This is a true first impressions of me riding an RE INT650. I didn’t do any research before jumping on this bike. I didn’t want to skew my opinion by knowing too much about the INT. I was very surprised by how much I liked it. My final thoughts, if you are on the fence about the RE INT650, I highly recommend at least taking one for a test ride. I believe you will walk away with the same feelings I have, I want this bike!
I am in my late 50's and have been riding motorcycles for more years than I care to count. I have owned a handful of Harley's and about a dozen or so other bikes ranging from Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda and HD... I purchased a new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 from Capital HD, this past spring... I added a set of S&S pipes, some aftermarket metal bullet style turn signals and a BAAK small round tail light, removed the cross handle bar brace and cleaned up the look. I enjoy this bike so much that I decided to buy the new 2022 Classic 350 as well... between the two bikes, I put 3,500 miles on the 650 and at least 2,500 on the Classic 350. Can not say enough good abut these bikes. Every time I ride one, people approach and ask about the bikes. That rarely happened on my Fat Boy or Sportster... and never happened on any of the Japanese bikes. Not that I care for all the attention, but, it does show how beautifully designed these bikes are that they appeal to so many and cause many to stop and take a look. Now, riding them is at a level of fun and joy no other brand has delivered to me. I plan to find a late model Classic 500 and also purchase the new RE Shot Gun 650 when it is released in the US. Great bikes!! Just ride one... you'll see.
I have ridden or owned all types of bikes and I’ve liked many of them. Like you, I’m not a brand loyal kind of person like many bike owners are. For me, the number one reason I like or own a bike is all in the design and styling. Maybe it’s the automotive designer in me, but I believe in form over function. A bike design needs to flow just right or there needs to be some aspect of the bike that stands out from all the others. Like, you mentioned the Shotgun 650. I remember seeing the concept of that bike about a year ago and I’m hoping the final bike looks like the concept. The design and styling of the SG650 flows just right. Can’t wait to see one in person.
I own the classic 350 in halcyon gray , it’s my 5th motorcycle I’ve owned , I look forward to riding it more than I ever have any of the others . Royal Enfield well done . ❤
I love my 2022 RE INT650 Mark II with the chrome tank. The looks are perfect and the performance is all I need. I do place my feet in front of the pegs and then I bend the pegs back at stoplights. Having the right foot position while riding trumps having them moved for standing still. Thanks for spreading the word.
The chrome tank is my favorite. I’m 6’2” so I can still flat foot the bike with my feet out to the sides but I never thought about just pushing the pegs up when stopped. And you’re right, the pegs are in the perfect placement to ride that bike so I wouldn’t want them any other place.
You guessed right. The INT650 has ABS on both wheels (I think it's made by bosch) which is pretty good to avoid any fall due to a panic brake or something. I liked your video mainly because your reactions sounded pretty geniune. I'm looking forward to buy one of those. I'm leaning to the INT650 because it has a more upright rider position rather than the more sporty from the Continental GT 650. Good video with your first impressions. Keept it up!, greetings from Chile!
Thanks. Yeah, I really wanted the Continental GT, mainly because I like the looks of a cafe bike, but the more upright seating on the INT was so much more comfortable. I also like the looks of the chrome gas tank.
I want both the RE Int 650 and the Honda CB500F! Thing is my local dealer has plenty of RE but no Hondas. We'll see. Both would be awesome for what riding mood you're in.
@@rickreardon4163 Yup, the Honda CB500F is a nice bike. They’re both right about the same price too. I checked our local Honda shop and they don’t have any in stock either. It’s been kind of hit or miss with them lately.
That foot peg issue isn't an issue once you get used to putting your foot down in front of the peg and letting your calve push back the softly sprung pegs. After about three stops doing this, it becomes second nature and you don't notice it (I've had my Interceptor for three and a half years). It's also the easiest way to grab the sidestand… move your foot back, pushing the peg aside, and hook the tang with your heel. As for that rear brake… RE lowered the stock position for the pedal because Indian owners, used to drum rear brakes, were resting a foot on the pedal and overheating/wearing out the brake - In India, they've had road safety campaigns to educate riders to use both brakes… small bikes there have linked brakes by law now… On India's poor roads, many old school riders in the past used to disconnect the front brake to avoid front wheel skids, or at least adjust it so it wasn't doing much, and old habits die hard. Modern 'big' bikes have ABS now). The pedal is easily adjustable. The brake won't lock the wheel ’cos of the ABS, no matter how hard you press the pedal… which just feels spongy as the ABS kicks in if you keep pressing harder… If you pull the ABS relay off and try it, it locks up and skids immediately (as did most Jap bikes before ABS)… it's a short bike so weight transfer will cause this. Try a panic stop… You'll feel the front lever and pedal pulsing and hear the rear wheel pattering as the bike just stops. It was un-nerving to me at first, never having owned a bike with ABS in over half a century of riding, but when a kid ran out on a wet road, it saved my arse (and the kid's).
I must have gotten used to the foot peg position quickly because I really didn’t even notice it after the first couple stops. I definitely liked the location of them too. It made the seating position very comfortable. As for the rear brake, I’d get used it. It’s just different than all of my bikes and after awhile I kind of liked the squishy brake.
