Introduction
Royal Enfield is really upping its game in the mid-size modern-classic segment in India. Its 650cc twins, the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650, had created a stir in the Indian market owing to their phenomenal value for money back in 2018 when they were launched. Now, after four years, RE’s 650cc family has become larger with the more premium Super Meteor 650 joining in.
During its first ride review in Rajasthan and road test in Mumbai, the Super Meteor 650 turned out to be decently impressive. As a cruiser, it’s undeniably a desirable package. However, for a potential buyer, the more important question would be if it’s practical and usable in the real world in the long run. So, to address these points, we welcome the Super Meteor 650 to our long-term fleet.
The Plan
We plan to go all gung-ho with the Super Meteor 650 by testing it in every possible scenario. To begin with, how does a 1,000km ride in a day sound? Yes, that’s on top of the menu! Munching 1,000kms in a day will inarguably be the most comprehensive test to gauge the extent of comfort it offers over a long distance. It will also be a great opportunity to test the long-term durability of other aspects like engine performance, gearbox, brakes, and suspension.
This will be followed by a detailed city ride experience of the bike. After all, the urban jungle is where most of the Super Meteors will spend the majority of their life. In this report, we’ll mainly shed light on how the low ground clearance, heavy weight, low seat height, and stiff suspension fare in the city, besides a few other crucial bits like fuel efficiency. We also plan to get rid of the windscreen and the pillion backrest at a later stage to see what difference it makes in day-to-day life. Furthermore, a report dedicated to the service cost, service experience, and ownership cost of the Super Meteor 650 will also be published soon.
The Details
The Super Meteor 650 is equipped with a bunch of elements which are a first from Royal Enfield. The most attention-worthy component is the upside-down forks up front, which are sourced from Showa. It’s also the first RE to come equipped with a full-LED headlamp, along with adjustable brake and clutch levers and a Tripper Navigation system as standard.
While the 47bhp, 648cc, parallel-twin engine is the same as the Interceptor and Continental GT, the intake and exhaust systems have been changed. The rest of the mechanical bits are unique to the Super Meteor including the chassis, suspension setup, brakes, and wheels. As for the dimensions, it’s a typical cruiser with a heft of as much as 241kg (considerably heavier than its 650cc siblings), and a ground clearance of 135mm. On the flip side, its low-slung profile translates to an accessible seat height of 740mm.
Other features of Super Meteor 650 include a slipper clutch, a USB charging port, dual-channel ABS, a semi-digital instrument cluster, and a 15.7-litre fuel tank. Also, we have the top-end Celestial variant of the bike which comes with touring-oriented add-ons like a windscreen, a wider handlebar, a touring seat, and a pillion backrest.
Bike Stats
Kilometres ridden this month: 2,600km
Odometer reading: 5,090km
Fuel efficiency: 25-27kmpl
Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi
Gallery
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Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Right Side View
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