By Giselle Allison | Digital Marketing Manager | The Law Tigers
It’s no secret the cruiser market in the US is dominated by a pair of brands, but one manufacturer from overseas has introduced a player into the game that is sure to turn heads and convert riders. With a promise to return to “cruising at its purest,” Royal Enfield has debuted its Super Meteor 650 – a 648cc air-cooled cruiser with a classic silhouette and modern comfort features – to the US market.
First Impressions
Upon first glance, I noticed the stance of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 resembles many of the middleweight motorcycles in the market. It evoked thoughts of the Honda Rebel, Harley-Davidson® Sportster and other sub-1000cc machines that are popular among American riders.
While modeling the classic cruiser stance, the Super Meteor 650 is true to its Royal Enfield predecessors, sporting the iconic looped frame, allowing it to fit right into the lineup of other sporty RE machines.
Needless to say, after spending years riding heavier touring motorcycles, I was eager to swing a leg over this fun-looking city hopper.
First Ride
We put these bikes to the test around the Dallas, Texas metro area via a hosted ride with the team from Royal Enfield North America. We spent a lovely Saturday in and around DTX putting just under 150 miles on these shiny steeds.
With a 531lb curb weight, this ripper was agile, nimble and a blast to cruise around both surface streets and highway riding. My initial impressions were that it shifted incredibly smoothly through its six gears and the inverted front forks and premium rear suspension were able to handle any road imperfections while maintaining a plush, comfortable ride.
I was pleasantly surprised by how well-grounded and responsive the bike handled on the country curves and how much giddy-up she provided when merging onto the freeway. There was not a minute of this ride where I was not smiling under my helmet.
The most impressive thing about this bike, however, is the affordability component. Coming in just under $7,000 MSRP for the Super Meteor 650 baseline model, it makes it the perfect bike for anyone, be it a new rider, seasoned rider looking for another economical machine to add to the fleet, or someone looking for machine that stands out from the classic lineup at your local bike night.
Specifications – 2023 Super Meteor 650
MSRP $6,999.00
- Engine Type Parallel twin, 4 stroke, SOHC, Air-Oil Cooled
- Bore x Stroke 78 mm x 67.8 mm
- Displacement 648 cc
- 47 hp
- Maximum Torque 52.3 Nm @5650 rpm
- Ignition System Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)
- Clutch Wet, multi-plate
- Gearbox 6 Speed constant mesh
- Air Cleaner Paper element
- Engine Start Electric
- Chassis Type Steel Tubular Spine Frame
- Front Suspension 43mm Showa Big Piston, Upside Down Forks, 120mm travel
- Rear Suspension Twin Shocks, 101mm travel, preload adjustable
- Wheelbase 59″ (1500 mm)
- Ground Clearance 5.3″ (135 mm)
- Length 88.98″ (2260 mm)
- Width 35″ (890 mm) without mirrors
- Height 45.5″ (1155 mm)
- Seat Height 29.1″ (740 mm)
- Curb Weight 531.3 lbs (241 kg) with 90% fuel & oil
- Fuel Capacity 4.15 gallons (15.7 L)
- Tires Front 19″ – 100/90 – 19 M/C 57H (Tubeless Type)
- Tires Rear 16″ – 150/80 B16 M/C 71H (Tubeless Type)
- Brakes Front 320mm disc, twin piston floating caliper
- Brakes Rear 300mm disc, twin piston floating caliper
- ABS Dual Channel
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