I like it too, your view from the cockpit reminds me of my '73 and '75 Z1. My cousin had a BSA 650 and that Int 650 sound sure takes me back. I like the looks of the Super Meteor 650s exhaust better than the Int, but the forward controls are a no-go for me.
Yeah, I’m not a fan of forward controls either. So far I have been able to test ride all the Royal Enfield bikes we have in the US and so far my two favorite ones are the INT 650 and surprisingly the Hunter 350.
Thanks. As soon as our snow melts I’ll be doing more test rides. Hopefully on a Continental GT and a Classic 350. I am slowly becoming a Royal Enfield convert. Great bikes!
Loved your video of the test drive of the RE Interceptor. You certainly gave it a bit of a thrashing .😉 In the U.K its currently one of the best selling bikes this year. U.K bike testers say it runs the Bonneville T100 a very close second. It's also a few grand cheaper. I have the RE 350 classic which I use for commuting to work and riding the back roads. It's not a rocket ship but it has loads of style and a sweet engine sound. A nice little single thumper. Give it a test ride and I think it will put a grin on your face.
Thanks. I was hoping the RE rep would have brought the Classic 350. That’s the bike I really like the looks of. I was able to test the INT, Himalayan and the Meteor. I’ll have videos on those soon. This is my first experience with Royal Enfields and so far I am impressed.
@@riv5438 Exactly. When I lived on the Gulf Coast, I noticed our motorcycle prices were higher than most. And you’re right, I was able to ride year around.
I've got the GT version of this bike. I too kept forgetting to cancel the indicators (even though I knew just how dangerous that could be), eventually fitting self cancelling to it (the way I did it was not the easiest mod to say the least). Lovely 6 speed gearbox but no indicator as to what gear you are in other than neutral (I'm working on that now, again I'll be taking the most difficult path possible). Love the bike but it is a little heavy (I've taken 23kg off the bike, that's a lot but little more than 10% off the original bikes weight). Thank you for the video and your take on the 650 INT.
You sound like you do to your bikes what I do to mine, as in, I can’t leave them stock. 23 kg, that's about 51 lbs. Wow! That is a lot of weight to lose on a bike. Very cool.
Gear indicators?… Who needs ’em?… If the engine's screaming, shift up, if it's lugging, shift down. You've got a rev counter anyway. Seriously though, that rev counter is all the 'gear indicator' you need on these bikes. In intermediate gears, you don't need to know the number, just shift up or down as demanded by the engine's feel. If you're unsure if you're in top, look at the needles on the dials… If they're parallel at normal top gear speeds, you're still in 5th, if the speedo needle is noticeably ahead of the tach, you're in top. Who needs another 'display'?
@@chrisgraham5186 I need another display and I've been riding motorcycles on the public road since 1963. My last 2 bikes both had 6 speed gearboxes (a Honda CB400F and an RE 650 GT). I accept that you don't need a gear position indicator but I would prefer to have one, mostly to make finding neutral less of a chore when having to stop at red traffic lights.
@@dogphlap6749 It isn't a chore if you're riding properly, and arriving at the red light in the correct gear because you've gone down the gearbox as you've slowed. It was something we drummed into our pupils when I was a motorcycle instructor. The only time it should be an issue is after a panic stop… and then, the inconvenience is negated by the fact you've survived. I've never owned a bike with a gear indicator (apart from the pointer alongside the gear lever on the Matchless I owned in my teens), but when I rode for a living the company fleet Suzukis we rode began to appear with them fitted. Most failed during the warranty period, so after replacements also failed, the workshop simply held on to the replacements to fit when the bikes were sold on after a year (around 50K miles). None of us professional riders noticed their absence, despite most of our riding (as despatch riders) being in panic stop and traffic light heavy city, urban, and suburban traffic conditions in all weathers.
@@chrisgraham5186 Look mate I've been riding motorcycle for a month short of 6 decades, only one of those bikes had a gear position indicator but somehow I managed to cope without the benefit of your arrogant advise. Oh and by the way, all the various bikes I've owned in that time save one had sequential gearboxes, there is no other way of changing gear on those bikes other than sequentially. Please allow me to have my preferences. I don't tell you how to ride or that you should have a gear position indicator, allow me the same freedom please.
It would be interesting to know how the comfort, handling and performance of the Interceptor compares to the Kawasaki Vulcan S (650), which is a unique combination of cruiser and sport bike design.
My local dealer hasn’t had a Vulcan S last for more than a few days so I haven’t been able to really check it out. What I do know about the comfort on the Vulcan S is it has an adjustable seat, footpegs and handlebar, 18 possible configurations. So no matter your size, you should be able to be comfortable. The INT and the Vulcan both have a ‘650’ but the Vulcan has 14 more horsepower than the INT. I think it’s, Kawasaki has 61hp and the INT has 47 hp. I’m 6’ 2” and I was very comfortable on the INT. When my dealership gets another Vulcan S I’ll be checking out the comfort on that.
I just bled my rbreak on my 650 continental,its nice n grabby now,the interceptor i test rode for 1st time litterally yesterday(while "thegreenmachine" was getting 10k service) my only honest gripe,was the gear shift is so damn close to the footpeg,i could barly get my big goify foot in there,and yep you have to sit back to dodge the footpeg issue(conti does'nt have that issue),but the interceptor ,to me it feels like you could ride it on a dirt track for days&days,interceptor anyone can ride&enjoy,continental. Completly different experiance ¬ for learners,there are somanny custom(from RE&aftermaket) is staggering,a 300$au exuast upgrade creates a whole new beast of fun
I definitely think one of the big appeals for these Royal Enfields are all the aftermarket products for them. Without having to repaint your bike, you can completely make it your own. I also heard how bleeding the rear brake fixes the squishyness. (Is that even a word) Makes me wonder why RE didn’t do that from the start.
