Thanks for watching! Let me know if you have any questions about the GT vs. the Interceptor. Eagerly awaiting the Super Meteor 650 to see how it compares. Check out my Interceptor build video here: czcams.com/video/UnbhZBZxeT0/video.html
@@edd274 Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR bro. Great looking and performing tire, but expensive. 18k for the 18 front and 17 rear combo, plus inner tube, install, and new rear 17" rim.
I own one, and I believe the false neutral experience is just a matter of breaking in the transmission. I had it a bit, and also an occasional problem shifting from 3rd to 4th. After 1000 miles the transmission shifted beautifully. I now have 7500 miles on my GT650 and have zero transmission issues.
i found this review very insightful, my Int 650 is still new to me, having the motorcycle travelled 205 km. i’m 5’5, after getting used to it, stopped dropping the bike left & right. everything is still stock but i will get the seat lowered soon. kudos
Thanks! Glad you’re getting used to the bike-so many great experiences await :) Get the TEC lowering shocks if u can! Then have preload set for your weight.
The Himalayan made me a motorcycle owner again after 30 years! I loved it, but after a year I decided to go pure street bike and test road a Continental GT just to confirm my suspicion that the Cafe Racer position would be too extreme for me. It turned out I actually loved that test ride (I used to road race bicycles, so am very used to a leaned over position)! The GT650 felt so damn cool I thought; wait, this bike will make me way too cocky and I'll get myself in trouble with this bike. I played it safe and went with an INT650. I love my Canyon Red. It's upright position is great for commuting and being around traffic, to see clearly and have easy handling, but yeah, I would love to spend like a week with a Continental GT........maybe more?
Haha that's a relatable motorcycle journey!! I do ride the GT and my Interceptor differently, especially now that my INT has such tall and wide handlebars. Interesting to find out how road racing bikes made you comfy with the GT clip-ons!
I served an LDS mission in the area where you’re riding back in 1998-2000. What a great treat for me to watch you tool around and an awesome bike through awesome landscape! Great job on the video! I am an owner of a Royal Enfield interceptor, and I love it!
Wow that’s so cool man! It must have been so much better to ride too back then, these days it gets pretty crazy. Glad to chat with fellow Interceptor owners :)
Great video Aaron... I went to the shop to buy an Interceptor, came out with the deposit paid on a GT! :) Just found the looks so much nicer. Thankfully I came from a GSXR1000 to the GT, so the wrists and back are not painful at all, a much more relaxed riding position, and it is SO MUCH FUN to throw around the twisties. Keep riding safe my man!
I didn't realise how beautiful the Philippines is , the view from the cafe' was superb . I've wanted a GT650 for a long-time....but , I have a beautiful W650 and I worry that I'd regret selling it . They are similar-power bikes and I already have a mildly-cafe'd 1982 Yam XV1000 (TR1 70-HP) . I can't stop-watching GT650 reviews and comparisons though , maybe it's just a case of 'the-grass-being-Greener on the Other-Side ' . Thoroughly enjoyed your video, Dave nz
Hi Dave! Glad you found this video. I totally understand you--it's just nice to watch these things even if there's not really sensible room in the garage for them. glad you enjoyed the scenery up here as well. Funny because I sort of feel the same about my Interceptor 650, I keep ogling more powerful, more modern bikes, but I don't think I can sell the Interceptor. It's a wonderful bike with lots of character and not an expensive garage queen either.
That's some ride, you'd never know it's down on hp. 😉 Watched a few uploads on T100 transmission failures. Diehards in the Triumph trenches have been eyeballing the twins when no one's looking lol. The Bonneville is a work of art but the Interceptor for far less money with a slipper clutch and 6 spds isn't far behind. Time will tell, but it's off to a great start. I was originally interested in the T100 when I bought my 2018 Himmi (for exploration mode) and later a 2020 Interceptor. Why buy one bike when for the same price you can have 2, and go anywhere.
@@sscbkr48 Yikes! Didn't know that about the T100. I agree. Those Bonnevilles are stunning... but for the money, pretty hard to justify for someone like me.
Great vid. I have a GT and love it but recently finally saw the Int in person and they're equally beautiful. I think it's great they make both to appeal to different aesthetics/needs
I did a DIY tubeless conversion on my Gt650 almost 3 months ago using a locally purchased Bostik adhesive and a 3m electrical tape.🙃 So far so good! I hope it sticks! Hahahaha clocked in more than 1k kms since then....
