2024 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 | Royal Enfield City Tour Event |

We had been invited by Roger at Crewe Motorcycle Centre, to the Royal Enfield "City Tour" event, where we could take a demonstrator motorcycle out on a guided ride. We were in a group of 8, and I chose the 2024 Interceptor 650, so that I could compare it to the old 2020 model, which I used to own. It was really good to get back on the Interceptor, so I enjoyed my ride out on it, and I hope you enjoy the video too..
It was absolutely brilliant to meet a few of my subscribers too, great conversation, so thanks all for making yourselves known to me. Much appreciated.
Thanks also to Royal Enfield for bringing the event to Crewe Motorcycle Centre, and thanks to Roger and The Team for their hospitality, making it a great day !
#motovlogger #motovlogging #royalenfieldinterceptor650
‪@GapBahnDirk‬
crewemotorcyclecentre.co.uk/

[@andyheath9743]

Hi Ian, thanks for the shout out. This is the first time I have ever seen myself riding, and I didn't make a complete fool of my self. Must say I really enjoyed the Shotgun, but I would have to look at changing the seat, the cheeks of my backside were a bit numb by the time we got back.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Good evening Andy, I recognise your picture, so you have commented in the past. You certainly didn’t make a fool of yourself, riding almost up front. I am surprised you were having issues with the seat, as my boney posterior didn’t complain when I took one out, but it’s an easy enough fix with plenty of specialists out there. It was great to meet you, cheers.

[@BlakesPipes]

Thanks for the ride sir. Looked to be a great day to get out

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Blake. The weather was fantastic, as was the day.

[@LifetimeBiker]

Great ride out Ian , Thanks for taking us along.☺👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Glad you enjoyed it 🤗 Cheers

[@burrginsmcburrginson6787]

Hi Ian, I was the bloke in front on the Super Meteor, loved it! Great to meet you briefly, your video on the Aurora Blue Meteor 350 sold me on it, in fact I think I have that one from the video :) Can't recommend Roger and Carl at Crewe motorbike centre enough. Thanks again

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks so much for the comment, lovely to meet you and it was great having a chat. I have never really considered myself to be an “influencer”, but glad that I helped you to find a great little bike 😎. Although the Aurora 350 is a stunningly beautiful motorcycle, that Super Meteor really suited you 😉 and didn’t it sound well 🤗. Yes, “Team Crewe Motorcycle Centre” are a cracking bunch of chaps 👍.

[@-old-school-motorcyclesltd]

Great video Ian looked like a lovely ride on the interceptor heh lovely weather you had there 😊😊😊

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Phil. Yes, turned out to be a nice day, after the forecast had been awful. I enjoyed the ride, even though I didn’t want to ride in a group. Great chat with some subscribers too, bonus 😎

[@RideaGoodRoad]

Great video! Thank you.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@TheNorfolkThunderbolt]

What a smashing ride out! I’m still hankering for a Super Meteor. I wonder if wifey will mind me buying one? She did say we have space for a fourth bike….

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Well there you go Steven, get it done 👍. It was a grand day, really enjoyed it. Cheers

[@Ainsworth-Rider]

Morning Ian 😊 started watching last night but the 🍷 took over 😊 when I turned you back on this morning. You said if you are still with me 😅😅 doesn't the Interceptor look good with the Classics switch gear 👍 Andy's looking good 😊

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Morning James. I am guessing it wasn’t just the wine sending you to sleep, 💤 😂, good to know you had a second stab at watching it again. Yes, the new switchgear does look better. You know what I am like with names, he probably isn’t called Andy at all 🙄🤔😂. Cheers

[@Ainsworth-Rider]

No one is as bad as me at remembering names Dave 😅 looks a lovely bike, though and I was tempted for a while until another REOC member was stranded on the A55 with a shredded inertube in his Himalayan's rear tyre 🤨

[@weemark67]

What a lovely ride out.😊

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Mark 😎

[@MerciaMoto]

Afternoon Ian, looked and sounded like you were having a great time revisiting the Interceptor 😀Are you a hooligan at heart 🤔 definitely and there’s nowt wrong with that 😂 Great video, thanks for taking us along 👍🏻

