Royal Enfield and its spectacular Interceptor INT 650 and Continental GT 650
The latest news from Royal Enfield, the Interceptor INT 650 and Continental GT 650.
The brand Royal Enfield, a leading motorcycle manufacturer in the mid-displacement segment, has opened a new chapter in its long history of 117 years of production with the presentation of its already announced twin-cylinder motorcycles, the Continental GT 650 Twin and the Interceptor INT 650 Twin.
The first twin-cylinder motorcycles manufactured by Royal Enfield since 1970 recall a golden era of motorcycling that began in 1948 with the arrival of its first 500 twins, which evolved into its well-known large-displacement models, the Meteor, Super Meteor and, finally, the original Interceptor of 1960.
Sold mainly in the USA and Canada, the Interceptor 700 and its 750 cc successors quickly became a lifestyle within California culture, an expression of fun, excitement, freedom and optimism. They were fast, entertaining, stylish and sporty motorcycles that enjoyed great success in desert racing and on dirt tracks. And because of this relationship between Royal Enfield and the “Golden State,” Santa Cruz was partly chosen as the location for the presentation of the Continental GT 650 and the Interceptor 650, which, just as they mark the rebirth of Royal Enfield’s twin-cylinder motorcycles, also fire the starting gun for the brand’s global expansion.
Presented in the USA, and tested by journalists on a global motorcycle ride, and although the estimated MSRP prices for the Continental GT 650 and the Interceptor INT 650 have been announced for the American market, they will be revealed for Europe at the EICMA show in Milan in November.
Despite their link to the past, the Continental GT 650 and the Interceptor INT 650 are completely new motorcycles, designed from scratch by the design teams in India and the new Technology Centre in Bruntingthorpe, United Kingdom. The motorcycles – the Continental GT 650, a sporty café racer, and the Interceptor INT 650, an elegant roadster – combine a classic look with sophisticated technology and share a common engine that will inspire confidence among new riders and satisfy the expectations of more experienced motorcyclists.
Air cooling to simplify maintenance, a wonderful sound from the twin-cylinder exhausts, and lines faithful to its past make the Continental GT 650 and the Interceptor INT 650 motorcycles designed for the real world. Their generous engine torque available from very low revs makes them very manageable in heavy traffic, and with enough power to cruise effortlessly on open roads.
Motorcycling without complications is what the new Royal Enfield Twins are all about. Producing 47 hp, the secret of their “friendliness” lies in the way this power is delivered – smoothly, and from low in the rev range – with 80% of the peak 52 Nm of torque delivered at 2,500 rpm, allowing smooth and rapid progress without the need for constant gear changes. Add to this an extremely agile chassis developed at Royal Enfield’s Technology Centre in the United Kingdom together with the renowned sports frame builder Harris Performance.
But the Continental GT 650 and the Interceptor INT 650 offer much more than good engineering – they represent the classic style adapted to today, which has defined Royal Enfield’s identity for decades. The new Twins, like the famous single-cylinder “Bullet,” are motorcycles inspired by the past but built for today and designed to remain attractive in the future – and as such, they reflect the brand’s respect for longevity, fulfilling the definition of a “sustainable motorcycle” in a world where short-term trends, fast consumption and disposable products are losing their emotional value ever more quickly.
More and more, today’s riders see their machines as extensions of themselves; motorcycles they can customise to their taste and ride with pride. The Continental GT 650 and the Interceptor INT 650 are designed precisely for this purpose, and although similar in spirit, they offer very different riding experiences.
The Continental GT 650 will especially appeal to sporty riders, with its optional single seat, sculpted tank, rear-set footpegs and sporty clip-ons. Perfect for enjoying “a bit of throttle” or leaning into corners. Its ergonomics keep it comfortable whether as an attractive urban motorcycle, on the motorway or simply on a weekend getaway.
The Interceptor INT 650, by contrast, is inspired by the historic model that bears its name, with its distinctive teardrop tank and traditional knee pads, its comfortable padded seat and its scrambler-style handlebar harking back to 1960s California. The riding position, both commanding and comfortable, makes the Interceptor INT 650 a practical and fun motorcycle on all kinds of terrain, whether tackling coastal bends, navigating the urban jungle, or heading down to the beach.
