There are a lot of definitions for the phrase “cruise,” however one in all them is to journey “with no exact vacation spot, particularly for pleasure.” One other is to “journey easily at a reasonable or economical pace.” These definitions apply effectively to using a cruiser just like the 2023 Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor 650.
In America, “cruiser” brings to thoughts bikes which might be lengthy, low, and heavy, usually with an enormous air-cooled V-Twin and a emblem from a heritage model like Harley-Davidson or Indian on the tank. Royal Enfields have been in steady manufacturing since 1901 – beating Harley-Davidson by two years and matching Indian’s yr of start – so it’s bought the heritage half lined. However Royal Enfield takes a unique strategy to constructing a cruiser.
Impressed by the 1956-62 Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor 700 – U.Ok.’s largest-displacement Twin on the time and obtainable with factory-fitted touring panniers – the brand new Tremendous Meteor 650 is powered by an air/oil-cooled 648cc parallel-Twin and has styling that leans extra British traditional than American conventional. Chrome is discovered solely on the twin exhausts and mirrors, whereas most different finishes are black or satin silver. It’s obtainable in customary trim in addition to with Solo Tourer and Grand Tourer accent packages.
Commercial
The Tremendous Meteor’s wheels are solid aluminum, with a 19-incher up entrance carried by an inverted fork and a 16-incher out again flanked by uncovered twin shocks. With moderately beneficiant rear suspension journey, a 29.1-inch seat top, and a 59.1-inch wheelbase, it’s each taller and shorter than most cruisers. (The Indian Scout Sixty, for instance, has a 25.6-inch seat top and a 62-inch wheelbase.)
Driving By means of Rajasthan
Based mostly in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield invited motojournalists from all over the world to its house nation for a primary journey on the Tremendous Meteor 650. Over the course of two days, we logged almost 300 miles on rough-and-tumble roads within the western state of Rajasthan, a largely desert area that borders Pakistan. Curves had been few, however highway hazards had been many, together with crumbling (or lacking) pavement, teeth-rattling cobblestones, sudden dips and drops, ubiquitous pace bumps of all sizes and styles, and even a protracted, deep patch of sand.
The actual-world dealing with course was made spicier by chaotic swarms of pint-sized bikes, smoke-belching tuk-tuks, trailer-towing farm tractors, clapped-out busses, and overloaded vehicles. Since India is a former British colony, everybody drove on the left facet of the highway, however in any other case visitors legal guidelines had been all however ignored. Oh, and let’s not overlook the wandering (and sacred) cows, herds of goats and sheep, unpredictable canine, much more unpredictable pedestrians, and some camels.
“In India, horns are put on objects,” stated Mark Hoyer, Cycle World’s editor-in-chief, and utilizing them is its personal suave language. Vehicles in India are sometimes colorfully painted, and plenty of have “BLOW HORN” written in giant letters on the again.
So we didn’t precisely journey the Tremendous Meteor 650 for pleasure, nor did we journey it easily or at a reasonable pace. However the journey definitely was memorable.
Soul of a Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor
The Tremendous Meteor 650 is the third mannequin constructed on Royal Enfield’s 650 Twin platform. The primary two had been the Continental GT and INT650, each of which debuted for 2019. All three share an air/oil-cooled 648cc parallel-Twin with giant cooling fins, SOHC with 4 valves per cylinder, and a single-piece cast, counterbalanced crankshaft with a 270-degree firing interval. The engine has a 9.5:1 compression ratio and runs on common gas, with injection and engine administration provided by Bosch. For the Tremendous Meteor, the Twin will get new engine covers and darker finishes.
Associated: 2019 Royal Enfield INT650 and Continental GT | Highway Take a look at Overview
All fashionable Royal Enfields are collectively designed by groups on the firm’s design facilities within the U.Ok. and India. The Tremendous Meteor 650 was extensively examined and validated with state-of-the-art rigs and lab tools in addition to a purported 1 million kilometers on a wide range of roads. The engine endured 1,500 hours on the dyno beneath numerous obligation cycles, and bikes had been subjected to rain, deep water, mud, altitude, and harsh environmental circumstances.
Though a 650 is taken into account an enormous bike in India – most bikes are 100-125cc – it’s thought of a middleweight by American requirements. The 650 Twins are international fashions designed to be accessible for as many riders as attainable. The engine fires up eagerly, idles quietly, and chugs alongside at a relaxed cadence with clean throttle response, minimal vibration (only a contact of that Twin tingle), and easy-to-manage energy. Just like the Continental GT and INT650, claimed output is 46.4 hp at 7,250 rpm and 38.6 lb-ft of torque at 5,250 rpm. Modest figures, sure, however the Tremendous Meteor 650 felt peppy pulling away from a cease and ran at 80 mph with out criticism for lengthy stretches of our take a look at journey.
Gear Up
Royal Enfield endeavored to create what it considers a “correct” cruiser – one with a relaxed using place the place the rider’s physique line is barely reclined. In contrast to the stretched-out, arched-back rider triangle of lengthy and low cruisers, riders sit extra upright on the Tremendous Meteor, and the ergonomics are suitable with spending lengthy hours within the saddle. I’m 6 ft tall with lengthy arms and a 34-inch inseam, and I discovered the seat to be supportive (it’s vast on the again for consolation and slim in entrance for simple stand-over), the angle and place of the pullback handlebar to wager pure, and the ahead foot controls to be sensibly positioned.
