Hitchcocks Forum

This is really out of interest.. Is a Mk1 Interceptor much of an improvment over a Constellation, apart from the larger capacity? your thoughts please!

Really only in the name, like "wow it's an Interceptor" these days we aren't pulling too many wheelies from the lights

Lighty, I have both and I'd say yes, but the differences are not as big as you might think. The Inter is slower steering (longer swingarm,) and feels taller despite the 18" rear tyre. It goes a little better as a result of the extra CCs too. It depends on which model we're talking about to some extent but it also looks way better than a Connie, with that West Coast look. Mechanically there aren't many real improvements over a Connie. A Series 1A however, is probably an even better bike with improved breathing, coil ignition and other detail differences. I'm working on a Series 2 at the moment so we'll see what that's like!
REgards, Mark

Weather bike A is better than bike B it definitely debatable and everyone's opinion will be different.

A couple of years ago I came out of a cafe to see an old boy stood looking at my Super Meteor, here we go I thought I bet he had one just like it when he was younger but no not quite, Super Meteor isn't it? I used to work for Enfield building those, what an interesting conversation followed, I won't go into all the details, he told me many interesting things one being that all bikes where road tested after they were made and that the road testers favorite was the Super Meteor because it had the most flexible and smoothest engine, the road test took in all types of road and traffic conditions and the Super Meteor was best suited to everyday use and the Constellation and Intercepter were a bit to highly tuned and not happy in slow moving traffic. Not my opinion but the Enfield road testers of the time. Other opinions will be available.

Dennis, the old boy was right, Super Meteor is the best and I don't have one, getting one back on the road at the moment, but it isn't mine

I've run my Connie on a 28mm single Concentric and it's really nice, smooth and with plenty of torque but will rev quite well too. The Interceptor was available as a single carb model for Police use etc and is reported to be similar in use but is a very rare version, so you're unlikely to see one. Personally I think a soft cam, low compression single carb vertical twin is one of the nicest rides of all, my 53 Meteor is exactly this!
REgards, Mark

Hi Mark, my S1 Inter is a single carb one, I got it from California and the air cleaner is in the left toolbox the same as the Super Meteors, it is nice but I think the SM is a smoother and easier starting bike