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Dave, yes…once a hooligan, always a hooligan 😈😎😂 Cheers

[@icedidi]

nice day out Ian, was great to see you enjoying the interceptor again. I often wonder if you miss Honour.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks ice. It’s only when I’m out on the bigger bikes that I realise I miss Honour. Yes, it was good to have a little play 😎 Cheers

[@Duvol]

Brilliant video Ian capturing a really good day in every sense. Those 650s are fantastic bikes and a pleasure to ride. Great to meet you and ride out together. Keep up the good work mate. Paul.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Paul. It was a great day, enjoyed meeting you and the other guys. A great ride out too, except for the potholes 🙄😂. Cheers

[@crumblymal8479]

Have to say Ian the Inter is my favorite of the 650 line up it's a real classic style and this ride begs the question would you have another ? 😉👌👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

I know where you are coming from Mal, but for me, it’s a case of “been there, done that”. I did enjoy my ride, but there are so many other bikes around the same price, which tempt me, even if they are “hardly used” examples. If, and it’s a big if, I did get a 2nd bike, it would need to be comfortable enough for bigger distances. Unfortunately the Interceptor was too tiring for me on such rides. Cheers

[@philiphillhill7076]

Ee wur a grand Baker our Dad . Nice video Dave thanks .... did you mention a Sidecar in a past film ? Or was my Ears playing up ?

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Err, have you commented on the right vid ? 🤔

[@ReRiderChi]

Cool ride, thanks for sharing

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Glad you enjoyed it, cheers.

[@henryhartley9993]

Nice one Ian, great video, the best thing about a bike with around 45-50 BHP is the way you can use the gears to really have some fun in the twisties.....

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Definitely Henry. I had some fun doing just that when I had Honour. I miss being able to do that, but still wouldn’t sell Clementine 😉 Cheers

[@michaelgilbert3311]

Well done Ian. All fellow riders gave a thumbs up on the video. Bikes sounded awsome.Question for you., did you have to change your helmet for the group ride out? to allow for that massive smile you must have had on the day. bfn. Mike. Sunny Wales.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

😂oh no, it’s an older helmet so plenty of room 😂 Hope you are getting out in this lovely weather 🌞

[@philiphillhill7076]

Sorry about that Ian .I was watching commenting on another video whilst watching yours "nothing to do with getting Old I'm sure" ... you yourself make excellent Excellent Videos as I mentioned to you in Barmouth.... I was in the Isle of Man the week before last and met a Lad from Ulverston who thought that I was you ... I of course told him you are a much taller Chap ... oh my Sidecar is on the road. Anytime you are ready

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

😂 no worries Phil, will try and sort something out regarding going for a spin in the chair 🫣😂. I wonder who the chap in Ulverston was ? 🤔.

[@philiphillhill7076]

I didn't catch his name .he was giving my Classic the eye and fancying one himself and said he watches yourself.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@philiphillhill7076 hmm, that rules out the possible suspects then 😂 Always nice to here things like this. Thanks

[@5dTraveller]

Thanks Ian, an enjoyable ride through Cheshire, the roads around Oulton Park were still familiar although it's about 40 years since I was last there! Those 650 engines sounds great, unfortunately I don't think I can justify the purchase and running costs, so it'll still be a 350 or a Himalayan for me. Cheers, Mick

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Mick. Both the Shotgun and the Super Meteor sound much better than the Interceptor. I think RE should develop a different original silencer for the Interceptor. It’s been a good few years since I rode those lanes, though as I recall, they were rough back then too 🙄😂

[@5dTraveller]

I can't remember much about the state of the roads back then, they were a lot less busy though and the cars were a lot smaller so probably nowhere near as bad as they are now.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@5dTraveller quite true. I do recall them being gravely though.