Yes, for sure. Talked to a trusted mechanic about it and he said it could mean the oil needs changing, but it’s a known issue with the gearbox in general. I also get false neutrals on actual neutral-I release the clutch and it stalls. Doesn’t spoil this otherwise great bike, but RE should definitely look into it.
@@davegills3556 I just came from an 800km 2-day ride, riding aggressively in the twisties, and I hit around 8 false neutrals in total. Yikes. I may need to get my clutch checked, I may have messed with it a bit with aftermarket levers.
looks like a fun place to ride..i like the environment looks like a large community of riders. there. i just got the venture blue gt it looks and feels like a classic,
I bought my Rocker Red GT because it's the coolest looking retro and the price is great. I plan on a few 3 day trips which should be easy. My longer trips will still be on my BMW R1250 RS. More of a work horse sport tourer. Great video. 👍👍5🏍🙋♂️
Hello Aaron! I remember the first time I saw your video, you're born for it! I was torn to own a Himalayan before but I chose to ride an underrated brand which is Benelli. Bought an Imperiale400 and hope I could ride with you someday! RS!
@@Ride_XP I can relate to just what you told iTourmoto why the GT/Interceptor weighs 202kg because it has the same weight with the Imperiale 400. I like the looks and quality of it. It's almost as fast as Hima and highly customizable same as your interceptor. :D Really inspired of your vids man. Thanks for giving us a reminder why we ride!
The stock mirrors are garbage. Otherwise the Continental 650 is a fabulous bike. I had mine fitted with a centre stand by the dealer in order to simplify chain maintenance as well as a few other cosmetic frackles. Gorgeous machine that never fails to attract attention and huge fun to ride.
I bought a 2019 Interceptor but didn't like the footpeg position so I changed them to the continental footpegs, The reverse facing gear change is much better previously the interceptor gear change lever would sometimes catch the trouser leg bottom and go into first when stopped at traffic lights, very inconvenient.
Great video.as many are I'm waiting for the super meteor to get to the USA 6 foot 2in really need the forward controls.ONE question do you have to do adjustments to the valves or timing every 3000 miles?
Makes sense! I have heard of that but I don't hear of anyone here who has been adjusting them at that interval and the bikes seem to be fine. Mine's at 9000 miles and I've just been doing oil changes and cleaning my DNA performance filter.
Q&A time. I've had a couple bikes including a nice GS 750 ET, A very comfortable bike, and fast, particularly after I added new cams, tires, exhaust, and bars. That was only a few decades ago. But haven't ridden much (at all) since. And I've never been much of a mechanic. None at all, really. My primary bike fixing tool was my credit card. Now I have a deposit on a GT and am aching to start riding again. And I want to learn to maintain the bike myself, to the extent possible. So my question is whether this GT would be a good bike to learn some basic wrenching. Given RE's reputation for 1970s-level simplicity, I'm guessing that it is. But I'd lover your thoughts. And, nice video, by the way. Thanks. - Doug
Hi Doug! It's awesome you had a GT way back then. I can confirm that the Interceptor (and the GT), particularly if you are prudent with your modifications, do not require anything complicated. While I don't do most of my wrenching myself, the things I've had to do are simple: 1. Oil changes and air filter maintenance 2. Brake bleeding every 15k kms (less if you ride off-road), that front master cylinder has been known to fail in relatively short time when riding in the mountains. I needed to rebuild my master cylinder after 20k kms. 3. Front fork rebuild (I bought the bike used and the fork oil was spent) 4. Throttle cable adjustment, cleaning, and lubrication 5. Clutch cable replacement after it got hit on a ride 6. Brake pads 7. Battery 8. Watching over bolt tightness 9. Replaced a broken rear spoke That's pretty much it. All the other niggles have been self-inflicted due to modifications on the bike!
I gotta disagree with you on the reliability. When I was researching the Himalayan I couldn't stop reading about problems with them. Unfortunately they're all over the place as well, some electrical, some mechanical, some that only happened from models made in June, etc. From what I understand, if you buy a Royal Enfield, you should expect some problems, but it does seem that all the serious issues (for example the frame cracking) have been solved.
I had TEC Lowering Shocks on them, but turns out I much prefer the stock shocks. Better ride height, plusher ride. But I plan to change to the YSS Z series shocks!
With the GT, I find it’s less my back and really more my wrists and palms that get really tired and achey. It would take a whole day of riding to get my back achey.
