Custom Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 by Old Empire Motorcycles [Video]
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 are likely to launch in India by end-2018. That said, UK-based motorcycle builder - Old Empire Motorcycles, has developed a custom Interceptor 650.
Old Empire Motorcycles have opted for a minimalist design with custom handlebars and a chopped tail section with a leatherette tan, brown quilted seat. The bike builder has done away with the front and rear fenders, indicators, taillight and the headlamp as well.
The stock Pirelli tyres are replaced with sleek Metzeler rubber, while there are custom exhaust pipes in place of the twin canisters. Old Empire Motorcycles have neatly routed the accelerator and clutch cables through the handlebars. The custom Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 gets matte black treatment to the engine and wheels with golden highlights.
Interestingly though, the custom builder has done away with the clutch and front brake levers altogether. The custom Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 receives a deep metallic red paint scheme with Oxblood leather and Alcantara seat upholstery. The conventional keyhole has been replaced with a keyless ignition system to complement the bare minimalism of the bike.
The custom Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 uses an all-new 648 cc, parallel-twin cylinder, oil-cooled, 8-valve, SOHC engine that produces 47 bhp of maximum power at 7,100 rpm and develops a peak torque of 52 Nm at 5,200 rpm. A 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch works in harmony with the engine.
That said, the stock Interceptor 650 comes with a steel tubular double cradle chassis and a fuel tank capacity of 13.7 litres fuel tank. The motorcycle gets 41 mm telescopic forks at the front with 110 mm suspension travel and dual gas-charged shock absorbers at the rear with 87.5 mm wheel travel.
Braking force is provided by a single 320 mm disc at the front and a single 240 mm disc brake at the rear, while Bosch 9.1M dual-channel ABS is standard. The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is likely to come with a price tag of around INR 3 lakh (ex-showroom).
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 has a kerb weight of 202 kg (without fuel) and a saddle height of 804 mm. The motorcycle measures 2,122 mm in length, 1,165 mm in height and 744 mm in width. It has a wheelbase of 1,400 mm and a ground clearance of 174 mm.