Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is the Chennai-based manufacturer’s proper cruiser offering in the 650cc segment. The bike comes with a true-blue cruiser design and is powered by the 650cc parallel twin engine that we have seen on other Royal Enfield bikes, like the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650. Here’s how it performs in the real world.

Design 

Looking at the design, it's hard to deny that Royal Enfield got the cruiser aesthetic right. The Super Meteor 650 looks and feels like a classic retro cruiser, with its round headlight, teardrop shaped tank, raised handlebars and forward set footpegs.

There’s a few design bits that are different depending on the bike’s variant. The entry level interstellar variant for example features a split seat setup, whereas the top-end Celestial variant offers a large single seat and also a raised windscreen.

Overall, the bike’s design is quite unique and doesn’t fail to attract attention. One thing we liked about the bike in particular is how even smaller things, like the switchgear, and the brake and clutch levers feel quite premium. 

Engine, Mileage And Performance

The engine on the Super Meteor 650 is the same as the one on the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650, which is a 650cc air/oil-cooled parallel twin engine which produces 47PS and 52.3Nm. 

The engine provides good performance both in the city and on the highway. The engine has good torque and this makes it easier to execute quick overtakes in the city, despite the bike’s heavy weight. On the highway, the Super Meteor can easily hold triple digit speeds without much trouble. But when compared to the other 650s like the Interceptor, the Super Meteor can feel a bit slow. Here are some of our test figures:

Another area where the engine lacks is in mileage, in our tests we were only able to get 23.63kmpl in the city and 24.69kmpl on the highway. These figures are a bit disappointing when compared to the Interceptor which returned 25.35kmpl in the city and 33.17kmpl on the highway. This takes away from the Super Meteor’s credentials as a cruiser that is built to munch miles on the highway

Handling And Ride Quality

The Super Meteor 650 is a good handler for its size, changing directions doesn’t require the rider to put too much effort. 

Coming to ride quality, the suspension setup on the bike is a bit towards the firmer side. Although it can handle most of the small bumps and potholes, the larger ones will be felt. The upright riding posture combined with the relatively smaller seat (on the Interstellar variant) ends up transferring the impact straight to your spine. 

But when on the highway, the Super Meteor stays planted even at higher speeds and offers a smooth ride. The bike is also quite fun on the twisties but riders will have to be careful not to lean too much, so as to avoid scraping footpegs and exhaust pipes.

The brakes on the Super Meteor 650 have good feedback. But when trying to brake under emergencies, riders will feel the front wobble a bit. Another issue is with the ABS calibration at the rear, which causes the rear wheel to slide a bit when braking hard, before the ABS kicks in. This can be a bit scary at times.

Comfort

When looking at the bike’s comfort, it is a mixed bag. On one hand the wide handlebars and forward set footpegs offer an upright and comfortable riding posture but the seating setup, especially on the interstellar variant takes away from the overall riding experience.

The firm suspension of the bike combined with the thin seat cushioning makes larger bumps felt, with the impact being transferred to the rider’s spine. The only way to work around this issue is by getting the larger single piece touring seat.

Features

The Super Meteor doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of features, it comes with the same analogue instrument console as the Meteor 350. The console features an analogue speedometer with a digital inset which displays information such as fuel level, time, odometer and tripmeter readouts.

For turn-by-turn navigation, customers can get the tripper navigation pod that Royal Enfield offers as an accessory.

Should You Buy The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650?

The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 stands out as the only proper retro cruiser offering in the 650cc segment. It has good looks, offers great performance and handling. It has its issues such as the firm suspension but these are only minor inconveniences that can be solved. But overall, if you are looking for a bike that can offer a proper cruiser experience and munch miles on the highway, then the Super Meteor 650 will be a choice worth considering.