Page 104 - 2022-08-01 RiDE

GARAGE LONG-TERM TEST BIKES
UPDATE
Stuart Chapman 03
ROYAL ENFIELD INTERCEPTOR 650 I0I1I8I1I I MILES
Life’s a beach
Jim discovers the Interceptor’s natural habitat
IT HAS BECOME apparent over the
last couple of months that the
Interceptor has a definite place in the
world. Conceptually, it is a bike to be
embraced and cherished, a bike with
which to indulge yourself yet a bike that requires
as much attention between rides to look after its
finishes as time on the road.
It is a bike which will do long distances but just
because you can do something doesn’t
necessarily mean you should. In standard trim, it
doesn’t work for me over longer rides. That isn’t
to say it won’t ever — I’m going to be making some
changes to it with some choice modifications in
the coming months to see, as I know lots of
people do big tours on them. But for now,
spiritually it remains a bike to enjoy and savour
on fast and flowing A-roads. And it also causes a
bit of a stir at bike meets…
The English Riviera Bike Night recently re-
started on the Eastern Esplanade in Paignton in
the middle of Tor Bay and it draws bikers from
miles around. I went to the first few, the second
in glorious weather attracting more than 750
104 SEPTEMBER 2022
Rolling along the seafront on the
Interceptor... Salt and vinegar and
two sugars please...
5
crowd, even at bike meets
Interceptor draws a
bikes and trikes and raising close to £2000 for
local charities.
Bike meets like this are awesome — every kind
of bike, with passionate riders and chips and tea
while dipping your toes in Tor Bay or biking
THE FACTS culture. Once parked up, I was passed by a
procession of a big ol’ fat Harley with open
£6239 headers followed by a muddy CRF250L and a
Panigale V4S bringing up the rear.
47bhp 217kg And it’s this environment where the Enfield
MILES THIS MONTH shines — literally. The chrome exhausts and bare
ally engine casings draw a crowd like few others.
673 So many people stop to look at it and if I’m
anywhere near it, the questions always start to
MPG THIS MONTH come. “How old is it? Two months…” “How much
59.42 is it worth? Just over six grand…” “Did you ride it
here? Absolutely, it’s brand new…” Even
COSTS THIS MONTH experienced bikers assume it’s a well-restored
classic, not a brand-new retro.
£109.17 Firing it up and riding away again also turns a
few heads. It’s easy-going and immense fun and
£98.17, Fuel, 51.4 litres there isn’t a single time that I park it up and don’t
@ £1.91/l
£11 Chips and tea look back at it over my shoulder. It’s no
workhorse but man, it’s so cool… JIM BLACKSTOCK