Id say in india they love doing the lil things like brakebleeds etc that does'nt cost much,to get that feeling of ive made it more mine,they love od tweaks over there,ps if squishy is'nt a word..it is in the motorcyclepedia😁😄,we have our own "country grammar"🙂
That is a big problem with the RE being fairly new to the US. I do believe with the recent surge in Americans buying them, Royal Enfield will be getting more dealerships across the US. I do know of three Harley Davidson dealerships that sell RE, including my local HD shop.
These bikes have ABS front and back so freed of concern over locking up the front wheel I hardly use the rear brake on this bike. Under heavy braking there is so little weight on the rear wheel it does almost nothing to slow you down, under light braking it does not matter much which brake you use so for this bike I mostly just use the front one.
I didn’t know until after my test ride that this bike had ABS. If I knew from the start I would have understood why the rear brake was so squishy. I didn’t ask questions about this bike before my test ride because I wanted a true first impression. Honestly, I wish I did know about the ABS first so I wouldn’t have complained about it so much. When I mentioned it to the Royal Enfield rep he said, “I’ve never used the rear brake, only the front one”. I thought that was kind of funny.
Another channel on YT , the guy said the brakes were squishy right away on the vid of his first ride impressions. I asked on yet another bike channel , of first-ride impressions , if the brakes were squishy and he said they were “great”, no problems at all with them. And both of these gentlemen are ‘bike guys’. I guess. My question to you is (if you or anyone else who knows) would it be possible to put a better brake assembly on it ? Or maybe there’s some fluky thing going on with every-other Interceptor exported to the states having a bad rear caliper ? Kidding , but I’m really curious . Because I want one. Well , I’m buying one even if I’ve gotta drag my feet to slow down !
I’ve talked to many people about these brakes, including someone who works for Royal Enfield. The squishiness is just the nature of the antilock brake system. If you’re not used to ABS, like me, then they’ll seem squishy. I have had people tell me that they just bled the rear brakes and they started working great. So it could be a simple fix. The Royal Enfield guy I talked to, which is a motorcycle racer, told me he never uses the rear brake on any of the RE bikes. The front brake is amazing so it will still stop quickly. But I don’t like relying totally on one brake. It sounds like a little adjusting is all that’s needed for the rear. I really liked this bike, even though I was using more of the front brake than I’m used to. It still wouldn’t stop me from buying one. If you can, I suggest test riding one. Maybe the rear brake isn’t an issue for you, but I promise you, you’ll love the bike.
Hi I bought the MK2 chrome one after a few thousand miles on it now it’s a good bike I’ve fitted Hitchcocks premium touring seat plus there Enfield precision exhaust and handle bar risers that go up and backwards I’ve made fit me very comfortable now every 5 minutes spare I have I’m on it like your thoughts on it and I’ve subscribed to you 👍
Thanks! The Royal Enfield rep recommended Hitchcock for after market parts. I’ll have to check that seat out. I did like the look of the stock seat but it seemed just a little thin for me.
Most peoples first rides on these, they'll feel like that till you break them, which tends to be the same time frame of the bikes being used, in reviews or first impressions.
That’s what I thought too but after talking to some people these bikes have ABS brakes which I am not used to. I guess they don’t want you locking up the rear brake. I could get used to it I guess but I wish they would give you an option of shutting off ABS.
Yup, I put up the rear wheel HP which is straight from the dyno. The 47 hp is engine only and once it goes thru the drivetrain then gets to the rear wheel you lose about 7 hp. I probably should have put both rear wheel HP and engine HP. BTW, orange is one of my favorite colors. When I saw the orange crush, that’s the one I wanted! Very cool.
The reason I’ll be riding the XL250 across the country is because I won’t be riding paved roads. I’ll be taking as many dirt roads, two tracks and trails as possible, maybe even part of the Trans America Trail. I agree, the INT would be great if I was only taking pavement.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat hey brother, thank you for taking the time to reply to me! Absolutely the Honda 250 will be perfect for a trails & back roads trip, while the 650 would be more fitting for the route 66 trip going through places like Winslow AZ, if you did video series of back roads trip & a vintage highway & old motels, your channel would blow up!
Well, you might have just spilled my secret plans for my next trip after my XL250 trip. The next bike I’m rebuilding is a 1977 Kawasaki KZ650 inline 4. I’ll be doing the whole Route 66 on that bike. I’ve actually been planning this trip for years now but with one of my hot rods. I decided it will be more fun with a motorcycle that I rebuilt. I’ll be hitting all the great Americana spots. Like the Cozy Dog, where the corn dog was invented, the blue whale, Wigwam motel and everything in between. There’s a lot of planning for this trip but it’ll be worth it.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat oh that will be so cool to see an iconic vintage 1977, brought back to life for an adventure on such an historic road!! Maybe you could tell viewers what towns you'll be in & the dates, so if they wanted to meet you for a coffee or lunch or dinner during your journey.
