certain market, does not mean they do it right. Look at the airbag company Takata. They are one of the largest airbag manufacturers in the world, in a very safety-oriented market, and they have recalled and replaced tens of millions of airbags.
Maybe it’s the mike but that thing sounds tinny.
To be honest, not sure if it's my mic or the bike. I wasn't particularly enamored with the sound. It wasn't terrible either. The Moto Guzzi V7 is probably the best "sounding" bike in this class as far as stock exhausts go, but different pricepoint and has some other pros and cons versus the Royal Enfield.
Poor reviewer !! It’s half the price of Triumph so can’t be compared .
I think you missed the point... I bought my (used) low mileage Bonneville for less than half the price of a new RE 650... and the Bonneville is a better built better quality bike. That's where the value is.
“dull, boring, plain, completely lacking of any particular character set that makes it easy to talk about” I’m sorry, this is way off from my experience.
What other motorcycles do you own?
'Tested' a bike without taking it out of the city. Heard about someone on the internet who had a problem with a bike so condemns the bike. Really, is this the best you can do?
(RE is outselling Triumph by a long margin, even in the UK)
What a silly thing to say. Kia outsells Ferrari by a long margin too, are you saying the kia is the better vehicle because it sells in greater volume? 🤣
I took a continental gt out this year, highway and country roads included. I stand by most of what I said here. Also, INT > CGT.
If your main issue, repeated manny times, is not the apparent quality of a new bike but how does the quality hold up for at least 5 years: Why did you even bother making this video?
Because that angle you just described is something that only a few motovloggers were honest enough to share
Also, I just bought one of these of my own. Stay tuned for my thoughts on the quality.
To each his own. Price, not very accurate price comparison, and one anecdote horror story of bike which was replaced by re. You should hear the horror stories of triumph customers that were fobbed off. I think owners give arguably the best reviews as they live daily with the bike any usually give an honest appraisal as most people will shame a bad brand if there is anything to complain about. Thanks for the different point of view though.
I've bought a few Bonnevilles over the years. I have price alerts so I get emails whenever they come up for sale for cheap and buy usually within 24 hours of the ad going up.. Many snooze, many lose. As for reviews, honestly, most owner reviews are full of bias. If you look at my V-Rod review I listed 21 pros and 19 cons. When is the last time you saw an owner's review that was so brutally honestly critical of their own motorcycle? You'll be lucky if most owners tell you five things wrong that they don't also try to sugar coat. If you want the most honest review you can, get it from the person who isn't emotionally, financially, and ego invested in the product they are reviewing.
Thanks for the reply, though I wouldn’t say most owners sugar coat their opinion of a bike. Better to get an honest opinion of someone who can give an account of prolonged experience of the bike, eg breakdowns, service experiences, parts wearing out etc. I’m not saying you are not being honest but we all have prejudices. Further, buying a bargain spotted early doesn’t mean that it’s an average price for that bike. Like for like new re int 650 is about 2/3 price of the triumph 👍
You're right, buying a bargain spotted early doesn't mean that's an average price for that bike... but why would anyone want to pay an average price when they could wait a little longer and get one at a good price instead? Because they're either impatient, or don't care. So when I say you can get a Bonneville for half the price, you absolutely can. I've done it three times now. If others choose to spend more than they need to because they don't want to wait or just don't care, that's their choice, but it doesn't mean it's something they have to do.
Honda was just given a recall order for a 300cc model that turns off by itself.
It's affecting at least 25k units.
What were you saying about Honda my guy?
That they don't make things cheaply and when things do go wrong they stand behind their product even if it means going through great lengths and at great costs to protect their reputation and protect their customers. Look up the number of RE650 owners with brake issues. Where are the recalls from RE?
The kim's convenience part caught me off guard I love that show lmaooo
Good wholesome little family sitcom
Royal Enfield 650's have the class that new Triumph will never have. 😅
Is that a "Low class" joke?
@@YouMotorcycle no one will say
" I wish I bought a 2023 Triumph "
in 20 Year's 🤠
Royal Enfield 650 is the new classic.
@@DANTHETUBEMAN oh I see lol. Have you seen my video comparing how the two brands hold up?
Are royal Enfield bikes reliable as honda ....pls reply
Outside of the Japanese brands, no one is like Honda
@@YouMotorcycle ok
Keep comparing it to bikes that are nearly double the size and double the price... Seems like comparing apples to oranges. RE I feel are a different breed of raw motorcycle. I think you're right about the unproven record of longevity however. Need to hear more praise about the build quality and the like in order to compete with say, the Japanese market and their proven track record of dependability.
My 10 year old Bonneville is 865cc and (used) cost half the price of this... I'm definitely not comparing it to a bike "nearly double the size and double the price" lol
Thanks for “breaking” it in before the first buyer.
There's a reason demo bikes are cheaper.
A little harsh on the review. Maybe review when you have more time, and please get onto the open road. I have a 2015 Road king, great for touring, comfy as. 2021 RE which I enjoy riding so much. Two different rides, both enjoyable.
