Before I get started, I’ve got to acknowledge there are a lot more views and opinions of “thumpers” than mine. I’ve gotten and read several messages since the post went up: “Put on 300 miles…; 200 miles on Saturday, 215 on Sunday…; San Francisco to Portland over the weekend…, etc. etc….” Okay “Iron Butts”, I get it. You all have concrete asses and wear dentures. No, seriously, hats off to all you one-bangers. You’re tougher than I am.
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Well… Look at it!
My first glimpse of the Interceptor was an Orange Crush, which I believe was the dominant color released with the first wave to distributors in the US and the UK. At first glance, it was reminiscent of a 1968 Bonneville, or maybe a 1971 BSA Thunderbolt, as the motor crowds the frame a bit more than the Bonnie. A Bonneville was a bike I’d craved as a kid, but I also thought the BSA was actually the more beautiful bike. But, even as a seventh grader, I’d heard stories about the electrical systems in the BSA and comments that they were the “best looking machine you’ll ever see parked on the roadside.” Regardless of the horror stories we’ve all heard about British bikes in the sixties and seventies, I’ve never heard anybody state a Japanese bike possessed that kind of eye catching promise– not one built in the 60’s to the mid-70’s anyway– that would make your soul complete. They just happened to start every time. If nothing else, the RE might have been built in India, but it screamed Great Britain. The only concern I had was if the Indians had kept more of the British tradition than its sense of style.
Enter YouTube
I wasn’t about to let everything I learned about this bike come from RE’s website, no sir. I needed to do some deep digging. Thank God for Stuart Fillingham and the Missenden Flyer, two men I hold in the highest esteem– but I do give credit to the others who provided their opinions via their video test runs as well. That both Mr. Fillingham and the Flyer both sang its praises and ultimately bought it should have been plenty for anybody, but I continued my quest, searching for at least one bad review. I figured that would be the exception that proved the rule. No luck, no matter how hard I tried. Even Yammie Noob offered lukewarm praise, which I took as overwhelming support of a bike that I figured such a site would never bother to take a glance at. Sure, there were comments that showed how corners had been cut and, as another bike-free year on my end passed, some negative comments were made, but these were only offered in support of…
How much? No way. You gotta be shi—
The price. Six grand for a brand new, 650cc motorcycle that’s more beautiful in one’s eyes than their first prom date– and I don’t care if you’ve been together ever since. Yes, some shortcuts were pointed out in order to achieve that price point. The plastic turn signals (I like the American signals much better than the oblong, rectangular flashers offered in the UK), a cheesy rear light (retro appropriate…), analog light bulbs. Critiques were also made of the suspension, the seat– while also retro appropriate, it’s shortcomings become readily apparent on longer rides– and a few easily dismissed complaints were voiced about the foot peg placement. Can’t blame the manufacturer for an individual’s height deficiency. There have also been some gripes about the hardware found on the handlebars, and I agree the controls are nothing if not generic, but when looking at what counts there’s no hint of skimping whatsoever. It’s got ABS and fuel injection. Really, what more does a modern motorcycle need? At my age, more bells and whistles add up to confusion, not performance… The engine and the transmission are flawless, and it’s not just my pedestrian opinion. The engine and gearbox have garnered nothing but praise and admiration. Even the low numbers on the spec sheet can be dismissed out of hand. The gearing ratio would never allow one to believe they’re being propelled by 47 horses. And, torque-wise, I’ll listen to any legitimate complaint if somebody can point out a single gear that feels “boggy.” I’ll entertain all gripes, if they come anywhere near convincing.
All of the criticism I’ve heard can easily be solved with a little cash and, honestly, not a whole lot of expertise. You can get new suspension all around, change the seat, swap out all the lights, and still have a few grand more in the bank account than if you’d bought yourself a brand new Bonneville. And…
LOOK AT IT!
After first laying eyes on this machine, I’m convinced it will someday be hailed as a classic example of design, hitting a home run in both form and function. This is also combined with a stroke of marketing genius, serving the entire motorcycling community well by its beauty and economy. I knew it was a bike I was going to buy, and any research I did was more to find a solid reason for NOT buying it. Love at first sight, man. I’m proud to own one.