Harley-Davidson X 500 vs Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
- by Aamir Momin
- Apr 20, 2023
- | Views: 16907
Twin-cylinder bikes from veteran bikemakers compared on paper
Harley-Davidson has unveiled its most affordable twin-cylinder motorcycle in China, the X 500. It has been developed in collaboration with QJ Motor and is based on, or is just a rebadged, Benelli Leoncino 500. We pit it against the capable Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 on paper.
Engine
Specifications |
Harley-Davidson X 500 |
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 |
Engine |
500cc, twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine |
647.95cc, twin-cylinder, air/oil-cooled engine |
Power |
47.45PS |
47.5PS |
Torque |
46Nm |
52.3Nm |
Gearbox |
6-speed |
6-speed |
Despite the difference of 150cc, both bikes manage to produce similar torque and power outputs and we can expect the performance to be on a par, too. However, the liquid-cooling on the H-D makes it a slightly more sophisticated motor.
Considering the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is 10kg heavier, the Harley-Davidson X 500 should have an upper hand in terms of performance, but again, nothing too significant.
Underpinnings
Specifications |
Harley-Davidson X 500 |
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 |
Front suspension |
50mm rebound-adjustable USD fork |
Telescopic fork |
Rear suspension |
rebound & preload-adjustable monoshock |
preload-adjustable dual gas-charged shock absorbers |
Front brake |
Floating twin disc |
320mm single disc |
Rear brake |
Single disc |
240 mm disc |
Front tyre |
120/70-ZR17 |
100/90-18 M |
Rear tyre |
160/60-ZR17 |
130/70-R18 M |
When it comes to hardware, the H-D X 500 offers a more premium setup with its USD and monoshock suspension setup along with dual discs up front. That said, the Interceptor is not a bad handler at all and you can check out what we think about it here.
The fatter rubber on the H-D, however, should add to cornering confidence.
Dimensions
Specifications |
Harley-Davidson X 500 |
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 |
Wheelbase |
1,458mm |
1,398mm |
Ground clearance |
153mm |
174mm |
Fuel tank capacity |
13 litres |
13.7 litres |
Seat height |
820.1mm |
804mm |
Kerb weight |
208kg |
218kg |
With a shorter seat (at 804mm), the Interceptor 650 should be more accessible to shorter riders, however, its heavy kerb weight could be an issue for some. The X 500, on the other hand, is lighter and has a shorter wheelbase, and the fatter tyres should ideally offer great handling.
In terms of features, both bikes are quite dated and come equipped with analogue consoles with digital insets. Both get dual-channel ABS as standard. No Bluetooth connectivity or navigation is offered on either of the bikes.
Harley-Davidson X 500 |
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 |
|
Semi-digital console |
Yes |
Yes |
Bluetooth Connectivity |
No |
No |
ABS |
Yes |
Yes |
Price & Verdict
Harley-Davidson X 500 |
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 |
Unannounced |
Rs 3,03,000 (ex-sh Delhi) |
(all prices ex-showroom)
Considering the Harley-Davidson X 350 is priced at an equivalent of Rs 3.83 lakh in China, if the X 500 were to come to India, it would be much more expensive than that. That said, the X 500 will not be coming to India, which is good, as it would have not attracted a lot of buyers. The good news is, Hero-Harley’s joint collaboration will result in the launch of the recently unveiled HD4XX soon in India.
Apart from this, the Royal Enfield Interceptor is still a great value-for-money product and offers good performance at an affordable price tag.