Have a local friend who offered to lend me his. Will take out in the spring time and update.
Just picked up this bike and colorway today 👍
Love it.
Congrats on the new baby! First bike, or what else do you/have you had?
@@YouMotorcycle thanks my friend 👍
No not my first bike ..been riding for a while.
Currently got the int 650 and a 2021 yellow honda monkey ❤️
In the past i have owned:
Suzuki Drz400sm 2005
Yamaha yz250 1994 ❤️☠️
Some old yamaha 998cc cruiser
Just recently got rid of my
Royal enfield classic 500 pegasus edition.(2018).. one of 1000 world wide.
I miss that bike.. damn fool i am selling that..
There is a vid or two on my channel of it if you want to check it out.
@@McRcFly DRZ400 is such an underrated machine! I'll check out the channel in the morning when I'm fresh. Zzzzz.
He sounds like as smug as a bug in a rug looking down his nose and not open minded sadly.
If I spoke in rhymes too would you like me better? I won't do it. But I'm curious.
My road king is 18 years old so l guess its a good motorcycle
If it's still running and looking great, it absolutely is!
Also 500 miles on valves wow
You hated the bike before you even rode it.
lol I wasn't fond of the brand. I've had a couple Royal Enfields since making this video. They're fine bikes. Not great, but pretty good. I made a video after this addressing the things I got wrong in this video, and the things I got right too.
Royel Enfield has the Best looking engine because the barrels are tilted forward 😁
Royal Enfield 3 year warranty would take care of any engine leaks. 🤠
I own one of these now (lots of content on it coming soon). It still bothers me every time I look at the engine that the motor is a handful of different colors. It just screams cheapness.
@@YouMotorcycle There is nothing cheap about the Royal Enfield 650 engine, the engineering is vary good, 4 valves, one cam, creat low end torque for a 650cc. The compression is not to high so the engine stays cool and will run on any gas. 🤠 it's the new classic of our times. 😁
LOL. They don't even seal the engine sidecovers, so the polished aluminum is pitted within a few years even if the bike is kept indoors. I bought from the original owner who alwys kept his in a large garage. The bike only has 300 km on it. The motor already looks worse than some of the 1970s Hondas I owned. It's embarrassing that Honda could do it better half a century ago on a little CB350 than Royal Enfield can do today on their flagship model. I try not to think about it so I won't hate my bike. It's a nice bike, but to pretend the thing is flawless is just silly.
@@YouMotorcycle The Honda cb350 was one of the best bikes made in those years. cost a lot but was worth it.
@@DANTHETUBEMAN and it was nowhere near Honda's best bike, and the finish on them is still better than the finish on my interceptor. That says a lot.
He goes in with a bad attitude about a brand that is cheap. What do you expect but for the guy to be negative and compare it to bikes twice the price.
It was being compared to a bike half the price. My 13 year old Bonneville SE ;)
As I've said before, I'm just not much of a fan. I've never even ridden one so I can comment. Just the design doesn't resonate with me. The color combo on this one you're demoing is quite handsome though.
No, you can’t comment. RIDE ONE!!!!!! I used to think Hardly Dangerouses were rubbish - still think they’re overpriced lumps, but I love my street glide. Prefer my Interceptor though!
@@nigeltoulson6556 I've never ridden one and I'm not much of a fan but I'll comment anyway. lol
I've had one for 2 yrs and love it. Pd 8400 out the door with 0 kms. A blast to ride and no mechanical issues thus far but did require roadside assistance twice. Once for a bad batt which req'd a tow and later I ran out of gas on Canada's WC. Someone in Florida took care of both issues in about a half hour. What I like, apart from everything about it.. easy maintenance. 👍👍
@nigeltoulson6556 Why can't someone say they aren't a fan of a motorcycle without riding one? I can take one look at my buddy's Panigale V4 and say I'm not a fan without riding one, and that's a fantastic motorcycle... if you're into that kind of thing... definitely not for me though. Too expensive for my wallet, too uncomfortable for the long distance riding I do, and too costly to replace things if they break, etc. Me having never ridden it doesn't make my comments any less valid. Likewise, Kraken doesn't need to ride one to know it's not for him.
That being said, I have to admit, I did make a few mistakes in this video, even though I did test ride this bike, so I've addressed them here: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html
What are you even talking about....2-3 times the price of a used Triumph...What?
I've owned many 2009+ fuel injected Triumph Bonnevilles. Always paid half of what these cost out the door.
Been around for about 15 years, Seriously, did you just say that, Oh buddy, you need to get your facts straight before you advertise your own ignorance.
