The popular Interceptor 650 has received a much-need update, but are they enough?

The Interceptor 650 was a game changing motorcycle for Royal Enfield as a bike manufacturer. With this motorcycle it showed the world that it can build a well engineered, reliable and exciting product. It was also a big step up for the Indian motorcycle segment as many bikers could finally realise their dream of owning a mid-displacement twin-cylinder bike as the Interceptor 650 was and remains the most affordable bike of its kind in India. And it has received a much awaited update, so here are the things that we liked and disliked about the new Interceptor 650 alloy wheels variant.

Dislikes:

Ergonomics

The riding posture is like that of a typical roadster. The footpegs are slightly rear-set, and you get a wide handlebar. The handlebar is low set and this means, the riding posture is slightly canted forward, and it’s fine for a short ride, but on longer rides, this can add a bit of strain on your back. There’s an easy fix for this and you can use handlebar risers. What isn’t an easy fix is the seat. The seat padding is thin and too soft and you sink in after a couple of hours and the frame pokes your under thigh and this is uncomfortable.

The seat for the pillion rider is also very uncomfortable, as it leans rearward and the footpegs are high, so tall riders will be cramped for space and the seat too makes it one uncomfortable ride. And it’s a heavy bike at 218 kg, so moving the bike in parking or putting it on the main stand will require some effort.

Suspension

One of the biggest issues with the Interceptor 650 has been its inconsistent suspension. We had hoped that the new updates would bring about some changes in this department but that wasn’t to be and RE should have given it a USD fork.

The rear suspension is on the softer end and it bottoms out rather easily, so on sharp bumps and potholes, the pillion rider gets tossed around a bit. The front suspension is very consistent, on certain occasions it dampens the impact but sometimes it doesn’t and the overall ride quality of the bike isn’t pleasant.

Handling

The soft suspension setting also plays a role in its handling. While cornering at high speeds, the rear end feels squishy and wobbly, and this takes away a lot of confidence. Yes, I understand that a roadster is not to go corner carving, but when you feel enthusiastic, you have to be a bit cautious.

Also, riding in traffic, the Interceptor’s heft can be easily felt as it isn’t a very easy to ride the bike at slow speeds. Apart from the weight, the width of the bike makes it cumbersome to ride at crawling speeds.

Likes:

Engine

The highlight of the 2023 Interceptor 650 is its 648cc, parallel twin engine developing 46.8 bhp and 52.3 Nm of torque. The dollops of torque flowing through the engine makes it a joyful motorcycle to ride no matter what the speeds are. Also, this engine is very refined and you only feel a bit of vibes near the redline.

You can easily cruise between 100-120 kmph all day long and if it weren’t for the issues with the seat and suspension, the Interceptor would have been a great touring bike. Real world fuel efficiency of the Interceptor 650 is around 25-30 kmpl. The clutch action isn’t tiring and the 6-speed gearbox offers you crisp shifts. And I love the deep exhaust note of the bike. Yes it’s subdued, so if you like your machines to roar, you can opt for an aftermarket unit, but let me warn you, it’s illegal.

Alloy Wheels

Ever since the Interceptor made its debut, owners have been pleading to offer alloy wheels as an option and RE have finally done it with the update.

This will come as a huge relief as the spoke wheels looked beautiful, but they were tube type and punctures were a nightmare as removing the rear wheel especially isn’t an easy affair and fixing punctures was a task. With alloy wheels, riders can fix punctures easily and this will come as good news for riders who like to tour.

Brakes

The new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 gets disc brakes on either end and gets dual-channel ABS as standard. The brakes offer sharp bite, however the lever feedback could have been better, but it is something that you will get used to.

Despite its heft, the Interceptor manages to stop really well and which is a good thing, given the performance it offers.

Styling

Despite being in the market for more than half a decade, the Interceptor 650 still looks beautiful. The secret to its beauty in my opinion is its simplicity and despite our test bike being in a stealthy black shade, it still managed to get attention.

The Interceptor remains a very analogue bike with respect to features which I like, but modern consumers would have liked Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. Part of the update is the rotary switchgear and new levers, similar to what we first saw on the Super Meteor 650.

And the Interceptor also now features LED headlight, while the throw isn’t very strong, it is better than the older halogen unit. The alloy wheel versions also get this black treatment on the engine and the exhaust pipes. I think this a good move as the chrome case on the Interceptor 650 is prone to pitting and I have seen my friends struggle in maintaining the shine of their machines.

Verdict

The 2023 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 range is priced between Rs 3.03-3.1 lakh (ex-showroom). The alloy variant carries a premium of Rs 10,000 over the spoke wheels and also gets this black treatment on the engine and exhaust, which I think is fair.

However, the bike has lost its VFM quotient over the years, don’t get me wrong, there is no other brand that offers you a 650cc parallel-twin for this price, but then some modern features would have been welcome to offset the cost.

As you can see the Interceptor 650 isn’t a perfect bike, but it’s a bike that’s full of character and offers you a joy of riding that very few motorcycles in this segment can match. So it’s a bike that one buys from the heart more than the mind.