Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 mileage and running cost

Interceptor 650's claimed mileage is 23 kmpl, and unusually, owners and our own riding land right on it: expect 22–23 kmpl in everyday use. Few bikes get this close to their brochure figure.

Among the 13 cruiser bikes we have reviewed it ranks 12th for mileage, 8 kmpl below the group average of 31 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a real-world 22.5 kmpl, the Interceptor 650 costs about ₹4.21 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹3,286 a month, or ₹39,437 a year, before servicing.

The 13.7-litre tank gives a realistic range of about 308 km, so a 30 km commute means a fill-up every 1 week.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the Interceptor 650 works out to about ₹13.6 per km all-in, of which 31% is fuel and 61% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; a nameplate this established holds value well.

The quickest wins for the Interceptor 650: keep tyres at the recommended pressure (under-inflation by 5 psi can cost 2–3 kmpl), shift up early and avoid idling at long signals.

Short trips hurt most. A cold engine on a 2 km run can return half its normal mileage; if that is your use, expect the low end of the real-world band.

Service on time. A clogged air filter or old spark plug shows up in mileage before it shows up anywhere else.