Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Interstellar Variant Road Test Review: Likes And Dislikes

How good are this cruiser’s real world capabilities?

Royal Enfield launched its flagship cruiser last month, and our short ride in Rajasthan left us impressed. But how is the Super Meteor 650 to live with? We spent a few days with the motorcycle to understand just that:

LIKES

Performance

Yes, it is the same 648cc air-/oil-cooled engine from the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650, but despite its heft, the Super Meteor 650 bolts on like a raging bull. There's barely any difference between this cruiser and its siblings in terms of outright acceleration. And even when you are riding through the city, there’s enough power in reserve all the time for those quick overtakes.

Riding Experience

This performance is complemented by its sweet yet thrilling handling. Of course, you’ll have to be mindful and plan your overtakes well ahead if you want to make your way through fast-moving traffic. But once you get the hang of it, attacking twisties becomes an entertaining affair. Direction changes don’t take much effort, either. Light taps at the bars and this long cruiser is able to dodge any stray items in your path.

With such solid brakes, you enjoy pushing it even more. The brakes on the Royal Enfield are sharp and can bring this 241kg behemoth to halt without breaking a sweat. There’s no drama even under hard braking. However, there’s a slight wobble at the front in extreme conditions, but even then the bike is very much under control. Our only grouse is the ABS calibration at the rear. The rear wheel tends to step out under hard braking and this can get a little unnerving.

Styling

This is the most expensive motorcycle from Royal Enfield yet, and it certainly looks the part. The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 will command second glances everytime you are in public, and that is despite us riding the stealthy Interstellar Green colour this time round. And it just doesn’t just look good, but feels premium too. Everything from its aluminium switchgear to the body panels and paint quality is premium. That said, we aren’t a big fan of these rotary switches and would have loved to see a bit more traditional and ergonomically friendly switch cubes.

Meh

Suspension

The Super Meteor 650 is set up a bit on the firmer side, and with cruisers, there’s no way around it. While it would take you some time getting used to it, the suspension will floor you once you get the hang of it. It takes care of undulations or even broken roads, but harsh bumps might transfer the impact to your back. 

Weight

Yes, 241kg feels a lot, but the Super Meteor 650 barely lets you feel its heft on the go. And if you are concerned about moving the bike around in a parking lot or through tight traffic, yes you’ll need some strength. The low seat height and the centre of gravity, though, makes things a lot easier. 

DISLIKES

Fuel Economy

For a bike that’s meant to munch miles, the Super Meteor 650 isn’t as fuel efficient as the Interceptor 650. That’s down to all the extra weight that the engine has to carry, and the rider adds to the air resistance. This is something that can be perhaps solved by the Touring Windshield from RE’s accessories catalogue for the Super Meteor.

Seat

The sculpted seat on the Interstellar variant is good to look at, but not as useful when riding for long hours. The shape of the seat makes your spine prone to the impact of every bump and pothole the bike encounters. This is something probably could be solved with the Touring Seat offered by the manufacturer.

Verdict

 The Super Meteor 650, despite being the most expensive Royal Enfield bike, is an interesting proposition in our market. It has the same trusty engine from the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 packaged in a format that would appeal to a newer crowd. And considering that the next options in the market are the Benelli 502 C and the Kawasaki Vulcan S, the Super Meteor feels far more superior. And to top that off, there are a bunch of accessories on offer to personalise your cruiser as per your taste.