The new Royal Enfield 650 Twins are about two weeks away from the reported India launch date, but one of IAB’s followers has managed to take the Interceptor INT 650 out for a spin early on. Siddharth Prahladan, who works as Manager at Steel Authority of India, also runs a blog titled TheRightWrong. He posted his first impressions of the neo-classic roadster on his blog and shared them with IAB.
Also read: 4 motorcycles reportedly coming this November - Royal Enfield 650 to Jawa 300
Siddharth was at a fuel station when re-fuelling his car when he spotted the new Royal Enfield 650. Speaking about the visuals, Siddharth said:
I read in some review that it could be mistaken for a triumph but trust me, this bike has its own character and personality. Enfield has gotten it right from every angle... The bike is bigger than it looks in photos.
After a bit of conversation, he convinced the Royal Enfield test rider to allow him to ride the motorcycle. Talking about the engine, Siddharth added:
The engine was smooth, the sound from the two exhausts was in perfect harmony... I rode it only for 200 meters one way till the cut into the service lane and I turned into it to go back to the fuel station.
The new 650 Twins are scheduled to be launched in mid-November 2018. Royal Enfield recently conducted test rides in India where a few riders experienced both, the Interceptor INT 650 and the Continental GT 650, in a controlled environment.
Select dealerships have reportedly commenced the bookings for a token amount of INR 5,000, while the deliveries are expected to begin from mid-December 2018. The motorcycles will arrive at a highly competitive price tag, making them the most affordable 650 cc bikes in India. Reports suggest that the 650 Twins will be launched below INR 3 lakh (ex-showroom) price range.
Also read: Royal Enfield teases new motorcycle ahead of EICMA 2018
Both motorcycles use an all-new 648 cc, parallel-twin cylinder, SOHC, oil-cooled, 8-valve engine that comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox and gets slip-assist clutch as standard – a first for a Royal Enfield motorcycle. The motor is tuned to deliver maximum power output of 47 bhp at 7,100 rpm and peak torque of 52 Nm at 5,200 rpm. Both bikes share the underpinning as well, but they are differentiated with styling and ergonomics.
[You can read Siddharth's complete ride experience on TheRightWrong.blogspot.com]
