My name is Brian, and I ride Hondas.

2142 Views 10 Replies 10 Participants Last post by esler2918, 2 mo ago

bsouza10x

Discussion Starter · Apr 18, 2022

I'm 62 this year, and on my 10th Honda. Love Hondas.

HOWEVER, I've been thinking about a change.

At 62, with all the associated operations, aches and pains, and cognitive decline, I've been rethinking my priorities.

I've had 1800 VTXs, several 1300s, and this year went way down to a 750 Shadow. Great bike, but its a heavy beast and about as nimble as a Freightliner. In my 62 year old opinion, at least.

Its hard to break out of old habits and think "outside the box".

I was considering downsizing to something lighter and more nimble. Horsepower and torque are no longer high priorities.

After exhausting research, I've decided to try a Suzuki SV650.

But then I saw an Intercepter 650.

Nah, its made in India. I'm a fan of Japanese quality.

Oh, but the price....And you say I can get a chrome gas tank?

I know these aren't built to the same quality as my beloved Hondas, but maybe its just what I need in my life right now.

My question to you guys, are the REs decent enough quality? Do they leak oil? Leave you stranded? Anyone else here traded from an asian bike?

This just might be exactly what I want, and maybe what I need. Keep your bells and whistles, just give me a fun and nimble bike (even if she's a little bit of a porker) that has the right feel.

Brian
In Tucson.

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EnfieldCrusader

· #2 · May 1, 2022

Hey @bsouza10x welcome to the forum! If you have the opportunity I'd highlight recommend going for a test ride on an Interceptor 650, you should be pleasantly surprised with how it feels.

There are a few long term reviews that have been really positive about what the Interceptor 650 is like to live with. From I've seen and read from others overall the reliability has been good.

► VIDEO> Royal Enfield fixed for pillion comfort

How to make the Interceptor 650 a joy for £42

www.bennetts.co.uk

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Peter1972

· #3 · May 14, 2022

I went from a BMW R9T Urban GS to a Himalayan, so I know what you're thinking about the downsizing thought.
I've only put just under 5000 km on it and no issues at all.
In fact I'm that confident in the RE brand I'm picking up a new Classic 350 next week.
You need to take into account the amount of bikes RE are selling when you read about the issues. Plus they have a 3 year warranty.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

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Rudy3

· #4 · May 24, 2022

bsouza10x said:
I'm 62 this year, and on my 10th Honda. Love Hondas.

HOWEVER, I've been thinking about a change.

At 62, with all the associated operations, aches and pains, and cognitive decline, I've been rethinking my priorities.

I've had 1800 VTXs, several 1300s, and this year went way down to a 750 Shadow. Great bike, but its a heavy beast and about as nimble as a Freightliner. In my 62 year old opinion, at least.

Its hard to break out of old habits and think "outside the box".

I was considering downsizing to something lighter and more nimble. Horsepower and torque are no longer high priorities.

After exhausting research, I've decided to try a Suzuki SV650.

But then I saw an Intercepter 650.

Nah, its made in India. I'm a fan of Japanese quality.

Oh, but the price....And you say I can get a chrome gas tank?

I know these aren't built to the same quality as my beloved Hondas, but maybe its just what I need in my life right now.

My question to you guys, are the REs decent enough quality? Do they leak oil? Leave you stranded? Anyone else here traded from an asian bike?

This just might be exactly what I want, and maybe what I need. Keep your bells and whistles, just give me a fun and nimble bike (even if she's a little bit of a porker) that has the right feel.

Brian
In Tucson.

I’ve owned 29 bikes over the years and just turned 64.
I can honestly say my 2021 650 interceptor has more character than any bike I’ve owned. I’ve learned over the years that’s what I love more about a bike than anything else. Riding back roads at lower speeds or across town on this bike is rewarding. The clutch and transmission are awesome. The power delivery is fun my fuel mileage is always 66.
I’ve put 6k miles on in 17 months and adjusted the valves twice and changed the oil twice. No need to take the tank off for valve adjustment but do lift the seat end up and prop it. Slide the valve cover from side to side just enough and you’re in.
The bike has shown to be very dependable I’d ride it anywhere. Short stints on the freeway are ok but ours are in poor condition so I refrain.
Cash talks when you go to the dealer. Try and get out of dealer prep and shipping. Good luck with that but try anyway.
I’ve put a seat cover on I bought on eBay made in the streets of India that I love $65 and changed the unsightly round blinkers to the oem oblong ones from the previous year. I also bought those on eBay.
Did I say I love this motorbike.

