Which 650 should a person buy?

[2LZ]

The Interceptor has too much forward lean for my liking. I do agree it is the prettiest of the bunch.

I guess it's my alligator arms, but I've had to put risers on every bike I've had for a number of years now. The newer bikes are built for knuckle draggers, I guess. My old bikes feel just fine.

 

[CiscoGoodDog]

Shotgun and Interceptor

If the Interceptor came with a Corbin seat like @Saddletramp 's, I may have made a different decision.

 

[scott_650]

...The SM has very relaxed forward controls compared to the H-D's and Indians I've ridden. I didn't dislike it, but I just am not convinced of it being a comfortable long distance bike....

The Super Meteor probably would work well on longer rides with a fairly substantial windshield. Looking at the add copy and description on RE's website it looks like they position as much as a touring bike as a cruiser.

 

[ddavidv]

The air is pretty clean on the SM without the windshield.
In speaking with others who got to ride the windshield equipped model on the demo rides, RE's w/s may cause more turbulence than actually be helpful.

 

[PaulHW]

Windshields are funny old things. I fitted a modified bat wing to my honda CX and found the vortex behind was uncomfortable and noisy - reduced the height so my head is in clean air and it's great. I wonder if those add on deflectors can increase comfort without creating the vortex behind?
Anyone got experience of them?

 

[ddavidv]

A lot of screens seem to just be made to fit whatever they think will work. Others, like Madstad, seem to be 'engineered' to work well. The Madstad I had on my Tiger 800 wasn't especially attractive, but it controlled airflow perfectly.
It had two little metal deflectors you could attach with thumbscrews. I'd run them in the cooler weather, but removed them in the summer. It was like having air conditioning with them off. Totally different airflow. So yes, they can definitely make a difference.

 

[CNDguy]

Didn't get to the dealer last weekend as the weather was very cold and snowy Staying home and having to shovel the sidewalk and driveway every 2 hours to keep up with the heavy snow fall.
This week I have been trying to get a good price from the dealer on the Intercepter and Shotgun just to see where I'm cost wise.
Not a lot of luck even though the riding season ended more than a month ago here and these 2 bikes will be non current models in a few more weeks.
So I think I will just hold off on making any decision for a few months and may be the dealer will be more willing to negotiate when the 2025 models start to arrive.
No real rush as motorcycle riding in this part of Canada doesn't start again till mid-end of April if we are lucky.

 

[PaulHW]

What's the used market like?
Prices in the UK are surprisingly low, lots of examples for sale on eBay.

 

[CNDguy]

No used market as the bikes are not that popular here.

 

[El_Guapo]

Didn't get to the dealer last weekend as the weather was very cold and snowy Staying home and having to shovel the sidewalk and driveway every 2 hours to keep up with the heavy snow fall.
This week I have been trying to get a good price from the dealer on the Intercepter and Shotgun just to see where I'm cost wise.
Not a lot of luck even though the riding season ended more than a month ago here and these 2 bikes will be non current models in a few more weeks.
So I think I will just hold off on making any decision for a few months and may be the dealer will be more willing to negotiate when the 2025 models start to arrive.
No real rush as motorcycle riding in this part of Canada doesn't start again till mid-end of April if we are lucky.

I don't know how Canadian market flow, but I think you can get a better price once the 2025 models are out.
The other thing with RE is that the bikes are the same year after year, so not many modifications other then tank colours if any.
There is a chance that the dealer won't budge because the bike will be the same (and I can't tell about markup price or revenue %)
If I were you, I will wait few months and try again , if any, you will be saving those months on Insurance and Registration.

But if you can get a 2nd hand bike , you will be winning there.

 

[CNDguy]

I've decided to wait unless some great deal comes up.
I do agree about the models change very little so dealer will not discount prices too much even on non current models.

 

[PaulHW]

Can get a good used for £4000 - about 7000 C$ - shipping say 1000 $
How would that work out against a dealer?
Maybe a bigger used market the USA, less shipping costs

 

[CNDguy]

Can get a good used for £4000 - about 7000 C$ - shipping say 1000 $
How would that work out against a dealer?
Maybe a bigger used market the USA, less shipping costs

So maybe the prices here are not that bad.
A new Interceptor is $8100-$9100 + 5% tax Canadian depending on the color.
The solid colors being the cheapest ones.
And the Shotgun is about $800 more.

 

[PaulHW]

So maybe the prices here are not that bad.
A new Interceptor is $8100-$9100 + 5% tax Canadian depending on the color.
The solid colors being the cheapest ones.
And the Shotgun is about $800 more.

That's not bad, heard some horror stories about all the tax and dealer charges in the US bumping up the price.

 

[CNDguy]

But even at that price you start getting into other brands like some of the smaller Triumphs and the Japanese bikes of course.
Royal Enfield is considered more of a budget brand but the price doesn't really support that theory.
I personally like the simplicity of the Royal Enfield brand.

 

[Woodstock]

There are more deals on old models that have sat on the shop floor in the U.S. Depends on the bike and the timing. Posters here outpoint every so often. They may not be shipping so many into Canada is all and particularly in the next months of the new year, anything moving across the border could be a nightmare to deal with.

 

[CNDguy]

Oh yes I forgot about the the Trump thing.
I may want to make that purchase sooner than later.

 

[Scrammy]

I have an Interceptor. I can see buying the Z900 RS or a W800 but in the 650 class, I prefer the Interceptor. I can understand the appeal in buying Japanese generally but my Interceptor is very reliable.

I have had a W800 and it is the one bike which I have had sellers remorse. With a 360 crank that bike had some real character and a very authentic retro machine