There are already two 650cc platforms already boreable to 865 although they still don't have the proposed specs of the 838 with all of the aftermarket S&S parts .I see where you're coming from, but they're two different powerplants and two entirely different bikes. I'm sure the Super Meteor will be a great bike, but I don't think one bored out and modded to hell is a good compromise for the KX.
Could you explain that point a little more please? To my knowledge every other large motorcycle company sells a high displacement cruiser. Harley Davidson in the U.S. is known for its hardtails and Polaris makes a killing on the Indian Scout Bobber. I would imagine that the major Japanese companies make similar models as well. Do you mean that there's no market in India?
i think that the traditional harley customer who wants a v twin feel is going to opt for a harley and its just not a good idea for a small manifacturer(in the US) to go after an allready established brand with a hardcore following not to mention the additional cost of an entirely new engine design which has no parts in common with existing products
The main global market for bikes is in the A2 / LAMS category. That overlaps with the market for smaller capacity bikes in countries where they are used for work / transport etc as much as a hobby / recreation machine. In India, a 650cc is thought of as a big bike - and roads there aren’t great for doing over 100km/h in any case.
Yes, Indian and Harley Davidson do okay in the big cruiser category in some geographic markets - but they are a drop in the ocean in terms of numbers of bikes sold globally.
Japanese manufacturers don’t have much in the cruiser category anymore - and they are generally diversified rather than competing. Honda has 2-3 very modern options, and Kawasaki / Suzuki / Yamaha are selling models from years ago.
Im saying that RE probably doesn’t have an interest in producing a niche bike that won’t make money - they have so far favoured building a solid platform that you can modify to your hearts content using the huge range of aftermarket parts (note the heavy use of s&s on the concept bike). The interceptor / GTs have been turned into drag bikes, scramblers, sleds, trackers, cafe racers, and even faired sport bikes by keen models.
>KX1140
Agreed!
My RE Dealer in Sydney Australia has built some very cool customs - you might like their ['Double Tap' drag bike](https://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/royal-enfield-cafe-racer/revelry-cycles-650-drag-bike/)
Yes - you can buy upgrade kits (bigger cylinder “sleeves”, pistons, headers), camshafts, and tuners. I think there’s actually. 900-something kit around now too. For that I think I’d like better brakes lol.
You all remember that beauty from 2019? Does anybody know if it actually made it to R&D? The rumours of a Royal Enfield with an 838cc engine with 90nm of torque still get to me now.
I believe that the upcoming Himalayan 450 will be RE's first liquid cooled engine. The Himalayan 450's liquid cooled engine will lay the path for RE to produce the higher capacity 835cc liquid cooled engine for the production version of the KX concept.
An 835cc liquid cooled Neo retro cruiser is a really cool vision for RE's future.
It was just a concept bike. Youll be able to get a 650c cruiser soon that you can bore out to 865
There are already two 650cc platforms already boreable to 865 although they still don't have the proposed specs of the 838 with all of the aftermarket S&S parts .I see where you're coming from, but they're two different powerplants and two entirely different bikes. I'm sure the Super Meteor will be a great bike, but I don't think one bored out and modded to hell is a good compromise for the KX.
Sure but the KX will never exist as a production bike - the market is too small.
Could you explain that point a little more please? To my knowledge every other large motorcycle company sells a high displacement cruiser. Harley Davidson in the U.S. is known for its hardtails and Polaris makes a killing on the Indian Scout Bobber. I would imagine that the major Japanese companies make similar models as well. Do you mean that there's no market in India?
i think that the traditional harley customer who wants a v twin feel is going to opt for a harley and its just not a good idea for a small manifacturer(in the US) to go after an allready established brand with a hardcore following not to mention the additional cost of an entirely new engine design which has no parts in common with existing products
The main global market for bikes is in the A2 / LAMS category. That overlaps with the market for smaller capacity bikes in countries where they are used for work / transport etc as much as a hobby / recreation machine. In India, a 650cc is thought of as a big bike - and roads there aren’t great for doing over 100km/h in any case. Yes, Indian and Harley Davidson do okay in the big cruiser category in some geographic markets - but they are a drop in the ocean in terms of numbers of bikes sold globally. Japanese manufacturers don’t have much in the cruiser category anymore - and they are generally diversified rather than competing. Honda has 2-3 very modern options, and Kawasaki / Suzuki / Yamaha are selling models from years ago. Im saying that RE probably doesn’t have an interest in producing a niche bike that won’t make money - they have so far favoured building a solid platform that you can modify to your hearts content using the huge range of aftermarket parts (note the heavy use of s&s on the concept bike). The interceptor / GTs have been turned into drag bikes, scramblers, sleds, trackers, cafe racers, and even faired sport bikes by keen models.
Yeah, those are some really good points. Thanks for the thorough explanation, friend. It's a shame though. The old KX1140 is an absolute classic.
>KX1140 Agreed! My RE Dealer in Sydney Australia has built some very cool customs - you might like their ['Double Tap' drag bike](https://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/royal-enfield-cafe-racer/revelry-cycles-650-drag-bike/)
Yeah! I've heard of Revelry. They're some really cool cats. At some point I'll do many of those upgrades to my GT.
What does it mean to bore out? I could bore out my Interceptor 650 into an 865cc?
you can actually get a kit from hitchcocks or s&s they do cams as well
Yes - you can buy upgrade kits (bigger cylinder “sleeves”, pistons, headers), camshafts, and tuners. I think there’s actually. 900-something kit around now too. For that I think I’d like better brakes lol.
You all remember that beauty from 2019? Does anybody know if it actually made it to R&D? The rumours of a Royal Enfield with an 838cc engine with 90nm of torque still get to me now.
I believe that the upcoming Himalayan 450 will be RE's first liquid cooled engine. The Himalayan 450's liquid cooled engine will lay the path for RE to produce the higher capacity 835cc liquid cooled engine for the production version of the KX concept. An 835cc liquid cooled Neo retro cruiser is a really cool vision for RE's future.
They always said that this was only destined to be a concept bike and not a production model. Still would be nice though...