[@chrisweeks6973]

Like yourself, I generally prefer not to ride in a group, Ian. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed getting back on an Interceptor; it is nice to be able to get an instantaneous throttle response, isn't it? 😉

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

😂 Yes, forward motion was a bit swifter than on the 350 Chris, I enjoyed that 😂 Cheers

[@mrgrizzlyrides]

That was fun, enjoyed the ride. The zorst notes at junctions did sound nice. I could tell you were enjoying your ride on the Interceptor and all the fantastic memories riding it brought back. You’ve probably already considered this Ian. I use a battery charger pack to power my action camera, you know the usb ones to charge your phone with. Neve run out of battery this way. Thanx for a great video, hope your both well and ride safe man.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Thanks Neil. I do have a pocket sized battery pack for such occasions, but as I didn’t know the format of the ride, I presumed (wrongly) we would be stopping somewhere. I had my spare battery, but alas, we didn’t. I do know the battery life of the DJI camera is extremely good, but I am often unsure, especially as I record with the front screen always on 🙄. In reality, I had nothing to fear, I cut quite a bit of footage out of this in editing. The actual ride was about 55 mins, and there was still life in the battery, for me to do a playback check upon our return. Cheers

[@mrgrizzlyrides]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield That’s plenty of battery life then. Compared to a GoPro, that’s amazing battery life.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@mrgrizzlyrides so good Neil, but I can’t help but keep checking in the mirror to make sure I am not talking to myself 🙄😂

[@mrgrizzlyrides]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield Hahaha. The worry is arguing with yourself. But, as you are doing a vlog even that’s ok as it’s for our delectation and delight.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@mrgrizzlyrides 😂

[@Adventureswithdids]

If i was in the market for a Royal Enfield, i think it would have to be the Interceptor.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

They are a back to basics raw bike. All the better for it, not fast enough to get into real bother, but fast enough to be fun 😎 Cheers

[@GapBahnDirk]

I like the new switchgear on the new interceptor, but not the oval front brake fluid reservoir. There is nowhere to strap my watch too...... It is a better arrangement than on the Norton though. I can see that you have been missing the interceptor! 😁😁👍👍.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Indeed GAP. The switchgear is much better, didn’t notice the brake reservoir to be honest 🤔😂 Cheers

[@paulholmes1682]

Great ride out but how did you manage to have so much fun without a TFT widescreen, multimode 200bhp engine and adjustable wheelie control? The Enfield range seem to be imbued with the essence of something magical that makes a motorbike great. More of everything isn't always better I think. That's enough of me on my soapbox 👍

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Definitely a case of “less is more” Paul. The only bike I have owned with fancy gadgets, was a Yamaha Tracer 900, back in 2019/20. It had a brilliant engine, but my god it was soulless 🤦‍♂️. RE seem able to build soul into all their bikes, you can even feel it on the new liquid cooled Himi 450 😎 Cheers

[@melfzs]

Morning Ian, that was a decent test route (apart from the roadsurfaces 😅) ..so do you reckon whatever they've done to the Shotgun engine they've done to the latest Interceptors as well? The audio sounded ok by the way ,I could here you and the lovely sound of the bikes fine . Cheers Mel 🍻

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Morning Mel. Although more refined than the original Interceptor, it didn’t feel as smooth as either the Shotgun or Super Meteor, so I am guessing that they have done something different when they produced the new frame for them. It still felt quite raw by comparison ! I am grateful the audio worked ok, to my ears my voice is slightly muffled, especially at higher speeds, but there was less clipping. It was more noticeable when behind the chap in front, or when large vehicles passed by in the opposite direction. It will be interesting to see what it is like on Clementine, and to see whether we still get decent exhaust sound. I have something else coming, which I will have a play with, it might work, but then again ………. 🤦‍♂️😂 cheers

[@melfzs]

@@ianhughesroyalenfield ah righto, yeah the Shotgun I rode was really different to how my old Interceptor felt engine wise, Haha yeah, good luck with your next experiment ! Cheers 🍻

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@melfzs thanks Mel.

[@AliasMrHackenbacker]

I missed this one but have signed up for the ride in North Wales. I agree with your comments about the Interceptor as I test rode one last year. I really wanted to like the bike enough to buy one but the combination of the budget suspension coupled with the high footpegs and that rock hard seat was enough to put me off, shame as I love the looks and the engine performance. Maybe the Shotgun will address this?

