ROYAL ENFIELD INTERCEPTOR 650 BS VI Unparalleled Twin!

Mind you, this motorcycle was not built in someone’s backyard or a makeshift workshop, but was developed at Royal Enfield’s UK Technology Centre in collaboration with the engineering and design teams in Chennai, India. The entire platform, including the engine and chassis, underwent rigorous testing and validation process during the development programme at world-class proving grounds with professional riders.

We got the 648cc parallel twin powered BS VI Interceptor and we wanted to know everything about the bike, its pros and cons.

EXTERIOR- FEATURES & DESIGN

The classic tear-drop shaped fuel-tank, the twin chrome exhausts on either side of the motorcycle, the gleaming, hand-polished aluminum engine, the diamond quilt pattern single seat that can accommodate the rider and a pillion comfortably and the wide braced handlebars, all of them contribute to the good looks of the roadster.

Speaking of the handlebar, its positioning is ideal for the rider, not just for city riding but also long highway rides. The dedicated steel-tube cradle chassis helps make this motorcycle solid and versatile. The chassis was earlier developed ground up by the team at Royal Enfield’s UK Technology Centre, and Harris Performance. It has 18 inches Pirelli tyres in front and rear (both with 36 spoke aluminum alloy rims) with twin shock absorbers, along with front and rear disc brakes with ABS. The motorcycle has a ground clearance of 174mm and a seat height of 804 mm.

The Interceptor 650 gets classic round shaped halogen headlamps, though there is a small LED inside the headlamp units and at the rear also you get halogen.  Two analogue dials in twin round casings make up the speed and tachometer gauges. The one on the left has a small digital screen which gives fuel and odometer readings. We felt that the readings could have been in a larger font and clearer, as one is unable to read clearly while riding. There is no gear shift indicator provided on the instrument cluster. Besides, this motorcycle does not get a hazard switch, which I feel is very handy in a roadster.

On the right hand side of the handlebar you get an integrated engine kill switch and a start switch. The left side of the handlebar has switches for indicators, high and low beam and the horn. Just behind this module, you get the pass switch.

Coming down to the foot pegs, especially the ones for the rider, you need to get used to it, apparently. The positioning of the foot pegs feels very awkward and inconvenient.  Because of the bulging design of the engine area, there seemed to be no way the foot pegs could be fixed a bit further ahead. Rather, the moment you place your feet on either sides, the foot pegs hit your shin or calf, depending on where you have placed your feet. Ideally while placing your feet down, your legs need to be in front of the foot pegs because in case you want to move your feet back or forth to roll your stationery bike, these foot pegs fold inwards as there is a spring in it.

Similarly, while engaging the sidestand too, these rider foot peg gets in the way, proving to be very irksome. It’s all about getting used to it, I presumed.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE

When you start the engine, the first thing you hear is the very royal sound. The sound from the exhaust has a very perfect beat. And both while idling as well as on the go, you also realise there is hardly any vibration.

The Interceptor 650 is powered by the first modern Royal Enfield 650 twin engine. This new platform is a single overhead cam, 8 valve, air/oil-cooled, 648cc parallel twin, producing 47bhp and 52Nm of peak torque. The engine has a strong low and mid-range performance, retaining the Royal Enfield character of accessible torque through the rev range. This was quite evident when he hit the almost empty roads. This mid range torque is what is important in real life situation traffic. 

The Interceptor 650 has a six-speed gearbox which has been especially developed for this motorcycle. The gearbox gets a ‘slip/assist’ clutch that facilitates easy riding in traffic with a light feel, and prevents wheel-hop when downshifting gears. This was also a first when this bike was first introduced in its BS IV avatar.

A good portion of the engine torque is available at a relatively low rpm level of 2500 RPM. That gear throws too are not inconveniently short and one can rode along without frequently changing gears. Braking too is top notch with the twin piston ByBre (By Brembo) callipers on 320mm floating disc in the front and a 240mm one at the rear along with Bosch dual-channel ABS.

VERDICT

Royal Enfield has been constantly raising its bar on build and quality of its motorcycles, besides performance. From a single cylinder 350cc technology, expanding its range to 650cc parallel twin cylinder technology and that too with a six speed gear box, is quite commendable. The Interceptor 650 with its competitive pricing will make the world of powerful roadsters a lot more accessible to eager riders. As for its performance, with its parallel twin engine, it offers unparalleled fun! It’s best to call it an Unparalleled Twin!