The Cruiser That Offers Big-Bike Presence Without Big-Bike Complexity
When we think of cruiser motorcycles, we often picture a long, sweeping silhouette, feet stretched comfortably forward, wide handlebars in your grip. Their massive, muscular designs guarantee to turn heads wherever it goes. Because of this, the default assumption among riders has been that a ‘bigger’ motorcycle must be the ‘better’ one. But while the bigger-is-better philosophy might look perfect in a showroom, it can eventually stress the actual riding experience. A good bet then is a middleweight that looks the part and turns heads, and remains simple elsewhere. This Royal Enfield is a perfect example.
The Unseen Burdens Of A Heavyweight Flagship Cruiser
There’s no denying the fact that the full-size heavyweight cruisers are crowd pullers. Their sheer presence, low stance, wide tires, and massive engine make a statement before even the motorcycle rolls off the signal. With this magnetic effect, these cruisers might look like a perfect deal from outside the showroom, but with this sheer size also comes several complexities. The heavyweights, with their muscular presence, make the package difficult to maneuver in the city. Whereas, the large engines bring high running temperatures (most of them are air-cooled) and soaring ownership costs.
Thus, You Should Look Beyond Traditional Heavyweight Cruisers
The market is now witnessing a shift. Instead of paying a premium price just to compromise later, buyers have started to look ahead to the brochure. This somehow has diverted the attention towards the middleweight cruisers, those that offer enough power, have comfortable ergonomics, and have a strong character, though not like the heavyweights. This segment also provides a strong emotional satisfaction without compromising on what the flagship cruiser does.
In real-world riding scenarios, a nimble chassis and a low center of gravity will provide a superior experience to having a big displacement bike that might make you struggle even while getting out of the garage. Because of these qualities, the middleweight cruiser segment has steadily been gathering attention from riders who want comfort without the physical toll. This is where one such motorcycle from the Royal Enfield family sits, getting all the praise from all over.
The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Looks The Part While Being Easy On The Pocket
In the past few decades, Royal Enfield has grown rapidly. It currently offers a set of products that can compete with American and Japanese manufacturers, and its twin-cylinder platform has contributed massively to its development. Now, Royal Enfield has taken the exact platform to build its flagship cruiser: the Super Meteor 650. It commands the road with the broad, swept-back silhouette and muscular design of a heavyweight, without carrying the heavyweight complexities. Yet, behind that big-bike-like presence, this Royal Enfield carries a modest price tag, without asking you to break the bank.
Priced At Under $8,000 And Comes In Two Variants
Carrying an MSRP of $7,899, owning the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 shouldn’t require taking out a mortgage. At this price, it’s actually tough to beat this mid-weight cruiser considering the size of the motorcycle and the engine it offers. This Royal Enfield’s flagship cruiser is largely broken down into standard cruiser trim (Astral and Interstellar colors) and the full-dressed touring variant (the Celestial). Both versions of this Royal Enfield carry the same price, which makes it a much more affordable alternative to the heavyweight cruisers, which carry five-figure price tags.
The 648cc Parallel-Twin Delivers Effortless Performance
At the heart of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is the proven 648cc air-oil-cooled parallel-twin engine. While it is not a liquid-cooled engine, it manages heat quite well. Pumping out 47 horsepower and 38.6 pound-feet of torque, the motor is engineered to offer a relaxed ride, instead of chasing redlines. The real strength of this parallel-twin engine is to deliver strong low-end torque and smooth mid-range performance. It does get a slipper and assist clutch linked to a six-speed gearbox.
Simple Underpinnings Play The Sidekick
The Super Meteor 650 focuses on delivering a relaxed ride by having simple underpinnings. It is built around a steel tubular spine frame and has an additional 43 mm Showa upside-down front fork and twin rear shocks with preload adjustment. Its low 29.1-inch seat height makes it quite approachable, and the 4.15-gallon fuel tank will support the long ride range that cruisers generally should. Braking duties are handled by a single 320 mm front disc paired with a two-piston floating caliper and a slightly smaller 300 mm disc with an identical caliper at the rear.
A Design That Speaks For Itself
A major problem with the cruiser segment is that they try to be something they are not. Harley-Davidson has defined the segment, and many metric cruisers under $10,000 try to offer a similar style. But with the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, the case is different. Royal Enfield has not messed up with the Super Meteor to make it look like an H-D, but it has sprinkled plenty of cruiser design elements. It is equipped with a teardrop fuel tank holding a distinctive tank badge. It also gets heavy chrome accents, dual chrome exhausts, retro engine cooling fins, and a beefy 16-inch rear tire that gives it the look of a big bagger. A handful of color options sweeten the deal, and in its Celestial avatar, this looks even more prominent on the fly.
Modern Features Aren’t Absent, Either
While the Royal Enfield motorcycle looks like a retro bike, it still has some modern equipment. It features an offset circular instrument console with an analog speedometer and a floating needle around the circumference. In the middle, an LCD shows information like the fuel gauge, gear position indicator, odometer, trip meters, and clock. It also has a smaller circular Tripper pod, which syncs up with Google Maps via your phone to give navigation alerts. Dual-channel ABS is available as standard, too.
The Celestial Version Adds Touring Goodies
The Celestial version could be a perfect option if you want to clock serious miles on the Super Meteor. This trim comes equipped with a large touring windscreen, a heavily contoured “deluxe” touring seat for a more comfortable ride, and a dedicated pillion backrest, straight from the factory, that too, without any extra cost. In the US, Royal Enfield offers only the Celestial Blue color option with this trim.
The Super Meteor Stacks Up Well In Its Segment
The Royal Enfield Cruiser stands out because it strikes the right balance. In the middleweight cruiser segment, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 competes against the Kawasaki Vulcan S and Honda Rebel 500. While its Japanese alternatives lean toward modern aesthetics and sport-derived engines, the Royal Enfield has enough style to feel aspirational. It also has enough hardware and an engine character that feels alive. Simply put, the Royal Enfield cruiser does not try to win over big heavyweight cruisers, nor does it try to win by being the cheapest bike in its segment. It tries to offer something that cruisers have been well-defined for, that too, at an affordable price.
Source: Royal Enfield USA
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