Introduction
I was never a fan of cruisers. Street-naked and sport bikes would excite me the most. However, a 1,000km ride, which I completed in a day, on the Super Meteor 650 changed that for me. This particular expedition introduced me to the real charm of cruisers which has had so many riders across the globe hooked.
The catch here is that a large part of my 1,000km ride comprised wide and slick highways, some of the best India has on offer. Such rides, in most people’s case, happen once in a while and a majority of the saddle time is spent pottering around in the city. In my case, the city is Mumbai which is notorious for dense traffic and pockmarked roads. So, how does the Super Meteor 650 fare in the economic capital of India? Read on to find out.
The Likes
The list of positives has to start with the 649cc, parallel-twin engine of the motorcycle. It delivers gallops of torque in the low- and mid-range of the rev band which negates the need to shift gears constantly. This makes it effortless to overtake vehicles and zip through the crowd. It’s also high on refinement. At city speeds, the bike feels deprived of any vibrations, except for the mild, characterful thump emanating from the cylinders which feels pleasant. What’s more, even the heat management is efficient with a bit of warm air felt only if you’re stuck in crawling traffic for long.
Another impressive trait of the Super Meteor is its handling and weight distribution. For a long-slung, 241kg cruiser, the Super Meteor feels light and agile on the go, even at speeds as low as 15-20kmph. The bike changes direction with a little effort on the handlebar, which makes cutting through traffic an engaging affair. Then, at crawling speeds in stop-and-go traffic, it doesn't really feel a handful to manoeuvre due to the low centre of gravity and even weight distribution. And should you tiptoe in traffic, it’s an easy task even for shorter riders, courtesy of its low 740mm seat height.
I am also stoked by the braking hardware the Super Meteor comes equipped with. Having ridden all the models in RE’s existing portfolio, I can say with conviction that no other bike can match the stopping power of the Super Meteor. Although the front brake lever lacks feel, the bite is supremely strong which stops this behemoth in no time whatsoever. Accompanying this is the equally strong rear brake.
The Dislikes
While the Super Meteor has a very comfortable riding position on offer, things go south as soon as you encounter bad patches on the road, which Mumbai has in abundance. And these don’t have to be sharp rumblers or deep potholes. Even a small-amplitude road joint or a protruding manhole cover is enough to send a nasty jolt to your back. Although having a pillion onboard settles the ride a bit, the rear springs continue to feel profoundly stiff while going through undulations.
Plus, the heft of the motorcycle plays spoilsport at times. Although the Super Meteor masks its weight efficiently on the go, putting it on the main stand or pushing it around in the parking requires quite some effort. Taking U-turns feels cumbersome too. Moreover, when you want to zip quickly through traffic, the long wheelbase demands you to be a little calculative about your actions.
The Super Meteor could also do with a lighter clutch. The chunky shape of the lever and heavy clutch act as a bane if you happen to get stuck in stop-and-go traffic for a long duration. Also, the nice-looking rotary switches are slightly difficult to reach out to, especially the pass switch which I never managed to use in time.
Besides these niggles, I haven't had any troubles with the Super Meteor in these few months of usage. It's still deprived of any loose panels, fading of paint, or rusting of components. I just feel the gearbox has gotten slightly clunky but that might smoothen out in the next service.
Fuel Efficiency
Another important factor is the fuel efficiency of the Super Meteor. In the city, I have been constantly getting a mileage between 23-25kmpl, which isn't bad, considering the displacement and performance of this engine. On the highway, we have extracted as much as 27kmpl also!
Bike Stats
Odometer: 5,828km
Kilometres ridden last month: 580km
Fuel efficiency: 24-26kmpl
Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi
Gallery
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Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Front View
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