The T100 is one of Triumphs nicest looking bikes in my opinion. But it’s 250 CCs larger and about $4800 more expensive then the INT650. For the price of a T100 you could buy an INT650 and a Classic 350. I love Triumph motorcycles so I would never tell anyone not to buy one. It just comes down to cost for many people.
All the INT650s at our dealership had those round blinkers. I had to look on line to see what the square ones looked like. Most of the ones I saw were 2021 bikes. Maybe they changed to round in 2022? Either way, the round ones look so much better.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat The fat ugly round ones (like seventies' Jap bike indicators) are a US market requirement fitted to all North American bikes. The smaller neater rectangular lamps are stock for the rest of the world. (You can tell which I prefer😃) Interestingly, many UK owners are importing US market indicators, or fitting round 'Lucas/Wipac' pattern 70's Triumph/BSA/Norton ones, while others are seeking out minimalist LED ones which are almost invisible when not flashing. I guess it's down to generations. Those of us who see these 'retros' as sixties' (or even fifties') styled, want the authentic 'no indicators' look … but those younger riders, who think of the seventies and eighties as old (Old?… That's barely out of warranty🙄), see big rounded Jap style indicators as appropriately retro ’cos they've never ridden 'pre-turn signal' bikes like us real old timers have.
Awesome detailed information 👏. Can anyone suggest me which is better bike ktm adventure 390 or the interceptor 650. I am 6 ft 4 & want to go long rides & occasionally offroading.
If you want to do any off roading you’ll want to stay away from the INT 650. This is an on road bike only. The KTM has a higher seat height so it’s suitable for taller riders. Plus, the KTM is about 95 pounds lighter than the INT. Even though the KTM has a much smaller engine, it’s only about 3 hp less than the INT 650. So being almost 100 pounds lighter, the KTM will seem faster. The KTM does cost about $500 dollars more, but if you want to do any off road riding, it’ll be worth the extra money. In my opinion, for what you’re looking to do, I’d go with the KTM. But, if you decide that you don’t want to do any off roading, then the INT 650 will be the better choice.
@@striker1011 Thanks. I’d love to test ride the KTM 390 adventure bike. I rode their 390 Duke and that was a blast but that’s street only. Good luck with the KTM. You’re going to like it.
The INT 650 has max torque at 5250 RPMs and max horsepower at 7250 RPMs. My friend that works for Royal Enfield, he’s also a motorcycle racer, says I’m not going to hurt this engine bringing it up to higher revs. He’s right. I rung this engine out many times and with the rev limiter set below max redline, the engine ran flawlessly. Don’t be afraid to rev it out, it’ll be fine.
Well, it’s not advised if it’s your personal bike. But the Royal Enfield rep told me to run it thru its paces. He said, “First of all, it’s a demo bike, that’s what they’re made for. Plus, the rev limiters are set way below redline so you can’t hurt the engine. And if you do, Royal Enfield will just send me another one”.
This is a true first impressions of me riding an RE INT650. I didn’t do any research before jumping on this bike. I didn’t want to skew my opinion by knowing too much about the INT. I was very surprised by how much I liked it. My final thoughts, if you are on the fence about the RE INT650, I highly recommend at least taking one for a test ride. I believe you will walk away with the same feelings I have, I want this bike!
The reason why you think the rear brake is so bad is they are antilock brake and can’t be locked up if you want to
I am in my late 50's and have been riding motorcycles for more years than I care to count. I have owned a handful of Harley's and about a dozen or so other bikes ranging from Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda and HD... I purchased a new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 from Capital HD, this past spring... I added a set of S&S pipes, some aftermarket metal bullet style turn signals and a BAAK small round tail light, removed the cross handle bar brace and cleaned up the look. I enjoy this bike so much that I decided to buy the new 2022 Classic 350 as well... between the two bikes, I put 3,500 miles on the 650 and at least 2,500 on the Classic 350. Can not say enough good abut these bikes. Every time I ride one, people approach and ask about the bikes. That rarely happened on my Fat Boy or Sportster... and never happened on any of the Japanese bikes. Not that I care for all the attention, but, it does show how beautifully designed these bikes are that they appeal to so many and cause many to stop and take a look. Now, riding them is at a level of fun and joy no other brand has delivered to me. I plan to find a late model Classic 500 and also purchase the new RE Shot Gun 650 when it is released in the US. Great bikes!! Just ride one... you'll see.
I have ridden or owned all types of bikes and I’ve liked many of them. Like you, I’m not a brand loyal kind of person like many bike owners are. For me, the number one reason I like or own a bike is all in the design and styling. Maybe it’s the automotive designer in me, but I believe in form over function. A bike design needs to flow just right or there needs to be some aspect of the bike that stands out from all the others. Like, you mentioned the Shotgun 650. I remember seeing the concept of that bike about a year ago and I’m hoping the final bike looks like the concept. The design and styling of the SG650 flows just right. Can’t wait to see one in person.
I own the classic 350 in halcyon gray , it’s my 5th motorcycle I’ve owned , I look forward to riding it more than I ever have any of the others . Royal Enfield well done . ❤
Heck yeah! Our RE dealership has a Classic in Halcyon Gray. Such a good looking bike.
