Review: 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

The third model of the RE 650 Twins range has arrived Down Under. After Simon headed to India for the Super Meteor World Launch in January, and came back smiling, we could not wait to get it out on some Aussie roads. Where better to cruise than the Great Ocean Road?

Jeff spent a few days on the GOR with the APAC team from Royal Enfield, putting the Super Meteor 650 to the test.

I was able to spend equal time on the Standard version and the unofficial Touring version of the Super Meteor 650 and both proved to be great bikes, just like the Continental GT 650 and Interceptor INT 650 are. The difference between the two is the Tourer had the comfort seat, backrest and screen fitted.

The Meteor 650 was designed and developed by the same team responsible for the other Twins, and it shows. It’s not the exciting, engaging ride of the other two 650s, but it gets the job done nicely… After a few days riding, in all conditions, I concluded that it is one of those bikes that just does it all fuss free, safely, with nothing too ‘stand out’ or thrilling, but on the other hand, it’s reliable and consistent.

I hadn’t been to a launch for almost two years, due to injury and Covid restrictions. I was pumped to get to the 650 event!

All of us media having a few drinks inside converted prison cells. It was a little creepy to be honest!

Pentridge Prison, now a luxury hotel, once hell on earth. Weird…

One of the old watch towers…

It was great to listen to the bosses from Royal Enfield talk about the Super Meteor with great enthusiasm.

Royal Enfield Australia importer Joey Elasmar taking to the stage.

The Aussie launch for the Super Meteor 650 was a big affair as far as local bike launches go. Three groups of riders over three days, and the top brass from Royal Enfield APAC were in attendance as well. As far as Australian motorcycle launches go, I can’t think of a bigger one in my 23-years at the coal face.

On the standard version of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650.

On the touring version of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650.

After a night staying in the Adina Pentridge (creepy, but worth doing once), we were bussed over to Lorne for two days of riding and tech presentations, plus given the opportunity to chat with Royal Enfield staff. The weather ranged from sunny to windy and wet, the roads from smooth tar to mud! We had it all and really put the Super Meteor 650 to the test. Footpegs were ground. Beer was drunk, etc.

The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is proving popular already, the first few shipping containers were pre-sold.

Anyway, enough of that, we were there to ride bikes and we did plenty of that. I was really keen to ride the Super Meteor, as mentioned, particularly after my experiences testing the 650 Twins, which actually led me to purchasing my own INT 650, the BikeReview Interceptor. I fell for the 650 Twins in Santa Cruz, 2018, and with the Orange Crush Interceptor it was love at first sight.

The first time I rode a 650 was the Conti GT in Santa Cruz on day one of the launch.

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 & Continental GT 650 Launch

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 & Continental GT 650 Launch

The Interceptor 650 was my pick of the two models for the simple reason I loved the seating position and commanding ergonomics more than I did the GT’s cafe racer layout. I also love the scramble styling and could not fault the bike at all.

It’s been clear from day one that the 650 would make a great cruiser engine, so it was only a matter of time before the Super Meteor was born, and it is a really refined machine. After a five hour ride on day one, which included stops to get our usual photo and video duties out of the way, followed by a morning of free riding for a few hours, I came away impressed with the bike, but not surprised it is so good.

The experience of the previous 650 Twins means Royal Enfield have been able to further refine this machine over the others…

The experience of the previous 650 Twins means Royal Enfield have been able to further refine this machine over the others. It’s smoother, it’s more comfortable and stable, but as mentioned, not as exciting. But everything feels refined, from the fuelling to the clutch action and gearbox. There are also no vibes at all to speak of, and the chassis is rock solid over a wide range of conditions and surfaces.

Ground clearance is very generous for a cruiser, and the Meteor 650 can be ridden pretty fast for the class…

The first thing I notice on the Super Meteor is how roomy it is. I’m 187cm and I find most cruisers ergonomically weird, but I fit into the SM. The rubber mounted footpegs are well placed, the ‘bars have a relaxed yet commanding bend and the span adjustable levers and neat switches fall nicely to hand.

The dash and Tripper Nav are clearly in view and the tubbed grips are comfy. The seat, however, is quite small and short. My tailbone sits on the hump at the rear of the seat. This would prove painful. If the seat was just 20mm longer, I think a lot of us taller riders would be more comfy on it.

I rode the standard version first and really enjoyed it. I was surprised at how much cornering clearance is available.

There is a comfort seat option, and it is a lot more comfortable, but I don’t think it looks as cool as the standard seat. Taller riders may want to try both seats before choosing which way to go… Still, we rode for about five hours, over quite bumpy terrain, so most feet forward cruisers give your backside a hard time, a lot of your weight is placed there.

“From walking speed to the top speed of over 150km/h, the Super Meteor is very stable, yet still manoeuvrable, while being consistent and entirely predictable.”

Seat height and a low centre of gravity makes the Super Meteor very accessible to riders of all shapes, sizes and experience level. It has big bike looks and feel, but small bike low speed handling and is extremely easy to ride from the moment the smooth, light clutch is released. From walking speed to the top speed over 150km/h, the Super Meteor is very stable, yet still manoeuvrable, while being consistent and entirely predictable. It’s the same magic recipe that the Interceptor and Conti GT are cooked from.

“The combo of narrow 19in front tyre, wide 16in rear tyre, stable geometry yet wide handlebars give the Super Meteor a unique ability to be completely stable yet still very flickable and great fun in the turns.”

The SHOWA inverted forks, a first for RE, are well sprung on the firmer side, and well damped in both high and low speed compression, and rebound, over a wide variety of conditions. Not overly stiff over the bumps, yet giving plenty of support under braking. While at the back, dual shocks are featured and could be improved for the heavier riders among us. I found them bottoming on softer settings and too hard on firmer settings. Lighter riders will not have much of an issue.

Preload adjustable twin shocks.

SHOWA inverted forks.

Royal Enfield embossed cruiser grips, span adjustable clutch lever.

Span adjustable clutch lever.

I’m 100kg in riding gear, so no lightweight, but I would not be able to safely take a pillion on a SM really. It’s an affordable bike, so adding aftermarket shocks should not be too much of an issue in my opinion. The shocks are the only thing I would replace on the bike, aside from the muffler for a louder note. In saying that, it has a decent sound for a stock bike but would sound so cool with a loud pipe!

The CEAT tyres get the job done. As far as cruisers go, the Super Meteor is one of the most capable at cornering…

The combo of narrow 19in front tyre, wide 16in rear tyre, stable geometry yet wide handlebars give the Super Meteor a unique ability to be completely stable yet still very flickable and great fun in the turns. It holds a line very well, not influenced by bumps or undulations, on or off the brakes. It’s fun.

It’ll peel into a sweeper off the throttle, on the throttle, or go into a hairpin hard on the brakes, and always come out the other side exactly where it was pointed. It loves a bit of rear brake, too. The rear brake is the stronger of the two, while the front needs a really big squeeze. As a combo they are good.

The Touring version is really comfy. The screen was spot on for my height, the seat plush. I loved it! But prefer the look of the standard version.

A LAMS approved cruiser that carves corners and is affordable. What’s not to love?

The engine is a gem. It must be one of the most loved engines out there and will go down in history as a legendary powerplant. The Super Meteor motor is blacked out, and has a new brace on top of the rocker cover. Aside from that it’s the same engine as the others. Carting a bit more weight around, the engine doesn’t have the acceleration or punch that it offers in the other two 650 models, but it’s fine.