Royal Enfield has just announced that it will reveal US prices for the new Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 on September 26, 2018. Indian prices will be announced soon after. The bikes are generating a huge amount of interest amongst enthusiasts, especially in India, thanks to the large fan following the brand enjoys.
The RE Interceptor 650 is a retro-styled street motorcycle and is straightforward in its layout. It features a one-piece quilted seat that’s pretty much completely flat and should be comfortable for both, rider and pillion. A conventional handlebar and mildly rear-set foot pegs make for an upright riding stance. This changes on the Continental GT 650, which features clip-on handlebars and a solo seat with a dual-seat option, similar to what we have seen before on the Continental GT 535.
Both new bikes are powered by a 648cc, air-cooled, SOHC, fuel-injected parallel-twin motor which produces 47hp at 7,250rpm and 52Nm of torque at 5,250rpm. The engine is paired to a 6-speed gearbox with a slip-assist clutch. We also recently found out that the engine has been tuned to have a healthy torque curve, with 80 percent (over 40Nm) available from just 2,500rpm. On the other hand, power peaks at just over 7,000rpm, which means it should be quite rev-happy too.
The bikes also have a claimed top speed of over 160kph and an overall fuel efficiency figure of 25.5kpl (WMTC). The kerb weights for the Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 are 198kg and 202kg (without fuel). The fuel tank on the Interceptor is also slightly larger, at 13.7 litres, compared to the 12.5-litre tank on the Conti GT. The seat height and ground clearance on both motorcycles is identical, at 804mm and 174mm.
These Royal Enfields are equipped with a conventional telescopic fork and gas-charged twin shock absorbers. Braking is addressed by a single 320mm disc up-front, and a smaller, 240mm disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS as standard. The bikes also share the same wheel and tyre sizes. The wheels are 18 inchers and the tyres are 100/90-18 at the front and 130/70-18 at the rear.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