I love my 2022 RE INT650 Mark II with the chrome tank. The looks are perfect and the performance is all I need. I do place my feet in front of the pegs and then I bend the pegs back at stoplights. Having the right foot position while riding trumps having them moved for standing still. Thanks for spreading the word.
The chrome tank is my favorite. I’m 6’2” so I can still flat foot the bike with my feet out to the sides but I never thought about just pushing the pegs up when stopped. And you’re right, the pegs are in the perfect placement to ride that bike so I wouldn’t want them any other place.
You guessed right. The INT650 has ABS on both wheels (I think it's made by bosch) which is pretty good to avoid any fall due to a panic brake or something. I liked your video mainly because your reactions sounded pretty geniune. I'm looking forward to buy one of those. I'm leaning to the INT650 because it has a more upright rider position rather than the more sporty from the Continental GT 650.
Good video with your first impressions. Keept it up!, greetings from Chile!
Thanks. Yeah, I really wanted the Continental GT, mainly because I like the looks of a cafe bike, but the more upright seating on the INT was so much more comfortable. I also like the looks of the chrome gas tank.
Royal Enfield, Classic British motorcycle design at an affordable price point. I love my Continental GT 650! Wouldn't trade for the world! 🏁🏁
RE INT 650 - Got on, plesantly shocked by the ride.
Was going to get Honda CB500F- got the Enfield instead.
Matched your impression.
I was honestly surprised by how much I liked this bike.
I want both the RE Int 650 and the Honda CB500F! Thing is my local dealer has plenty of RE but no Hondas. We'll see. Both would be awesome for what riding mood you're in.
@@rickreardon4163 Yup, the Honda CB500F is a nice bike. They’re both right about the same price too. I checked our local Honda shop and they don’t have any in stock either. It’s been kind of hit or miss with them lately.
That foot peg issue isn't an issue once you get used to putting your foot down in front of the peg and letting your calve push back the softly sprung pegs.
After about three stops doing this, it becomes second nature and you don't notice it (I've had my Interceptor for three and a half years). It's also the easiest way to grab the sidestand… move your foot back, pushing the peg aside, and hook the tang with your heel.
As for that rear brake… RE lowered the stock position for the pedal because Indian owners, used to drum rear brakes, were resting a foot on the pedal and overheating/wearing out the brake - In India, they've had road safety campaigns to educate riders to use both brakes… small bikes there have linked brakes by law now… On India's poor roads, many old school riders in the past used to disconnect the front brake to avoid front wheel skids, or at least adjust it so it wasn't doing much, and old habits die hard. Modern 'big' bikes have ABS now). The pedal is easily adjustable. The brake won't lock the wheel ’cos of the ABS, no matter how hard you press the pedal… which just feels spongy as the ABS kicks in if you keep pressing harder… If you pull the ABS relay off and try it, it locks up and skids immediately (as did most Jap bikes before ABS)… it's a short bike so weight transfer will cause this.
Try a panic stop… You'll feel the front lever and pedal pulsing and hear the rear wheel pattering as the bike just stops. It was un-nerving to me at first, never having owned a bike with ABS in over half a century of riding, but when a kid ran out on a wet road, it saved my arse (and the kid's).
I must have gotten used to the foot peg position quickly because I really didn’t even notice it after the first couple stops. I definitely liked the location of them too. It made the seating position very comfortable. As for the rear brake, I’d get used it. It’s just different than all of my bikes and after awhile I kind of liked the squishy brake.
Test rode one last week. Loved it. Getting one.
That’s how I felt about riding this bike. Five minutes into my test ride and I knew I had to have one.
It seems the seat on this one is easy to change for something more comfortable.
The engine sounds amazing.
I like it too, your view from the cockpit reminds me of my '73 and '75 Z1. My cousin had a BSA 650 and that Int 650 sound sure takes me back.
I like the looks of the Super Meteor 650s exhaust better than the Int, but the forward controls are a no-go for me.
Yeah, I’m not a fan of forward controls either. So far I have been able to test ride all the Royal Enfield bikes we have in the US and so far my two favorite ones are the INT 650 and surprisingly the Hunter 350.
Thank You for this Great 1st Impression!!! I Really enjoyed it.
Your welcome. This was my first experience with a Royal Enfield. I’m hooked!
wow ! great Test-Ride ! I like the Interceptor 650 😀 as you said, smooth as silk 🤩🤩
Thanks. As soon as our snow melts I’ll be doing more test rides. Hopefully on a Continental GT and a Classic 350. I am slowly becoming a Royal Enfield convert. Great bikes!
Loved your video of the test drive of the RE Interceptor. You certainly gave it a bit of a thrashing .😉 In the U.K its currently one of the best selling bikes this year. U.K bike testers say it runs the Bonneville T100 a very close second. It's also a few grand cheaper. I have the RE 350 classic which I use for commuting to work and riding the back roads. It's not a rocket ship but it has loads of style and a sweet engine sound. A nice little single thumper. Give it a test ride and I think it will put a grin on your face.
Thanks. I was hoping the RE rep would have brought the Classic 350. That’s the bike I really like the looks of. I was able to test the INT, Himalayan and the Meteor. I’ll have videos on those soon. This is my first experience with Royal Enfields and so far I am impressed.
Dealers here in Florida want 9.5-10K OTD for this. About to get a 2019 used for 4K 😃 only 2K miles. Only downside is out of warranty
That’s ridiculous. Here in Michigan, after all the taxes and fees they’re about $7500.
better go for triumph at that price. that said, 4000 for used is not bad. parts should be pretty cheap.