I don't really think it can be fixed, I just got my oil changed on my Interceptor and it happened once. But it doesn't happen so often as it does with this GT test unit. I'm not really bothered by it. I think they fixed it on the Super Meteor though haha
Thanks for watching! Let me know if you have any questions about the GT vs. the Interceptor. Eagerly awaiting the Super Meteor 650 to see how it compares.
Check out my Interceptor build video here: czcams.com/video/UnbhZBZxeT0/video.html
good day sir, i have a baker express, ask ko lang which tire you used sa interceptor mo.. thanks
@@edd274 Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR bro. Great looking and performing tire, but expensive. 18k for the 18 front and 17 rear combo, plus inner tube, install, and new rear 17" rim.
I own one, and I believe the false neutral experience is just a matter of breaking in the transmission. I had it a bit, and also an occasional problem shifting from 3rd to 4th. After 1000 miles the transmission shifted beautifully. I now have 7500 miles on my GT650 and have zero transmission issues.
I like the camera-work you did. The Philippine views and terrain are beautiful. I agree with you, about the Racing Green. Good job; Aaron!
Glad you appreciate it! :)
i found this review very insightful, my Int 650 is still new to me, having the motorcycle travelled 205 km. i’m 5’5, after getting used to it, stopped dropping the bike left & right. everything is still stock but i will get the seat lowered soon. kudos
Thanks! Glad you’re getting used to the bike-so many great experiences await :) Get the TEC lowering shocks if u can! Then have preload set for your weight.
Just an advise, please dont mess with making the shocks lower, it will make the ground clearance lower. But in the end, its still up to you.
The Himalayan made me a motorcycle owner again after 30 years! I loved it, but after a year I decided to go pure street bike and test road a Continental GT just to confirm my suspicion that the Cafe Racer position would be too extreme for me. It turned out I actually loved that test ride (I used to road race bicycles, so am very used to a leaned over position)! The GT650 felt so damn cool I thought; wait, this bike will make me way too cocky and I'll get myself in trouble with this bike. I played it safe and went with an INT650. I love my Canyon Red. It's upright position is great for commuting and being around traffic, to see clearly and have easy handling, but yeah, I would love to spend like a week with a Continental GT........maybe more?
Haha that's a relatable motorcycle journey!! I do ride the GT and my Interceptor differently, especially now that my INT has such tall and wide handlebars. Interesting to find out how road racing bikes made you comfy with the GT clip-ons!
Im rocking with my GT650 and enjoying every minute.
I served an LDS mission in the area where you’re riding back in 1998-2000. What a great treat for me to watch you tool around and an awesome bike through awesome landscape! Great job on the video! I am an owner of a Royal Enfield interceptor, and I love it!
Wow that’s so cool man! It must have been so much better to ride too back then, these days it gets pretty crazy. Glad to chat with fellow Interceptor owners :)
Great video Aaron... I went to the shop to buy an Interceptor, came out with the deposit paid on a GT! :) Just found the looks so much nicer. Thankfully I came from a GSXR1000 to the GT, so the wrists and back are not painful at all, a much more relaxed riding position, and it is SO MUCH FUN to throw around the twisties.
Keep riding safe my man!
Haha! Excellent choice! Love how it just called to you. And yeah coming from a Gixxer the GT is definitely more relaxed in every way. Enjoy!! :)
I didn't realise how beautiful the Philippines is , the view from the cafe' was superb . I've wanted a GT650 for a long-time....but , I have a beautiful W650 and I worry that I'd regret selling it . They are similar-power bikes and I already have a mildly-cafe'd 1982 Yam XV1000 (TR1 70-HP) . I can't stop-watching GT650 reviews and comparisons though , maybe it's just a case of 'the-grass-being-Greener on the Other-Side ' . Thoroughly enjoyed your video, Dave nz
Hi Dave! Glad you found this video. I totally understand you--it's just nice to watch these things even if there's not really sensible room in the garage for them. glad you enjoyed the scenery up here as well.
Funny because I sort of feel the same about my Interceptor 650, I keep ogling more powerful, more modern bikes, but I don't think I can sell the Interceptor. It's a wonderful bike with lots of character and not an expensive garage queen either.
Very good video dude..very well done and the differences between the 2 bikes very well explained !! Than man !!
Excellent review and stunning views! The British racing green and the blue look beautiful.
very nice review, greetings from Argentina
Gracias :) Ojalá venir por allí un día!
