Perfecting the Royal Enfield INT650

[@sideburnz77]

I bought the interceptor Mark 2 just like yours You back in may Such a beautiful bike. My son just passed his test and brought the interceptor as well he brought the canyon red looking forward to riding together. Great bikes 👍😎

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@sideburnz77 sweet! Great choice! I love my new saddle, I have AEW silencers on the bike-inexpensive and much lighter than stock. And I installed a DNA air filter which improved power and throttle response. That’s about all I’ve done to it (plus Dunlop Battlax tires). Enjoy!

[@motormikeb1047]

Had my Interceptor since the showroom floor (2020)... I simply tell others everyone for the pass 80 years built a 650 twin... Triumph, BSA, Yamaha...others..... and I have all of them in the stable... Royal Enfield perfected the 650 twin. I did the sprocket change and a factory tour seat... also from across the pond Cravin panniers, color matched. I've done 1800 and 1500 solo trips... Great machine.... I can do 400 mile days and at the end of the day I don't feel like I did 400 miles... At a youthful 73.... I hope to continue my two-wheel adventures... 😎

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@motormikeb1047 wow, that is awesome! I’ve got an 800 mile each way trip coming up. I’m sure I’ll take the better-suited BMW R18 Classic, but I find myself toying with the idea of taking the Enfield! I love the comment, they perfected the 650. Totally agree. Thanks for your feedback!

[@BlackdogADV]

I bought the Continental touring seat soon after I bought my bike. I can’t complain. I haven’t changed my sprockets but I did go with a 150/70 tire on the back. Mine is a scrambler build with a high front fender and Himalayan windshield (and many other things). I bought the bike for $5,500 OTD and spent another $2,000 on upgrades. I’m 75.

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@BlackdogADV wow! Cool upgrades! I’ve decided I’m happier on tarmac but I do miss my dirt bike days. Thanks for your feedback. Enjoy!

[@carlwyatt]

Excellent bike.. like a good few others by Royal Enfiled

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@carlwyatt yes indeed. People love their RE 350’s but the 650 has just the right level of power for my riding: Mostly two-lane, country highways with 55 mph speed limits. But I can also jump on the highway, ride at 70 mph and have power to spare. Thanks for your feedback. Enjoy!

[@papajeff5486]

I’m also 68 yo.. Been riding my big bike a long time. Bought it new, 10 years ago. It weighs over 800 lbs. and I’m considering going for something lighter. The RE Interceptor seems like a nice bike. Thank you for the review…from east Tennessee.

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@papajeff5486 thanks for your comments. Royal Enfield does make solid bikes at great prices. Good luck with your motorcycling journey!

[@sdrallyfan]

I started on the stock seat for about a month and then went to the GT touring seat and that was a big difference in the comfort department. I am now using the Premium Touring seat from RE and it is even better than the GT touring seat. If that seat bothers you give that one a try. I got it on eBay for just over $100.

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@sdrallyfan sounds good. I’ve had this one in the video for a while now and still love it, crooked stitching and all. Thanks!

[@samuelhelderman]

I want a bike and was looking at the Kawasaki 300x you had. Seems like it might be too small for me. I’m 350#’s. I have a bad back and can’t ride a ninja like I used to have but loved. I also bought a cruiser the Vulcan 500 and hated it because I really didn’t like the riding style being completely upright. I rode a sport touring 650 once many years ago and I remember how nice that was it was far more upright but still had me sitting about 15° forward. I thought it was a bmw but now I’m not sure. I want something really good on fuel and cheap/simple on maintenance. It can be old and even ugly if it rides good. I’m more a function over form kind of guy and thrifty is my first last and middle name. Any recommendations? You really are talking up that 650 of yours. I found your channel yesterday and watched 2 years of videos. I like your content. We are moving to south Kentucky from north Illinois. I’d like to be able to comfortably ride 250 miles at a time at least. That would get me to Nashville TN, Cincinnati OH, Indianapolis Indiana. For the days I want to do city stuff. Thanks in advance.

