Hitchcocks Forum

Hi Guys--------- has anyone booked a test ride on the new 650 twin yet ??..........Any dates as to its sales launch in the UK ??

Nope. Eagerly waiting though to see if it's likely to be suitable machine for my wife.

She has problems trying to keep up with my 1200 Bonneville at the moment, she really ought to put in more effort and run faster.

Not yet road tested in any of the modern bike mags. I believe they're due in May but then again the Himalayan didn't exactly hit it's scheduled launch date, did it? I think it'll take more than a 47bhp RE twin to keep up with a T120 or an 865 Triumph twin for that matter. Are you ordering the optional supercharger? I believe RE has done a deal with Kawasaki, but that might have been a dream.....

Whats the point thought uk had a 70 mph speed limit and an over abundance of speed cameras to boost the economy. Everybody gone like the yanks hp mad 180mph bikes belong on racetracks not public roads ban em fill the roads with enfields think of the traffic jams when they break down.

Hi Guys----I've decided that I'm not going to bother, but let others spend their money first----sort out the decapitating pistons, valve head drops, primary chain rollers shedding etc---etc. then see what the market reaction is.......Alas, by that time I'll be in my 80's and back on Honda 50s again... Meanwhile there's that T140 Tiger to re-commission !! Yummy !!

I think royal enfields new 650 twins could be a big winner. Consider;
Triumph T120 at £10300 well I will forget that straight away.
Triumph T100 £8500 at 54bhp and 213 kg (that's including the plastic mudguards)
Royal Enfield Interceptor £6000 at 48bhp AND 202kg.
There ain't a lot between them except £2500.

The Interceptor appeals to me but I'm not sure that I trust RE's R&D dept to get it right first time. In 2003 I bought a GASGAS 450, their first attempt at a 4 stroke, it was a complete disaster. There weren't many times that I took it out and something didn't go wrong. I won't be a development rider again.

I concur with that; let others be the pioneers with arrows in their backs. Apart from a higher-than-average risk of teething troubles, I’d be upset if RE do what Triumph did with their Bobber (their fastest-selling bike ever) and bring out a much better one the year after launch. Personally I don’t rate the 54bhp l/c 900 Triumph twin either - that’s why I bought one of the last air/oil cooled 69bhp Thruxtons. At least with those one can easily liberate a lot more torque and bhp with exhaust and intake tuning and a DIY remap. Prices hold up well too because they’re sought after for customising. I suspect an RE twin will depreciate like falling off a cliff. We don’t yet know what the price will be either; I’ve seen various suggestions. I haven’t tried a 180mph T120 though; I didn’t realise they were so fast......

Dealers are advertising the Enfield 650 bikes at £6k and are taking a £100 deposit to reserve.The Himalayan was long advertised at £4k with also a £100 reserve.It sells at £3999 now.

I also bought one of the last air/oil cooled bonnies, a T100. My mate has a T120, both are stock chassis wise, to be fair his bike is quite superior to mine (doesn't feel like it'll do 180 tho'!). I still wouldn't want a Bonnie with a radiator, ABS, rain mode and whatever other gadgets it has.