Royal Highway Warrior
Like the opposite 650 Twins, the Tremendous Meteor 650 is solidly constructed. Its tubular-steel backbone body was collectively designed with Harris Efficiency (now owned by dad or mum firm Eicher Motors Ltd.), and it’s created from a mixture of funding casting, urgent, extrusion, and forging. Under the seat is a V-shaped rear body loop that mimics these discovered on different Royal Enfields just like the Bullet and the Meteor 350.
Associated: Residing with an ‘Iron Barrel’ Royal Enfield Bullet 500
Associated: 2021 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 | Highway Take a look at Overview
Up entrance, a nonadjustable 43mm Showa Separate Perform Massive Piston fork – the primary inverted fork provided on a Royal Enfield – has 4.7 inches of journey. Out again, twin shocks have five-position preload adjustment and 4 inches of journey. Damping was compliant with minimal harshness even beneath the antagonistic highway circumstances we encountered – particularly these infernal pace bumps – and the rear springs had been sturdy sufficient to help my husky body weight. Single discs – 320mm in entrance, 300mm at rear – are pinched by 2-piston floating calipers that present first rate stopping energy, with customary anti-skid insurance coverage (ABS).
With a large handlebar, a tidy wheelbase, and slim tires (100/90-19 and 150/80-16), the 531-lb Tremendous Meteor wound round curves and dodged obstacles with ease. The agility take a look at we carry out repeatedly at press launches and photoshoots is U-turns, and through these tight maneuvers the bike’s steering felt impartial and its weight balanced.
Ensconced inside a satin-finished bezel, the Tremendous Meteor 650’s LED headlight is one other first for Royal Enfield. The intense-white gentle is eye-catching through the day, and as we discovered whereas using again to our resort after late-light pictures, it tasks a large, distant beam at night time. Mounted on the rear fender is an LED tail/brake gentle. The Tremendous Meteor comes customary with a centerstand, which simplifies chain upkeep.
Match and End
Constructing on the spectacular basis of the Continental GT and INT650, the Tremendous Meteor 650 is Royal Enfield’s most premium motorbike up to now. There are considerate, enticing particulars from stem to stern, comparable to a crossbar bearing an embossed Royal Enfield emblem contained in the headlight. The headlight holder, higher and decrease yoke, and handlebar risers and clamps are all fabricated from cast aluminum with an anodized end. Each hand levers are adjustable for attain, and the change cubes are fabricated from aluminum with a satin end. The twin spherical gauges embody a big meter with analog speedometer and an inset multifunction digital show. A smaller meter homes the Tripper navigation system, which offers turn-by-turn routing.
On the 4.1-gal teardrop tank is an exquisite meteor-shaped Royal Enfield badge that follows the form of the tank and echoes winged Royal Enfield logos of the previous. The brushed aluminum gas filler cap is beautiful to behold. A number of colorways embody gold pinstriping on the tank that’s achieved by hand – by the identical two brothers who’ve labored on the Chennai manufacturing unit for years.
The Celestial Crimson Tourer model I rode on the launch had a two-tone tank in addition to a number of equipment – a windshield, a deluxe two-up seat, and a passenger backrest. The windshield supplied good safety from oncoming airflow, and its middle vent equalizes strain to cut back buffeting. Others rode a solo model of the usual mannequin with the small pillion pad changed by a fender-hugging rear rack. Grouped beneath Grand Tourer and Solo Tourer themes, there are 50 Real Bike Equipment for the Tremendous Meteor 650, together with hard-shell saddlebags, a high field, machined alloy wheels, and a protracted listing of bolt-on bits for each fashion and performance.
On the international launch in January, Royal Enfield introduced pricing and availability for Europe and India, however that data has not but been launched for the U.S. By means of comparability, the U.Ok. worth for the Tremendous Meteor 650 is £6,799, and the Continental GT with a chrome tank is priced at £6,899. Within the U.S., the identical Continental GT mannequin begins at $7,149, so if pricing is roughly equal, then anticipate to pay about $7,269 for the Tremendous Meteor 650 right here.
Its nearest competitor within the U.S. is the Kawasaki Vulcan S, which additionally has a 650cc parallel-Twin and is priced at $7,899. However it lacks passenger lodging and isn’t almost as enticing because the Royal Enfield.
Maintain On Cruisin’
On a number of events throughout my first yr as a Rider staffer, my enthusiasm exceeded my expertise, leading to me dumping a couple of bikes. Whereas crying the blues to my pal Maeve about placing my dream job in danger, she reassured me and stated, “You’ve bought to search out your interior cruiser.”
As a lot as I prefer to reside the previous CityBike motto – journey quick and take probabilities – I’ve additionally realized to decelerate and luxuriate in a extra relaxed using fashion. Cruisers are supposed to cruise and to look good doing it. The Tremendous Meteor 650 does each – impressively so for such an inexpensive worth.
2023 Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor 650 Specs
- Base Value: $7,269 (estimated)
- Web site: RoyalEnfield.com
- Guarantee: 3 yrs., unltd. miles w/ roadside help
- Engine Kind: Air/oil-cooled, transverse parallel-Twin, SOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.
- Displacement: 648cc
- Bore x Stroke: 78.0 x 67.8mm
- Horsepower: 46.4 @ 7,250 rpm (manufacturing unit declare)
- Torque: 38.6 lb-ft @ 5,650 rpm (manufacturing unit declare)
- Transmission: 6-speed, cable actuated slip/help moist clutch
- Ultimate Drive: Chain
- Wheelbase: 59.1 in.
- Rake/Path: 27.6 levels/4.7 in.
- Seat Peak: 29.1 in.
- Moist Weight: 531.3 lb (90% gas, manufacturing unit declare)
- Gas Capability: 4.1 gal.