I said "I've been around for 15 years... and in those 15 years of motorcycle riding" - I'm talking about my own experience. Follow your own advice 😂
Good video. Thanks
Thank you! Ride safe :)
After Taxes and everything you pay 10,000 bucks, with that you get 3 years road side assistance and 3 years warranty and you can do all the warranty checks your self, not having to take it to GPBikes and pay 500 to 800 bucks just to do the warranty service. Lets keep going with this, Review lol you have no clue what your talking about do you. lolol
You can do all the service work yourself on most motorcycles. Familiarize yourself with the Consumer Protection Act, and likewise, the USA's Magnuson-Moss act.
@@YouMotorcycle you are not allowed to do the warranty service work on Triumph they will not allow you to but Royal Enfield will as long as you go the receipts
@@karlsquire8148 incorrect. Federal laws protect us from that from any and all automobile/powersports manufacturers. I've already given you the name of the laws for both the US and Canada. Educate yourself.
@@YouMotorcycle Go talk to GP bikes about the first service on a brand new Triumph.
@@karlsquire8148 I don't have to. The law takes precedence over whatever someone there has to say. More importantly though, I'm from Toronto, why would I go to gp bikes? There's Powersports TO, my local triumph dealer, 2 km away
Change gear
Hey Kenneth, I address a couple of the mistakes I made in this first ride in my latest video, here: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html
Oh my god man! You know you have 3 more gears to go, don't you? Stop ragging the bike in the lower gears🤬
Under 5k rpm is not "ragging" the bike lol
Probably the worst review of anything I’ve ever heard in my life in respect of how it was compiled, I think I could probably say exactly the same thing about a BMW GS, because”I” don’t like them, Enfield is a wonderful bike for the market they are aiming for, you obviously aren’t it
Lol thank you for the feedback. You're wrong on many counts. For instance, I own one 😂
For Pete's sake give it a rest. I stopped this communication months ago.
You realize other people are replying to it and I'm replying to them right?
You can’t ride in traffic. All of my injuries have been from riding pillion on riders such as this
Probably the big takeaway is concentrate on riding. Talk later
If you've had multiple injuries from riding in traffic as a passenger, that speaks volumes of your judgement, not mine lol
So the only perfect bikes are the ones you have.
No not at all. See my review of my favorite motorcycle, my V Rod. I listed about 15-20 things wrong with it. I'm probably more honest about a motorcycle's faults than most people.
You are in the minority old chum,
And mostly talking absolute rubbish,
I've owned an Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 for Two and a half years from New,
And it's brilliant 👍
I've also bought a Royal Enfield Hunter 350 which is also excellent 👌
They are absolutely brilliant Machines,
After 50 years of Motorcycling experience,
Also those protection things on the engine,are practical,
These engines get very hot, because they are modern lean burn engines.
I think I'm qualified to be making my opinion on them 👍
Oh,
Bye the way,
People just come up and talk to me and talk to me all the time on Royal Enfields,
More than any other motorcycles,
They certainly attract attention 👍
Cheers
Paul Foster
I got a few things wrong about this bike. I admit them here: th-cam.com/video/p4MOxzU_mx8/w-d-xo.html - I liked one enough the second time I rode one to buy one, but it's still far from perfect.
@@YouMotorcycle
Very good,
But the finish is down to the the owner being lazy nowadays,
Sorry but frankly it is,
Blingy bike's need to be looked after,
I've owned my Interceptor over two years,
And it's like show room condition 👌
It's not rocket science,
Merry Christmas
Cheers Paul
@@paulfoster5432 no not really... My BMW adventure bike has ridden across two countries, is 11 years old, looks better than it did brand new, and has never been polished in its life. Royal Enfield uses aluminum engine casings and is too cheap to seal them so they get pitted and need elbow grease that motorcycles from nearly any other brand don't. Two years is nothing! Lol. Merry Christmas and Happy New year to you and yours! 🎄🥂
@@YouMotorcycle LOL 😅
That's my point,
Years ago Honda used to cover the alloy with a protective plastic,
But you couldn't polish it,
And eventually it would just oxidize from the inside, so we had to strip it off,
And polish it,
Now we don't have to,
You keep on top of it,
If you don't want to do this type of thing,
Either buy the black engine version,
Or a different bike 👍
But after 50 years of Motorcycling experience I've got quite good at cleaning bike's 🎉🎄
Cheers Paul 👍
yeah, garbage. Basically what you get if you bought an Ali Express Bonneville.
Lmao, no I wouldn't say it's that bad. It's a fine bike. It's a great first bike when you don't know how much better that better bikes are, or a great last bike when you don't care for anything better because you just ride around here and there willy nilly. People in between will want better.
Nothing special 🤔
The bike or the review? 😂
You keep bringing up 5 years. Your riding the damn bike in crappy city traffic. Instead of insinuating that it wont hold up which you admit your "out of the box" review can't evaluate stick to the important handling characteristics of the bike. Otherwise don't do the ride and waste peoples time.
It's "You're", not "your" and "people's" not "peoples". Please make sure your content is on point before you go criticizing someone else's.
...Otherwise don't do the comment and waste "peoples" time 😂😂😂
What about incidents for other bikes???
What do you mean?