Salamat Pampango, mahusay na video, ipagpatuloy ang magandang vibe bro.
damn...these RE bikes are really a thing of beauty. You can never go wrong with Interceptor or GT.
Indeed!
That's some ride, you'd never know it's down on hp. 😉 Watched a few uploads on T100 transmission failures. Diehards in the Triumph trenches have been eyeballing the twins when no one's looking lol. The Bonneville is a work of art but the Interceptor for far less money with a slipper clutch and 6 spds isn't far behind. Time will tell, but it's off to a great start. I was originally interested in the T100 when I bought my 2018 Himmi (for exploration mode) and later a 2020 Interceptor. Why buy one bike when for the same price you can have 2, and go anywhere.
@@sscbkr48 Yikes! Didn't know that about the T100. I agree. Those Bonnevilles are stunning... but for the money, pretty hard to justify for someone like me.
Nice review Ian. Keep it up!
Thanks bro!
Great vid. I have a GT and love it but recently finally saw the Int in person and they're equally beautiful. I think it's great they make both to appeal to different aesthetics/needs
Very cool video. I loved the comparison of twin brothers😀
I did a DIY tubeless conversion on my Gt650 almost 3 months ago using a locally purchased Bostik adhesive and a 3m electrical tape.🙃 So far so good! I hope it sticks! Hahahaha clocked in more than 1k kms since then....
Nice! Did you document your process anywhere?
@@Ride_XP Nah I did not. But I did almost the same process as other people using 3m marine epoxy on YT. Its holding on so far! Hahahaha
Great vid Aaron. It’s disappointing to hear about the false neutrals. Certainly a massive area for RE improvement.
Yes, for sure. Talked to a trusted mechanic about it and he said it could mean the oil needs changing, but it’s a known issue with the gearbox in general. I also get false neutrals on actual neutral-I release the clutch and it stalls. Doesn’t spoil this otherwise great bike, but RE should definitely look into it.
In about 4000miles on my 2022 INT I've had only 1. Also, I've had no issues except for, as with my Himalayan, the squeeky brake pads.
I’ve seen other reviewers say this issue goes away after some usage and the gearbox parts get worn in a bit. Good luck!
@@jamessauve2419 Mine went away after about 300 miles but yes, it did happen when new.
@@davegills3556 I just came from an 800km 2-day ride, riding aggressively in the twisties, and I hit around 8 false neutrals in total. Yikes. I may need to get my clutch checked, I may have messed with it a bit with aftermarket levers.
looks like a fun place to ride..i like the environment looks like a large community of riders. there. i just got the venture blue gt it looks and feels like a classic,
I bought my Rocker Red GT because it's the coolest looking retro and the price is great. I plan on a few 3 day trips which should be easy. My longer trips will still be on my BMW R1250 RS. More of a work horse sport tourer. Great video. 👍👍5🏍🙋♂️
Upload more videossss!!! Love em
Hello Aaron! I remember the first time I saw your video, you're born for it! I was torn to own a Himalayan before but I chose to ride an underrated brand which is Benelli. Bought an Imperiale400 and hope I could ride with you someday! RS!
Ohh cool bike, never heard of it until now, just the Leoncino! How do you like it so far? Thanks for watching!
@@Ride_XP I can relate to just what you told iTourmoto why the GT/Interceptor weighs 202kg because it has the same weight with the Imperiale 400. I like the looks and quality of it. It's almost as fast as Hima and highly customizable same as your interceptor. :D Really inspired of your vids man. Thanks for giving us a reminder why we ride!
@@edwardroxas827 Glad you appreciate it man! Thank you.
Thank you... I'm still confused the of them... Yes Interceptor is all around. I choose the Interceptor
It is an authentic cafe racer with it's design and power from the original during the 50's and 60's.
The stock mirrors are garbage. Otherwise the Continental 650 is a fabulous bike. I had mine fitted with a centre stand by the dealer in order to simplify chain maintenance as well as a few other cosmetic frackles. Gorgeous machine that never fails to attract attention and huge fun to ride.
Very nice review & beautiful country.
Great presentation.
That chrome variant looks so seek 🔥🔥🔥🔥
didnt realize Philipines has awesome roads and scenery!! thnx for the share!!
Glad to share!
Great Video , I think I'm in now for the GT. How was your rear camera mount pole not showing up in the video , but the entire rear of the bike was ?
Hi Mark, that's because Insta360's cameras and sticks work together using software to automatically erase the stick. Pretty cool!