@@VicariousxD Yeah the used market for these on FL is 6K average. I think 4K is gold haha
@@TwoWheeledHepkat Some riders reported paying below MSRP OTD too! The FL motorcycle prices are just what people pay to ride year round.
@@riv5438 Exactly. When I lived on the Gulf Coast, I noticed our motorcycle prices were higher than most. And you’re right, I was able to ride year around.
You are supposed to hit both brakes at the same time for effective braking.
I was, but the rear brake was pretty much useless. The RE rep said he never even uses the rear brake.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat my RB was spongy until I bled it.. now it's fine.
I've got the GT version of this bike. I too kept forgetting to cancel the indicators (even though I knew just how dangerous that could be), eventually fitting self cancelling to it (the way I did it was not the easiest mod to say the least). Lovely 6 speed gearbox but no indicator as to what gear you are in other than neutral (I'm working on that now, again I'll be taking the most difficult path possible). Love the bike but it is a little heavy (I've taken 23kg off the bike, that's a lot but little more than 10% off the original bikes weight). Thank you for the video and your take on the 650 INT.
You sound like you do to your bikes what I do to mine, as in, I can’t leave them stock. 23 kg, that's about 51 lbs. Wow! That is a lot of weight to lose on a bike. Very cool.
Gear indicators?… Who needs ’em?… If the engine's screaming, shift up, if it's lugging, shift down. You've got a rev counter anyway.
Seriously though, that rev counter is all the 'gear indicator' you need on these bikes. In intermediate gears, you don't need to know the number, just shift up or down as demanded by the engine's feel. If you're unsure if you're in top, look at the needles on the dials… If they're parallel at normal top gear speeds, you're still in 5th, if the speedo needle is noticeably ahead of the tach, you're in top. Who needs another 'display'?
@@chrisgraham5186 I need another display and I've been riding motorcycles on the public road since 1963. My last 2 bikes both had 6 speed gearboxes (a Honda CB400F and an RE 650 GT). I accept that you don't need a gear position indicator but I would prefer to have one, mostly to make finding neutral less of a chore when having to stop at red traffic lights.
@@dogphlap6749 It isn't a chore if you're riding properly, and arriving at the red light in the correct gear because you've gone down the gearbox as you've slowed. It was something we drummed into our pupils when I was a motorcycle instructor. The only time it should be an issue is after a panic stop… and then, the inconvenience is negated by the fact you've survived.
I've never owned a bike with a gear indicator (apart from the pointer alongside the gear lever on the Matchless I owned in my teens), but when I rode for a living the company fleet Suzukis we rode began to appear with them fitted. Most failed during the warranty period, so after replacements also failed, the workshop simply held on to the replacements to fit when the bikes were sold on after a year (around 50K miles). None of us professional riders noticed their absence, despite most of our riding (as despatch riders) being in panic stop and traffic light heavy city, urban, and suburban traffic conditions in all weathers.
@@chrisgraham5186 Look mate I've been riding motorcycle for a month short of 6 decades, only one of those bikes had a gear position indicator but somehow I managed to cope without the benefit of your arrogant advise. Oh and by the way, all the various bikes I've owned in that time save one had sequential gearboxes, there is no other way of changing gear on those bikes other than sequentially. Please allow me to have my preferences. I don't tell you how to ride or that you should have a gear position indicator, allow me the same freedom please.
It would be interesting to know how the comfort, handling and performance of the Interceptor compares to the Kawasaki Vulcan S (650), which is a unique combination of cruiser and sport bike design.
My local dealer hasn’t had a Vulcan S last for more than a few days so I haven’t been able to really check it out. What I do know about the comfort on the Vulcan S is it has an adjustable seat, footpegs and handlebar, 18 possible configurations. So no matter your size, you should be able to be comfortable. The INT and the Vulcan both have a ‘650’ but the Vulcan has 14 more horsepower than the INT. I think it’s, Kawasaki has 61hp and the INT has 47 hp. I’m 6’ 2” and I was very comfortable on the INT. When my dealership gets another Vulcan S I’ll be checking out the comfort on that.
I just bled my rbreak on my 650 continental,its nice n grabby now,the interceptor i test rode for 1st time litterally yesterday(while "thegreenmachine" was getting 10k service) my only honest gripe,was the gear shift is so damn close to the footpeg,i could barly get my big goify foot in there,and yep you have to sit back to dodge the footpeg issue(conti does'nt have that issue),but the interceptor ,to me it feels like you could ride it on a dirt track for days&days,interceptor anyone can ride&enjoy,continental. Completly different experiance ¬ for learners,there are somanny custom(from RE&aftermaket) is staggering,a 300$au exuast upgrade creates a whole new beast of fun
I definitely think one of the big appeals for these Royal Enfields are all the aftermarket products for them. Without having to repaint your bike, you can completely make it your own. I also heard how bleeding the rear brake fixes the squishyness. (Is that even a word) Makes me wonder why RE didn’t do that from the start.
Id say in india they love doing the lil things like brakebleeds etc that does'nt cost much,to get that feeling of ive made it more mine,they love od tweaks over there,ps if squishy is'nt a word..it is in the motorcyclepedia😁😄,we have our own "country grammar"🙂
I would buy one in a minute but the nearest dealer is an eight hour drive so not happening. Same reason that I sold my Guzzi V7.