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Rudy3

· #5 · May 24, 2022

Rudy3 said:
I’ve owned 29 bikes over the years and just turned 64.
I can honestly say my 2021 650 interceptor has more character than any bike I’ve owned. I’ve learned over the years that’s what I love more about a bike than anything else. Riding back roads at lower speeds or across town on this bike is rewarding. The clutch and transmission are awesome. The power delivery is fun my fuel mileage is always 66.
I’ve put 6k miles on in 17 months and adjusted the valves twice and changed the oil twice. No need to take the tank off for valve adjustment but do lift the seat end up and prop it. Slide the valve cover from side to side just enough and you’re in.
The bike has shown to be very dependable I’d ride it anywhere. Short stints on the freeway are ok but ours are in poor condition so I refrain.
Cash talks when you go to the dealer. Try and get out of dealer prep and shipping. Good luck with that but try anyway.
I’ve put a seat cover on I bought on eBay made in the streets of India that I love $65 and changed the unsightly round blinkers to the oem oblong ones from the previous year. I also bought those on eBay.
Did I say I love this motorbike.

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Sporty9

· #6 · 11 mo ago

I own a 2019 Interceptor. It's a great bike. The quality overall is just as good as anything else out there. There's always room for improvement, but show me a bike in which that does not hold true. It's a rock solid machine.

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mmahlke1

· #7 · 9 mo ago (Edited)

bsouza10x said:
I'm 62 this year, and on my 10th Honda. Love Hondas.

HOWEVER, I've been thinking about a change.

At 62, with all the associated operations, aches and pains, and cognitive decline, I've been rethinking my priorities.

I've had 1800 VTXs, several 1300s, and this year went way down to a 750 Shadow. Great bike, but its a heavy beast and about as nimble as a Freightliner. In my 62 year old opinion, at least.

Its hard to break out of old habits and think "outside the box".

I was considering downsizing to something lighter and more nimble. Horsepower and torque are no longer high priorities.

After exhausting research, I've decided to try a Suzuki SV650.

But then I saw an Intercepter 650.

Nah, its made in India. I'm a fan of Japanese quality.

Oh, but the price....And you say I can get a chrome gas tank?

I know these aren't built to the same quality as my beloved Hondas, but maybe its just what I need in my life right now.

My question to you guys, are the REs decent enough quality? Do they leak oil? Leave you stranded? Anyone else here traded from an asian bike?

This just might be exactly what I want, and maybe what I need. Keep your bells and whistles, just give me a fun and nimble bike (even if she's a little bit of a porker) that has the right feel.

Brian
In Tucson.

I first road a 1974 cb350 four than a 2006 599. I love UJM design. I just sold the 350 and bought the RE Interceptor which I have had 2 weeks. Still have 599. Biggest quality difference I’ve noticed so far is grips and switchgear. I am 60 and wanted something easy to own and easy to ride. I love my Interceptor. I have lusted over triumphs for 15 years. Couldn’t justify the price. RE is so cheap it was easy to justify. I have no issues at all but only 175 miles. Here are pics on new bike and gone but never forgotten cb 350 four (last bike Mr. Honda engineered)

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karlkuehn

· #8 · 6 mo ago

Man, I love reading you guys, it's like I found my people!

52 years old here, life of sports, construction and just overall enthusiastic DIY mentality has left me with what feels like a failing body, aches in the morning. Grew up riding Japanese dirt bikes, my first road bike at 18yo was a Kawasaki KZ 440 LTD, making road trips to visit various girlfriends around the Pacific Northwest, leaning over the tank with my cool full-faced helmet resting on the gauges with my legs on the back pegs, full throttle, eeking out every little MPH I could get in the middle of the night trying to make time...

Later on, high powered sport and crossover bikes doing the same antics...

Now, looking forward to taking delivery of my new RE tomorrow, enjoying that same sense of freedom after almost 8 years of not riding.