Can you do long term review of the jimny. Planning to get one. Cheers!
Yup!! It’s coming
I bought a 2019 Interceptor but didn't like the footpeg position so I changed them to the continental footpegs, The reverse facing gear change is much better previously the interceptor gear change lever would sometimes catch the trouser leg bottom and go into first when stopped at traffic lights, very inconvenient.
My question is Which one looks better in person between DUX DELUXE, ICE QUEEN WHITE and GREEN COLOUR IN GT 650
Great video.as many are I'm waiting for the super meteor to get to the USA 6 foot 2in really need the forward controls.ONE question do you have to do adjustments to the valves or timing every 3000 miles?
Makes sense! I have heard of that but I don't hear of anyone here who has been adjusting them at that interval and the bikes seem to be fine. Mine's at 9000 miles and I've just been doing oil changes and cleaning my DNA performance filter.
Q&A time. I've had a couple bikes including a nice GS 750 ET, A very comfortable bike, and fast, particularly after I added new cams, tires, exhaust, and bars. That was only a few decades ago. But haven't ridden much (at all) since. And I've never been much of a mechanic. None at all, really. My primary bike fixing tool was my credit card. Now I have a deposit on a GT and am aching to start riding again. And I want to learn to maintain the bike myself, to the extent possible. So my question is whether this GT would be a good bike to learn some basic wrenching. Given RE's reputation for 1970s-level simplicity, I'm guessing that it is. But I'd lover your thoughts. And, nice video, by the way. Thanks. - Doug
Hi Doug! It's awesome you had a GT way back then. I can confirm that the Interceptor (and the GT), particularly if you are prudent with your modifications, do not require anything complicated. While I don't do most of my wrenching myself, the things I've had to do are simple:
1. Oil changes and air filter maintenance
2. Brake bleeding every 15k kms (less if you ride off-road), that front master cylinder has been known to fail in relatively short time when riding in the mountains. I needed to rebuild my master cylinder after 20k kms.
3. Front fork rebuild (I bought the bike used and the fork oil was spent)
4. Throttle cable adjustment, cleaning, and lubrication
5. Clutch cable replacement after it got hit on a ride
6. Brake pads
7. Battery
8. Watching over bolt tightness
9. Replaced a broken rear spoke
That's pretty much it. All the other niggles have been self-inflicted due to modifications on the bike!
sir just wanna ask, para po sainyo sino po sa kanilang dalawa ang mas masarap gamitin pang long ride like from manila to mindanao perhaps. :)
Interceptor hands down, hindi nakakangawit ☺️
I gotta disagree with you on the reliability. When I was researching the Himalayan I couldn't stop reading about problems with them. Unfortunately they're all over the place as well, some electrical, some mechanical, some that only happened from models made in June, etc. From what I understand, if you buy a Royal Enfield, you should expect some problems, but it does seem that all the serious issues (for example the frame cracking) have been solved.
The old frame of Himalayan had some flaws but they Changed the frame few years back
Did u change your shocks on the interseptor
I had TEC Lowering Shocks on them, but turns out I much prefer the stock shocks. Better ride height, plusher ride. But I plan to change to the YSS Z series shocks!
Still +1 for the INT :)
do we get back pains with GT ?? as the riding position is little leaning forward ??
With the GT, I find it’s less my back and really more my wrists and palms that get really tired and achey. It would take a whole day of riding to get my back achey.
Great video Aaron! How you fixed the problem for the false neutrals? A new gear box repaired by the guarantee? Or something easier like a better oil?
I don't really think it can be fixed, I just got my oil changed on my Interceptor and it happened once. But it doesn't happen so often as it does with this GT test unit. I'm not really bothered by it. I think they fixed it on the Super Meteor though haha
Just clean and oil chain every 1000-2000 km. Tighten once in a while too.
When did you ride? Was this a weekday morning? The road looks suspiciously clear. :))
Yup! Thursday. Always, for the photos haha
@@Ride_XP Ahhhhhhhhh.... Ok ok, thanks! Of note is the fact that tomorrow is a Thursday.
@@hisnameisrentoo It is known as Thursday GP, hehehe
Great Indian company
Spotted 😍 #wheresconnie
Siyempre di mawawala ang pinakapoging GT (at rider) 😘😘
@@Ride_XP shawrawt next vid 😂 jeje amp hahaha
The biggest problem with these bikes is that you can not see the shifted gear only neutral
🫂