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

I had a love affair with my Interceptor for 3 years. In that time, I fitted the touring seat, which did improve things, YSS rear shocks, which transformed the rear, and, as mentioned, Graham Chadwick’s front fork spacers which took the “rattle” out of the front forks. I always said I was going to raise the handlebars a bit, but never did. Though the footpegs are quite high and back, you do get used to them, and even with my knackered knees/hips, I can’t recall them ever becoming painful. I expect the Shotgun to impress you, there is no doubt that the suspension is much improved, though I bet still quite basic. Everything is so much smoother than the Interceptor, but dare I say, less engaging. The Interceptor encourages you to ride like a hooligan (well it always did for me 🤔😂), whereas I would be happy just cruising on the Shotgun, but the package is there if you did want to turn the wick up. Please return and tell me what you think after your ride out. Cheers

[@AliasMrHackenbacker]

@ianhughesroyalenfield What I'd really like is the concept scrambler bike RE had at the bike shows! What I didn't want to do was buy a new interceptor, then spend out on better suspension, new seat, and foot peg lowering kit. I haven't ruled out picking up a used bike in the right condition at 5he right price and then doing the mods but in the meantime it's the Shotgun that gets my attention.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

@AliasMrHackenbacker I do believe that the Scrambler version is on it’s way. Along with the Classic 650 name, the Scrambler (though I can’t remember the name) has been applied for, so 🤞 we will see that in the not too distant future.

[@blrmotorcyclesinc.]

So, what did you conclude after the Shotgun 650 engine refinement compared to the newer interceptor 650s have they also got smoother too or is it just the Shotgun 650, would appreciate to hear your opinion .Cheers

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

The Shotgun and Super Meteor are definitely more refined. Not just the engine, but the chassis and suspension are better too, making for an easier, less tiring ride (at least that’s how it feels to me). Even after this ride out, I felt quite tired when we returned. Mind you that awful std seat doesn’t help with fatigue, as I said, I fitted the touring seat which did improve things, but the other two are definitely more comfortable, even the SM with it’s “alien to me” riding position. I think, if I was to buy one of the 650’s today, it would be the Shotgun. Yes, it is a lot heavier, but you only notice it when manoeuvring off the bike, on the road you don’t feel it. I am looking forward to the “Classic 650”, which might be slightly heavier, with the extra tin work (full mudguards, mudguard stay’s, headlight nacelle, like the 350). I must admit, the Shotgun really did surprise me, it didn’t feel like it was missing anything the Interceptor had in the way of acceleration, but I was running the Shotgun in, so couldn’t “give it some”, to really get the feel. The longer wheelbase doesn’t seem to affect the handling through the bends, but I need to take it out again, and go down some more twistier lanes to confirm this. I just wished RE offered the Shotgun, with the SM’s chrome exhaust pipes, the black ones don’t do it for me. I hope this helps in some way. Cheers

[@blrmotorcyclesinc.]

@ianhughesroyalenfield Thankyou so much for a detailed review on the Shotgun and SM 650s really appreciate your response. You're very right eventually we are all waiting for the Classic 650 which RE has kept the best for the last I guess, I'm sure we ll get a lot more bling and chrome in the Classic 650, and engine will be more refined like the Shotgun, I did test ride the Shotgun 650 and it's a lot more refined ,and smoother than the 650s earlier. Looking forward for more videos and reviews, Thanks & Cheers

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Yes definitely, keeping the best till last 🤞. As soon as it is released to my dealer, I will aim to be one of the first on it 😎 Thanks for your lovely comments.

[@ianhalliwell8604]

Nice video but a group ride really isn't my scene, but each to their own.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Totally agree Ian, but they wouldn’t let us out on our own 😢. I was hesitant about going on the ride, but I had taken all my gear with us, so it would have been daft not to. Cheers

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

You would think that with all the taxes people pay you would think that the roads were better.

[@ianhughesroyalenfield]

Agreed. The whole of the UK is suffering from rubbish, dangerous roads, it’s just not acceptable.