The 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is a new cruiser powered by a 648cc parallel-Twin and built on the same platform as the Continental GT and INT650. (Photos by Brandon Bunch & Josh Shipps / 360Media)

There are many definitions for the word ?cruise,? but one of them is to travel ?without a precise destination, especially for pleasure.? Another is to ?travel smoothly at a moderate or economical speed.? Those definitions apply well to riding a cruiser like the 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650.

In America, ?cruiser? brings to mind motorcycles that are long, low, and heavy, typically with a big air-cooled V-Twin and a logo from a heritage brand like Harley-Davidson or Indian on the tank. Royal Enfields have been in continuous production since 1901 ? beating Harley-Davidson by two years and matching Indian?s year of birth ? so it?s got the heritage part covered. But Royal Enfield takes a different approach to building a cruiser.
The 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 will be offered in two configurations: Tourer (left) with a windshield, deluxe two-up seat, and a passenger backrest, and a standard model (right).

Inspired by the 1956-62 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 700 ? U.K.?s largest-displacement Twin at the time and available with factory-fitted touring panniers ? the new Super Meteor 650 is powered by an air/oil-cooled 648cc parallel-Twin and has styling that leans more British classic than American traditional. Chrome is found only on the dual exhausts ...