Royal Enfield Launches All-New 2023 Super Meteor 650 Cruiser

Royal Enfield Launches All-New 2023 Super Meteor 650 Cruiser

© 2023, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. From a press release issued By Royal Enfield North America:

2023 ROYAL ENFIELD SUPER METEOR 650: CRUISING AT ITS PUREST

Royal Enfield Launches the All-New Super Meteor 650 in Jaisalmer, India

Milwaukee, WI (Monday, January 16, 2023) – Injecting a new level of character, style and accessibility into the cruiser category, Royal Enfield showcased the all-new Super Meteor 650 at EICMA in November 2022, and then displayed the motorcycle in all its colorways at the brand’s annual motorcycling festival – Rider Mania.

Following the global media launch in Jaisalmer, India’s Golden City in the Rajasthan Desert, Royal Enfield launched the new Super Meteor 650 across India and Europe, as the brand announced retail availability and price of the motorcycle. Built as two distinct variants – Super Meteor 650 and the Super Meteor 650 Tourer – and in seven distinct colorways, the new Super Meteor 650 will be available starting at INR 3,48,900/- (ex-showroom, India), at GBP 6,799 (OTR, the UK), and at €7,890 (MSRP, France).

Pricing, availability and specific colorways for North America have not yet been announced, but are expected to be revealed early summer 2023.

The Super Meteor 650 continues Royal Enfield’s heritage of building superlative cruisers. It is centered around the acclaimed 648cc twin platform that, since 2018, has enjoyed worldwide recognition within the multi-award-winning motorcycles, Interceptor INT 650 and Continental GT 650. It has been rigorously tested on proving tracks, Belgian PAVE, and the highways, byways, towns and city centres of India, the UK and Spain, clocking up over one million kilometres in the process to ensure the most reliable and enjoyable ride.

 

A 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 in the deserts of India. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield.
A 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 in the deserts of India. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield.

 

Commenting on the new Super Meteor 650 Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director of Eicher Motors Ltd. said, “The Super Meteor 650 is an evolution of all our focus and efforts in the middleweight segment over the years, and is a thoroughbred, retro cruiser in every sense. Its design language, geometry, form-factor and the gorgeous 650cc twin engine make it the most stunning, accessible and capable cruiser in the category. We’ve enhanced the refinement levels of this motorcycle, and you can feel it in its smooth throttle response across the range. The motorcycle has confidence-inspiring stability, takes corners well and feels planted at highway speeds. It is a perfect mid-segment motorcycle that may actually interest even people who are not interested in cruisers. We believe the Super Meteor will expand the market for cruisers around the world and take the Royal Enfield twin platform a notch higher.”

Speaking on the occasion of the launch of the Super Meteor 650, Royal Enfield CEO, B Govindarajan, said, “We have focused not just on building great motorcycles, but reimagining propositions that transcend traditional motorcycling segments. The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 that replaced the Thunderbird in our portfolio did just that, as it made cruising easy for riders across the globe, and became one of our highest selling motorcycles in Europe and other parts of the world. The Super Meteor 650 breathes new life into the cruising segment, and creates its own identity as an authentic, accessible, mid-segment cruiser.”

A quintessential cruiser, the Super Meteor 650 combines uncluttered controls and instrumentation with relaxed rider ergonomics; rock-steady stability on highways with pure riding pleasure on winding roads where it is keenly responsive to steering inputs. Its flexible, smooth engine has torque aplenty and its cool retro styling is infused with clearly recognizable Royal Enfield DNA. It has a striking presence, yet remains an easy ride, whether you are traversing vast landscapes or heading towards the vanishing point on the horizon.

 

Another view of the 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield.
Another view of the 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield.

 

Over the years, Royal Enfield has made exceptional contributions to the cruiser category with stylish motorcycles that have established new, niche markets. Beginning in the
mid-1950s—decades ahead of the cruiser genre being defined—Royal Enfield produced U.S. export variants of the original Redditch Super Meteor twin, with what is today considered to be a model cruiser profile. It then introduced cruising to India with the Citybike, Lightning 535 (at the time the biggest, baddest motorcycle on India’s roads), and a succession of 350 and 500cc Thunderbirds, which garnered a large following. Global success followed in 2020 with the launch of the Meteor 350 on the brand-new J-series platform. The Meteor 350 upped the tempo with new standards of finesse, quality and most importantly, rideability.

