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[Tim NZ]

The 535 GT is not selling particularly well in any market; Domestic or Export...


And I dont see the 'new' 650 GT being any more successful. Nor least if the seat is as (un)comfortable as that on the 535 GT, 'new' buyers will be on selling the bikes in quick order?




Style wise, to my eye the bikes looks like it was inspired by the old Benelli Tornado? And semi reminiscent of the BSA A65 'Boiled Egg' motor?


Slipper clutch? Hip pockets on under pants.


Not for me. It will be a few years before I'd consider buying one unless there is a quantum lift in Build Quality from what is currently being sold. Especially in light of the the 'proactive servicing' (a total recall by any other name) and production stop and rejig to the Himalayan...




Sid may be saying all the right words to the international press, but are the factory workers speaking the same language?


I know that REI middle management definitely are not. They are on another planet with vastly different 'real world' expectations of what a motor cycles functionality is?

[ric]

I think REI are they're taking this heritage thing a bit far and should have gone with a different name, this 650cc engine wont Intercept much at all these days, not even a Japanese twin with less than half its capacity.
When the original was launched, now that was an Interceptor

[Alan R]

Blimey !!--------- is that a re-morphed JPS Commando I see before me ?.....

[Alan R]

Hi Guys------Hang on a mo, let's not judge the book etc......Schizophrenic, or a twin-pronged approach ?? We are constantly being told / shown about the emerging young, affluent "middle class" ( In their terms ) week-end riders in India and it could be that market which this bike is initially aimed at whilst still producing the existing range for the masses.....

Remember these specs. on a brand new bike ?}--- No tacho, no centre stand ( Waiting time of 6 weeks), no fuel tank knee rubbers, ..........The Mk1 Hinkley Bonneville as first offered here in the UK, its' home market if you like ??...all done for initial economy but later rectified along with the appropriate price hikes..Same here I think....Hi Oldboy 67, a bit of Googling has shown me that a Lakh is an Indian quantity unit of 100,000 and not the actual currency, which is the Rupee...So how does your 2 million lakh translate into UK £ ??-- What I'm asking is do you multiply them together or divide or what ??.....The present exchange rate is approx. 1 UK £ = 85 IRU..........Maybe I'm being a bit simplistic in the face of International trade and finance but it would be interesting just to get a rough comparison.....Yes, I agree that slipper clutch is perhaps an expense too far..Would the bike be any the lesser machine with a "normal" multiplate one ??.....Power output is now constrained by Market Pollution laws so "Gutless" it might be to some but "Compliant" is what opens those market doors I'm afraid.....Triumph, like a lot of other European-based manufacturers, have set up production units in the Far East to boost their overall output and profit margins....With RE ever expanding I wonder if our Mr H. has plans for a Distribution Centre based in say-----Chadwick End, Chennai for example ?? LoL

OK, so after all these recent years of speculation--will they/won't they etc---etc. it's here and on show....GREAT !!...Let's give it, and the people producing it, our support and best wishes...PS}--Has anyone seen the tech. specs. on the engine ?? Piston, con. rod. big-ends....Please, please, please RE tell me you've learnt the quality control lessons from your single days and this twin will prove to be popular and successful based on performance and reliability.......(Thinks to myself}-- "Non the less I'll wait until this first batch come onto the "Used" market before I buy one --- just to be sure !!" )...

[Tim NZ]

Insight into the Indian motorcycling mindset can be gained by reading some of the Local (India) press releases:


ROYAL ENFIELD SET TO TAKE ON HARLEY DAVIDSON IN BIG-BIKE CLASS!

[binary]

https://motorbikewriter.com/carberry-en ... gine-sale/

An interesting article.

[papasmurf]

I hope the cam-chain is reliable:-

[hagis]

I am impressed by the new Interceptor, and I will be knocking on my dealers door next April looking for a test ride, I have in my garage two British bikes and to Italian bikes which will be punted to make room for a new Interceptor, roll on April.

[KC1961]

I like the look of the Interceptor, altho' the tank and seat look a bit "Hinckley Bonnie-ish". I don't know why they've gone for the 270 degree crank tho'. I'd prefer my "old British bike nostalgia trip" to sound like an old British bike. My mate has a new 1200 Bonnie and to my ears it sounds more like a CX500 than a Bonnie.

[Alan R]

Thanks for the photo Papasmurf-------From this it looks like we have fuel injection with 4-valve chambers and manual tappet adjustment, a 270 degree crank and a balance shaft....Plus}-- pistons similar to the 535 ( Slipper-type ? )..what appears to be forged steel "H" section con-rods and a removeable big end cap with shells to match ?? ..... I'm assuming modern Electronic ignition and a Comp. ratio of 8:1 ish ??....5 or 6 speed box ??...So all-in-all not a bad package I would say....From those You Tube videos of the prototypes on test it appears to be sporty enough....but will it all hang together in the "Real World" ???....the marketing and the machine ??