Always been a HUGE fan of the Japanese bikes; lived in Lancaster, PA for a decade, commuting past the Harley plant in York. I've never liked Harleys and the lack of reliability, especially at the price point. I have the same questions as you regarding the RE reliability, but LOVE the idea of getting back to a simple bike that I can work on myself, and just enjoy riding a capable, reliable (mostly poorly maintained) Asian scooter past all the big, noisy-bike guys parked on the side of the road looking cool while they fumble with any number of issues related to owning/maintaining those monsters.

I'm hoping my new RE experience will repeat that smug feeling I got blazing down the road and waving at the big-name guys camped under an overpass.

And if it doesn't, the parts cost like $20, and I can buy like 4 bikes to their one.

;

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Bweighmaster

· #9 · 6 mo ago

Rudy3 said:
I’ve owned 29 bikes over the years and just turned 64.
I can honestly say my 2021 650 interceptor has more character than any bike I’ve owned. I’ve learned over the years that’s what I love more about a bike than anything else. Riding back roads at lower speeds or across town on this bike is rewarding. The clutch and transmission are awesome. The power delivery is fun my fuel mileage is always 66.
I’ve put 6k miles on in 17 months and adjusted the valves twice and changed the oil twice. No need to take the tank off for valve adjustment but do lift the seat end up and prop it. Slide the valve cover from side to side just enough and you’re in.
The bike has shown to be very dependable I’d ride it anywhere. Short stints on the freeway are ok but ours are in poor condition so I refrain.
Cash talks when you go to the dealer. Try and get out of dealer prep and shipping. Good luck with that but try anyway.
I’ve put a seat cover on I bought on eBay made in the streets of India that I love $65 and changed the unsightly round blinkers to the oem oblong ones from the previous year. I also bought those on eBay.
Did I say I love this motorbike.

Don't understand it ....., My 05 Shadow has over 55,000 mi. Never a valve adjustment.... My 07 19,500 mi. No adjustments ... Add fuel , ride ... change oil @ every 3000. Mi. ....

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simonphilip0113

· #10 · 6 mo ago

bsouza10x said:
I'm 62 this year, and on my 10th Honda. Love Hondas.

HOWEVER, I've been thinking about a change.

At 62, with all the associated operations, aches and pains, and cognitive decline, I've been rethinking my priorities.

I've had 1800 VTXs, several 1300s, and this year went way down to a 750 Shadow. Great bike, but its a heavy beast and about as nimble as a Freightliner. In my 62 year old opinion, at least.

Its hard to break out of old habits and think "outside the box".

I was considering downsizing to something lighter and more nimble. Horsepower and torque are no longer high priorities.

After exhausting research, I've decided to try a Suzuki SV650.

But then I saw an Intercepter 650.

Nah, its made in India. I'm a fan of Japanese quality.

Oh, but the price....And you say I can get a chrome gas tank?

I know these aren't built to the same quality as my beloved Hondas, but maybe its just what I need in my life right now.

My question to you guys, are the REs decent enough quality? Do they leak oil? Leave you stranded? Anyone else here traded from an asian bike?

This just might be exactly what I want, and maybe what I need. Keep your bells and whistles, just give me a fun and nimble bike (even if she's a little bit of a porker) that has the right feel.

Brian
In Tucson.

Hi Brian,
My last bike I got rid of for my Himmy, which I only got a few months ago, was a 2001 XRV 750, absolutely loved it, had Yamahas, Kawasakis and a BMW (only one, wont bother again)BUT like you I'm moving on in years, 64, so made the decision to swap it. Can now get both feet down and feels well balanced, not top heavy. Can't comment on reliability but haven't had any issues so far but have enough confidence in it to travel down to Spain in 2023. The Interceptor looks a beautiful bike and heard it handles well.
Just go for it and enjoy.

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esler2918

· #11 · 2 mo ago

I'm a Honda guy, too (Goldwing, ST1300, PC, Grom). Great bikes, but the Enfields are a different animal. These are old school English bikes but with modern disk brakes, ABS, and fuel injection. I find them to be the best of both worlds.

Ride a few different models. I chose a moss gray Signals edition Classic 350. I love the look and feel of it and find the power adequate.

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