Created at the UK Technology Centre in conjunction with Harris Performance, the frame and swingarm are entirely new and meet the design brief of a motorcycle with a low center of gravity for high-speed stability and easy maneuverability that is confidence inspiring for all levels of rider. Fabricated in steel with optimized forgings, investment castings, pressings and extrusions, the chassis incorporates a new cylinder head mount for additional stiffness. Royal Enfield’s first USD fork, with a 120mm (4.72 in.) stroke, and premium rear shocks with 5-step preload and 101mm (4.0 in.) travel, perfectly complement the new frame, ensuring the Super Meteor is stable and rewarding to ride on highways, and precise and responsive through the curves. The USD forks allow the motorcycle to maintain a controlled response throughout the range of suspension travel, and the big piston damping technology allows for a plush and planted ride.

Unintimidating and practical, the Super Meteor 650 has the silhouette of a thoroughbred cruiser, with a low stance and seat with wide hips and a narrow waist, which allow a comfortable standover. Rider ergonomics is one of the key differentiators of any cruiser and the Super Meteor nails this with fully feet-forward foot controls and raised, wide handlebars. These fundamental cruiser design elements meld to make the rider feel they are part of the motorcycle. A large tank gives extended range and wide tubeless tires on 19-inch front and 16-inch rear alloy wheels provide a stable and silky smooth ride at highway speeds.

The rider’s view and controls have received special focus to ensure that fit and finish of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 are class-leading. The instrument cluster combines the timeless elegance of an analog speedometer with the functionality of an LCD display for essentials such as RPM, gear indicator, fuel gauge, clock and tripmeter. Adjustable clutch and brake levers offer a smooth operation along with a touch of retro finesse, while ergonomically designed barrel profile grips integrate the Royal Enfield logo. All-new plated aluminium switch cubes hold unique rotary switches, placing premium, chic design elements into the rider’s hands. Then there is Royal Enfield’s celebrated TBT (Turn-By-Turn) navigation pod, known as the Royal Enfield Tripper. A first on any Indian-made motorcycle when introduced on the Meteor 350, this highly-focused tool, developed in collaboration with Google, links to the rider’s smartphone via Bluetooth. A discreet USB socket is located beneath the left side panel. Further attention-grabbing features on this cruiser are its LED headlamp, a first for Royal Enfield, which is carefully designed to deliver old-school charm but provide all the benefits of LED technology.

Finally, the Super Meteor’s paint finish is superlative while its distinctive tank badges, inspired by historic Royal Enfield designs, are faceted in chrome and accented with two colors of tinted infill that result in a gorgeous, jewel-like finish.

 

India’s Rajasthan Desert made the perfect backdrop for the global launch of the 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield.
India’s Rajasthan Desert made the perfect backdrop for the global launch of the 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield.

 

The Super Meteor 650 is available in five striking colorways: Astral Black, Astral Blue, Astral Green, Interstellar Grey and Interstellar Green. The Super Meteor 650 Tourer, which comes kitted with a touring windscreen, deluxe touring seat, pillion backrest, is available in two distinctive two-tone finishes: Celestial Red and Celestial Blue.

Like all Royal Enfield motorcycles, the Super Meteor 650 is supported by an extensive range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories that complement its capabilities and enhance
its touring possibilities. A stylish, high-quality range of gear, including Super Meteor t-shirts, helmets, bags and accessories, is also available.

Royal Enfield is confident that it will make believers out of non-believers, encouraging those who love motorcycling but with no experience or desire to ride a cruiser, to do just that — go cruising.

#SuperMeteor650

#PureCruising

#PureMotorcycling

#RoyalEnfield

About Royal Enfield

The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.

Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 150 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S. and Canada. RENA currently offers the all-new Scram 411, Classic 350, Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.

For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica

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