Royal Enfield’s first models to debut its 648cc parallel-twin were the Interceptor and Continental GT, back in 2018. Since then, these bikes have largely remained the same, aside from a small cosmetic update in 2023. Now, what seems to be a refreshed Interceptor 650 has been spotted testing.
- Now uses twin front disc brakes, new exhaust system
- Twin shocks at the rear are new, no longer gas-charged
- Overall design seems largely the same
Updated Royal Enfield Interceptor 650: what has changed?
The biggest change that can be spotted on this test mule is the presence of twin front disc brakes. This is an unusual move, as the Interceptor is one of the lighter and also the most affordable Royal Enfield 650. The engine appears to be very similar from the outside but what has changed is the finish on it, which now resembles the one seen on the Super Meteor 650.
Another small mechanical change is the presence of an extra O2 sensor close to the start of the exhaust header pipe. The latest emission norms stipulate that exhaust emissions must be monitored both pre-cat and post-cat, so expect this to become quite commonplace now.
While it still uses a gaitered telescopic fork, the rear suspension units have been changed on this Interceptor test mule. Gone are the gas-charged units, which are being replaced by regular twin shock absorbers. Another change is the move from twin digi-analogue dials to a single instrument pod.
This is likely to be either the TFT dash from the Guerrilla or the digi-analogue dash, seen on a multitude of other REs. The Interceptor and Continental are the only bikes in RE’s lineup without a gear position indicator, so this change should rectify that.
Other small changes to the Interceptor that can be seen are the new round LED indicators and the round LED taillight. Both of these have been seen before on other RE models and aren’t new units. We also hope that with this update, Royal Enfield finally equips both, the Interceptor and Continental GT, with a hinged fuel-filler cap. The tank in these pictures appears to be the same as the current bike’s so capacity should be the same at 13.7 litres.
Currently, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is priced between Rs 3.03 lakh - Rs 3.31 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai) and it remains to be seen by how much the price will increase, when this updated model arrives. In typical Royal Enfield fashion, expect the updated Interceptor to come with fresh new colours and a host of accessories straight from the factory.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
