Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

The Super Meteor 650, Royal Enfield’s middleweight cruiser offering, comes with the same 650cc parallel twin engine as the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 but in a very different package. Here’s how this cruiser feels in the real world.

The Super Meteor 650 comes with a classic retro cruiser-like design, with a round headlight, bulb-type indicators and a teardrop-shaped tank. Depending on the variant, you can either get a long single-piece seat like on the Celestial or a split seat setup on the Interstellar and Astral variants. The Celestial variant also comes with a neat looking windshield.

The handlebars are wide and the footpegs are forward-set like you’d expect on a cruiser and overall, the bike manages to command second glances every time. Other than the good looks, the bike also feels very premium, and everything from aluminium switchgear to body panels and paint quality is premium. But the one thing we didn’t like were the rotary switches: we prefer the regular and more ergonomically friendly switch cubes.

One of the things we liked about the Super Meteor is the engine. The motor is the same one used on the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650, but despite the heavy weight the Super Meteor 650 is able to charge on like a raging bull. There isn’t any difference between the cruiser and its roadster and cafe racer sibling. Even though the bike is meant to primarily be a highway cruiser, it is able to ride well in the city with enough power for quick overtakes.

Now, coming to the mileage. The Super Meteor 650 isn’t very fuel efficient when compared to the Interceptor 650, likely due to the extra weight the engine has to carry, and the rider adds to the weight. The touring windshield does help reduce the wind resistance and increase fuel efficiency but overall, for a motorcycle meant to munch miles on the highway, the Super Meteor 650 doesn't impress with its fuel efficiency.

During our tests we got 23.63kmpl on the road and 24.69kmpl on the highway, while the Interceptor managed to return 25.35kmpl in the city and 33.17kmpl on the highway.

Handling wise the Super Meteor 650 doesn’t disappoint. The bike is able to change directions without much effort being needed from the rider, and a light tap on the handle bar is enough. Even though the bike is quite agile, overtakes will have to be planned way ahead when riding in the city. The bike is also quite fun in the twisties but riders will have to be careful and not lean too far in as scraping the footpegs is quite easy.

The brakes are quite responsive and bring the bike to a halt without much fuss, however there’s a slight wobble at the front when braking under extreme conditions. Otherwise, the bike feels completely under control. The only issue we have faced is with the ABS calibration at the rear, which causes the rear wheel to step out under hard braking and this can be a bit scary at times. 

The Super Meteor 650’s suspension is set up a bit towards the firmer side and there’s no way around this when dealing with cruisers. It does take some time getting used to. The suspension is able to take care of most bumps and potholes but harsher ones might transfer the impact to your back. The effects of this is mitigated on the Celestial variant with the larger single piece touring seat. 

The bike is a bit heavy, with the kerb weight coming to 241kg, but it isn’t felt when riding it. The weight only becomes an issue when you are trying to move it around through traffic or push it through the parking lot. 

The Interstellar variant features a sculpted seat which looks good, but isn’t very practical when riding for long hours. The main issue comes down to the fact that the seat takes the impact of every bump on the road or potholes and transmits it straight through your spine.The only way to mitigate this is getting the touring seat, as we mentioned before. 

The Super Meteor 650 comes with the same instrument console as its 350cc sibling: a semi-digital unit with an analogue speedometer and digital inset that displays fuel level, time, tripmeters and odometer readings. Customers can also get the optional Royal Enfield Tripper navigation module which brings smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation to the bike. 

The Super Meteor 650 is an interesting bike. It is able to combine the trusty engine from the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 in a whole new package. One that would attract a newer set of riders who are looking for something with which they can crunch miles on the highway in style. Royal Enfield is also offering a lot of accessories to personalise the bike to suit rider preferences. Overall, when looking at the other available cruiser offerings in the market such as the Kawasaki Eliminator, which is more expensive and less powerful than the Super Meteor, it is clear that the Super Meteor 650 is the best proposition currently available.