The Chennai-based company is about to enter the world's largest two-wheeler market with their first-ever all-new multi-cylinder motorcycle with the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650. It isn't perfect though - faster riders will want more sophisticated suspension. The destination was Bhopal and hence, it was a 560 km trip. I managed to use my amazing intelligence to pick the worst route possible into Goa. On the flip side, economy is in the 23kmpl region for city riding and it rises to 27kmpl at a reasonable highway clip. The sweet spot of this engine is around 3,500 to 4,000 rpm and speeds ranging from 80 kmph to 110 kmph where the motor feels the most lively. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. Royal Enfield also uses an old-school dispersion-style headlight and I suspect that a clear, perhaps even LED headlamp might have made the Interceptor looks even smarter. The bikes are modern enough to keep up with the fast-changing times while the retro quotient is just right to keep the purists happy. All this while, I was praising the Interceptor for its brilliant and reliable 650cc engine, the spot on riding dynamics and the impressive ride quality. Planning a Delhi-Ajmer-Jodhpur road trip? Top speed is north of 170kmph and I have seen over 180kmph without any major signs of worry or mechanical distress. Royal Enfield 'Service on Wheels' Review: Duration, cost, limitations and how to book! We had the BS4 model with us in our long-term fleet and the new BS6 model is currently priced at Rs 2.65 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). And for me, I've always wanted to ride a motorcycle to its launch - that would a be a great story, right? As mentioned before, the suspension is set slightly on a softer side but it still strikes a perfect balance to keep the bike composed around fast corners. Today, I'm a convert. Upcoming 11th-gen Honda Civic teased ahead of November 17 debut, Kangana Ranaut asking nephew Prithvi for a 'kissi' in THIS adorable video is every 'Maasi' ever; WATCH, Female cyclist, biker killed in hit-and-run mishaps in Mohali, Russell Crowe opens up on new film Unhinged, Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article, #KeepAWatch on your Vitals In Real Time with GOQii. Stop throwing big weddings in the middle of a pandemic. Needless to say, the road trip was done with all the necessary precautions in place. What to expect? Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 mileage test, top speed and a lot more things you need to know about the motorcycle can be seen in our latest video. During 10 months of its amazing journey with us, surprisingly, the bike didn’t give us any trouble and turned out to be a trustworthy companion. This included a 65km ghat section that was so bad that I couldn't even sit down for more than five minutes at a time. This engine — and the Interceptor it drives — is meant to carry the company into the foreseeable future with a (slightly) more modern design and performance envelope. It's a massively important project for Royal Enfield. With a kerb weight of 202 kg, the Interceptor 650 is slightly on a heavier side but all that weight seems to diminish once you are on the go. So, now instead of going gaga about how it gets a retro-looking rounded headlamp upfront being a modern classic or how lovely looking that fuel tank is, I’ll cut it down short. On one stretch, I had to manage a 65km ghat. The simple lines of the tank, the almost spartan neatness of a chrome handlebar with a twin-pod analog instrument cluster is very likeable. India’s largest auto media for the bike & car community for over 22 years. It's bloody brilliant. In order to get rid of that, you can get buffing done which is available at almost all Royal Enfield service centers across India. Holding on to gears brings you a bit more power while also rewarding you with a fantastic exhaust note. The prices start at Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 2.65 lakh ex-showroom. However, the bike is sensitive to high speeds and economy can drop to 21kmpl at sustained speeds over a 110kmph - not that you'd be able to do this consistently for a while. A twin at this price? It has fuel injection and is oil-cooled. I enjoyed an extremely hard ride into Goa, on a circuitous 850km route that resolutely decided to throw ever worse roads under the wheels of my orange Royal Enfield. At moderate speeds - the speeds most of us do, most of the time, the Interceptor feels soft and gentle and it's rather nice on good roads. It is possibly the most important moment in Royal Enfield’s illustrious history. Lowest recorded fuel efficiency – 22 kmpl, Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Bags First Prize For Water Conservation Management. Copyright © 2020 Overdrive - All rights reserved. All broken roads - I stood on the pegs and rode the whole of it because I couldn't slow down en route to a sunset shot. What I liked the most about this engine is its versatility as it feels equally at home, not just on highways but during city rides as well. As I had assumed during the start of the journey, Google Maps’ estimated time was beaten as I completed the journey in around one and a half hour lesser time.