That is a big problem with the RE being fairly new to the US. I do believe with the recent surge in Americans buying them, Royal Enfield will be getting more dealerships across the US. I do know of three Harley Davidson dealerships that sell RE, including my local HD shop.
These bikes have ABS front and back so freed of concern over locking up the front wheel I hardly use the rear brake on this bike. Under heavy braking there is so little weight on the rear wheel it does almost nothing to slow you down, under light braking it does not matter much which brake you use so for this bike I mostly just use the front one.
I didn’t know until after my test ride that this bike had ABS. If I knew from the start I would have understood why the rear brake was so squishy. I didn’t ask questions about this bike before my test ride because I wanted a true first impression. Honestly, I wish I did know about the ABS first so I wouldn’t have complained about it so much. When I mentioned it to the Royal Enfield rep he said, “I’ve never used the rear brake, only the front one”. I thought that was kind of funny.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat Thanks for the reply. My comment was in no way intended as a criticism of you or your video which I found most enjoyable.
That’s alright. I didn’t take it as criticism. And trust me, as someone that went to automotive design school, I’m good at taking criticism.
Another channel on YT , the guy said the brakes were squishy right away on the vid of his first ride impressions. I asked on yet another bike channel , of first-ride impressions , if the brakes were squishy and he said they were “great”, no problems at all with them. And both of these gentlemen are ‘bike guys’. I guess. My question to you is (if you or anyone else who knows) would it be possible to put a better brake assembly on it ? Or maybe there’s some fluky thing going on with every-other Interceptor exported to the states having a bad rear caliper ? Kidding , but I’m really curious . Because I want one. Well , I’m buying one even if I’ve gotta drag my feet to slow down !
I’ve talked to many people about these brakes, including someone who works for Royal Enfield. The squishiness is just the nature of the antilock brake system. If you’re not used to ABS, like me, then they’ll seem squishy. I have had people tell me that they just bled the rear brakes and they started working great. So it could be a simple fix. The Royal Enfield guy I talked to, which is a motorcycle racer, told me he never uses the rear brake on any of the RE bikes. The front brake is amazing so it will still stop quickly. But I don’t like relying totally on one brake. It sounds like a little adjusting is all that’s needed for the rear. I really liked this bike, even though I was using more of the front brake than I’m used to. It still wouldn’t stop me from buying one. If you can, I suggest test riding one. Maybe the rear brake isn’t an issue for you, but I promise you, you’ll love the bike.
It's slow to my old t140 ( but the RE is lovely.) Stick an S&S 865 Kit powercomander cam and pipes it's a bloody animal
I’m all about more horsepower!
Hi I bought the MK2 chrome one after a few thousand miles on it now it’s a good bike I’ve fitted Hitchcocks premium touring seat plus there Enfield precision exhaust and handle bar risers that go up and backwards I’ve made fit me very comfortable now every 5 minutes spare I have I’m on it like your thoughts on it and I’ve subscribed to you 👍
Thanks! The Royal Enfield rep recommended Hitchcock for after market parts. I’ll have to check that seat out. I did like the look of the stock seat but it seemed just a little thin for me.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat hi thank you for the reply there premium touring seat is so comfortable 👍👍
@@SOLOMOTOUK I’m gonna have to check out your videos.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat hi you’ll see the seat plus a brown one single seat but premium seat is the best one thank you 👍👍👍
They're great
Is it wrong that I read your comment in Tony Tiger’s voice. 🤪 Yup. It took me about 3 minutes before I decided I wanted one. 😎
Another video on the int 650 mentioned the front brake was squishy.
Most peoples first rides on these, they'll feel like that till you break them, which tends to be the same time frame of the bikes being used, in reviews or first impressions.
The squiziness of the rear brake must be a setting flaw of the dealer. Disk breaks should NOT be squishy, right?
That’s what I thought too but after talking to some people these bikes have ABS brakes which I am not used to. I guess they don’t want you locking up the rear brake. I could get used to it I guess but I wish they would give you an option of shutting off ABS.
@@stillshakin2125 Good to know. Thanks!
@@stillshakin2125 I imagined something like that too, like I wrote earlier. Good to know it can be fixed.
Your specs are wrong mate , it is 47 hp , not 40 hp .
Great review , I love mine in ' Orange Crush ' .
Yup, I put up the rear wheel HP which is straight from the dyno. The 47 hp is engine only and once it goes thru the drivetrain then gets to the rear wheel you lose about 7 hp. I probably should have put both rear wheel HP and engine HP. BTW, orange is one of my favorite colors. When I saw the orange crush, that’s the one I wanted! Very cool.
That Royal Enfield 650 would be a better bike to ride across the country then your Honda 250 (even though the Honda is so cool!!)
The reason I’ll be riding the XL250 across the country is because I won’t be riding paved roads. I’ll be taking as many dirt roads, two tracks and trails as possible, maybe even part of the Trans America Trail. I agree, the INT would be great if I was only taking pavement.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat hey brother, thank you for taking the time to reply to me! Absolutely the Honda 250 will be perfect for a trails & back roads trip, while the 650 would be more fitting for the route 66 trip going through places like Winslow AZ, if you did video series of back roads trip & a vintage highway & old motels, your channel would blow up!
