Royal Enfield is working on a slew of models- including facelifts and all-new motorcycles. The new Interceptor 650 is one of them. Now, it has been spotted testing in India, and spy pictures suggest interesting changes incoming. Unlike the Flying Flea EV that got spied in Spain, the new Interceptor’s spy pictures are from India itself and thus could launch here sooner than you think it to.
One look at it will not tell you all that has changed. In fact, the pre-production model looks almost similar to the outgoing one. The new Interceptor could likely retain the teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a flat seat, and upswept Chrome exhausts. It will, however, have a refreshed single-pod digital instrument console instead of the twin-pod analogue unit, slightly tweaked circular LED lighting, and a new rear fender.
The instrument cluster will have a Chrome surround and Bluetooth-based smartphone connectivity functions. The screen seems to be borrowed straight from the new Himalayan and Guerrilla 450. This also means it could get new switchgear- with the tiny joystick. The prototype also has a different fuel filler cap. The new Interceptor 650 will stay true to its modern classic persona with its design.
Taking the twin-pod cluster off might offend some, as it had a fanbase of its own, and suited the motorcycle’s personality well. There will be people who will be of the opinion that Royal Enfield should have improved (and improvised) on the twin-pod design by housing the analogue tacho in one and the digital speedo in the other.
It could also come with a revised set of colours on launch. RE has lately been experimenting a bit too much with colour palettes. We had seen it with the Hunter 350, Guerrilla 450 and the new Classic 350 range. Similar vibrant, shouty palettes could make it to the new Interceptor as well.
Though not too loud in the spy pictures, the new Interceptor will come with an improved suspension setup. It will have a larger telescopic front fork, which enhances stability and absorbs shocks more effectively than the previous setup. Additionally, the twin shock absorbers at the rear are now adjustable for preload, allowing riders to adjust the suspension to match various road conditions. These changes are expected to deliver a noticeably smoother ride and better handling. The previous motorcycle desperately needed to get these sorted.
The 2025 Interceptor will also come with dual disk brakes at the front, for optimum braking performance. The outgoing model has just one. It will have Bybre brake calipers. This setup could make the brakes feel more responsive and provide better bites. The motorcycle will also have alloy wheels with tubeless tyres. Going tubeless is a blessing in case of punctures.
Under the hood, the familiar 648 cc parallel-twin engine will be retained, producing 47 bhp and 52 Nm of torque and paired with the familiar six-speed gearbox. This powerplant is known for its balanced power and reliability. We have never had complaints about how well this engine performs and how fast the Interceptor feels to ride. The spy pictures also show new exhausts on the test bike. The exhaust note could differ slightly.
The updated Interceptor could likely be priced between Rs 3.10 lakh and Rs 3.20 lakh (ex-showroom), upon launch in 2025. We might get to see it at EICMA as well.
Image Source: Overdrive