OLD FLAME NEW WICK

The Interceptor 650 was a retro motorcycle from the very beginning - it still is. But this time around, it's sporting a new Denim jacket!

- DHRUV PALIWAL

The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is just five years old. But when a retro motorcycle is trying to bring simplicity back to motorcycling, being five years old is hardly a bad thing. In fact, the Interceptor is a retro motorcycle only as far as the eye can see, because underneath its skin there are a bunch of modern mechanicals, which make the riding experience not so retro. Now, after five years of being on showroom floors, Royal Enfield has given it a nip here and a tuck there to bring it more in line with the expectations of buyers in 2023. So, what’s the 2023 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 like?

LOOK OH SO GOOD!

The Interceptor 650 has always been a handsome motorcycle. I even found it better looking than the Continental GT 650, but, then, that’s me. Now, to keep a product competitive in the Indian market, it is imperative that a manufacturer offer timely updates to it so as to keep it fresh and attractive. The Interceptor has just gone through the same process, and honestly, it has come out the other side looking more upbeat than before. The headlight is now an LED unit, which has been directly borrowed from the Super Meteor 650. The headlamp looks good, but its throw is just about okay. But, personally, being a fan of yellow light instead of white, I preferred the older setup. White light tends to diffuse at night and doesn’t properly light up the details on the road. The difference between the two is not that of night and day, but, then, it does make a difference.