THE TWIN AFFAIR

THE TWIN AFFAIR

Indian motorcycle market is more complicated than a tangled headphones. Pricing is absurd for most motorcycle due to certain taxation laws.  It is really difficult to get a premium motorcycle here for an average biking enthusiast. Every one loves to have a much more refined, smooth better sounding and reliable twin cylinder motorcycle but was never a good value for the money you pay. Another section is where riders search for a much needed upgrade to a 600+cc bikes, but bikes of those category would cost over a decent family car.
Its a reality that we lack option to quench the thirst of an average middle class Indian biker to get a high capacity twin cylinder bike and we waited for long.

That is when Royal Enfield dropped the bomb, launching 2 new parallel twin 650cc motorcycles which had a combined cost lesser than cheapest 600cc bike in the market. It obliterates then concept of pricing a premium 600cc had. Incredible value every way it is looked at, Royal Enfield had lot of expectations to meet. By now the bikes just impressed each and every journalists and riders who never expected a company criticized for selling bikes with poor quality and refinement to pull of a surprise so impressive as that.

Being the most desirable and accessible 600cc bikes, it developed a new problem in form of a question, Which of the Twins should I get? Of course the best answer is found by doing a test ride and choose the one you like. But there are plenty of enthusiasts thinking both ways, confused between whether to follow their heart or their brain.

And we are here to share our perspective of the twins, and answer which would be perfect for you?

THE IDENTICAL TWINS

 Royal Enfield called them twins, It would be better to call them identical twins, The bike shares almost similar appearance and is really an opulent piece of art to look at. Few minutes of observation and you really start to appreciate the quality and how well built it is. The parts look sturdy, welds look like done by robots, switch gears are decent and even critical parts give you a assurance of reliability and durability which you never had from a Royal Enfield. 

GREAT BUILT QUALITY

EQUIPMENTS ARE BASIC BUT DOESN'T FEEL CHEAP

The bikes are basic with no complex electronics or rocket sciences, it is made almost as a pure mechanical bike which focuses on great riding pleasure and usable powerband. Well Royal enfields were always mechanical and old school, too old school actually but the twins doesn't feel like one and that is a great thing. It is a perfect machine which takes you back to good old days but reminds you of all greatness of modern engineering and technology. That is what modern classic mean doesn't it?

The throttle is cable operated but is so damn smooth you mistake it for ride by wire system. That also translates to no computer intervention, its you who control the bikes. The best part of the bikes are its 270 degree parallel twin engine. The engine is a 650 cc air and oil cooled one which actually heats up when stationary, but as it gains pace, it cools down pretty soon. Engine offers 47 BHP of power at 7250 RPM and a torque of 52 Nm at 5250 RPM and provides 80% of torque early in the rev range from about 2500  RPM, which is sufficient and works great for slight quick runs for city traffic, fast high speed corner carving and highway cruising. Its 270 degree crank give it a V-twin rumble and the counter balanced crankshaft makes it incredibly refined, something you never expected from Royal Enfield.

You feel the rush of power and torque at every point in the rev range but its nothing scary. Above all its the character which is the most special stuff about the engine, it feels properly poised and civilized and the fantastic stock exhaust add to it, Nothing in this price point replicates the character offered by the 650 parallel twin, which cannot be explained and has to be experienced to perceive.

THE BIKE HAS A GOOD HEART

Mated to that awesome engine is a very precise 6 speed gearbox where it is impossible to miss the shift, add that to a neat slipper clutch and it makes the twins a really good joy to ride. 100 km in 6th gear at 4000 RPM is stress free and could keep speeds of 120-140 for a long without stressing the engine much. I could hit 160 on speedo and felt 180 was accessible provided safer conditions.

Fueling is commendable too, precise injection and fuel maps results in  predictable and manageble throttle response. 

320MM DISCS, 18 INCH RIMS AND TELESCOPIC FORKS

TWIN EXHAUST FOR DOUBLING THE FUN

The Brakes are phenomenal too, 320 mm disc at front and 240 mm disc at rear are surprisingly strong. Both are really heavy motorcycle but brakes offer awesome stopping power, the initial bite is good, feedback is adequate and ABS works really well to prevent lockups, feels really well calibrated.

Suspension system include 41 mm telescopic forks at front and twin coil-overs in rear. adding that to double cradle frame , it is stable at high speeds and for cornering. Be careful with large speed humps as the frame do bottom out if not careful. I would also loved to have a 17 inch rims with wider rear tyre instead of 18 inch ones with 130 section tyres to have better proportional looks and more stability

As far equipment goes its all just basic, they managed to keep all necessary stuffs and kept out unnecessary electronics to keep the cost down. The bike is cheap but trust me its never cheaply made. The quality is visible at  every nook and corner of them.

BASIC RETRO COOL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PACKS WHATS NECESSORY

Identical are the twins except the components forming the riders triangle, The tank, seats and handle bars have been swapped  suspension has been tuned differently and the positioning of foot pegs are also different in both. This made them 2 entirely different bikes when you get to know better.

Let us see what makes them unique.

