Royal Enfield First Look

 

 

Royal Enfield is on the road promoting their new 650 Twins. They have been around the USA with their demo days trailer and fleet of bikes. Denver was scheduled in June but because of troubles in customs a reschedule was in order. I have been wanting to try a Royal Enfield out for some time. I’m looking for a city bike, fighting traffic in Denver I need something snappy and agile. My Road King is a great bike but it is not light or slippery, so the search continues. Facebook comes to the rescue and via the powers of social media I find myself with a reservation for Royal Enfield’s demo days. I thought, fun. What a great way to sit on a bike, get a feel for it, and chat with others doing the same.

 

 

 

So the stars aligned and life gave me a weekend off. I cruised down to the demo days on my Road King thinking about trying out a new bike. META Denver was the location, more on them later.

 

 

I took out the Interceptor 650 and Contiential 650, leaving the Himalayan for the more adventurous. With the reintroduction of the air-oil cooled 648cc parallel twin engine and its classic lines the Interceptor was my favorite. The bike was nimble and easy to ride. I had no problem leaning into corners and hitting the throttle. The clutch was light and the brakes were crisp making this bike easy on the hands. When you hit the throttle it will set you back. Talk about a smooth throttle, this has it. It was responsive and like a silk robe on a Victoria Secret model. This bike has more than enough power for fighting city traffic. I did not get to hit the highway, but I am confident its performance would make the ride happy. The gears shift smoothly and were light to the touch. Neutral was easy to find and the bike did not fight me at a stop. Six speeds give the rider plenty of performance.

 

 

 

My only issue was the alignment of the foot pegs when I came to a stop. During the ride the position was very comfortable and made me confident in my abilities. However, at a stop the foot pegs hit me right where I place my feet, so it would take some getting use to, not a deal breaker but something to consider.

 

 

 

The Continental is a retrospective look at the 1960s Cafe Racer and Royal Enfield did a solid job with this interpretation. I will admit I have not ridden a cafe style bike before so the seating was a little different. However, by the first stop sign I had the basics down and was ready to lay on the throttle. Just like the Interceptor, the Contiential had great performance. They share mechanical design and have all the same features with engine, transmission, and brakes. When you mount this bike, you are in a position to conquer curves. I was wishing the demo ride was located in the mountains, and I was hitting the curves. Now, this bike is not what I am shopping for, but it would be a great bike to add to one’s stable.

 

 

META Denver was the host for the event, Royal Enfield teamed up with META to provide a cool location in the heart of the Denver RINO neighborhood. RINO is an up and coming arts, food, drink and housing area on the northside of downtown Denver. With food trucks, event facilities, bars, and art to bring in a younger crowd.

 

 

 

META is a magazine focused on the on “A LIFE WELL RIDEN”. They put out a high quality publication on a quarterly basis that offers stunning photography and adventure stories. They touch on all aspects of motorcycle life, everything from Born Free to Supercross. But they deliver the content in a timeless fashion as to make the publication relevant today and in the future. I spent some time with Andrew Campo the publisher and one of the partners. He has a great love for motorcycles and the many cultures that thrive around two wheels. With a background in motocross and online publishing he is chasing the print publishing world with a passion. I highly encourage you to search out a copy of META and enjoy the ride. Here is a quote from their web site that provides a little insight into what makes META tick:

 

 

 

“There are a million ways you could choose to spend your numbered days here on Earth, but believe us when we tell you that motorcycles can make your life an extraordinary one.  Our publication is dedicated to all the hopelessly addicted dreamers serving the same life sentence we are.  To the bold individuals fearlessly chasing that thrill of feeling alive.” (https://www.readmeta.com/company)

 

1400 mm Wheelbase
804mm Seat Height
37.5 degrees of steering
24 degrees rake and 106mm of trail
Steel tubular, double cradle frame
13.7 Ltr. Fuel Capacity
202 kg Kerb Weight
174 mm Ground Clearance
41mm Forks with 110mm of Travel
Twin Coil-over Gas rear shocks with 5 pre-loaded adjustments
4 stroke, single overhead cam, air-oil cooled, 648 cc parallel twin
9.5:1 compression
47Bhp@7250rpm
Fuel Injection
Digital Spark Ignition
6 Speed Gear Box
Front and Rear 18” spoke aluminum alloy rims
Front 100/90-18, Rear 130’70-18
Front Brakes 320mm disc, ABS twin piston ByBre (By Brembo)
Rear Brakes 240mm disc, ABS  twin piston ByBre (By Brembo)

 

Until next time, Ride Safe

–Dangerous Dave

Earl’s Garage