Can Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 defeat Kawasaki Vulcan S
What's the story
Royal Enfield entered the 650cc cruiser motorcycle segment with its flagship model, the Super Meteor 650 in January this year. The retro-inspired offering replaced the iconic Kawasaki Vulcan S as the most affordable cruiser bike in India.
With a starting price tag of Rs. 3.54 lakh (ex-showroom), the former cost nearly half of what the latter demands.
Which one is a better choice?
Context
Why does this story matter?
Royal Enfield is expanding its Twins (650cc) platform with multiple models/body styles. The Super Meteor 650 is the homegrown bikemaker's take on the traditional cruiser motorcycle format.
With its laid-back stance and premium materials, the vehicle has received overall positive feedback from critics and customers alike.
However, can it beat the Kawasaki Vulcan S for the top spot in the 650cc cruiser segment?
Design
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 looks more appealing
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 has an old-school cruiser silhouette and features a teardrop-shaped 15.7-liter fuel tank, a circular LED headlamp, a wide handlebar, adjustable levers, a tall windscreen, dual side-mounted exhausts, and alloy wheels.
Kawasaki Vulcan S flaunts a neo-retro cruiser look and gets a sloping 14-liter fuel tank, a rider-only saddle, an underbelly exhaust, a rounded rear fender, and designer alloy wheels.
Information
Both cruisers are on par in terms of dimensions
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 has a seat height of 740mm, a ground clearance of 135mm, and a kerb weight of 241kg. The Kawasaki Vulcan S has a saddle height of 705mm, a ground clearance of 130mm, and tips the scales at 235kg.
Safety
Both bikes feature disc brakes and dual-channel ABS
For rider safety, both the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 and Kawasaki Vulcan S come equipped with disc brakes on both the front and rear wheels, along with dual-channel ABS for better braking performance.
The former gets 43mm inverted front forks and twin shock absorbers on the rear end.
The latter has 41mm telescopic front forks and a rear mono-shock unit.
Performance
Kawasaki Vulcan S packs a more powerful engine
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is backed by a 648cc, air-and-oil-cooled, parallel-twin engine that churns out 47hp of maximum power and 52Nm of peak torque.
Kawasaki Vulcan S is offered with a 649cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled, twin-cylinder motor that generates a maximum power of 59.9hp and a peak torque of 62.4Nm.
Transmission duties on both cruiser motorcycles are handled by a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Verdict
Which one should you buy?
In India, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 ranges between Rs. 3.54 lakh and Rs. 3.85 lakh. In comparison, the Kawasaki Vulcan S costs Rs. 7.1 lakh, which is nearly twice what Super Meteor is demanding.
The Vulcan S gets a more powerful mill.
However, our vote goes in favor of the Super Meteor for its better looks and much lower price tag.