INTERCEPTOR 650

Triumph Bonneville is one of the most popular and loved motorcycle in the world. With it looking most closest to basic motorcycle lines, there is no surprize how simple and likable it is. Its the same for the Interceptor. The bike looks simple and matured with upright seating posture suiting anyone who knows to ride a bike. Sure this simplicity was the reason for this being more popular among twins. 

Get on the saddle and it feels special the relaxed ergonomics is suited for all, i wished Royal Enfield used the patented material used in Himalayan for the seats as its too soft for my liking, and am not a fan of positioning of the foot pegs as it is too close to the engine gearbox and hinders your efforts to paddle the bike as it comes in the way.

FOOTPEGS ARE ERGONOMIC DISAPPOINMENT

The 650 cc engine is an absolute beauty. The rush of torque is really fun and the throttle response is spot on, any gear at any RPM the bike picks up speed easily, overtaking is simple as plucking a flower. The power or torque rush is not intimidating but its exciting, its upright position makes you feel faster  than its sibling due to certain laws of physics, this will make you shift sooner and doesn't force you  to red line as the mid range feels sweet spot for interceptors. 

As its tagline says "Easy got back", it is meant for easy relaxed riding and the ergonomics reflected the same. It looks more suitable for your lifestyle. With the attitude of RD350 it is the only bike  Ergonomics tho it looked comfortable, is not actually preferable for me, Riding hard and i  was not able to lock my knees satisfyingly with the tank, even my friend faced the same. Also the foot pegs should have been placed a bit rear due to constant contact with engine cover with my right foot. These minor design flaws makes me feel the interceptor was actually derived from the GT.

SEATS COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER

Those couldn't be called flaws, Actually those issues were not felt by many and even if you felt, its never deal breaking one. I do think i was nitpicking too. Interceptor is much more of a friendly guy next door than an athlete who hits gym regularly. Relax, be cool and interceptor works best. Slow and steady and it wins the race to our hearts. 

CONTINENTAL GT 650

CAFE RACER LOVE

Wow, cafe racers are cool as Steve McQueen, A timeless design of  awesomeness which every true enthusiast would dig in. And when comes to Conti GT, man it looks the best. For me its the coolest and best looking cafe racer offered by any manufacturer. The proportions are just absolutely perfect and looks proper cafe racer.

The tank, the instrument cluster and the clip on is actually a feast to your eyes from your POV when you sit on the saddle. It makes me feel i went back in time to those cool era of 70s, or 80s. A contempt grin comes free with this bike, and i had it while riding. 

The seating is bit aggressive but not uncomfortable and suits well for tall riders. The GT makes you a racer, and is better to red line. you sit with better leg gripping on to the bike and that mechanical feel makes you feel it was  made for you. The suspension felt bit more stiff and doesn't bounce much as interceptor. You could hit higher speed confidently in GT and is better to hit the corners.

160 was stable and was confident inspiring to ride. 

wouldn't compare it to old GT 535 as it was no where a complete package as 650, even though 535 has more of that old school charm or emotion packed in that. 

 SOMETHING SPECIAL

Though i heard a lot saying its impossible to maneuver in traffic i felt it pretty easy to hoon around. Just keep the speed and she is great. But at a traffic jam it has to behave as a car, credits to wide low clip ons and turning radius of a car. Even for long  ride the seating position is fine, just a matter of getting used to.

Even though GT is undoubtedly more fun, more audience would prefer the so called practical Interceptor over GT believing it is better to live with. which takes us to the verdict

WHICH ONE TO BUY?

I heard many suggesting "Go for interceptor as its better to live with" and some choosing interceptor even tho they loved GT more because sporty nature of GT seemed hard to live with. But the truth is both are almost impossible to live with. The 650 twins are not recommended for daily ride to office through city or perform task of your Activa. Dont believe me ? well try it for your self, It becomes tiring and uninteresting to use as a daily. Both twins are meant for buyers who need a higher capacity bike for fun rides and enjoying the performance it offers, you don't want to force it to be a moped which it is not. 

That being said, there is no logic in buying Interceptor over GT for the practicality and usability, coz they don't score high. If practicality is what you look for, a Hero Passion Pro makes better sense. 

Get the twins for the fun it offer, for its character, to appreciate its old school charm and making every ride special. choose  the one which suits you the best and don't let practicality decide. 

For me i would like to have both in my garage.

Still out of both i choose GT over interceptor for the unique cafe racer stance and the better fun it offers to rider, It is also better head turner, rarer than Interceptor, actually feel like part of something special and makes you feel one with the bike

I felt the was made for me.

But those who prefer relaxed seating, go for interceptor.

Aaron prefered interceptor over the continental GT 650 even though he loved GT more as he felt much difficulty to reach the handlebars of the GT due to his short physique.

Either of them gives you fabulous experience of riding.

Once i heard someone quoted Royal Enfield sells a lifestyle, with the twins it is more evident. Kudos Royal Enfield for stepping up in the game.

CHIEF WRITER: AMBADY ANIL

CO-WRITER  : AARON JOSEPH