Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is one of the coolest beginner cruiser bikes at a low price.
Royal Enfield has been one of the most iconic motorcycle brands coming out of England, starting its journey more than a century ago and now being produced in a factory located in South India. In the past few years, Royal Enfield has tried to bring modern technology in its bikes while maintaining the old-school aesthetic inspired by its iconic 70s bikes. In its current lineup, there are some incredible motorcycles ranging from the Himalayan to the Meteor series giving its customers a great riding experience at affordable rates. One of these bikes is the INT650, being one of the best motorcycles under $6000.
Called the Interceptor 650, a name the company could not use in the USA because of trademark issues with Honda. The INT650 takes inspiration from the iconic Interceptor bike from the 1960s. While the bike may look quite normal on paper, it's the riding experience that hooks up most people who ride it. One of the reasons for the success of Royal Enfield in India and around the world is its sturdy craftsmanship and the ability to maintain relevance in the current time while retaining its classic looks.
The Royal Enfield INT650 has a classic vibe all around and weighs in at 440 pounds dry and is a standard for simplicity in modern motorcycles. While cooling for its 648cc P-Twin engine is achieved by air and oil with an oil cooler being tucked between the double-down tubes of its steel frame. The INT650 has a new six-speed gearbox driving the rear wheel via chain, and twin gas-reservoir shocks adjustable for supporting the flat bench seat that can easily accommodate two people.
For maintaining its traditional styling, the INT650 has two analogue gauges for speed and revs and a small LCD panel that gives the riders an odometer, two trip meters and a gas gauge. The large fuel tank is well-finished with a flip-top cap and is made of metal to give that extra heavy touch to the bike. Royal Enfield has also done a great job on the chrome elements of this bike which lifts the INT650's look up a notch.
Standard style non-adjustable 41mm forks are present on the front wheels and disk brakes are offered on both wheels with the help of ring-style Bosch dual-channel ABS. In addition to the Bosch dual-channel ABS, Royal Enfield has also packed a stainless steel brake line into the bike which goes a long way in improving the brake feel at the lever.
One of the most striking features of the INT650 is its sound which is produced by two large silencers sweeping from the bike's midpoint and producing a quiet EPA approved rumble that grows into a snarl at higher revs. Royal Enfield has given the INT650 a 270-degree crank which helps with the aural aspect, but some less restrictive pipes produce a more sonorous soundtrack under power.
Related: The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Is The Cheapest Cruiser Motorcycle You Can Buy In The US
Coming to the performance front, the Royal Enfield INT650's specs look quite timid on paper with its fuel-injected 648cc parallel-twin engine producing 44 horsepower and 38 lb-ft of peak torque. The engine doesn't feel stressed and quite easy-going with its six-speed transmission with slipper clutch doing a great job of power delivery. The light feel on the clutch shows Royal Enfield's work in providing comfort to the rider and making it easy for even beginners to ride.
More than 80 per cent of the INT650's torque comes at below 3000rpm, which makes it a joy to ride at low speeds. However, the bike gives a great response on any gear and picks up speed quite easily. Giving much comfort at low speeds, the real strength of the INT650 comes on the highway. With a 0-60 time of 7 seconds, the INT650 is not incredibly quick but does a great job in maintaining cruising speeds of around 80MPH for even all-day rides.
One would feel that the INT650 would be hard to handle on corners and tight turns, but it does so surprisingly despite being a relatively bulky bike. The INT650 is a fun-to-ride bike which really brings out its magic on the highways at cruising speeds. To put it in simple words, the INT650 does everything right for a modern cruiser bike while maintaining its old-school aesthetic and styling. The INT650 has every romantic detail of an old-school bike minus all the problems associated. So you get a bike which doesn't leak oil every week and its electronic parts don't fail miles away from home while enjoying a calm ride without worrying much about any performance spec or ergonomics.