The Middleweight Cruiser That Has No Business Feeling This Damn Big
Size has always been the easiest way to measure a proper cruiser. Bigger engines, bigger fuel tanks, bigger price tags, and a bigger footprint usually signal a better bike, at least in the showroom. However, owning and living with one is a different story altogether.
Heavyweight cruisers may be attractive to enthusiasts, but they are hard to maneuver, expensive to maintain, and tiring to ride in everyday conditions. This is where the middleweight cruisers shine. Middleweight cruisers combine the road presence of a big bike without the fuss of living with one. These cruisers come with an accessible price tag, just enough performance, and the convenience of an everyday motorcycle.
How Middleweight Cruisers Fix The Problems Of A Heavyweight Cruiser
A heavyweight cruiser is easy to fall for: massive road presence, premium build quality and materials, and big rumbling engines. However, the sticker price for one of these often runs well into five figures, and that is before insurance, accessories, and maintenance enter the picture. All these aspects that attracted you to buy a big cruiser are the actual cause of the fuss. Middleweight cruisers fix most of these issues without giving up on the good parts. You get a smaller engine with ample performance, lower running costs, and a footprint that is still substantial.
These cruisers are lighter than heavyweights, so riding around town or maneuvering the bike in tight spaces is much easier. Adding to the convenience factor, a smaller engine means a lower price tag, something that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. The best part is that you still get the perfect cruiser ergonomics, ensuring a comfortable riding experience, especially on the long hauls. There are a few middleweight motorcycles that look and feel like big motorcycles. Here’s one such middleweight cruiser you can buy for under $8,000.
The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Celestial Delivers Big-Bike Presence On A Middleweight Budget
The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Celestial is a prime example of a budget middleweight motorcycle that offers big-bike presence. With a big cruiser silhouette, impressive build quality, and a proven 648cc parallel-twin, the Super Meteor 650 is a great package. And the top-of-the-line Celestial variant adds a few more touring-specific goodies to further enhance the package. Park it next to a heavyweight cruiser, and you’ll notice only a slight difference in footprint, thanks to Enfield’s muscular stance and tasteful use of chrome. This is a motorcycle that you can ride around the city every day without much hassle and take on a long weekend trip.
At $7,499, This Is An Affordable Cruiser
At $7,499, the Super Meteor 650 Celestial costs a fraction of what most heavyweight cruisers ask, which often starts north of $15,000. That’s quite impressive for a bike that comes with a suite of touring-specific accessories as standard. And that’s not all. This Royal Enfield motorcycle with its simple parallel-twin engine is easy on the pockets when the time comes to pay a visit to the service center. Despite being lighter, cheaper, and easier to own than a heavyweight cruiser, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Celestial still looks and feels like a big bike. Very few cruisers look this substantial while still offering all the essential equipment that a cruiser needs.
A 648cc Twin With Character That Outperforms Its Spec Sheet
Under the old-school bodywork sits a 648cc air-oil-cooled parallel-twin that has plenty of real-world miles behind it. Royal Enfield offers this engine in many of its motorcycles: the Interceptor 650, Continental GT650, and the Shotgun 650. This mill has a 270-degree firing order, resulting in a slightly off-beat and distinctive sound. It produces 47 horsepower and 38.6 pound-feet of torque, which may not be the most impressive numbers.
However, the way the power and torque are delivered is the highlight here. This engine isn’t about chasing the top-end. It works sublimely at a relaxed pace, delivering impressive low-end and mid-range punch. It may not be the most powerful engine, but it offers usable power and torque, enough to sustain highway speeds and perform overtakes.
A Low-Slung Spine Frame That Keeps Weight Where It Matters Most
Royal Enfield has kept things quite simple when it comes to the chassis, to suit the character of the cruiser. A steel tubular spine frame uses the engine as a stressed member and has no rails running beneath the crankcase, which lets the engine hang low and keeps weight below knee level. This aids in a low center of gravity, ensuring a stable ride. Up front, you get 43mm Showa upside-down forks with 4.7 inches of travel and twin rear shocks with four inches of travel.
A 59-inch wheelbase and a 29.1-inch seat height add to the stable, planted feel of the Super Meteor. Braking is handled by a 320mm disc up front and a 300mm disc at the rear, both of which get two-piston floating calipers, backed by dual-channel ABS. While riding over bumps and undulations may feel harsh, the Super Meteor 650 makes up for it with solid stability when cruising even at 80 mph.
Modern Features Hide Under The Old-School Charm
Underneath the chrome and old-school design, the Super Meteor is packed with a few modern features. You get a simple instrument cluster with an analog speedometer and a small LCD housing the odometer, trip meters, gear position indicator, and fuel level. Additionally, Royal Enfield offers a smaller Tripper Navigation pod as standard, which pairs with your phone over Bluetooth so you can use it to get turn-by-turn navigation. Dual-channel ABS is standard and is the only electronic safety aid on this cruiser. You get all the essential features and rider aids for a 47 horsepower motorcycle.
The Celestial Trim Sprinkles Touring Gear As Standard
Being the top-of-the-line variant, the Celestial brings a suite of accessories that improve the comfort and convenience on long highway runs. A tall touring windscreen reduces wind buffeting and fatigue. A padded seat for the rider and the pillion, along with a pillion backrest, ensures a comfortable seat for both on a long haul.
And for the looks, the Celestial trim adds more chrome and a dual-tone paint scheme to give the Super Meteor 650 a more premium fit and finish. For those who want to kit out the bike further, you get soft luggage, engine guards, and sump guards as accessories. All in all, the Super Meteor 650 offers a complete package of big-bike feel, attractive looks, and essential equipment at a great price.
Source: Royal Enfield USA
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