Royal Enfield is aiming to get a piece of the midsize cruiser market in the States in 2023 with its Super Meteor 650. The platform uses the brand’s existing 648cc twin engine to create a relaxed, capable cruiser that will likely have an appealing price tag.
As usual, Enfield worked with Harris Performance, the UK-based motorcycle performance firm Eicher Motors Ltd. acquired back in 2015, to create a brand-new chassis. The aim was high-speed stability and easy handling. The design, a steel tube frame suspended by a 43mm USD fork and dual shocks out back, is simple and highlights Enfield’s air-cooled 648cc parallel twin.
We sampled the engine in Enfield’s INT650 back in 2020 and found the powerplant to be surprisingly smooth, comfortable, and flexible. We have no doubt it will work well in the Super Meteor cruiser.
Royal Enfield also plans to offer an extensive line of accessory upgrades for distance riding. These items include, but aren’t limited to: dual seating, touring windscreen, passenger backrest, machined wheels, upgraded footpegs, panniers, and LED indicators.
Enfield will offer two variants of the Super Meteor, a solo tourer and a grand tourer. The solo version will be available in Astral Black, Astral Blue, Interstellar Gray, and Interstellar Green. The grand tourer variant will come in either Celestial Red or Celestial Blue.
Here’s what Siddhartha Lal, managing director of Eicher Motors Ltd., had to say in a company press release following the Super Meteor’s announcement at EICMA.
“We have always had a differentiated approach to building motorcycles and our new cruiser, the Super Meteor 650, is the next evolution of this approach. Inspired by our own long-distance riding experiences and those of our customers, we have built the Super Meteor to be absolutely enjoyable to all senses. The engine is super refined and responsive and offers relaxed part-throttle experience at highway-plus speeds, the riding ergonomics are fine-tuned to offer a leisurely, yet in-control riding experience, and the overall premium fit and finish of parts and materials evoke visual and sensory delight. The gorgeous silhouette and contours of the Super Meteor have been inspired by generations of cruisers from Royal Enfield, and are at the same time, familiar, yet absolutely distinct.”
2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Technical Specifications and Price
| Price: | TBD |
|---|---|
| Engine: | 648cc, SOHC, air-cooled parallel twin |
| Bore x Stroke: | 78.0 x 67.8mm |
| Compression Ratio: | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Delivery: | EFI |
| Clutch: | Wet, multi-disc |
| Transmission/Final Drive: | 6-speed/chain |
| Frame: | Steel tube |
| Front Suspension: | 43mm USD fork; 4.7 in. travel |
| Rear Suspension: | Dual shocks, preload adjustable; 4.0 in. travel |
| Front Brake: | 2-piston floating caliper, 320mm disc w/ ABS |
| Rear Brake: | 2-piston floating caliper, 300mm disc w/ ABS |
| Wheels, Front/Rear: | 19 in./16 in. |
| Tires, Front/Rear: | 100/90-19 / 150/80-16 |
| Wheelbase: | 59.1 in. |
| Seat Height: | 29.1 in. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 4.1 gal. |
| Claimed Curb Weight: | 531 lb. |
| Available: | Summer 2023 |
| Contact: | royalenfield.com |
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com