Well, you might have just spilled my secret plans for my next trip after my XL250 trip. The next bike I’m rebuilding is a 1977 Kawasaki KZ650 inline 4. I’ll be doing the whole Route 66 on that bike. I’ve actually been planning this trip for years now but with one of my hot rods. I decided it will be more fun with a motorcycle that I rebuilt. I’ll be hitting all the great Americana spots. Like the Cozy Dog, where the corn dog was invented, the blue whale, Wigwam motel and everything in between. There’s a lot of planning for this trip but it’ll be worth it.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat oh that will be so cool to see an iconic vintage 1977, brought back to life for an adventure on such an historic road!! Maybe you could tell viewers what towns you'll be in & the dates, so if they wanted to meet you for a coffee or lunch or dinner during your journey.
have a 21 t100,test rode 650 a bit underpowered comparison 1000 more revs on the 650 to the t100 i have to use more revs
The T100 is one of Triumphs nicest looking bikes in my opinion. But it’s 250 CCs larger and about $4800 more expensive then the INT650. For the price of a T100 you could buy an INT650 and a Classic 350. I love Triumph motorcycles so I would never tell anyone not to buy one. It just comes down to cost for many people.
I have an int650 in glitter and dust
Nice! I think those chrome tanks are the best looking ones.
I see round front blinker casings on this INT650. Most INT650's I saw in reviews were square, like ugly. Is that an option?
All the INT650s at our dealership had those round blinkers. I had to look on line to see what the square ones looked like. Most of the ones I saw were 2021 bikes. Maybe they changed to round in 2022? Either way, the round ones look so much better.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat The fat ugly round ones (like seventies' Jap bike indicators) are a US market requirement fitted to all North American bikes. The smaller neater rectangular lamps are stock for the rest of the world. (You can tell which I prefer😃)
Interestingly, many UK owners are importing US market indicators, or fitting round 'Lucas/Wipac' pattern 70's Triumph/BSA/Norton ones, while others are seeking out minimalist LED ones which are almost invisible when not flashing. I guess it's down to generations.
Those of us who see these 'retros' as sixties' (or even fifties') styled, want the authentic 'no indicators' look … but those younger riders, who think of the seventies and eighties as old (Old?… That's barely out of warranty🙄), see big rounded Jap style indicators as appropriately retro ’cos they've never ridden 'pre-turn signal' bikes like us real old timers have.
Go Worriers 😎
See what education does. I ment Warriors 😂😜😂
Haha, that’s a typical Waverly edjucation, edumakation, edukasion, Ugh! That’s a typical Waverly school for ya! 😳
Awesome detailed information 👏.
Can anyone suggest me which is better bike ktm adventure 390 or the interceptor 650. I am 6 ft 4 & want to go long rides & occasionally offroading.
If you want to do any off roading you’ll want to stay away from the INT 650. This is an on road bike only. The KTM has a higher seat height so it’s suitable for taller riders. Plus, the KTM is about 95 pounds lighter than the INT. Even though the KTM has a much smaller engine, it’s only about 3 hp less than the INT 650. So being almost 100 pounds lighter, the KTM will seem faster. The KTM does cost about $500 dollars more, but if you want to do any off road riding, it’ll be worth the extra money. In my opinion, for what you’re looking to do, I’d go with the KTM. But, if you decide that you don’t want to do any off roading, then the INT 650 will be the better choice.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat You earn my respect sir for your time to reply me. I would definitely go with ktm 390 adventure in this regard.
Thanks a lot 😊👍
@@striker1011 Thanks. I’d love to test ride the KTM 390 adventure bike. I rode their 390 Duke and that was a blast but that’s street only. Good luck with the KTM. You’re going to like it.
@@TwoWheeledHepkat Thanks a lot sir for your amazing informative opinion ☺👍
you're riding at too high rpm. this thing gives most of torque at just 2k rpm. there is where I generally shift gears.
The INT 650 has max torque at 5250 RPMs and max horsepower at 7250 RPMs. My friend that works for Royal Enfield, he’s also a motorcycle racer, says I’m not going to hurt this engine bringing it up to higher revs. He’s right. I rung this engine out many times and with the rev limiter set below max redline, the engine ran flawlessly. Don’t be afraid to rev it out, it’ll be fine.
If you shift at 2000rpm you aren't doing the engine any good. But revving over 4000rpm is not advised before 1000miles.
Well, it’s not advised if it’s your personal bike. But the Royal Enfield rep told me to run it thru its paces. He said, “First of all, it’s a demo bike, that’s what they’re made for. Plus, the rev limiters are set way below redline so you can’t hurt the engine. And if you do, Royal Enfield will just send me another one”.
Lugging the F out of the engine if shifting at 2k.
English designed frame by "Harris Performance" (Man your roads look like s**t!)
The RE rep told me that the Triumph engineers were involved in these bikes too. And yeah, our roads are s#!t. 🥴
@@TwoWheeledHepkat RE built their new UK operation HQ right beside the Triumph production complex!
@@douglasbrown5692 That was a smart move.
Walk much ?
I gotta watch out for those gopher holes. 🙄
Benelli? An ex-italian manufacturer, all made in China since a few years. Sad.
I remember Benelli from years ago but I didn’t know what happened to them. China? That sucks.