Nostalgia sells and one of Royal Enfield’s great strengths is that it sells great-value retro motorbikes.
That is one reason its sales have just topped one million worldwide in a financial year for the first time.
What I like about Royal Enfields are their no-nonsense simplicity and practicality. They remind me of bikes I started riding as a teenager nearly half a century ago.
I borrowed the new Super Meteor 650 demonstrator while my 350 HNTR was being serviced.
I am not a fan of low-slung, laid-back cruisers, so it’s not a motorbike that I would normally consider. That said, it’s very smart with classic cruiser styling and a smart, quality finish set off by gleaming chrome exhaust pipes that sound as good as they look.
Climbing aboard, and settling comfortably in this top model’s sculpted touring seat, I appreciated the low 740mm height so I could get both feet firmly on the ground.
Getting used to having my legs out straight and forward to reach the gear lever and rear brake felt strange at first and I suspect riders with short legs might find it a bit of a stretch.
This was my first ride on a Royal Enfield 648cc air and oil-cooled parallel twin, also used in the Continental GT, Interceptor, Shotgun, Classic and Bear 650s.
With maximum power of 47PS at 7,250rpm, and peak torque of 52.3Nm at 5,650rpm, it is A2 licence-friendly and well-suited to the relaxed Super Meteor.
It pulls strongly from low revs, trickling along in fourth at 30mph, and picks up crisply and cleanly. Get the revs up by dropping the slick six-speed gearbox a couple of ratios and it is brisk enough for safe, swift overtakes.
Upside-down 43mm front forks have 120mm of travel but cannot be adjusted. Twin rear shocks have 101mm of travel and only the preload can be altered via five steps. Even on the first notch, the standard setting, the back is quite firm on poor roads but the Super Meteor still handles and rides well.
It is no lightweight at 241kg but a low centre of gravity makes it feel stable and well planted even cranked into corners.
A single 320mm front disc brake and 300mm rear give adequate stopping power with a firm squeeze of the lever and prod of the brake pedal. Again, riders with small feet might find getting on the pedal more awkward.
The more I rode it, the more I could see the appeal of taking the Super Meteor on a long cruise.
The range-topping Celestial model gets a plusher, wider touring seat with back rest, which a pillion passenger will also be grateful for, and a screen for better weather protection. That said, the screen had not been fitted to the demo bike but wind buffeting was not much of an issue at 70mph.
Add the optional panniers and you’re ready to go.
If you plan to tour the separate turn-by-turn Tripper navigation display, powered by Google and linked to your smartphone via the Royal Enfield app, next to the LCD instrument cluster is going to be useful.
A 15.7-litre fuel tank should give nearly 200 miles between fill-ups.
The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Celestial is £500 more than the entry model. I feel it’s a price worth paying for a more shapely seat and screen.
The Super Meteor is a bike that grew on me and, while still not a cruiser convert, I can understand the appeal and charm of this retro ride.
Check out the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 range at orwell.co.uk/royal-enfield/new-royal-enfield-motorcycle-range/super-meteor
