Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Royal Enfield 650 Twins launch

Lots of pictures out now of the new twins.
Interceptor.


and quite a long launch video on the various Royal Enfield pages. This is the slot in the market Triumph don't have yet.
Continental GT

The new Triumph twins all being at 900cc and starting at £7800 and these being 650cc and hopefully a good bit less cost.
They fill the starter bike or second bike market.

I don't think the quality will be as good as Triumphs, but I would like to be surprised. I also like that its back to basics, no fake carbs, no fake exhausts, air cooled, with a little help from an oil cooler, and passes latest emission euro4 limits.
No rider modes either that I can see, one could probably maintain and dare I say repair it at home without the aid of a computer.

Aah! You were talkin' "displacement" here, I see.

Good point. I didn't think of that. And so yes, the price point would be much more accommodating for the young newbies out there, wouldn't it.

(...and yes, it would behoove those boys in India to improve their product's quality, wouldn't it, but considering that these new models appear to be clean-sheet designs, I'm sure they'll almost have to been much better in this department than their present single models, what with them being relatively ancient designs)

Yes they have a guy working called Simon Warburton or something like that, I think he worked for Triumph a while back. Alot of the development for these and the single cylinder clubman was done in the UK. Sounds familiar.

I think I recall hearing Warburton also worked for time within Stuart Garner's new Norton concern, if memory serves.

looking at the front wheel shows a toothed ring, probably for antilock brakes.

I thought initially , " Oh goody, a sensible bike."
Then I checked the specs.
47bhp?
Come on chaps...the world's moved on since 1958.
Looks like it'll deliver an underwhelming riding experience.

I was at my local shop the other day and they were saying a couple of people in the area had the 350 and 500 singles.I like the look but the guys aid the quality was still pretty ordinary.I'd like to see how these do quality wise

In normal riding most use less than 50 HP riding our Americas,as you have to wring it out to get at the 65HP in the upper rev range. The Enfield will be just fine for non racing activities.

I've always had a hankering for a Honda CB350/450/500, but I'm no mechanic so have been concerned about my ability to keep it maintained. A new bike, with the same styling and similar displacement, may be a good option.

I agree Triumph is missing the segment of the younger "new" rider.
They seem focused on "premium" branding.
A 250/350 and a 500 cc option would close that gap.

The new Bajaj / Triumph alliance should fill the 250/350 gap at least in the Asian markets initially

You mean like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZlicQ2e_w

The more I look the more I like it. Hoping the price will be just above the Bullet range.
It is euro regs that bikes have ABS now, prob why it and the new Bullets have a rear disc instead of a drum.

If you are looking a fast bike it's not the one for you, but to cruise around the back roads it should be fine.

I dont tell everybody this but you guys are OK, I was in a Honda dealers the other day, there number one selling bike NC 750 range, makes about 50 HP, start at just over £6300. Different style but main competitor for this I think.

I don't think the Enfield is going to find much of a gap in the market...and I bet it won't be cheap enough or powerful enough or cool enough for most.
I expect that potential purchasers will stay away in droves

I think Enfield which is a premium brand in India will sell a ton of 650's there. Over here they will remain a nitch brand for folks who just want something a little different.

the gt is nice looking. i find the interceptor pretty ordinary. the originals were very beefy looking - more like a speedmaster. maybe the new ones could be dressed up but that tank is just blah. here's the real thing...

When you compare it with the original Redditch product above, the new ones just don't cut it....the Interceptor was a pretty cool, beefy performer..whereas the new offerings are simply bland porridge to me.

I always liked the look of the original 750. We had no dealers or back up here for Enfield so I never actually saw one in the flesh.

Interesting, I was just checking, The 1968 750cc Interceptor is quoted as 52 Hp, the new 650cc quoted at 47 Hp. Although I would hope the new one would ride a lot better as regards torque curve, brakes, handling.

Bet it won't be a patch on the original for acceleration or handing and sheer grunt.
Incidentally did you know that Enfield located much of their production to an underground factory in rural Wiltshire during WW2?
This remained in use almost to the end of the company with Interceptor engines being made there

Yes, found that out reading this when looking up the original specs.
Royal Enfield Interceptor.
Lots of production moved about the country during the war.

I used to ride with a guy who had an original and it was undependable.

OOOHH, Bills Enfield is absolutely gorgeous. Nice bike Bill.