[@larrywade9041]

I agree with you Quentin in that most of the time it's best to keep what you have & try to improve upon it. I'm almost 73 y.y., have (2) Guzzi's (1999) California Bassa & a 2007 California Vintage, & a 2022 Kawasaki W800. I am done buying 2-wheeled motorcycles.If I get to the point that I cannot hold up those bikes, I will sell them all & get a can-am. Have a great day! Cheers!! Illinois

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@larrywade9041 thanks for your feedback. I’m also a Guzzi fan. I’ve had my eye on the TT85 for years now, and the Californias are beautiful-very similar to my R18. Also I love hearing from guys who are a little further down the road age-wise from me. One of the great mysteries is how long I’ll be able to keep riding. Like you, I’ll go three wheels before I give up riding altogether. Cheers!

[@larrywade9041]

@@QuentinsMotoVlog I also am concerned about how long I will continue to ride. That's why I appreciate every ride. Every year @ our Guzzi rally's I see older guys coming on trike's. Remember to "capture the moment" in whatever you do. Cheers!!

[@GapBahnDirk]

I agree about the interceptor. I have two of them! 😁😁. I may also go with a 16 tooth front sprocket at some point. The touring seat was fine for me and I have YSS shocks and front fork kit. 👍👍

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@GapBahnDirk how much of a difference do you think the YSS upgrade made? Do you think they improved high speed sharpness or cruising comfort or both or neither? Thanks!

[@GapBahnDirk]

@@QuentinsMotoVlog Well, the fork dive was pretty bad with the standard forks and YSS cured that. The ride is hard with YSS shocks, even on the lowest settings, but the handling is excellent and the Interceptor frame shines. I found the standard seat comfortable enough, but use the touring seat. I have the utmost confidence in the handling of the bike with YSS shocks and fork kit.

[@silverback3926]

Link for seat would be nice!

[@camillebourbonnais1925]

Hello Quentin. Thank you for your video your bike looks vey nice. I own a Glitter and Dust Interceptor 650 bought new this spring after not riding for about 45 years. I'm a little obsessed with seats, handlebars and mirrors (trying to get the look I want). My question is your bike looks so well balanced with the seat, black wheels, etc.; but is that a stock set of handlebars with the cross-brace removed (at first glance they look a little like the low handlebars sold by Hitchcock Motorcycles)? Please let me know if you can.

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@camillebourbonnais1925 hey, thanks for the question and welcome to Interceptor world! My handlebars are your first guess: stock with the cross brace removed. I had to bend a bit of metal to get the crossbrace removed but it came off cleanly. I’ve tried bar-end mirrors but in the end went back to stock Enfield’s. I think they look beautiful in chrome and the rear view is very good. As I said I love the new saddle, even with the crooked stitching. It did make the reach to ground a bit taller but easy enough for me to handle at 5’9” or however tall I am these days. Let me know if you have other questions and thanks again.

[@camillebourbonnais1925]

@@QuentinsMotoVlog Thanks for the information. I've thought of removing the cross-brace and expected some metal would have to be bent to do so. I have three sets of mirrors including bar ends; along with original and Hitchcock short stem. The short stem don't give enough of a view directly behind. The stock mirrors are great but look like rabbit ears on my bike (somehow look good on yours), so I use the bar ends which give a good view behind and also clear up the view ahead. Thanks again.

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@camillebourbonnais1925 sounds good. I don’t know why the stock ones look so good on mine! I didn’t like them at first. Old school! Cheers.

[@timgarnett7636]

Your royal enfield touring seat looks more like the standard one. The touring seat I bought from Hitchcocks was cross ribbed and miles different to standard. Much more comfortable. The standard seat is garbage

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

@@timgarnett7636 totally agree with your last point. Good to hear the Hitchcocks is an option. Still loving the one featured in this video. Thanks!