[Siamese]

Yeah, I'm pretty darned happy with the power my interceptor has.  That said, I've never had a bike with more than about 70 horsepower.  In high school, 1971, I had a Honda CB750, which in its time was fast.  Followed by Yamaha DT360's, Ossa 250, KLR 650, and on and on, and more recently a Moto Guzzi v7III. 

Immediately before the Interceptor I was down to a Royal Enfield Hunter 350 (which I've kept...it's fun), so no surprise that the Interceptor feels like a rocket ship after that. 

But, if I eventually manage to make a point, it would be that I find the power of the Interceptor 650 to be just fine for riding the two-lane country blacktop here in West Michigan. 

With so much talk about tweaking the bike with aftermarket cams, and big bore kits, it makes me wonder if my being totally happy with the power makes me an outlier. 

[whippers]

No, it’s all relative.  I saw a post on instagram of a Suzuki GT550 2-stroke triple and the guys all saying how fast they were. It has almost the exact same power and torque as the Interceptor.

I love mine even though it’s not fast but you can really ride it in the twisties.

It helps if you haven’t ridden truly high performance bikes.  I need a recalibration when I jump on the Ducati.  Probably the quickest bike I’ve ridden was a Ducati 1098R with a full 70mm Termi exhaust which was dynoed at about 170hp. It was a brilliant bike to ride in the North Georgia mountains but you can’t get anywhere near exploiting its full performance. I haven’t ridden the 200hp plus modern open class bikes and have no real interest in doing so.

[JessHerbst]

Yeah, I'm pretty darned happy with the power my interceptor has.  That said, I've never had a bike with more than about 70 horsepower.  In high school, 1971, I had a Honda CB750, which in its time was fast.  Followed by Yamaha DT360's, Ossa 250, KLR 650, and on and on, and more recently a Moto Guzzi v7III. 

Immediately before the Interceptor I was down to a Royal Enfield Hunter 350 (which I've kept...it's fun), so no surprise that the Interceptor feels like a rocket ship after that. 

But, if I eventually manage to make a point, it would be that I find the power of the Interceptor 650 to be just fine for riding the two-lane country blacktop here in West Michigan. 

With so much talk about tweaking the bike with aftermarket cams, and big bore kits, it makes me wonder if my being totally happy with the power makes me an outlier.

  You certainly are not an outlier. I feel exactly the same. My GT has all the power I want for the kind of riding I do. It’s plenty fast bone stock.

[Vicarello]

I agree with whippers and Jess. It just depends on what makes you smile. Virtually all of my bikes have had 70ish hp or less. That has always been more than enough for the deserted twisty back lanes I prefer.

I have a 2014 FZ09 (105ish hp) and like my Interceptor it's modified for improved handling not speed. it's noticeably more composed then the 650 in all situations and yet I don't get through my favorite roads any quicker on the 09. The Interceptor is just as fast as I want to go. The FZ is overkill.

Maybe the interceptor would feel wanting on faster main roads and interstates, but that's where the traffic and LEO are. I try to avoid those.

[TSTM]

Mine is not fast, but it's fast enough

[YellowDuck]

I agree that it is plenty of bike for backroad riding.  The only thing it lacks is the opportunity to really thrill yourself with full-throttle acceleration blasts, but on public roads with a 100+ hp bike that only lasts for one or two upshifts before you are at speeds that could have you losing your license.  An RE650 is enough to fully enjoy all of the socially responsible aspects of motorcycling, but maybe falls short if you are into hooliganism.

I literally bought it *because* it has 45 hp.

[TSTM]

But the Turbo-topic is fun to watch.
https://forum.classicmotorworks.com/index.php?topic=37529.0

[ReddingRider]

The fastest (in a straight line) bike I've had was a Ducati Diavel.  It was also one of the most expensive, and least useful motorcycles I've owned. It was miserable below 4000 rpm, and I could spend all afternoon riding the back roads around these parts and never get out of third gear. Now my warm weather choice is my INTerceptor.

Not exactly sorry I had that Diavel, though.

[Johnny Ro]

The question asked, is OP an outlier.

Depends on the group identified with.

If identifies as RE or general quasi British twin enthusiast, no. We know what we are getting into.

There is a proverb- "if you want to go fast, buy a Corvette". C6 suffices.

On 2 wheels, a 20 year old R1, or a GSXR 750 will do fast cheaply.

Cheers!

[El Saif]

I agree with the others on this thread, that the RE twins have enough power.

Where I live in Australia, the speed limit is 110 kmh or 68.35 mph. Speed limits are rigidly enforced here.

My unfaired Royal Enfield Continental GT650 in Rocker Red can easily reach the speed limit.

Exceeding the speed limit here is uncomfortable and expensive.

[whippers]

The question asked, is OP an outlier.

Depends on the group identified with.

If identifies as RE or general quasi British twin enthusiast, no. We know what we are getting into.

There is a proverb- "if you want to go fast, buy a Corvette". C6 suffices.

On 2 wheels, a 20 year old R1, or a GSXR 750 will do fast cheaply.

Cheers!

Well numerically, most Enfields are stock or near stock.  Very few are modified to an extent that makes a step change in their performance level.  So therefore most people empirically agree with the OP.

[Breezin]

With so much talk about tweaking the bike with aftermarket cams, and big bore kits, it makes me wonder if my being totally happy with the power makes me an outlier.

Tweakers are always going to talk about it, and we are always going to be interested, and so a forum -- not just this one -- exaggerates the levels of modding generally.

I was talking to a guy who admired the Interceptor recently and said he was thinking of buying one versus a Triumph. He was amazed when I said it was almost completely stock and still a great bike. Seemed to think that it needed a lot extra to make it decent.

I like a bit of oomph, strong braking, and precision handling in the twisties now and again -- hence the RE shares the garage with an R NineT -- but I do appreciate the more chilled Interceptor experience.

[JessHerbst]

 I think that motorcycles beg customization more than any other vehicle. Just something about them that cry’s ’make me yours’

 Many go right to engine modifications, which can be good with enough skill and resources, but often lead to poor reliability and obviously a bike that will not meet emission & noise standards.

 I choose to apply my customization urges to ascetics.
Fairings, paint, lights, gauges, electronics etc.

 To each their own!

[El Saif]

ascetics

WARNING: spelling police

Aesthetics

[agagliardi]

About once a month I fire up my Hayabusa, and  in a demon possessed state I ride it hard, cranking up up to ridiculous speed, without the  common sense I should have at my age. At home I think " What the hell, am I f__king nuts. I could get arrested, lose my license, and my bike. I keep that bike in Long Island, and I see deer occasionally! How about some freak malfunction or what if I meet another idiot by accident-and goodbye. On the other hand I take out my Interceptor or Harley, both nearly at stock HP, perfectly satisfied to ride somewhat sanely (still hard to keep those bikes at legal speeds). I come home relaxed and refreshed, definitely enjoying the ride more than the sport-bike. Then I take out that "Devil machine" again, and just as with any other addictive substance, indulge. Like most riders, I do not have the self control, and can't help it when it comes to speed. Somebody talk some sense into me!

One day I rode my Hayabusa to get a haircut, and Alex the haircutter, and older Uzbekistani gentleman, glibly said "Isn't there an age limit for this?"